I discovered this bar last time I was in Istanbul, and I think my new friends and I went there 2…read morenights in a row. I figured out what bar it was and went back last night. In warmer weather, the rooftop patio is a lot cooler. They also remodeled the bar and put the bar at the back of the room making it much more spacious. A large Efes is 10 TL which is a decent price for what I consider a cool bar. People were pouring in at midnight on a Thursday, and a live gypsy improv band played for free. Great stuff. This is definitely my choice for going out in Istanbul.

Well, much as there might be tonnes of cool things to say about this lovely place, the fact that we…read morewere simple unable to move during the latest gig I saw has slightly criplled my positive point of view on it. I am completely aware that it is one of the best places in Taksim, but the relentless crowd of people trying to move formard, make their way to the front place, as if the area were a stadium, got on my nerves. I honestly don't know whether this is a resolvable problem, but something must be done as this "predicament" seemed to put me off since it directly and adversely affected my concentreation on the "beautiful music" playing on the stage.

Hayal Kahvesi is one of those remarkable places that makes important contributions to the musical…read morelife of the city. Not only in Istanbul but also in several other cities, too. It's a well-known concert hall (also a bistro during the day time) where one can watch successful musicians at any night. I have watched some really good bands, too. But enjoying a concert to the fullest was always a bit a of a challenge here. I think it happens because the place is a bit small. You know how it gets crowded in front of the stage when there's a concert of a famous band? Think that you're stuck somewhere in that crowd and you need to go to the toilet because you drank lots of mid-priced beers. Well, good luck my friend because you're going to need it! You should break through that packed crowd till you reach the left end of the stage because that's where the stairs (that will take you to the toilet downstairs) are! You'll make a lot of people angry, face with some dangerous situations where you might have just get crashed down and possibly miss a big part of the show in the process. (Same applies for coming back.) I never had the courage to do that so far, but I'm so ready to hear your stories about this adventure. The other thing is that there are some waiters who try to break through that crowd for selling drinks, too. It kinda wrecks the mood for a minute or two and that happens at least 5-6 times. But anyway, I'm really glad that this place exists. It's getting harder and harder to find a good place to listen live music in this city. Some tips: *The tickets are always on sale on Biletix but it's also possible to buy them at the entrance. *You can check their website (www.hayalkahvesibeyoglu.com) to learn who's going to play when. *At downstairs you will find Hayal Perdesi to watch theater plays.

Not safe for tourists. It may be a good location, with live music and a nice atmosphere... but they…read morewill rip you off if you speak English. ALWAYS ask for a price before ordering. We made the mistake of not doing this. We walked up to the bar and asked for one Efes beer (smaller one), a gin & tonic, and a jim bean on the rocks. The bar tender was pleased to assist us as no one else was ordering at the bar. After pouring the drinks, we asked how much and she strangely gestured to another man leaning against the bar. He came over, talked to her in Turkish, and wrote something on paper and gave it to her. Then the strange man let us know how much our drinks costed. The Efes beer was 15 TL, gin & tonic 30 TL, and Jim Bean 30TL. We got totally screwed and had to pay. These prices are 3x what they are normally. At the Jazz place next door a larger sized Efes beer costs 8 TL. Go there instead, they are much more honest.

I ordered a well done burger and got it with lots of red to it. When I complained after eating half…read moreof it before I noticed something was wrong, the waiter offered to replace it without me asking, but then took it back to his so-called manager who "cheaped" out by offering me a "mini burger" since I'd eaten half of it. I returned what was left of the meal and won't come back here again. But what was even more insulting was that I saw him taking the burger to be assessed by no less than four people talking over it before offering me the mini burger.

They bar server lost my credit then confessed she gave it to another patron. Then her fellow bar…read moretender gets involve to a situation that was none of his business. I had to cancel the card, but the lack of professionalism was enormous. More of the staff got involved who should not have, then they began to argue about a situation that had nothing to do with mine. They proceeded to argue and fight over some internal strife between the staff and just ignored my problem of my missing card. The lack of any management was astounding. I would not recommend this establishment to anyone! No one called me for a follow up. The staff is very immature and unprofessional. The service is mediocre AT BEST. I'm sure back in the day(pre-pandemic), is was a place of good times. But now, after the way i was treated, I shall never recommend this establishment to anyone or go there again. And if anyone working there want to challenge this negative review, I am more than happy to have the conversation supporting my stance.

From the owner: Club,Bar,Live Musicread more

Kadıköy was waiting for so long to get a place like this! If you're living on the Asian side, this…read moreis the best spot to listen your favorite band live without crossing Bosphorus. The place doesn't have a dominant music genre so the band range is really broad. From Hayko Cepkin to Mabel Matiz, from Sattas to Marsis; all kinds of bands can be listened here. Although the place looks rather small, there is usually enough space to watch the concerts in peace. The sound system is good and the staff is really friendly. The bar has a huge collection of alcoholic drinks and prices are in mid range, no more than a usual pub price. The tickets for the concerts can be bought at the door and also from the internet. You can follow their Facebook or Twitter account to know who'll be on stage at that month.

I was very happy with my experience here. The volume of the band, which is something I consider to…read morebe very important -- it needs to be loud, but I hate leaving a show with that deaf feeling in my ears -- was perfect. The beer was not too expensive at 10TL/33ml, and the venue was just crowded enough to have a good time without having your personal space completely infringed upon. This was overall a great venue and live music experience. I will happily go back. :)

I had the opportunity to go to this spot when I was in Istanbul. I had an absolute blast with my…read morefriend. Great bands and although unfortunate that they only serve Efes (truly among the worst beers I have ever had in my life), we still had an amazing time. Lots of good looking women, although the Turks seem pretty protective and conservative so they were little but eye-candy. Fun spot, highly recommended for any visitors in Beyoglu.

Laidback atmosphere with varied classical rock music. Cheap food and drink, great hamburger! But…read morestill, I was food poisoned.