My name is Eddie from Kentucky (USA)This is my spot for my time in Istanbul! I went to a few other…read moreShisha places and was not happy. Two different location give you the flavor you want on top after a minutes you get something else. This place is amazing. I like the love 66 and the blend of love &lady killer. Recommend it. Shahin is the man! Great guy and very friendly! Stop here for sure!!!!

A good friend of mine brought us here when we asked for a "typical night out". What to say: the…read morereviews here are all in point! The service is extremely nice, the guys there are very friendly and courteous. They bring fresh coal and tea and watermelon almost all the time (until you don't want more of course). There are TVs (important bc Euro2016). The ambience is impressive as can be seen in the videos. Outside was very full, with locals and tourists the same and lots and lots of pipes. Inside was similarly full, with small rooms and here people squeezed together which created an amicable bond as we were forced to talk to each other. We met some nice guys who worked in the Grand bazaar and spoke around 6 languages fluently! The important thing, the nargile (water pipe in Turkish) was the best I've had so far (though until now I've only had those in Vienna and that's no comparison). Our apple flavour was not too strong and came with a sweet aftertaste. Also, our friendly neighbours explained to us what to beware of with the pipe, the café seemed to be their second home. All in all, I was amazed to find such an atmospheric café, behind the ruined walls and the not-so-trustworthy entrance. But my Turkish friend shooed us in and what a gem we found. Hence, a perfect recommendation. Bring a lot of time and relaxed mood, go in, be amazed and find new friends.

Fun spot to unwind after a long afternoon at the Grand Bazaar!…read more It's totally hidden - I love that you walk through a small cemetery to get here. The Wi-Fi is very spotty. Go to the server's stand near the front for best coverage. It was plenty crowded around 6 pm on a Saturday, but there's high turnover and there were a couple seat options for two when we got in. The staff is always walking around so it's easy to get coals for your hookah. Our tea took a while and we had to remind the staff we'd ordered it. The mint hookah's nice and cooling, but it reminds you a little of just having brushed your teeth. The washroom is separate and a little outside, costs 1 TL to use it. It was 22 TL before tip for a mint hookah and 3 teas. You can also shop for lights and hookahs, similar to what's in the bazaar.

Lotiz hookah and lounge was one of the best places we visited in Turkey!…read moreMake sure not to miss this spot. It is a 2 station tram ride away from Hagia Sofia. A 4 min walk towards the lounge, the detonation is on the left corner. There is usually a guy who will ask you if you are a little lost asking if you are there for loris lounge. The lounge is located on the top floor with a folding roof which is a smoking zone (hookah)z They also have a non smoking section on the inside. On talking to the servers he told us that there was a recent complaint by someone that they do not have a non smoking section so they created separations. Well service was excellent. If you talk to the servers enough and go at sunset please please please order the best hookah they have which is made right in front of you and has no water , it is all ice. You will enjoy it for sure. The people are very friendly and the food is good too! Have fun yelpers! Lotiz Istanbul you rock. Oh and there is also a restaurant called lotiz. This is the lotiz lounge where you will get hookah. Apparently the food is good at Lotiz as well ( did not get a chance to try it).

Lotiz didn't miss. Well.....maybe their strong suit isn't in Japanese food like sushi (it was the…read morelowest on our totem pole), but literally EVERYTHING else was 10/10. The hookah, the service, the DJ, and the calamari was . Not one rude person, only positivity and good vibes!

This place is fucking amazing. It was a quiet summer afternoon and after doing all of the touristy…read morenecessities, my girl and I were looking for a place to wind down and chill with some hookah and bevs. This place is relatively nearby the touristy stuff, which is convenient. We had just finished circling around the grand bazaar about 1500 times and this place was a mere 5-10 min walk. The decor is really funky and unique. There's an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, mostly situated in a balcony-like structure. There are very colorful cushions and equally colorful tables to match the surrounding adornment. Service was amazing. We were seated immediately and started on drinks and hookah in no time. Our server came and checked on us frequently but not frequently enough to make it annoying. This place was perfect for insta snaps and we took quite a few of them. Thankfully, our garb was unintentionally flamboyant and we fit right in. The drinks were good, both from the eclectic cocktail menu as well as the classics like screw drivers. We dipped our toe into quite a few different drink categories that night because the service was good and the hookah was kept fresh. We stayed there long enough to become hungry and ordered the meze sampler. I don't remember details besides this being very good. By the end of our evening our crisp and fresh insta photos became rachit and grungy snap stories by the end of the night. The hospitality was overt, they didn't mind us literally taking up residence basically for about 6 hours and offered us blankets once the weather became chilly and rainy. Long story short this place is a must visit on a trip to istanbul

Best chill spot in Istanbul with great shisha, ambience and service!! Make sure to say hello to…read moreErhan. He is the heart and soul of the place!

We visited Huqqa Café on the Bosphorus expecting an upscale experience to match the beautiful…read morewaterfront location. Unfortunately, the service did not live up to the setting or the pricing. The prices were extremely high, which we were prepared for given the venue, but premium pricing should come with premium hospitality. The staff took orders without much engagement, rarely making eye contact, and overall seemed inattentive. A welcoming attitude goes a long way in places that position themselves as luxury destinations, and that element felt missing. To add to the disappointment, valet parking was charged separately at the end of the visit. At many high-end venues, valet service is typically included as part of the experience. Paying extra would be understandable if the service reflected professionalism, but it did not. The Bosphorus view is undeniably beautiful, but great locations alone don't create memorable experiences, service does. Sadly, we left feeling that the hospitality did not justify the premium cost. We hope management takes guest feedback seriously, because this venue has the potential to be exceptional.

Went to this place and I highly recommend it. From food to service and finally best hookah ever.read more

I've been to Lulu Restaurant a few times and tried multiple locations. They always keep the same…read morehigh quality of food, drinks, and hookah. I truly love coming here, and I've invited friends who were visiting to try it--they all loved the experience too. Food & Drinks: Consistently amazing and full of flavor. Hookah: This is honestly the best part--the hookah flavor is incredible and it never disappoints. Atmosphere & View: If you want a great Bosphorus view along with delicious food and hookah, Lulu Restaurant is the place to go. I also read some reviews complaining about the price, but I always say you get what you pay for. Overall, I highly recommend Lulu Restaurant--especially if you're looking for a great atmosphere, amazing taste, and the best hookah. It won't disappoint!

View is gorgeous the restaurant is beautiful I highly recommend come here for experience so many…read moreplaces to take pictures the service was okay, but the food was delicious. Try it out next time around the area. There's parking on the street. Try the burger yum, minus the veal. The fries are so delicious. We had non-alcoholic drinks and all were good.

This place is so good and one of my favorite places in all of Istanbul for sure. We were taken here…read moreby some American ex pats (now friends) living in Istanbul we met at a Hamam. This place is definitely a local place and is in an Arabic women's school from the 1600s which makes it even cooler. It's like being in an old man's world (I know - ironic. women are accepted too, don't worry) basically. Most of the people who go here seem to be younger, possibly students from nearby Istanbul University, but some older folk as well. I absolutely love the coal and tea guys going around saying stuff like "elma cayi! ada cayi!" and running around with burning hot pots of coals that could probably disfigure you if an accident occurred. The great thing is that a year after my first visit, some of the workers remembered who I was. I mean come on - that's amazing. For someone without a local guide, this place may be hard to find as it basically looks like the entrance to a Mosque. After a walk down a long hallway, you end up in what I like to call the Opium Den, or you know...Erenler. You may be able to spot the coal ovens from the street though. Also, a word of wisdom to the westerners. The toilets in here are squat toilets without toilet paper and cost a small fee. If you are not used to that, then at least carry some kleenex with you (which can be purchased on the street for cheap by those poor old boys). Really though, this place is great. If you want a local place without all the bullshit of Nargile places in Tophane, then go here. It's cheap as hell too and you can get a good cup of sage tea (ada cay).

Awesome hookah lounge! I know the word "authentic" gets thrown around and overused but this place…read moreseemed like the real deal. Just 65 lira for a BIG ol' shisha, a Turkish coffee, and two teas. It's in a cool little room with good ventilation and just on the other side of a wall from a graveyard. It's fricking dope. Nothing fancy, but very chill.

From the owner: Fine hookah lounge, with cosy atmosphere with great foodread more

I cam to this place when they are ready to close. They let me in I ordered a hookah and tea. They…read moreare so friendly even they can't understand Arabic or English. The sign language works lol. I really recommend it.