Great little bookstore on a side street perpendicular to Istaklal Street. All the great shops are…read moreoff of Istaklal Street, which is way too busy with its big boxy stores that have that same cookie cutter feeling you'd get in most malls. The side streets, on the other hand are the real deal. A truly unique 'cookie' experience. This bookstore is awesome. It even has some English books and comics! BOO-YA! Books flow in a literary waterfall of words from the high ceiling all the way to the ground floor. A wooden shelf tree of beautiful and terrible ideas.

One of the most soulful book stores in İstanbul, and a place that has a long and tumultous history…read more (Did I spell it right?) On the top floor of art gallery SALT, with rows and rows of books both foreign and Turkish language, and a piano that sometimes is played by a random visitor. If you're lucky you may find some special edition screen printed Read More t-shirts made in İstanbul, but mostly they are out of stock.

You MUST go into this historic bookshop. Besides the wealth of books, it has art, beautiful cards,…read morebeautiful journals. It is family owned and they are all amazing plus they give to other organizations to further education for individuals. Your money helps contribute to a good cause. Please visit.

great English language book collection, amazing prints and hand crafted notebooks. highly suggested.read more

This was a really great used bookshop way down Istikial Street from Taksim Square. They had a…read morereally interesting collection of books and a vast assortment of maps, pictures postcards and other ephemera. While the shop was not all that large, although I did not get to go in what appeared to be an upstairs section, there was plenty to look at, and I found myself wishing I had much more time to look for the jewels I knew must be hidden amongst it shelves. At one point I switched from looking at books [and believe me it was painful to do this] to looking at framed Arabic calligraphy, that was hanging on the wall, because I am trying to acquire various examples of calligraphy from different periods of history when ever I can afford to do so. Anyway I very probably would have gotten a book, calligraphy or some other item if I had had just a little bit more time to look before deciding, I don't like feeling too rushed when making decisions, so opted out reluctantly. I was hoping I would either get back here or find another really great used bookstore in Istanbul or some of the other cities we visited in Turkey. As it was I noted carefully as I could the location and name so I could find it on line if possible and write this review. As a lover of books I would love to go here again.

This café and bookstore was down the street from the hotel and it looked like such a charming spot…read morethat we decided to have breakfast here one of the days. Unfortunately, this is one of those places that look better than it actually is. Food was subpar yet prices were higher than most other places we ate at while in Istanbul.

Very cute coffee house and bookshop. This place seems to attract artists. While there, one person…read morewas taking artistic photographs, another was painting. The coffee is good and service excellent.

Rising star in Karakoy neighborhood. Friendly atmosphere, great coffee and deserts…read more Decoration and colors are absolutely match perfectly. If you tired walking around Karakoy then this a perfect spot for a "great" coffee.

Very cute atmosphere. Very yummy food. Actual book selection was pretty arty felt like not for…read moreactual reading. Lots of cute knick knacks and cards though. There was an endless parade of fashionable patrons and hipster workers to serve them.

Such a cool little bookstore with vintage books and maps. Yes, it is a little expensive for…read moreIstanbul, but totally reasonably priced compared with other similar book shops in other countries. I loved the old maps spread out on the center table. Some appear to be hand-drawn and quite old. A must see shop for map lovers and those who enjoy vintage books.

Istiklal Caddesi is one of the better strolls in Istanbul (says I, having spent like a week there…read morein total) and this shop is a highlight. A wide selection of vintage maps and postcards, as well as a quirky selection of old books -- I didn't get to peruse them thoroughly but I saw some old Baedeker travel guides in there. I did pick up two books from the more current part of the store, a history of urban planning in Istanbul and a cookbook-slash-history of Ottoman cuisine. There is also a bookstore cat if for some reason you are not satisfied with Istanbul's famous array of street cats.

I went to this centuries old bath house alone before they made it for couples and families only, so…read moreunfortunately I can never go back. It was absolutely the highlight of my visit to Istanbul. As my KLM flight landed in Istanbul the entire city was blanketed with snow, so the warmth of the bath was especially welcome. Istanbul itself is an assault on your senses, everywhere you turn someone is aggressively trying to sell you something, carpets in particular, but also candy, and everything else you can think of. So being inside the Hamam is like an oasis of peace. Fortunately my masseur spoke English. I told him I wasn't your typical tourist, that he could be himself with me. And he was, he sang to me in the most magnificent voice I ever heard. As if an angel were serenading me. Of course singing is not typical of your experience at a Hamam. I loved the way he kneeled in front of me and gave me a body scrub from head, to toe. If only I could start every day this way. I got a package deal, $25 for the treatment including a taxi from my hotel. I of course loved being in such an ancient and historic building, as if the Sultan was still ruling the Ottoman Empire. If you have the opportunity to experience Suleymaniye Hamam don't pass it up.

It was just terrific. They explained everything. You have to be comfortable with nudity, your own,…read moreand the scantily dressed woman who is scrubbing and helping you (if you are a woman). But I would do it again in a heartbeat, so relaxing.