Şafak Restorant & Pub was our dinner location our first night in Istanbul and on the route to the…read moreBlue Mosque from our hotel. We were being pitched by all the restaurants' sidewalk frontmen and randomly chose Şafak and it turned out to be a good choice. We weren't that hungry so got the Mezze Combo and Sigara Böreği - cigar pastries. The mezze combo had the usual suspects of humus, cacik (yogurt sauce aka Turkish tzatziki), cucumbers, and eggplant puree along with pickled beans and fried eggplant (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/%C5%9Fafak-restorant-ve-pub-istanbul?select=PhEfsmb3fqv80rpnOsMYtQ#IXUdsuuhKn2rdbDRQtUnqA). All were very good, especially the cacik which was quite garlic-y. The Sigara Böreği are like eggrolls filled with cheese (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/%C5%9Fafak-restorant-ve-pub-istanbul?select=PhEfsmb3fqv80rpnOsMYtQ#A4lSe4nADdHKl4p73rlAOQ) They had a nice crisp shell and salty, creamy center. Cheap, tasty & filling meal.

This rooftop lounge had amazing views of the city. Got the cheese platter and fries. Everything was…read morefantastic and great tasting. Service was amazing as well, quick and friendly. Recommend this place

I didn't get to check out the roof lounge, but the street-level cafe was great…read more We were on a tour from our cruise ship and had "free time" to wander the area. We were shopped-out and it was hot. We saw the stocked bar in the restaurant from the street and decided to go in for drinks. The service was outstanding and the house wine was also wonderful. The kids had sodas and we also had some sparkling water. They have good wifi there and it was a slow mid-day, so it was pretty fast. Nice to a cloud picture sync. The restrooms were also clean. The food menu looked great as well even though we didn't get anything.

good pub to drink beer in. they serve a few different and international beer brands here. it's a…read morenice change from the popular efes. (0.5 l efes = 10 TL) i think they do food, too. so that makes it a quiet stop just a stonethrow away from hagia sophia. the inside of the pub is held in a kinda british style which is quite cute. anyway i felt comfortable here due to the friendly staff, too, of course.

Wow 1st time to Istanbul and this was our 1st food stop. Great for people watching. Our server was…read moreamazing and super helpful for what to see and avoid while visiting Turkey . Their cheese roll appetizer with beer was an excellent way to start followed by an arugula salad and then their combination player. Great beer, wine and cocktail menu along with local desserts. Can't wait to see the sights. Buon Appetito

Western themed bar…read more(http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/red-river-pub-istanbul-2?select=9LJA-ME__LvOrP2lWsXd1A#m2jpuFH3jCqCuHRu9pGJVg) with eclectic menu with mostly Turkish items along with things like Asian noodles and Fajitas. We stopped in for a drink after our Bosphorus cruise and decided to have a light dinner of the Meze Plate for 2 (16TL = $8) since we're easily influenced by marketing (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/red-river-pub-istanbul-2?select=9LJA-ME__LvOrP2lWsXd1A#QBaq2oHpSKzfnfnMqaZglA) They start you off with some sunflower seed crusted bread which was moist and sweet like it had some honey in it (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/red-river-pub-istanbul-2?select=9LJA-ME__LvOrP2lWsXd1A#3dTCHrqg3Y3KJN7HaOs-sA) Not your typical meze plate with beans, marinated mushroom, and okra along with the more common eggplant, dolmas, and cacik (Turkish version of tzatziki) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/red-river-pub-istanbul-2?select=9LJA-ME__LvOrP2lWsXd1A#44HGuno0PDqukMu219YO8w Everything popped with flavor including the dolmas which I typically find to be pretty bland. These had pinenuts and other herbs in the rice filling (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/red-river-pub-istanbul-2?select=9LJA-ME__LvOrP2lWsXd1A#JMUm870hJCl2vBzrz_v9lA) Decent prices for beer (8 TL for 50cl draft ) Very friendly staff. Even offered to burn a CD of the music playing.

Since we were sick of Turkish food, my family and I decided to stop here to try their pizza. This…read moreplace is definitely a tourist trap - I blame myself for falling victim to the man who keep trying everyone to come in. We got the lamb and a basic sausage pizza - both were mediocre at best. I travel for the food so I am definitely being bias with my rating. The food was not horrible but the lack of service after we got seated, the cost, and the extra charge for refills is what is giving this a less star that what I would originally give.

I don't usually eat at a place called Cozy with a fake fireplace running on a flat screened TV and…read morewas clearly a tourist trap, but my group of friends were hungry, and Cozy it was. The atmosphere, besides the tacky fireplace is indeed cozy. We were seated in the upstairs sitting area. The menu has a whole host of different international dishes to chose from. We staid with the local selection, and my friends shared a Pottery Kebab as it is intended for two people. This is an actual local dish, and is not just a tourist offering, as we had seen it several other places as well. Pottery kebab is tomato-based meat stew, with lamb, chicken or beef, and veggies, baked inside a clay pot and cracked open at your table. It was quite the show, and I am sure we are in several stranger facebook shots from around the world. I ordered a lamb dish which was also quite tasty. Besides everything the food was actually OK. My review was lowered to three, almost two stars, because of the lack of service. It is one thing to be slow, but for example, after asking for the bill three times, and waiting 20- 30 minutes between asking, we almost walked out. Plus, the place was not super busy, and there sere several waiters, there was no excuse.

Reminded me of Soho, cool little area, nice bars, real people. We dropped and the the power had…read moregone down on the whole street. Candles everywhere and a large glass of red went down a treat. Hidden Gem

Being from Chicago, good blues music is pretty easy to find. In Istanbul, it's perhaps a little…read moreharder to find. Near where we were staying, we found out about this place and figured we would see what was up. The place wasn't easy for us to find for some reason (if you've been to Istanbul and have tried to find small places, then you know why). The place is pretty small but nonetheless interesting. The owner was cool and knew all about blues and even Chicago. The band that played wasn't amazing but nonetheless they didn't suck and it made for an enjoyable evening. Not bad at all and if you're in the area and are in need of some live music, then check the place out.

The drinks were amazing, the music was on point, the crowd was fun and the staff was wonderful…read more Highly recommend this place!