Nightlife in Istanbul
Istanbul nightlife centres on Beyoglu, and in Cihangir veteran nighclub Roxy Bar and rooftop bar 5. Kat remain popular. For homely bars, try KV Café off Istiklal Caddesim, Aslanim on noisy Nevizade Sokak and old Greek winehouse Pano Saraphanesi. Head to Ortakoy for stylish nightclubs such as the riverfront Anjelique and to Taksim for Ataturk Kultur Merkezi, renowned for its high-brow musical performances. Most clubs stay open till dawn, and bars till after midnight.
Aslanim
Party-time bar
Nevizade Sokak, a Beyoglu backstreet, is filled with restaurants and bars,
and busy every night. In the hub is Aslanim, with its three floors and tiny
ground-floor terrace, perfect for sipping a cold beer while watching the
crowds go by.
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Address
22, Nevizade Sokak, Beyoglu, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 249 3897
Kaktus
Parisian-style bar
With a Parisian feel, cosy Kaktus off Istiklal Caddesi in Beyoglu has tiny
wooden tables with huge photographs on the walls. It seems like everyone is
smoking while in earnest conversation, drinking small glasses of wine or
bottled beer, or strong coffee.
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Address
4, Imam Adnan Sokak, off Istiklal Caddesi, Beyoglu, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 249 5979
Transport
Bus to Taksim Square
Yesil Ev
Relaxing hotel garden
With few other choices for a quiet drink in Sultanahmet, the peaceful
tree-filled garden of Yesil Ev is lovely for pre-dinner drinks. This
restored wooden-fronted Ottoman house is a popular hotel, the garden open
for non-guests all day until 11pm.
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Address
5, Kabasakal Caddesi, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34400
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 517 6785
5. Kat
Favourite old hangout
Besinci Kat (5. Kat or 5th Floor) in Cihangir is one of Istanbul's original
rooftop bars, attracting stylish locals, arty and gay-friendly regulars.
Inside there's deep red walls, purple fabric ceiling, upholstered chairs,
decent food and soft music. Enjoy the huge Bosphorus-facing terrace.
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Address
5/F, 7 Soganci Sokak, Cihangir, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 293 3774
KV Cafe
Secluded courtyard
Located inside a 19th-century courtyard in Beyoglu, KV Cafe is popular with
stylish couples, perfect for a late drink with a jazz pianist every Friday
and Saturday night. Its high-ceilinged interior has chandeliers, brick walls
and pink neon lighting, with tiny romantic balconies.
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Address
10, Tünel Geçidi, Beyoglu, Istanbul 80050
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 251 4338
Pano Saraphanesi
Traditional wine house
Located in an old Greek winehouse, Beyoglu's Pano Saraphanesi remains a
lively favourite with locals. Stand at high wooden tables for a decent
bottle of house wine, and soak it up with dips and salads. There's formal
Turkish dining upstairs.
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Address
4, Kalyoncu Kulluk Caddesi, Galatasaray, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 292 66 64
Dersaadet
Bridge-top beers
Dersaadet on Galata Bridge has backgammon sets, nargiles (water pipes) live
music, Turkish football on TV and simple food. It's always busy with
comfortable seating both inside and out, so settle down with a cold Efes
beer and watch the boats go by.
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Address
Yeni Galata Koprusu, Karakoy, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 292 7001
Roxy
Dance till dawn
For serious clubbing fans, Roxy in Cihangir has been a popular nightspot for
years, with DJ nights and the occasional live act. Music favoured is
nu-jazz, rock and latin, with weekend disco-dance nights, enjoyed by an
easy-going, unfussy crowd.
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Address
7, Aslanyatagi Sokak, Siraselviler Çaddesi, Beyoglu, Istanbul 34433
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 249 1283
Balans
Low-key nightspot
The front of Balans in Beyoglu is a casual bar with food and TVs showing
Turkish football; the back is where the people go to dance. DJs play funk,
occasional 1980s retro nights and acid jazz, plus there are live bands from
time to time.
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Address
22, Balo Sokak, off Istiklal Caddesi, Beyoglu, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 251 77 62
Dogzstar Teras
Cosy rooftop club
A Beyoglu club with live music and DJs, Dogzstar Teras' tiny space attracts
punk and rock fans. A friendly mixed crowd pack in at weekends, with a
welcome third-floor glass roof. The house wine is surprisingly good,
although most drink beer.
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Address
3, Kartal Sokak, Galatasaray, Beyoglu, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 244 9147
Anjelique
Sophisticated waterfront club
Anjelique is a stylish club on a rooftop terrace overlooking the mighty
Bosphorus in Ortakoy. Filled with Istanbul's wealthy young elite, and
located above Italian restaurant Da Mario, DJs play decent Turkish and
European dance music.
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Address
5, Salhane Sokak, Muallim Naci Caddesi, Ortakoy, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 327 2844
Babylon
Eclectic live music
Istanbul's funkiest venue, and in an increasingly lively area of Beyoglu,
Babylon has regular bands and DJs from Turkey and beyond. It might be
Turkish folk with techno fusion, a Balkan percussion virtuoso or top
international DJs to entertain music fans.
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Address
3, Şehbender Sokak, Asmalimescit, Beyoglu, Istanbul 34430
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 292 7368
Whirling Dervishes at Sirkeci Station
Spinning Sufis
Dressed head-to-toe in white, with tall red hats, the trance-like performance
of the Mevlevi order of Sufis, or Whirling Dervishes, is increasingly
well-known. Performances almost nightly are held at Sirkeci Station, an
unlikely venue for a mystic performance.
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Ataturk Kultur Merkezi (AKM)
Cultural venue
A huge 1970s monolith facing Taksim Square, Ataturk Kultur Merkezi (AKM) is a
multi-purpose cultural centre, programming classical concerts, opera, ballet
and music festivals. The acoustics are good, and this is Istanbul's largest
concert hall. Check the billboards outside for events.
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Address
Taksim Meydani, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 251 5600
Transport
Bus to Taksim Square
Nardis Jazz Club
Cool jazz sounds
Close to Galata Tower, Nardis Jazz Club has built up a keen local following
for its nightly live jazz, mainly from Turkish jazz musicians. Despite being
a popular club, especially at weekends, there's still a laid-back atmosphere
here. Booking ahead is recommended.
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Address
14, Galata Kulesi Sokak, Istanbul
Telephone
+90 (0) 212 244 6327
