Take 5

Take a break and check out the amazing spots Istanbul’s neighborhoods have to offer.

Take 5: Historic Nucleus of Nişantaşı & Teşvikiye

Among the most popular of neighborhoods in İstanbul is Nişantaşı: It is both a highly-coveted residential area and a cool place to hang out, catering...

Take 5: Vefa

When most people think of the "Old City" of Istanbul, Sultanahmet usually springs to mind. Yet perhaps one of the most interesting areas historically,...

Take 5: Beşiktaş

After living in Beşiktaş for about three years, on and off, I’ve come to realize that it is regarded as a hate or love...

Take 5: Gayrettepe (Relaxation Edition)

Gayrettepe is often overlooked because it is located between some pretty famous neighborhoods like Ortaköy, Nişantaşı, Beşiktaş, and Levent. But I’ve called this centrally-located...

Take 5: Üsküdar (Merkez Edition)

When I moved to Üsküdar 3 years ago it was still vilified as a conservative and religious neighborhood with virtually no social life. Over...

Take 5: Kumkapı

Kumkapı is a neighborhood known for its central square filled with fish restaurants which lure in tourists. Outside this overflowing plaza and up through the windy...

Take 5: Ortaköy

Ortaköy is most famous for its “Kumpir Strip” – the potato version of the red light district, providing plentiful giant baked potatoes and the...

Take 5: Üsküdar

Üsküdar may not be the first place one thinks of for going out, but this is where I put my slippers on at the...

Take 5: Nişantaşı (Glitz Edition)

Nişantaşı is known for its glitz. Jewelry shops, coyly revealing their sparkling displays, are spaced sporadically along broad avenues as the trendily dressed stroll...

Take 5: Kuzguncuk

Housing some of Istanbul's oldest churches and synagogues, Kuzguncuk historically was a cosmopolitan mix of Ottoman Istanbul's many cultures. Today, although a little more homogeneous, it...

Take 5: Cihangir (A Morning on Başkurt Sokak)

Istanbul arguably doesn’t really have one central district, like a downtown or a city center. It is a city of many centers, each with...

Take 5: Karaköy (Shopping Edition)

Karaköy is a unique neighborhood with a mishmash of art, culture and food all packed into a zigzag of tiny streets and alleys. Although...

Take 5: Çengelköy

Coming around a bend on the Anatolian side between the two bridges is the aptly named Çengelköy. The neighborhood, whose name means hook village in Turkish, is...

Take 5: Karaköy

Spread across the quaint streets of Karaköy there are restaurants, cafes and bars at every corner. There is one type of restaurant, in particular,...

Take 5: Balat

Since I moved to Izmir for work, my visits to Istanbul have become more dedicated, more concentrated. Now, every time I return I feel...

Take 5: Kadıköy

Calm, cool, easy-going Kadiköy has always been one my favourite Istanbul districts. I love to start my day with breakfast at the picturesque Thales...