City Life

Every yabancı has at least one tale of woe and regret when it comes to residence permit applications in Istanbul. I am no exception. After passing...

Ever felt like jumping out of a window rather than giving a speech at work? Well, I have... Although some of us might be...

Most citizens of Istanbul, including myself, have a tendency to get caught up in a cycle of complaining about the things that are wrong...

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

Some places are institutions. They are so good and so perfectly embody their craft that their name becomes synonymous with their art. For Turkish coffee,...

The tulip is a flower long rooted into Istanbul’s history and life. It can be found in Ottoman era paintings, clothing, mentioned in poetry...

You know the situation. Your friend keeps talking about a book they’ve just read.  ‘It’s the greatest book, ever!’ they say. ‘It’s witty/astute/heart-rending/awe-inspiring/jaw-dropping/sensational/life-affirming.’  Eventually,...

I think as often as we get caught up in the never-ending hustle and bustle of Istanbul that we sometimes forget to break outside...

These days, our Facebook feeds and inboxes are full of worthy causes crying out for our empathy and financial support. But as the world seemingly crumbles, one Istanbullu believes...

There is an old Turkish saying stating if you are bored with Istanbul, you are bored with life. Although Istanbul is rarely boring there...

The history of Ottoman achievements is defined in large measure by the empire's relationship with the sea. For instance, some maritime episodes of note...

I love cities. The clamor; the noise; the busyness; the relentless excitement! But one of the things I enjoy the most is finding a...

Want to take a splendid journey to Pierre Loti Café, a famous coffee house on the top of Eyüp hill? This place, however, offers more...

A few weeks ago I was talking with friends after dinner in the warmth of my apartment. We were buying our time before we...

Norm Coffee is the brainchild of Cem Bozkuş and Gizem Yavuz, who met while working at Cihangir’s hip Kronotrop. Cem, who studied physics in...

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...

Whether it leads to a lasting romance or a cool new friendship, we all get excited about the synergy we might feel on a...

When I first lived in Istanbul for 6 months in 2013, some of my most memorable days were spent simply wandering the old city...

You have been in Istanbul for a while, and you have even seen the posters for the 13th Istanbul Tulip Festival. You have been curious about...

There is an obvious sense of openness within the people on the Anatolian side- a welcoming trait that speaks volumes for those making the...

About six times a week, unaccompanied refugee minors from a boys dormitory and volunteers from Istanbul&I gather to partake in educational and social programs....

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

It seems everywhere you look in Istanbul there is a coffee shop (or soon to be one). The hip Karaköy district is no exception;...

Our friends at Spotted By Locals are continuing to do some seriously great work on an international level and we here at Yabangee wanted...