City Life

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,...

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...

#bunk kicked off in 2011 with the aim of bringing high-quality, stylish hostel accommodation to Istanbul in an affordable package. With two locations currently in the...

Every once in a while, you come across a place that feels like a home away from home. As an expat, this feeling can...

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

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...

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...

‘Musait bir yerde inebilir miyim?’ (Turkish for, ‘may I get off in the next available place?) doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. In fact,...

As a queer person, I can attest to how easy it is to feel isolated in a foreign country. This past year, we saw...

Every sunday in the Edirnekapı district of Fatih, right by part of the old city walls, is one of the more interesting spectacles that...

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...

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

The Turkish craft beer scene has been on the march for the last two or three years, and despite rising alcohol prices, 2016 was an...

It was 4 A.M. and the little taxi we were in was flying down the coastal road. That's where things started to get a little...

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

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...

Recently my friends and I have created a rule. We are not allowed to have more than 3 cocktails when we’re out. Whoever is...

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

Before coming to Istanbul I worked at restaurants in some capacity for over a decade. There are certain things I miss about working in...

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

For their Yabangee TV debut, the team ventured to Efendi, one of Istanbul's coziest, coolest and best cocktail spots. Tucked away in Nişantaşı, Dede...

If you've been in Kadiköy Merkez, trying to push through the crowds, then it's very possible you've missed this gem of a coffee shop....

We all have been inspired by the video “What Most Schools Don't Teach” where Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Jack Dorsey, and a number of...