Top 5 Bookshops in Istanbul
Istanbul sure does have a lot to offer when it comes to the world of books - there are boutique retailers, hidden stores, retail...
How Bazaar: Istanbul’s Best Markets
When one thinks of shopping in Istanbul, there’s one particular place that usually springs to mind. The city’s most famous market, the Grand Bazaar,...
Top 5 Turkish Design Gems
Home of the Design Biennial and a (gradually) increasing number of design and architectural gems, Turkey is finally becoming a name on the design...
Turkish Coffee from Beans to Telve – A Global and Local...
Like many of history’s greatest culinary discoveries, that of coffee stemmed from a noisy, restless goat and his attendant farmer’s desire for an undisturbed...
Tophane-i Amire Culture & Arts Center
Tophane is a very pleasant area to spend an afternoon smoking nargile and playing tavla. Or, if you are more into art than the...
Insider Trading: St. John of Stoudios
In a city whose skyline is spiked with thousands of minarets, it is sometimes forgotten just how many churches are snuggled in the back...
The Interwoven Worlds of Yaşar Kemal and Slim Memed
Before Orhan Pamuk came to prominence in the West and launched Turkey once more into the international literary scene, Yaşar Kemal was Turkey’s best-known...
8000 Years of Istanbul: Review of ‘Again, and New: World City...
Artifacts have been found in Istanbul (previously home to some of the world's largest empires, the city has also been known as Byzantion, Nea...
Review: Dismantling the Archive @ SALT Galata
The years between 1900 and 1940 were more than a little eventful for the Turks. The period saw numerous wars fought on many fronts,...
Zorlu Center is a Jellicle Cat
Zorlu Center recently opened its doors to the world as an international center for business, shopping, and, above all, culture and art. It is...
The Şakirin Mosque
There are more than 3000 active mosques in Istanbul and, in terms of architectural style, they can generally be categorized as either Byzantine (ancient...
Turkish Electronic Music: A New Breed of Artists
Turkey has an incredibly rich tradition in electronic music, stretching back to the late ‘50s and early ‘60s when Bülent Arel was king. Arel was a pioneer...
Look Familiar? Five Movies Set in Istanbul
People say that cities have a personality. I disagree. For me, a city has a genre. A category of literature or movies that jumps...
Istanbul: So Good They Named It Thrice
What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet
True facts, Shakespeare, true facts. And while I...
Tipping in Turkey
Certain things that are second nature at home can be a minefield abroad. Etiquette in all of its various forms is especially tricky. Despite...
The Top 5 Yeşilçam Films
Yeşilçam, which translates to “Green Pine”, is a shorthand for Turkey's old film industry. The name comes from Yeşilçam Street, an area of Beyoğlu...
Dancing for Haydarpaşa
Sunday, 8 December had Haydarpaşa Station hosting a danceathon like no other. The tango, swing and salsa communities of Istanbul staged what can only...
Istanbul Toy Museum: Blast from the Past
Nestled deep in the back streets of Göztepe lies the Istanbul Toy Museum. The lovely white house is guarded by two giraffes ready to...
Famous Turks: The Mysticism of Mevlana Celaladdin Rumi
In this month’s ‘Famous Turk’ article, we’re looking at Mevlana – known more popularly in the English-speaking world as ‘Rumi’ – the Anatolian philosopher...
An Expat’s Guide to Hamams
Sometimes the grit and grime and non-stop pace of the city just get overwhelming. You need a break from the packed Metrobus and the...
Turkey’s Pickle Culture
For a long time there has been a culture struggling to make itself known, to have its voice heard. Often relegated to the sidelines,...
Weekend Getaway: Edirne
With the Children’s and Youth holiday coming up on 23 April and warmer weather upon us, many of you may be wondering where to...
Müslüm Gürses and The Rise of Arabesk
“Çilesiz bir günüm olmadı gitti
Bilmedim ömrümün suçu ne usta
Allah'ın gücüne gider mi bilmem
Verdiği bu candan ben bıktım usta
My carefree days never came
I don’t know,...
Camel Wrestling in the Land of the Efe
Camel wrestling is, in a word, raucous. Smoke permeates every inch of the earthen amphitheater, so much so that it is difficult to make...