The best bistros and brasseries Turkey

Timetable

Coffee and tea shops open early in the morning and close late in the evening. Indeed, the Turks frequent tea rooms and bars in the evenings indiscriminately. They drink a choice of tea, cappuccino or a pint of beer. Bars usually open at 4:00 p.m. until late at night.

Budget & Tips

If you wish to enjoy an alaturca tea, stop in a çay bahcesi (literally "tea garden"), usually the tulip glass is 1 or 2 TL. A typical and welcome break!

Age restrictions

If there is no age requirement to sit in a café, tea room or even a bar, 18 years old is required to order alcohol.

What's very local

Stop for tea(çay) throughout the day, even in the evening. Drink a Turkish coffee rather than a filter coffee. Be careful, the Turkish version is strong and tasty. The coffee is often very sweet to cut its bitterness. It is tasted in a few quick sips. And we stop before the end of the cup at the risk of drinking the grounds.

Need comfort in winter? Try the boza ! This thick beverage is made from fermented barley, sugar and water. Vefa Bozacisi is a very successful "boza bar" in Istanbul.

Tourist traps

The same warning as for restaurants located in areas with a high tourist potential, beware of touts who boast about the best dishes in the city.