Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EATING
Generations of shoppers have worked up an appetite around the Grand Bazaar. Fortunately there have
always been eateries to meet this need, including a range of good
lokantas
(eateries serving ready-made
food) such as Bahar Restaurant and Onur Et Lokantası. Down near the water there aren't too many
choices - a fish sandwich on the quay at Eminönü or a tasty kebap at Hamdi Restaurant are your best
bets.
| PIDE
FATİH DAMAK PİDE $
(Büyük Karaman Caddesi 48, Zeyrek; pide 8-12; 11am-11pm; Aksaray)
It's worth making the
trek to this
pideçi
(pizza place) overlooking the İtfaıye Yanı Park Karşısı (Fire Station Park)
near the Aqueduct of Valens, as its reputation for making the best Black Sea (Karaden-
iz)-style pide on the Historic Peninsula is well deserved. Toppings are pretty well standard
(the
sucuklu-peynirli
option is particularly tasty), but there's also an unusual
bafra pidesi
(rolled-up pitta-style pizza) on offer, and an organic buffet brunch on weekends costing a
mere 12.50 per person. The free pots of tea served with meals are a nice touch. No alco-
hol. Great pide, great staff, great choice!
| KEBAP
HAMDİ RESTAURANT $$
OFFLINE MAP
20-28, desserts 7-15; Eminönü)
Hamdi Arpacı arrived in İstanbul in the 1960s and almost
immediately established a street stand near the Spice Bazaar where he grilled and sold tasty
kebaps made according to recipes from his hometown Urfa, in Turkey's southeast. His ke-
baps became so popular with locals that he soon acquired this nearby building, which has
phenomenal views from its top-floor terrace.
A meal here offers views of the Old City, Golden Horn and Galata, as well as tasty food
and a bustling atmosphere. Try the
yoğurtlu şakşuka
(yoghurt meze with fried aubergine,
peppers and potato), the
içli köfte
(meatballs rolled in bulgur) and the
lahmacun
(thin,
meat-topped pizza) followed by any of the kebaps and you'll leave replete and happy - ex-
tremely replete if you finish with the house-made baklava or
künefe
(see Sweets,
CLICK
forget to request a rooftop table with a view (outside if the weather is hot). If you arrive
early, you might be able to score one of these without booking.
