The price of alcohol is very high, with an average bottle of Turkish wine costing about 32 lira or £14.

The imported vodka, whiskey, wine etc is equally exorbitant in price due to high taxes.

Just a word of warning in case people think Istanbul is like one of the resorts!

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This place is spread over three floors. If you want a relaxing drink, Nevi is your place.

Nevizade Street in Taksim

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Where Istanbul’s beautiful people come to be seen. Pricey and pretentious but a sumptuous bankside setting beneath the Bosphorus bridge.

www.reina.com.tr

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Any restaurant in Kumkapi is great: a network of pedestrian streets and nothing but tens of restaurants. On hot nights, it’s almost impossible to walk around, with pavements full of tables of happy diners and small groups of musicians travelling from one restaurant to another.

There is no global pop there, but lots of Turkish songs sang along by all encouraged by copious amounts of raki flowing around.

Restaurants offer great selections of mezzes and main courses. Last time I was there, a friend wanted to eat a dish the restaurant we were in didn’t serve, so the waiter ordered it from the restaurant opposite. How‘s that for hospitality?

Down from Sultan Ahmet towards the Sea of Marmara coast

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No matter how little time you have for visiting Istanbul, you have to take a boat trip along the Bosphorus. All boats zigzag the Bosporus stopping alternately at a European and an Asian port. The best time to take the boat is on a warm summer’s evening so that you get to see the sunset and, if lucky, full moon over the city.

There is a public service ferry that does the full length or privately run boats that also offer shorter routes

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Interesting authentic recipes from the Ottoman period - located next to St Chora (must see Byzantine mosaics and frescos).

Kariye Camii Sokak No 18
Edirnekapı Istanbul Türkiye;
tel: 212 635 7997;
fax: 212 521 6631;
www.asitanerestaurant.com
www.kariyeotel.com/
Email: info@kariyeotel.com

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