Please let us know your favorite Istanbul Rooftop restaurants with terrific views and of course nice atmosphere & food. Thanks
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
Although I cannot remember the name (I guess I blocked it out) one thing to be aware of... we had a nice location with a great view of the
Blue Mosque. We were actually with some people who lived in Istanbul. After we ordered, the waitress brought us a variety of small dishes of little appetizers. We ate some, ignored others and assumed they were somehow included as we did not order them. Needless to say there was an additional $7 per and she brought us 8. The lunch was paid by cc# by one of the Americans before it was realized. Even though our friends from Istanbul threw a fit (loudly) and made the manager come out they refused to do anything about it. I am sorry I cannot remember the name, but just be aware if they bring you anything, it will be on the bill.
Posted by
Kansas
1175 posts
There are endless rooftop restaurants and most of the hotels in the Old Town have rooftop terraces that are open in the summer. Istanbul residents recommend one, the Hali Hotel, across from the Basilica Cistern. The Orient Express hotel has great views of the Golden Horn and all of that bustling boat traffic. Costs are moderate but increase dramatically in the Taksim area, comparable to any large city in the US.
Posted by
Andover, MA, USA
559 posts
Hi Bari, I don't have specific recommendations about rooftop restaurants, but if your family likes fish, you should check out Kumkapi Street one night (pronounced coom-cop-ah). Its about a 10 minute taxi drive from the Blue Mosque and its a neighborhood filled with fish restaurant after fish restaurant (think Little Italy in NYC). There are very few tourists and there are hundreds of Turks out at dinner singing, dancing, and generally enjoying themselves for hours at a time. I went there my first night in Turkey and I really got the feeling I was in a whole new world. :) I was there with a friend who grew up in Turkey. They did bring out the mezes (appetizer plates) to pick from and you are expected to pay for whatever you eat. My friend said this is fairly common in Turkey so I'm surprised Terry Kathryn's friends from Istanbul were surprised by the charges on the bill. Oh well. Enjoy Istanbul! I loved it!