Istanbul - Best Area for Bars and Restaurants

Myself and 5 other guys will be hiking Kilimanjaro in September 2015 and on the way back to USA we will spend 2 days in Istanbul. We would like to stay in a hotel near lot of good bars, restaurants and other night life. Can you recommend any parts of the city that would have this? Any particular hotel? We will travel to the sight seeing areas (Sultanahmet) during the day.

Thanks,

Jake14

Look at the Galata/Tünel/Beyoğlu area or Cihangir area.All of these are close to Istiklal Avenue which is the entertainment heart,vibrant and alive!All offer easy access to the tram and metro systems to get around on.
What would you like?A hotel or a hostel?Roughly what type of budget would you look at for accomodation?

Look at the Galata/Tünel/Beyoğlu area or Cihangir area.All of these are close to Istiklal Avenue which is the entertainment heart,vibrant and alive!All offer easy access to the tram and metro systems to get around on.
What would you like?A hotel or a hostel?Roughly what type of budget would you look at for accomodation?

Thanks so much for a response. I greatly appreciate it!

We would be interested is hotel from 3 to 5 stars probably a 4 star hotel; avoid the Four Seasons and St Regis. Most important is location and the hotel should have a good bar it.

These guys are from the USA and all about 50 years old...not just out of college so the budget is not real tight anymore.

Jake 14

Ah okay,so they can enjoy a little luxury within reason :)So here are some very nice options for you to look at.I have deliberately avoided the obvious chain hotels-Swiss,Hilton,Radisson. etc and given you some smaller,elegant choices which reflect some ... 'Turkish-ness',some character, in them.....

Georges Hotel Galata,close to everything and great views too.
Has Han Galata close to the above.
Adahan Hotel,close to the above.
Corinne Art Boutique Hotel,close to the central part of Istiklal.
Stories Hotel Kumbaracı,near to the above.
10 Karaköy Morgans Original Hotel,almost on the Bosphorus water front.
Hettie Hotel,slap bang on the water front.Pay the extra for sea view rooms,it is worth every cent!
Nidya Galata Hotel ,close to the above.
Hotel Villa Zurich in über cool Cihangir,a few minutes walk from Istiklal.
Pera Tulip close to the metro stop at Şishane,the funicular at Tünel and Istiklal Avenue.
Perhaps as a group you may like an apartment so 1312 Galata would be a nice choice if so.No bar but close to many and you could also have a drink on your own terrace :)
Another lovely suites option is Witt Istanbul Suites, close to everything.

So that gives you a few options to look at but if nothing grabs you or they are full then let me know and I'll suggest some more.

Probably won't affect you, as you're travelling in a group, but google for 'Istanbul bar scam' and make sure you're well armed against this one before you go.

Ah okay,so they can enjoy a little luxury within reason :)So here are some very nice options for you to look at.I have deliberately avoided the obvious chain hotels-Swiss,Hilton,Radisson. etc and given you some smaller,elegant choices which reflect some ... 'Turkish-ness',some character, in them.....

Georges Hotel Galata,close to everything and great views too.
Has Han Galata close to the above.
Adahan Hotel,close to the above.
Corinne Art Boutique Hotel,close to the central part of Istiklal.
Stories Hotel Kumbaracı,near to the above.
10 Karaköy Morgans Original Hotel,almost on the Bosphorus water front.
Hettie Hotel,slap bang on the water front.Pay the extra for sea view rooms,it is worth every cent!
Nidya Galata Hotel ,close to the above.
Hotel Villa Zurich in über cool Cihangir,a few minutes walk from Istiklal.
Pera Tulip close to the metro stop at Şishane,the funicular at Tünel and Istiklal Avenue.
Perhaps as a group you may like an apartment so 1312 Galata would be a nice choice if so.No bar but close to many and you could also have a drink on your own terrace :)
Another lovely suites option is Witt Istanbul Suites, close to everything.

So that gives you a few options to look at but if nothing grabs you or they are full then let me know and I'll suggest some more.

These look great! Thanks for the information.

Probably won't affect you, as you're travelling in a group, but google for 'Istanbul bar scam' and make sure you're well armed against this one before you go.

Will do.

Thanks!

I'll suggest Rixos Pera

Great location--true and solid four star--with lots of eating and drinking options of all sort in easy walking distance, a very good hotel bar and significantly less expensive than true five star like the Four Seasons Bosporus.

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.