in istanbul |
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| Tuus which means YOURS .It is located in an upscale
Hotel, serves an eclectic Mediterranean menu in a
beautifully designed setting. |
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| Since it opened 12 years ago, Sunset Grill&Bar has lost
none of its appeal or popularity. Enjoy delicious,
unique fare, their Sushi Bar and an unparalleled wine list
– all accompanied by a stunning view of the Bosphorus. |
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| Tarihi Karakoy Balikcisi is small, but regarded as one
of the best fish restaurants in Istanbul. Only serves
lunch and they don’t accept credit cards. |
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| So branché is this rooftop restaurant-bar that you
should come at off-peak times if you want actually to
see the 360-degree views of St Antoine's and the
Bosphorus and all the rooftops of Beyoglu. The East-West
menu is obviously made for parties, with most things
mezze-sized or shareable: duck dim sum; chicken satay;
polenta-crusted calamari with almond aioli; grilled
sardines in vine leaves. There's also pasta—"East"
(glass noodles, spicy Mongolian chicken and shrimp) or
"West" (squid ink tagliatelle with salmon and basil)—and
"alternative" pizzas like the Bollywood, with tandoori
chicken, or the Local, with sucuk, olives, and goat
cheese. |
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| Opened in 1964 The Kiyi restaurant of Tarabya has become
a culinary institution for its discerning clientele.
Timber paneling and Kiyi's private photograph
collections from all over Turkey present the restaurant
with a warm and intimate atmosphere, giving it a clubby
feel. For those who cannot linger over a traditional
lunch, our selection of hot and cold mezes presents a
daily selection of fresh fish and seasonal produce.
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| One the hottest tables in town since it opened in 2001,
Changa (Swahili for "mix") does its food a disservice by
using the foodie's dirty word "fusion" to describe
it—even though consulting chef Peter Gordon was one of
the chefs who invented the darn concept. The space in
one of the city's only Art Nouveau buildings is just as
vogueish as the food with its glass floor, chrome
chairs, and mad light fittings. Unsurprisingly, this is
a supreme beau monde hangout. Open for dinner only;
closed Sunday. |
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It is located not on the sea, but in a three
- storey
wooden house in the Cankurtaran region of historic
Sultanahmet.
The restaurant differs from its competitors not only in
its location,but also in its menu, which bans any kind
of farmed fish. The passion for freshness doesn’t stop
with the fish ,as Aegean herbs and Olive oil from the
Mudanya region are shipped in daily. Dining al fresco in
the summer months in th garden is an unforgettable
experience. |
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| The large and airy Asitane Restaurant serves imperial
Ottoman cuisine ,incorporating Central Asian, Anatolian,
Middle Eastern and Balkan flavours, resulting from the
intensive research undertaken at the three palace
kitchens (Dolmabahce, Topkapi, Edirne) to test and
recreate long forgotten imperial dishes ,whose recipes
were traditionally kept secret. |
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| With its hill top location within Ulus Park and views oh
the Bosphorus through floor-to –ceiling windows, Ulus
29’s setting could not be more breathtaking. The food is
a mixture of French, Italian and Turkish cuisine, among
the classic dishes on offer are kebap with youghurt and
grilled sea bass, and the ever-popular findik lahmacun
(mini meat pizzas). |
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| It is located in Istanbul Convention and Exhibition
Centre. Borsa’s modern décor, generous seating capacity
(seating over 500 diners) and excellent service ,along
with a seriously good wine list,make the restaurant the
venue of choice for Istanbul’s smart set. The dessert
hurmali incir tatlisi (made with figs and dates) is a
highlight of the menu, so make sure to leave space for a
full portion. |
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| It is overlooking to the Bosphorus ,and its 1960s and
1970s inspired interiors were designed by the award
winning Autoban Design Team, and London-based kiwi chef
Peter Gordon has given traditional Turkish Cuisine a
modern twist ,creating dishes like the house special
changa sucuk.(spicy local sausage). |
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| It is the adresse du jour for the city’s cool crowd.
It’s euro-centric menu and minimal design aesthetic
conjure up a rather generic big-city atmosphere in the
restaurant. It is the perfect place to settle with a
cocktail and play a game of spot the mosque. |
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| Korfez is one of the most famous restaurant in Istanbul
with its unique view, state of art cooking and excellent
service. Korfez is a legend in business. Chosen ‘all
over the world on the water front one of the best 10
restaurants’ by Departure magazine. Korfez is an
ambition to its founder and a source of delight to the
customer ‘the real owner of Korfez ‘ as the founder
owner Omer Salur quotes. Don’t miss to try Sea Bass in
rock salt which is their specialty. |
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| This restaurant beside the Zeyrekhane Camii (mosque) has
an outdoor garden with cushioned couches on which to
recline and soak up views of Suleymaniye Mosque and the
Golden Horn. It seems tasty mains like quail kebab with
eggplant ,as well as snacks. Ottoman cuisine is their
specialty..In winter it is possible to order local drink
Boza ,made from fermented bulgur rice with water and
sugar. |
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in istanbul |
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Topkapi Palace was home
to all the Ottoman sultans in Istanbul until the reign
of Abdulmecid I (1839-1860), a period of nearly four
centuries between the years of 1478 to 1856. The order
for the construction of the Topkapi Palace on the
Seraglio Point overlooking both Marmara and Bosphorus
was given by Mehmet II (Fatih) after the conquest of
Constantinapolis in 1453. The place was then an ancient
olive grove. The final form of the first palace
buildings covered an area 700m², and was enclosed with
fortified walls 1400 meters in length.
It consists of 4 courtyards and the first courtyard
houses the Archeological Museum of Istanbul, the Mint
and the church of Haghia Irene. The other courtyards are
being used as the Topkapi palace Museum today. And one
is able to walk through and enjoy the beautiful jewels
and the costumes of the Sultan as well as the large
China collection and the Armory. |
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Hagia Sophia is one of the most amazing buildings
remained to our days through the history.
The name of it is usually translated wrong as Saint
Sophia even though it means 'The Divine Wisdom'. Present
building is not the original one. Initial building was
opened for worshipping in 360 by Constantine II,Son of
Constantine (the Great) . It burned down in 404. Second
church which Theodosius II had built was opened to
worship in 415, which burnt down during an uprising
which started in the hippodrome in 532. Today's Hagia
Sophia is a building of the two architects; Anthemius of
Tralles (Aydin) and Isidorus of Miletos. It was
initiated upon Emperor Justinianus' demand for a huge
and magnificent church and was opened to worshipping in
537 with the labour of 10.000 workers for 5 years and 10
months.It was seriously damaged in an earthquake and
repaired in 558. It was pillaged by the Crusaders army.
It was repaired after the iconoclastic period and
ornamented with colorful marbles and mosaics. The Dome
is not quite round, its diameter is 93-99 feet. Hagia
Sophia has been used as a mosque for about 500 years and
transformed to museum in 1935. |
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| Ahmed I had commissioned Sedefkar Mehmet Aga for the
construction of the complex. Head architect had
difficulties in finding a suitable place, so pulled down
the villas and mansions situated in front of Haghia
Sophia and foundation of the complex was laid down in
1609. It was completed in 1617 after the death of Ahmed
I. It is a master work which illustrates the
characteristics of the Ottoman architecture. Despite the
fact that it is in classical style, it occupies an
important place in Turkish architecture with the
novelties it has introduced. Here Sinan, has taken
Sehzade mosque as an example. It is different with its
main dome seated on four chamfered columns and with half
domed spaces carried by sharp pointed arches on the
sides. All of its walls are covered with Iznik (Nicaea)
tiles. Therefore, it is also called as "Blue Mosque".
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The palace was constructed in between the years of 1843
to 1856 by the Royal architect Balyan during the reign
of Sultan Abdulmecit. Dolmabahce means “filled garden”.
The palace has 285 rooms and 43 halls as well. In the
main Ceremonial Hall there is a 4,5 ton crystal
chandelier, which was installed in 3 months. It was the
last residence of the Ottoman Sultans and the founder of
Turkish Republic Ataturk has spent his last days in this
palace. It has a great collection of paintings.
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The pier for the cruise ships is now also housing a
great modern art museum in Istanbul. After the
renovation of one of the old storage buildings of the
pier, now it is one of the 'must see' places in Istanbul
for art admirers. It gives you a great perspective of
Turkish Modern arts from 18th ,19th and 20th centuries.
One of the largest painting collection of the country.
Also they have exhibition for Photography, Sculptures
etc. Istanbul Modern café is highly admired by locals it
is great venue for lunch.
Check the
web for details and updates for the
exhibitions. |
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| It is located very close to Istiklal Street and The Pera
Hotel. The museum was established by KIrac Family and it
has great collection of Kutahya tiles and Portraits from
Ottoman Empire. The famous painting of Osman Hamdi
called “Tortoise Trainer” is within the collection of
this museum. Check the
web for details and updates for
the exhibitions. |
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| It is located in Sariyer along the Bosphorus. After a
cruise on the Bosphorus that would be an interesting
addition to your program. It was established by Koc
family. It has great Archeological collection and a
impressive collection of tiles and handcrafts. Check the
web for details and updates for the exhibitions. |
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It is located on the Bosphorus. The museum has a great
collection of Ottoman Calligraphy and paintings. It used
to be residence of the Sabanci Family than converted
into a museum.
Check the
web for details and updates for the
exhibitions. |
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| The palace is located on the Asian side of the city. It
was built as summer palace for the Ottoman in the 19th
Century. It was designed by Balyan family. Most of the
celebrities and Royal family members were accommodated
in this palace during their stay. It was used as the
state guest house. |
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| The Church of the Holy Savior of Chora is known as
Kariye Camii in Turkish. After Haghia Sophia it is the
2nd most interesting Byzantine church. The museum has a
superb series of mosaics and frescoes which is preserved
and restored by Byzantine Institute of America. After
the Mosaics in Ravena, they are considered to be the 2nd
best from Byzantine Renaisance. |
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| The cistern is also called Sunken Palace or Yerebatan.
Why would someone see a cistern during their visit.
Because that was built in the 6th c by Justinian and it
is the most impressive of all cisterns beneath the city
from Byzantines. It has become very famous after the
film called “From Russia with love” James Bond 007. One
scene was made in this cistern. |
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Built in the name of Ottoman sultan
Soliman The Magnificent in between 1550- 1557 by
imperial architect Sinan. As being located on one of the
seven hills of Istanbul, this largest mosque of the
city, with its grandeur and fascinating proportions is
one of the most elegant masterpieces of its skyline.
As usual for imperial mosques,it was built in the center
of a large complex consisting of a soup kitchen for the
poor,a medical college, a hospital,a rich library with
180.000 ancient manuscripts and printed books, a Turkish
Bath ,theological schools where positive sciences were
also taught, tombs of the sultan, his wife and the
architect, all formed a social and educational center.
Mosque by itself is known for its great acoustics
created by terra cotta pipes located inside the 151 feet
high dome, original 16th C stained glass windows and its
plane but inspiring overall decoration which was a
reflection of architect Sinan’s genius and magnificence
of his sultan. |
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Museum is located in a 16th C
residence of Grand Vezir Ibrahim Pasha who served to
Sultan Soliman The Magnificent and married to his
sister. Vezir's great wealth and privilege is visible in
size and decoration of his palace. This unexpected power
and wealth led him to his own fall, sultan had him
executed.
Since 1938, palace has been a museum of a collection
varying from the 7th to19th C. Items such as woodworks,
glassware, manuscripts, calligraphy, and stonework from
various states and principalities of Islamic world and
an exquisite collection of Turkish carpets are elegantly
displayed. Original prayer rugs used in mosques, Seljuk
carpets, wood and inlaid mother of pearl items,
ethnological exhibitions displaying tents of nomadic
Turkish people of Anatolia and kilims should not be
missed. You may end your visit by having a cup of
Turkish coffee in its cafe located in the courtyard of
the palace looking at the Blue Mosque and the Roman
Hippodrome. |
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