CAFES AND RESTAURANTS

We often go to cafés and restaurants during our daily lives and most of us like trying new tastes. Personally, I think visiting new places and being open to new adventures is a must if you want to see the world around you from a different point of view. Therefore, I’d like to recommend you a few cafés and restaurants in İstanbul that you might want to try.

Stop by this café and drink a cup of tea or eat a plate of Turkish “mantı” if you ever go to Mecidiyeköy because this cafe is nothing like any that you’ve ever been to. It’s different because teenagers with autism and mental disabilities work here. They usually do not cook but serve. They are being paid symbolically for their efforts, around 100 TL per month. Saruhan Singen, the owner of the café, is a father to a teenager with Downs Syndrome and he says the aim of the café is to give these young people a chance to socialize and prove to themselves that they can achieve. Şişli Municipality is also supporting them by not billing any rent, water or electricity. All the customers who visit the café are satisfied as everything is home-made by a mum whose son also works there and they think that the service is great. The prices are very reasonable as well. If you want a new experience in which you can also support these courageous teenagers, it might be a new stop for you.

If you want a quiet and peaceful place to sit and rest, this café is just for you. It’s located in one of the discreet streets of Kadıköy. The name of the café comes from the decorations because many things are decorated with dots. What is interesting about this café is that you cannot ask for the menu as it doesn’t have one. It has only limited kinds of coffees, herbal teas and home-made cakes. It has a small blackboard and the things you can have are written on it. The prices are really reasonable. You can take your book and read it in a corner along with a slice of orange cake and a cup of tea. You can also buy another piece for home as they have a take-away option. You can either pay in cash or with a credit card.

This cafe which is located in Unkapanı, Zeyrek is a favourite destination for fans of cyclists in İstanbul because it’s the start and end location for their ride tours in the historical peninsula. Many cyclists meet here to watch bicycle races and documentaries on the LCD screens. They also organize tours, activities and meetings here. They have a place to park your bike outside. In addition to this, there are also bicycles for rent. There is a wide range of things to eat and drink at average prices but you should know that it’s a self-service café and you can only pay at cash.

The owner of this café is an English teacher and he thinks that people cannot find the chance to practice their English much so he came up with this idea. When you enter this café located in Beyazıt, the only language you can speak is English. There are lots of things for visitors to do here. First of all, there are dictionaries, notepads and pencils on all the tables. There is a library in one corner with a wide range of books to read. There is a large projection screen through which you can listen to music and follow the lyrics with subtitles. There’s a fast food bar so you can have a hamburger or a pizza and drink some coke. The prices are a bit high for the area but the service is great so it’s worth it.