Amaaaaazing domatesli kebap. Out of this world. If you come to Istanbul, do not leave without…read moretrying their domatesli kebap. Their apple tea is a good drink to get your appetite started while the kebaps are grilled and they serve it in a French coffee press. We stayed in Istanbul for 4 days and tried their kebaps on our first day for dinner. We had other domatesli kebaps at other restaurants but it didn't come nearly as close to theirs. You'll have it once and never want to eat kebaps anywhere else. Highly recommended.

Was looking for a third wave cappuccino - kind server - too much milk to qualify for a cappuccino…read moreso I'm not sure what the espresso tastes like

Best location in a cool neighborhood. Love the vibe and the hip crowd. The street terrace is nice,…read morebut upstairs is a beautiful terrace with a view. Cute people! Try the milkshakes. And their Izmir Bombasi (pastry filled with melted chocolate spread) served hot is delicious.

An interesting detour from Starbucks. Get your Turkish coffee here along with some Turkish desserts…read morethat are quite unique and very delicious.

Little Walk-up Coffee Shop. If you're walking from Taksim down towards the River, this is a great…read moreplace to stop for a quick coffee! The coffee was excellent and the service was good. There are only a couple shops and we were there during the summer, so I can't imagine its a good spot come winter time.

Stopped in for lunch this afternoon to take a break from sightseeing. The restaurant has a very…read morenice stylish exterior that offers shade from the sun. Service was good and very attentive. The sandwich was tasty but not particularly memorable. Nice wine list and I enjoyed a glass of the Turkish rose from the Ankara region. Would recommend a visit if you are in the area.

The ingredients of their handmade chocolates are brought from Belgium. There are 34 types of…read morechocolates here separated into 4 category; truff, piralin, liquer and diet. The other alternatives are cakes, coffee, foods, jams and some other organic products. For a short dessert tasting, stop by Gezi Pattiserrie for some chocolatey goodnesses.

The nightlife in Istanbul is amazing. Everyone is out and about, enjoying themselves…read more My boyfriend and I went to Taksim to soak everything up one evening. There was plenty of shopping to do and food to sample. After a few hours, we decided to stop at Kaave Cafe to get some drinks. We also gave the nargile (we also know it as either a hookah or shisha, which is a Turkish water pump) a try. I am not a smoker. I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. However, the nargile is an enjoyable way to inhale tobacco-flavoured smoke. He has given the nargile a few tries in the past. I got a crash course from him. We went with the apple flavour. I gave it a try and I didn't hack up a lung! He actually said that I was a pro at it, which was cool and scary. It was fun and enjoyable. The apple flavour was perfect. I also got some Turkish tea, which I fell in love with during my time in Istanbul. It's the way that I like tea - plain and in a glass. He got a milky drink. I have no idea what it was called, though. We sat outside in November. It wasn't a cold evening, so we were good. There was a musician singing and playing his guitar, which added to the whole vibe. Later, patrons danced while he played. It was a wonderful time at this cafe. The nargile and beverages were wonderful. (71)

Scam alert Got tricked by the Turkish ice cream stand within the Simit Sarayi Taksim outlet --…read morethey overcharged us way beyond what was shown, and pressured us to pay after the "performance." It's not fun, it's a tourist trap. BEWARE. #scam #touristtrap #notworthit

After spending a decent day being a tourist, and being out and about, we visited this place after…read moredinner for a light snack and beverage. He had more energy than I did. I was a full-time tourist for the entire day and had done a ton of walking. He had got off from work and had a fresh pair of legs to use! I got some tiramisu and a tea. The tiramisu was yummy. It is also my favourite dessert. The tea helped me keep warm for a bit, as the store's door was wide open for a November evening. I was happy to be off my feet. He left his purchased items with me as he continued to shop. He came back an hour later and I felt chilled. My hot tea had run out. I liked being here. I just wish that it were warmer or I had a thicker coat on. (77)