Ortaköy

Photo: Bülent Yüksel

A little square on the Bosphorous hosts its guests from all ages and all nationalities through out the year. One of the best-located Mosques of Istanbul is surrounding both the sea and the square. Several small pedestrians streets stretching to the main avenue create the soul of a beautiful village. This is Ortaköy.

Various bars, restaurants, galleries and souvenir shops are scattered on each street. Moreover, peddlers selling handmade silver jewellery, hand-knitted garments even sometimes home made cakes and pies. The most colorful view of Ortaköy is on weekends especially on Sundays with all artisans creating a sort of open-air market.

If you prefer the street of the car parking lot at the entrance of Ortaköy Square you'll be surprised by rows of Kumpir and Gözleme sellers. Kumpir is a kind of baked potatoes filled with vegetables and flavored by various sauces such as mayonnaise, ketchup, butter, cheese etc. Typical Turkish food Gözleme is a sort of pancake or crepe filled with cheese or meat. Then comes the restaurants and bars. When you reach the seaside you will run into large sites called Kahve (Coffee house) or Çayhane (Tea house) as Turks call. Serving nearly the same food and beverage, the waiter of each "Kahve" is about to pull you in, not to let the nearest competitor steal (!) his client. Don't bother; and choose whichever you like, to enjoy a cup of tea. To remind you, only the restaurants are serving alcoholic beverages including beer. So check before making your self-comfortable in one of those houses if you want to have such a glass of drink.

Booksellers are billeted on the other side of the mosque. Besides old books you have a chance to find new ones and some foreign language magazines.

Harley Davidson café situated on the main road is the favorite place of "Motorcycle Fans" of Istanbul.

The problem in Ortaköy is car parking. The existing open-air park lots are far meeting the demand especially on Sundays. If the one located at the entrance is full try the one next to Princess Hotel Ortaköy.

Prior having a nice lunch or dinner at one of the fish restaurants near the quay, especially in summer, you may wish to make a reservation to secure a table on the terrace or by the window.

If you don't want to do any of the above then you can grab a box of beer from a street buffet and sit under the trees on the square and enjoy the surroundings while sipping your drink.

Not attractive? Well, and then try some peanut ice cream from Mado (the largest chain of ice-cream producer of Turkey) also located at the square.

In short we are sure you will find Ortaköy interesting if not more.

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