Kanyon
Distinctly different in every way from Istanbul’s haphazard Grand Bazaar, the dramatic, ultra-modern interior streets of Kanyon —an expansive curved building that uses open-air walkways to connect residential, retail, and entertainment areas—provide residents of the city with a truly unique shopping experience. Lead consultants on the project used a multidisciplinary approach when creating Kanyon’s distinctive silhouette, ensuring it sat perfectly alongside the domes and minarets that define Istanbul’s ancient heritage. As well as shopping opportunities, the dynamic building also houses terraces and gardens where visitors can interact with one another, over 20 restaurants and cafés, plus a cinema.
Unmissable restaurants
Remarkably, there are more than 20,000 restaurants in Istanbul, ranging from arty Michelin-starred stalwarts to basic cafés serving comforting, family-style Turkish cuisine. But a handful of the city’s best dishes can be found in blink-and-miss spots—don’t leave Istanbul without sampling these standout dishes.
Sehzade Cag Kebap
Kebab restaurants are a firm fixture on pretty much every street in Istanbul but that doesn’t mean all offerings are the same. Listing just seven items on the menu, Sehzade Cag Kebap impresses with simplicity, outstanding flavors, and efficient service. Lamb is charcoal grilled, lavash bread is so thin you can almost see through it, and the moreish tomato dip is suitably spicy but doesn’t overpower.
Hanimeli Vegan
Hidden in the aforementioned bohemian neighborhood of Cihangir sits this unassuming hole-in-the-wall café which, confusingly, isn’t actually strictly vegan, but it is, however, a true delight. It’s more of a point-and-order type of eatery as dishes change daily depending on the season. Featuring a good selection of salads and stews, it’s the ideal place to stop for lunch in-between hunting out antiques or a hammam pitstop. If you only get to visit once, must-try dishes are plump eggplant perfumed with oregano and tomato, a herbed cucumber salad topped with a smattering of fresh red chili, and the vegetarian manti (mini spiced dumplings) served with cacik (yogurt and sumac sauce)—slightly addictive, but definitely not vegan.
Karaköy Lokantasi
Recommended by numerous Istanbulites, Karaköy Lokantası is what dreams are made of: service is attentive, the wine list is impressive, and a jovial atmosphere awaits each and every evening. The restaurant’s creative dishes fuse local ingredients and Turkish flavors with a tapas-style ethos, meaning ordering a selection of small plates is the way to go—not ideal for solo travelers but more than worth a trip regardless. The standout dish here is the hot-pot cooked shrimp with garlic, chili, and tomato, which is so good I had to return a few days later to indulge once again. Samphire was also in season for my visit, and when dressed in dense local olive oil, it provided the perfect accompaniment to Karaköy Lokantası’s fresh seasonal fish. The potato croquettes are some of the best I’ve ever eaten (including Spain’s offering), while the fried slithers of beetroot and zucchini are an absolute joy—suitably crisp on the outside, cooked to perfection on the inside. Unmissable in every way.