miss b loves........ Taksim, Beyoğlu Istanbul

 

A trip to Istanbul would not be complete without a day in Taksim, Beyoğlu the heart of Istanbul starting with a stroll around the Gelata district. There are beautiful old houses and buildings, cafés, quirky shops selling handicrafts including colourful pottery and stylish boutiques. Galata Tower is the most impressive monument of the district with its 360 degree view of the city from the top.

One of the gorgeous boutiques
 with an eclectic mix
 of inexpensive jewellery and discounted
designer clothes. 

Galata Tower

Amazing 360 views from the top of Galata Tower

                              
From Galata we made our way to Tünel Square and then continued along the İstiklâl Caddesi (Independence Avenue) which is pedestrianised (apart from the trams!)and has 2.5 kilometres of shops, cafés, pâtisseries, restaurants, bars and clubs, as well as bookshops, theatres, cinemas and art galleries.
It has a very cosmopolitan, lively feel and the avenue is lined with beautiful Neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings.

The tram was re-installed in the early 1990s
with the aim of reviving the historic
atmosphere of the district.

There's so much going on day and night along Istanbul's version of Oxford Street. It's lively and noisy with street performers and street vendors selling their wares - roasted chestnuts, corn on the cob....tissues!

Ice cream sellers amuse everyone with their acrobatic antics with Turkish style gelato.

But as far as food is concerned I think İnci, the profiterole shop/café beats them all - or maybe that's the chocoholic in me! İnci really is a Beyoğlu institution and a welcome break for tired feet! Customers squeeze into the tiny shop with its retro tables and chairs but it's not a place for lingering and most eat standing up! The profiteroles are constantly being plated up and left on the counter for customers to help themselves so there's no time wasted queuing! 

İnci Pastanesi

Profiteroles at the ready!  

                  

You can never have too much 
chocolate sauce!

After refuelling at İnci's it's back along the Avenue hunting for the 'pasaji' (passages - off the main street) which are lined with stalls selling surplus stock from local textile factories including items which didn't quite make it into the British high street stores. We snapped up a couple of bargains - current season Reiss shorts (£12!) and a Top Shop maxi (£3 - unbelievable!!)

To experience this varied and vibrant area you really have to wander around the narrow streets off the main avenue to be rewarded with fantastic architecture and an amazing choice of restaurants, bars and clubs.

                 


Cezayir Sokağı, also known as La Rue Française
(French Street near Galatarasay Lisesi school)
 is famous for its francophone cafés and restaurants.

Finally we made it to the end of the Avenue, after numerous detours, to Taksim Square, the heart of modern Istanbul, laid out in the late 1800s near a taksim (branching-point) in the city's water distribution system. The Independence Monument (Istiklal Anıtı) at the southern end of the square commemorates the Turkish Republic's founder, Kemal Atatürk. 
         
The Istanbul experience will continue soon............but for the moment....

  miss b recommends:

• wearing flat shoes!
• The House Café for minty lemonade and light chocolate mud cake
• Midpoint restaurant/bar with rooftop terrace

                                                             

                       

The House Café İstiklal Caddesi is

housed within the historic Mısır Apartment.

  

The House Café Tünel is situated in a
quaint century-old passage.

Minty lemonade at The House Café