Istanbul Travel Guide

At roughly two thousand square miles, Istanbul is over fifty times the size of Manhattan. Despite such behemoth scale, the neighbourhoods that comprise the city make the prospect of exploring the Istanbul points of interest far less daunting.

As Istanbul’s answer to Greenwich Village, Cihangir is an enclave of the city best known for its laid-back vibe and bohemian style. Cihangir is where you’ll find cafes on nearly every corner, cats curled in almost every sliver of sunshine and enough museums to keep you in awe for days. Situated between the Sultanahmet quarter of the old city and the vibrant nightlife of Taksim Square, Cihangir is the perfect location to experience the contrast between ancient Istanbul and the Istanbul of today. And at its heart is the elegant Witt Istanbul Suites. A favourite with travellers who appreciate spacious digs – the oversized accommodations feel more like chic lofts than they do hotel rooms – the Witt has sleek aesthetics and amenities including cavernous, hammam-style bathrooms clad in locally sourced marble.

Start your day in Cihangir with a traditional Turkish breakfast at Van Kahvaltı Evi on Defterdar Yokuşu. While they might not have a website to refer to, follow the impressive lines that form each morning to find Van’s unassuming door. Come hungry – portions can be huge. Make sure to leave room for the kaymak, though. Turkey’s answer to clotted cream, kaymak is best enjoyed smothered atop a slab of fresh, warm bread and drizzled with some native honey.

An aptly named homage to Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk’s novel; the impossibly quirky, endlessly fascinating Museum of Innocence in Çukurcuma may be small but what it lacks in size it makes up for with an enormous, cultural punch. When the warm Turkish sun proves too beguiling to stay indoors, head to the public gardens at Cihangir Mosque and drink in the spectacular views of the Bosphorus Strait, the dividing line between Istanbul’s European side and the Asian shores that lie a stone’s throw away.

When the sun sets, Cihangir comes alive as some of the hottest nightspots the city has to offer to begin to wake. At Jash, gramophones, artefacts and impromptu explosions of live music all work to make you feel as if you are dining in the private parlour of some wildly eclectic, infinitely interesting bon vivant. For breath-taking views and visionary cuisine to match, head to Chef Mehmet Gürs’ Mikla. Perched atop the Marmara Pera Hotel, Mikla’s tasting menu is a journey not to be missed. Cap off your evening by dancing the night away at Reina, the area’s most glamorous nightspot where techno beats and crafted cocktails are served with killer views – of the celebrities who favour the high-energy club, that is.