Istanbul Food & Meyhane Guides

We have been serving Istanbul's meyhane tradition in Kasımpaşa since 1944. These guides explain the culture behind the table — what a meyhane is, how rakı is drunk, what the meze mean, and how to find good food around Beyoğlu without falling into a tourist trap.

What Is a Meyhane? A meyhane is not a bar and not quite a restaurant. Here is what a Turkish meyhane really is, where the tradition comes from, what… How to Drink Rakı What rakı is, why it turns milky white, the correct order of rakı, water and ice, what to eat with it, and the etiquette that… A Guide to Turkish Meze Cold meze, hot starters, olive-oil dishes and how ordering works at an Istanbul meyhane. A practical guide to the meze you will… Where to Eat Near Galata Tower and Taksim An honest guide to eating around Beyoğlu — Galata, Şişhane, Asmalımescit, Nevizade and Kasımpaşa — including which streets are…