Here are my suggestions for a lovely day in Beyoğlu area of Istanbul. Everywhere in this itinerary is within walking distance to each other, however, the whole tour will cover a large area. You will not lose any time since you're not commuting via public transportation -that may kill your whole day in Istanbul. Hopefully you enjoy it, and please feel free to make suggestions, comments below, in the comments area.
MORNING
@9:30am | Breakfast | NIKOL GALATA (Galata)
Stop by Nikol for their signature toast or ‘menemen’, Turkish scrambled eggs. Everything in this cafe - other than the waiters - is for sale.
Location: Foursquare Link
@11am | Shopping | JANSET BILGIN ATOLYE (Galata)
This tour guide-turned-jewelry designer has one of the mostoriginal collections in town. Check her latest at http://jansetbilgin.com/index.htm
Location: Foursquare Link
@11:30am | Shopping | LES BENJAMINS (Galata)
Little pricey but uniquely designed t-shirts featuring Bunyamin and his friends' philosophy of "union and progress" similar to The Young Turks movement.
Location: Foursquare Link
@12:45pm | Coffee Break | KRONOTROP (Cihangir)
Probably the best coffee shop/roaster in Istanbul. Enjoy your coffee on the spot (tiny place though) or have a take away. They only serve fair trade coffee.
Location: Foursquare Link
AFTERNOON
@2:15pm | Lunch | CHAPELLE RIXOS PERA (Tepebaşı)
Located in the courtyard of Saint Helena's Chapelle (dated 1582 --hence the name), Chapelle offers a good variety of tasty food and a wide range of remarkable wines.
Location: Foursquare Link
@4pm | Art Gallery | SALT BEYOĞLU (Istiklal)
If you're into contemporary art, don't forget to check SALT Beyoğlu. It offers a rich program of exhibitions, screenings, discussions and talks by international and Turkish artists.
Location: Foursquare Link
@5:15pm | Coffee/Dessert Break | J’ADORE CHOCOLATIER (Istiklal)
They have delicious desserts, but their hot chocolates are to die for!
Location: Foursquare Link
@6:15pm | Wandering Around | KONTRA PLAK (Tomtom)
Feed your soul with essential local and international tunes. If you're lucky, you may come across a little concert of a local band at the store.
Location: Foursquare Link
EVENING
@7:15pm | For pre-dinner drinks | LITERA (Galatasaray)
Litera, the bar on the fifth floor of the Goethe Institute, has one of the best views of Istanbul.
Location: Foursquare Link
@8:45pm | For dinner | 8 ISTANBUL
Classical Turkish cuisine with a modern touch in a cozy yet elegant ambiance, featuring chef Maksut Askar's delights.
Location: Foursquare Link
@10:30pm | For eine kleine nachtmusik
You're in the best part of town to listen to good music – check what's on at Babylon, Salon IKSV, or Minimuzikhol for late late night.
Babylon Events of the Week: http://www.babylon.com.tr/en/events/events-of-the-week
Location: Foursquare Link
Check Salon IKSV's website for event calendar: http://www.saloniksv.com/en
Location: Foursquare Link
Check calendar on MiniMüzikhol Website: http://www.minimuzikhol.com/
Location: Foursquare Link
