Business Travel to Istanbul: Around the Corner from the Congress Valley

Our Local Expert Says:

As always, the Hilton delivers on it's promises. Used by many visiting celebrities and VIPS.

Description:

The Hilton was the first high-rise block built to accommodate visitors to Istanbul. Although it provides its guests with beautiful, sweeping panoramic views of the Bosphorus, it's a bit of an eyesore to look at from the outside. Considering the prices, the rooms are not exceptional. The décor however, is pleasant and the hotel provides a vast range of facilities for families and businesspeople. For sporty types, there is a kilometer-long running track winding through the lush 13 acres of gardens. Not all of the rooms have Bosphorus views and they are therefore priced accordingly. One of the hotel's claims to fame is that Ian Fleming stayed here in 1955 when he was working on From Russia With Love.

Description:

Congress Valley is a name denoted to a collection of congress centers, a theater, an open air concert area and the new built under ground congress building. It is an area of over 85000 metersq. enclosed by Lütfi Kırdar Congress & Exhibition Center and Rumeli Saloon, Hilton Convention Center and Gümüş Street, Harbiye Military Officers' Club and Military Museum, Cemil Topuzlu Açıkhava Theater and Taşkışla Street. Lütfi Kırdar Congress & Exhibition Center was the first congress center among others in this so-called Congress Valley that was renovated. This has been followed by the deconstruction of Muhsin Ertuğrul Theater -an achievement that generated a lot of bad reaction and criticism by the arts people and the folks. The new Congress Center, with 7 floors under the ground and 5 floors above, including a new theater stage was built in place here. The theater area in this new complex has been almost doubled with a marginal increase in the audience capacity.

Description:

Claiming to be the oldest restaurant in Istanbul, its bright walls give the three rooms a contemporary atmosphere. By far the most pleasant room is the one at the back; you'll find pink tones, a skylight and a glittering old world chandelier. The English menu lists a vast selection of Turkish and Ottoman delights. It's an excellent place for lunch. A colorful display of preserved pickles and fruits brightens up the entrance. Try the Kunefe for dessert; it's to die for.

Our Local Expert Says:

Indeed one of the best art museums in the city - with great views and a smart café to boast!

Description:

Making its debut in 2004, Istanbul Modern is Turkey's first museum dedicated to displaying contemporary art. Located on the Sea of Marmara, the museum is a 86,000 square foot renovated government warehouse that houses abstract paintings, portraits, sculptures and photographs from local artists and public and private collections. Istanbul Modern fuses Turkish and Western aesthetic influences to create a connection between Turkish and European institutions of art. Although the Turkish government has offered some assistance, the museum is privately funded by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and the Eczacibasi family, who also provides the permanent collection. Attracting 5,000 visitors daily, one of the most popular exhibits at the museum is the "Stairway to Hell" by Monica Bonvicini in 2003, a sculpture featuring chains and bullet-shattered glass. Other exhibits feature work by Fahrelnissa Zeid and Seker Ahmet Pasa. Istanbul Modern will also offer art history programs for children and adults. Admission is free on Thursdays from 10a-2p, and discounts are offered for students and groups.

Our Local Expert Says:

Shoppers' haven

Description:

Abdi İpekçi Caddesi is much referred as the "5th Avenue" of Istanbul among locals. Another competing avenue in terms of shopping and larking is the Bagdat Caddesi on the Asian continent. However, if you ask most residents of Istanbul about where to tie up your high-end shopping, the answer is more likely to be on Abdi İpekçi Street. Starting with Channel down the bottom of the street, as one makes his/her way up the "always crowded" Midpoint Cafe and Brandroom, passing aside from the entrance of the legendary Reasurans Passage (where locally managed small boutiques selling old season La Perla and high end La Scarpa are found together with some of the best restaurants of Nişantaşı, such as Zanzibar and Assk) and reaching slowly slowly to Louis Vuitton and Prada...

As if that was not all of it, the side streets running across are filled with more variety and choice; as well as affordability in terms of price. A place all shoppers should visit before they go back home.

Our Local Expert Says:

Time Out Food and Drink Award’s Best New Restaurant (2008)

Description:

Located near the Abdi Ipekci Street and inside the corner of the Reasurans Passage, Zazie offers an atmosphere radically different from the general "high-heeled, Madison Avenue" aura of the Abdi Ipekci itself. Owned a popular Turkish actor Cemal Hunal, who has recently won fame with Turkish director Cagan Irmak's movie called "Issiz Adam" (a.k.a "No Man is an Island" type of movie and character) and his family, Zazie does carry a sniff of snobbish and high-end, casual people's bar and restaurant. The interior decoration and design, which has been done by Vicki Hunal, matches this aura as well. Everything is of very high quality here. The tomato soup tastes like tomato and mystifies the appetites of the neighbouring tables, the pizzas are impressive, large and delicious, the salad menu is very rich and so are the amount of ingredients used to make them, the wine list is adequate including a list of 'special' wines as well. The thin crust pizza, made using famous pizza guru Guagneli Gianluca's guidance is a must-try. The place is dim-lit, yet cozy; the waiters are friendly, but also a bit amateurish -service could get frustrating at times of extreme crowd. The place carries the essence of a 'friend's' place.

Description:

Located next to Kırıntı Cafe and above Marca Bar & Restaurant, "Biber" has opened in mid-October (2009) by a famous Turkish "manager" of all sorts of things -bar and restaurant management being the core of those things. It was thus that Biber was recognized more as a neighborhood bar for the jet-setters around the time of its initial opening. That said, Biber is nevertheless a casual place that does not become over-crowded with merry-round and fun people. It is more suitable for people to drop by for pre-dinner drinks and have a few appetizers before hitting off for dinner or clubs. There is a tapas menu and a sushi menu for those willing to pickle finger food while having their aperitives -but these menus are expensive when compared to their counterparts in various other bars. Keep in mind nevertheless, that despite what goes on in the inside and how casual and empty the place might be in the inside, there is an insulting door policy that causes trouble to the arrivees as early as 7 PM in the evening. Try your luck, but don't fret over it if you are turned down.

Description:

Reservations for front row tables offering a vast and beautiful view are essential at this very chic restaurant. The sleek white and chrome décor attracts an elegant lunch crowd of businessmen and is also very much preferred by ladies' social groups for their luncheon parties. The menu is an innovative blend of fusion Turkish and continental cuisine. A word of caution: The staff used to be  unobtrusively efficient and the service excellent; however, there has been some lack of care and sloppiness in this are in recent years. The restaurant did also lose some of its local customers. Nevertheless, it does continue to offer excellent samples of world cuisine, especially sushi.

Our Local Expert Says:

An interesting fact is that it has the world's largest chandelier - the size of a small car in fact!

Description:

Imagine a home with 285 rooms, 6 baths (hamam), 68 toilets and a ceiling made of 14 tonnes of gold! The Dolmabahçe Palace built on a reclaimed land is one such marvelous structure, built by the Ottoman Sultan, Abdulmecid between 1853-1922. A guided tour to this splendid palace will be an experience, checking out the modern approach to architecture with an essentially French influence. The rich tastes and splendor of the era is evident in every corner and artifact in the decor. You just can't miss the Bohemian crystal chandelier, the Crystal Staircase or the original bearskin rugs.

Description:

With its perfect location on a crossroad in Nisantasi, this little cafe is an inalienable meeting hub for what Zagat.com calls the "well-heeled Madison Avenue-type-crowd." The interior of the place has been decorated in an art-deco style and is reserved for dinners and lunches. The exterior with a resemblance of a "street garden" has a lower capacity for approximately 10 small tables and is usually overcrowded for lunch and coffee on sunny and warm days. The menu has been prepared by the French Chef Jean Pierre Jung and is a compilation of the best samples of European dishes adjusted to the Turkish palate. French Onion Soup, Duck Pate, Honey Rolls, Niçoise Salad and Sole Fish with Butter and Lemon are among the favorable dishes. Last but not least, one of the perfect places in Istanbul for people-watching...

Our Local Expert Says:

One of the most famous avenues of Istanbul and one of the most lively

Description:

This 2-mile pedestrian boulevard is a must-stroll for any visitor to Istanbul. Formerly known as the Grande Rue de Péra, the street's name was changed to İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue) after Turkish independence was declared in 1923. The grand boulevard's turn-of-the-century European-style façades are well cared for, and the shops and restaurants that line the promenade are not extremely touristy or expensive. If you start at Taksim Square, İstiklal Caddesi will lead you all the way to the neighborhood home to the famous Galata Tower. Before you reach Galata, you'll pass through Karaköy, where you can see (and ride, for all of two stops) the world's second-oldest subway, the Tünel. One of İstiklal's side streets is the old Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Passage). Along another offshoot you'll find a slew of independent shops selling handcrafted musical instruments. İstiklal Caddesi is also your point of entry to the famous Balık Pazarı (Fish Market). Obviously, the huge boulevard is full of history and mystery, so leave no cobblestone unturned!

Our Local Expert Says:

Offering one of the best views of the city, 360 has few competitors in the way of good service, good food and an outstanding view.

Description:

With views as good as this, it's no wonder that Istanbul is sprouting restaurant and bar venues in what are traditionally apartment or office buildings. 360 Istanbul takes advantage of the belfry of St. Antoine and panoramic views of the Golden Horn; on a cool summer's eve, there's really no better place to be. The decor is an unexpectedly pleasing amalgam of brick, steel, glass, and velvet; tables, alfresco banquettes, and a lounge area ensure that everybody gets something he or she wants. The Thai and Turkish menu is rather beside the point, although, there are plenty of appetizers and finger foods to hold you over for the real meal. Go early for the best outdoor seating, or arrive late and mill about the wraparound terrace. Reservations are suggested for dinner (main courses 20YTL-34YTL/$17-$30/£7.60-£13). Open daily noon to 1am.

Description:

Çiçek Pasajı which literally means "Flower Passage" was originally named Cité de Péra. It is a covered alley, a historic and famous passage, that was built in 1876. The site where the passage stands today was originally the Naum Theater -which was often frequented by the Sultan and is known world-wide for hosting Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore before Paris. The Naum Theater was completely destroyed in the great fire of Beyoglu in 1870. Çiçek Pasajı is a real diversion from the old Theater and also from the already charming main drag Istiklal Caddesi -along which it is located. The passage is filled with lively restaurants, pubs, wine bars, taverns (meyhanes) and music. It is almost like the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan - an L-shaped, cobblestone-laden path, picturesque and enchanting atmosphere with rows of taverns and restaurants. Çiçek Pasajı is also a great spot for a solid Turkish meal (with a menu in your language) or a stiff drink -raki being the most appropriate one. At night, the passage is lit up literally and metaphorically, with colorful lights and live musicians at your table side. Despite its location and history, the Çiçek Pasajı is not overwhelmingly touristy, and it's a great place to stop in for a refresher on your journey down İstiklal, or to have a nightcap after a long day of sightseeing. You will notice the local folk eating and dancing with the musicians until late in the night; you may as well join in with them.

Description:

The new Capa (Turkish businessman well known for his experience in opening and running restaurants and bars) restaurant that has recently opened inside of the Sofa Hotel. Interesting ambiance, rich colors, rich food and very exhaustive cocktail menu… Frequented often by the Turkish social-elites for dinner and after dinner fun

Description:

When in Istanbul, head to Hunkar for some of the best traditional Turkish food. Located in the upscale shopping district of Nisantasi, this establishment is pretty much high-end, in keeping with its surroundings. The trendy decor and mouth watering cuisine make it worth a visit. Try the Crunchy Lamb (on a bed of mashed eggplant) or the specialty, Hünkar Beğendi. Make sure you sample their palatable homemade jams and desserts too.

Description:

Travel back to the Ottaman times at The Mezzanine in Hyatt Regency Istanbul. Grab something to drink along with some starters and enjoy it while you sink into the big cosy sofas here in the lounge. Relax in the afternoon while you listen to the soft music, with a beautiful view of the garden outside. The Bohemian chandeliers and the fragrance of hot teas, pastries and exotic Turkish sweets, adds to the restful atmosphere making it a comfortable place to chill out.

Description:

Situated in the heart of Taksim, this center houses the Presidential symphony orchestra, the opera, ballet, and other cultural and artistic events. However, it has been closed down for some time and has thus attracted a lot of protest from the elite population. It is bound to reopen in May 2010.