Bar hopping around town

Over on the Asian side of town, Kadıköy remains the apple of the eye for an ever-increasing number of Istanbulites looking for a fun night out. Kadıköy’s beloved bar street, Kadife Sokak, is usually so packed during the weekends that you’ll be hard pressed to wade through the crowd without stepping on someone’s foot. If you’ve made it half way through the street, then duck right into Bina, one of Kadıköy’s most popular bars whose calendar is peppered with a selection of talks, screenings, performances and other events curated by independent magazine Bant on the upper floors. The bottom floor garden is a wide open, smartly-designed space with plenty of room to kick back with friends over a few drinks, while the ground floor hosts DJs until well after midnight. For drinks, try the Stalker, which is made with smoked lavender, or the espresso-spiked Dude.

Since settin up shop up in Akaretler in 2012, Craft Beer Lab has introduced over 100 international brews to Istanbul’s beer lovers. The interior’s steel-meets-wood is both decorative and functional, as the large pipe hanging above the counter connects the many taps lining the bar front with the upstairs cold room, where the kegs are kept fresh in controlled temperature. The waiters at Craft Beer Lab take their beer seriously and approach food pairing with the sensitivity of a sommelier; that chopped steak served with strained yoghurt does indeed go nicely with a pint of London Pride. The roadside tables are ideal if you want to partake in some people watching while sipping a cold one, or you can grab a chair under the shade of a tree in the lush back garden and forget that you’re in downtown Istanbul. Don’t miss their October-fest themed events that take place concurrently with the festivities in Munich.

It's been a few years since the neighbourhood’s culinary and cultural hub Bomontiada opened its doors inside the old Bomonti beer factory, whose storied beer gardens were once at the heart of social life in the city. Bomontiada’s courtyard is somewhat of a spiritual successor to the gardens, especially during the summer when free outdoor concerts draw the crowds and the local brew flows freely in The Populist, a microbrewery and craft beer pub that’s situated on the square. The Populist’s airy ambience, exemplary bar fare and signature beers crafted by brewmaster Philip Green have made it a favourite summer destination – as you can’t make reservations for the outdoor tables, we recommend heading there as early as possible.

The after-work classic Efendi is run by a seasoned mixologist better known as Dede (Grandpa), whose original recipes have gained him scores of admirers beyond the Topağacı  neighbourhood. The vanilla-infused Encore and the sweet and sour Cashmere are amongst our favourite tipples. It’s always a true delight to sit at one of the street-side tables at Efendi with one of Dede’s classics in hand while smooth funk and soul play in the background.