Music & Nightlife

Your guide to the best gigs, live venues and nightclubs in Istanbul

Live music in the city

Music

Salon IKSV

Consistently featuring some of the best international bookings in the city, Salon's calendar is jam-packed with the hottest names in jazz, rock, alternative,...
Music

Zorlu Studio

A multi-purpose arts space within Zorlu PSM, Studio hosts boutique concerts spanning all genres. Its impressive sound system and electronic music bookings in...
Music

Babylon Bomonti

Istanbul’s premier live music venue Babylon has singlehandedly transformed Bomonti into the city’s newest nightlife destination after relocating to the...
Music

Dorock XL Kadıköy

One of many new arrivals in Kadıköy, the massive Dorock XL hosts concerts of Turkey's top musical acts and encapsulates a spacious lounge with indoor and...
Music

Peyote Nevizade

The long-running Peyote is one of the most popular and beloved venues in Istanbul. Tucked away in Nevizade in the heart of Beyoğlu, Peyote hosts live music...
Music

Pendor Corner

Offering free live music several nights a week, Pendor Corner is an old Beyoğlu favorite that has weathered the storm and remained open while many of its...

Top Istanbul clubs

Clubs

Minimüzikhol

As the name suggests, Minimüzikhol is an intimate affair nestled in an apartment floor in the trendy Cihangir neighbourhood. Founded in 2009 by a...
Clubs

Arkaoda

Ever since setting up shop on the bar street Kadife Sokak in 1999, this iconic establishment has had a pioneering role in Kadıköy’s transformation into...
Clubs

Citizen

Hidden away on a blind alley off İstiklal Caddesi, Citizen is one of the only remaining places to listen to good house and techno in Taksim – and al fresco:...
Clubs

Gizli Bahçe

Gizi Bahçe (Turkish for 'Secret Garden') is hidden in plain view on Nevizade's main meyhane street in the dead center of Beyoğlu. A great late-night spot that...
Clubs

Pixie Underground

Priding itself as being Istanbul’s first and only club dedicated to bass music, Pixie Underground is where you can hear the finest dubstep, jungle, dub, DnB...
Clubs

Kiki

Cihangir's Kiki is one of the area's most popular clubs and is a great place to dance on the weekend, or simply to enjoy a cocktail or meal in the spacious...
Advertising

Jazz & blues clubs

Nardis Jazz Club
Music

Nardis Jazz Club

Known to be perhaps the go-to jazz bar, Nardis is situated at the foot of the Galata Tower and features live jazz music from local and international acts...
The Badau
Music

The Badau

A newcomer to the Istanbul jazz scene, The Badau opened its doors two years ago in the increasingly popular neighborhood of Yeldeğirmeni in Kadıköy. The...
Bova
Music

Bova

Though only open for around a year, Bova has already become known as one of Istanbul's premier jazz bars, located on the bustling Mis Sokak in the heart of...