It was Friday night after work when we decided to check out Akali, the new joint opened by Gile chef Cihan Kıpçak and his brother Çağlar.
We have to admit we were a bit scared when we first saw the venue, surrounded by houses on a quiet side street off the main road that leads from Akaretler to Nişantaşı. When we took the time to breathe in the air and hear its story, we saw Akali for what it truly is: both an effortlessly cool eatery and warm local pub.
Akali gets its name from the Kıpçaks’ grandfather, Ak Ali. Here, the brothers pay homage to their hometown of Marmaris, and even use fruits from their mother’s lemon tree and wild garlic from their grandfather’s field. Cihan Kıpçak’s bread and pastry recipes take center stage at Akali, where sweet and savory croissants, quiches and brownies beckon you from the display case.
You’ll also find sandwiches and unique waffle flavors like kavurmalı-kaşarlı ( cheese and fried meat, 7 TL) here. We also recommend the breakfast platter (25 TL), which comes with a variety of jams and cheeses, as well as a slightly spicy pepper paste. The breads are a whole other story, and the kıstırma ekmeği – a pide [the Turkish pizza] topped with string cheese, black olives and balsamic vinegar – is simply divine.
Everything from the stools to the shelves were designed by the Kıpçak brothers and created by Stad Mimari to achieve a truly home-like feel in a small space. We recommend paying them an afternoon visit the first chance you get – before everyone else discovers it.