Refined in Istanbul

Over-water fish-meyhane on the Baltalimanı seam.

Bar side of Four Seasons' Bosphorus seafood room, terrace to the water, Mediterranean pours

Bosphorus garden classic since 1997, brunch by day, full bar and cocktails after dark

Gül Sultan mansion, Bosphorus, rakı, fish

Square-side Ortaköy classic since 1988, meze, rakı and a renovated upper terrace under the bridge

Grand Tarabya's second-floor bar, a Bosphorus-bay cocktail terrace.

Sarıyer Çarşı fish-meyhane known for kalkan and meze depth.

After-work cocktail room on Büyükdere for the Levent towers

İskele-side brasserie with proper cocktail list under the bridge

Late-night Kireçburnu fish-meyhane open until 02:00.

New-generation kebap rethinking ocakbasi culture

Pigalle ve MiniBar ekibinden izakaya esintili Japon tapas barı, vinil geceleri.

Istanbul twist on Raffles Singapore's original Long Bar, nightly live music

Fifth-floor warm dive defending old Beyoğlu's spirit

Kireçburnu waterline fish house, rakı nights the neighborhood still uses.

Revived heritage brand with contemporary ambition, expanding to Bodrum

The Tarabya fish crescent local without the tourist markup.

Bosphorus-mouth fish-house where the strait opens to the Black Sea.

Gault & Millau-listed yalı for marinated lüfer and rakı

Chef Kaan Kayhan's waterfront meyhane on the Yeniköy pier.

Bosphorus-pier classic since 1949 under century-old plane trees.

33 years of rakı-sunset at the mouth of the Bosphorus

Tarabya marina fish-house with a working bar program.

Istanbul's pre-eminent 1980 classic bar – stained glass, live music, real regulars.

Haydarpaşa-station-themed cafe-bar that turns into a wine and beer hangout after dark.