Refined Bar 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

Brasserie-attached cigar room on the Vadistanbul side

The Stay's small rooftop above Bebek Hotel, intimate, signature cocktails, fairy-tale Bosphorus straight onto the bay.

Gül Sultan mansion, Bosphorus, rakı, fish

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

Wood-panelled clubby signature bar at the Ottoman palace, elite spirits library

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

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

Wide Bosphorus terrace lounge for sundown cigars and the city's best afternoon tea

After-work cocktail room on Büyükdere for the Levent towers

Cognac, cigar and Friday-night jazz inside the Ottoman shipyard

İskele-side brasserie with proper cocktail list under the bridge

Pier-tip bar-lounge with live music surrounded by sea on three sides

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

Glass-domed rooftop cigar room over the historical peninsula

Lobby brasserie and terrace at Hilton Bosphorus, all jewel-box finishes and crafted drinks

Shangri-La's lobby bar, jewel-box interior, sharing plates, signature cocktails until 1am

Forbes 2025 Star Bar set in the palace gardens

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

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

A park-keeper's hut built over the water, windows on three sides, classic mezes and full rakı/wine bar

Fifth-floor warm dive defending old Beyoğlu's spirit

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

Belle-Époque hotel bar where Agatha Christie drank, literature nights, Friday live jazz, Istanbul-narrative cocktails.

The Tarabya fish crescent local without the tourist markup.

Panoramic CVK lounge with live performers and a proper bar program

Ground-floor hotel bar where the Foxy crowd spills over for DJs and late drinks.

14th-floor sushi-and-cocktails bar overlooking both continents

Hilltop Baltalimanı panorama, bar open until 2am.

Palazzo Corpi ground-floor lounge, the only Soho House bar open to the public, meze-and-cocktail anchor of Meşrutiyet.

Sipping bubbles at the water's edge as the call to prayer echoes

Water-edge House Café flagship, two terraces, full bar, summer DJ weekends

English gentlemen's-club style bar with whiskey, cognac and live music six nights.

27-storey Ataşehir tower with a proper lobby-bar cocktail hour

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

Gault & Millau-listed yalı for marinated lüfer and rakı

Ottoman-motif velvet lobby bar inside the Akaretler row-house W, late DJ sets

Four Seasons Bosphorus lounge on one of the best terraces on the water

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.

Hagia Sophia-and-Marmara cocktail terrace at Four Seasons Sultanahmet

Glass jewel-box of vintage champagne with sommelier service

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

The Nişantaşı 1980s power-lunch institution moved Bosphorus-side, 30-plus crowd, private pier, classic cocktails

St. Regis lobby bar where the Misty Mary is poured under dry ice

138 whiskies, six guided malt tours, one chef-curated pairing