The Most Instagrammable Cafés in Istanbul

Table of Contents

Stretching across the Bospherous, Istanbul is the only major city in the world that directly connects two continents: Europe and Asia. It’s this very connection that gives Istanbul such unique charm and character. 

Though it isn’t the countries capital, it is it’s largest, with a massive fifteen million people living there in 2019.  Although the vast majority of the population are Muslim, Istanbul has long had a culture and religious inclusion and tolerance.  

And nowhere is the coming together of faiths, cultures and creeds seen than among the cities thousands of cafés. In this post, I’ll show you seven of the most Instagrammable cafés in Istanbul.

Make sure to check out my complete guide to the best spots for photography in Istanbul to see some other great Instagrammable locations

Turkish coffee is not just a drink but also a social study, bringing together cultural gaps, social values and beliefs.

Uysal Yenipinar
Guide to the most instagrammable cafe's in Istanbul

Istanbul's Café Culture

Turkey has had a long and enduring relationship with coffee.  It seems to have been first introduced to the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th Century. Coffee took the country by storm. By the rule of Suleiman the Magnificent, it was wide-spread throughout the empire, including in Istanbul.

Coffee Houses sprang up throughout the city. And, by the end of the century, Turkish Coffee – as we know it today – had become a staple part of Turkish tradition, diet and culture. 

Today, there are thousands  of coffee shops and cafés throughout the city, with each district having their own unique style and character. 

Many take pride in creating beautiful and traditional places where locals and tourists alike can sit for hours and enjoy coffee, tea and Turkish delight. It’s one of the main reasons you’ll find the most Instagrammable cafés in Istanbul, rather than in other parts of the country.

What is Turkish Coffee?

Turkish Coffee refers to a specific way of brewing that uses incredibly fine coffee grounds (almost like a fine powder).  This fine powder is then brewed inside a special pot called a ‘cevez’ along with sugar, although it can be brewed unsweetened. 

Woman drinking Turkish Coffee and Turkish Delight
Turkish coffee in a traditional porcelain cup

The result is a thick, brown and frothy coffee. A lot of the finely powdered coffee grounds spill out of the cevez and into the cup, settling in a sort of brown sludge at the bottom.

Turkish Coffee Fortune Telling

Traditionally, the spent coffee grounds (aka the sludge) has been used to tell the fortunes of travellers for centuries. 

It’s said that by looking at and interpreting the shapes formed by the spent coffee grounds, one can get a glimpse of an individuals past, present and future. 

Many cafés in the city will actually employee fortune tellers to read for fortunes of their customers.

How to make Turkish Coffee

Making Turkish Coffee is somewhat of an art form that has been fine-tuned over the centuries. Each region will have their own unique blend and technique, meaning that even among the popular and most Instagrammable cafés in Istanbul, you’ll always get something different. 

The short video below explains in detail how to make Turkish Coffee

Do you drink the sludge in Turkish coffee?

The short answer is no. It’s not recommended to drink the sludge in Turkish Coffee. That said, it can  be somewhat unavoidable to ingest a little of the coffee powder as much of it remains in suspension. There’s a noticeable moment with every cup however when you feel  sharp, thick mixture against your lips – when you hit that, it’s time to stop drinking.  

Is Turkish Coffee Stronger Than Other Coffees?

Again, the short answer is no. In terms of how it tastes, it can seem a lot stronger as you are almost always ingesting some of the spent coffee grounds, which gives a strong, bitter taste. On paper though, Espresso contains more caffeine. That being said, when I had a Turkish coffee, it blew my bloody socks off! I don’t drink much caffeine though. 

7 Most Instagrammable Cafés in Istanbul

Dandin Bakery

Dandin Coffee is a hip and trendy café located in the equally trendy district of Karaköy. They offer a fresh and modern take on traditional Turkish dishes. Furthermore, the owners and staff are lovely people and more than happy to teach you about Turkish coffee and tea, should you ask. 

Aside from the quality and beautify of the food served, the cafés high ceiling, exposed brick walls and selection of vibrant green house plants make it one of the most Instagrammable cafés in Istanbul.

Location: Karaköy 

Price: $$

Recommendations: Try the ‘Specials’ menu for some truly wonderful Turkish gems. And, don’t forget to nibble on one of their famous Lavender Cookies. 

Maide Cafe

I stumbled across Maide Café during a visit to the colourful district of Balat, the traditional Jewish quarter of Istanbul. Located on Yıldırım Street, I was instantly drawn in by the cafés ‘shabby-chic’ charm and character. 

It’s centrepiece though, and why I consider it to be a contender for one of the most Instagrammable cafés in Istanbul, has to be the funky (and somewhat eerie) wall art and graffiti. Just take a look at the banner image at the top of this post. 

The art reminds me of a sort of Turkish Banksy, including artistic takes on Little Red Riding-hood carrying a basket full of McDonald’s and a baby holding up the Batman mask against it’s face. 

Location: Balat 

Price: $

Recommendations: Sitting outside, you can get a great picture set against the cafés artistic back-drops from the street. Take a few paces back to fit everything in. The café is also close to the areas famous, colourful houses on Kiremit Street, which I highlight in my guide to the best photography locations in Istanbul

Balat Antik Cafe

A few moments away from Maide Café is the extreemly colourful Antik Café. It goes without saying that this café has jumped on the trend of attracting attention by covering the place in over 30 rainbow umbrellas to create a stunning canopy of colour. 

In Turkey, if you want to become one of the most instagrammable cafés in Istanbul you need to be bright – and Antik certainly understands this.  

In addition to the umbrellas, the café is full of other opportunities to create some stunning Instagram photo’s, with stunning floral sets, swings and colourful wooden tables and benches. 

Location: Balat 

Price: $

Recommendations: The most popular shot is standing directly underneath the umbrellas. But many people forget to look around the café  itself, where there are loads of hidden secrets to discover. Don’t just stop by the entrance, go in, order one of their excellent Apple Tea’s and relax for a while. 

Incir Agaci Kahvesi

Literally right around the corner from Antik Café is the equally bright and colourful Incir Agaci Khavesi Café.

With it’s multi-coloured steps and vibrant furniture, the café is one of the biggest on Instagram and arguably one of the most Instagrammable cafés in Istanbul – but what do you think? 

The food and drink is great too (especially the Mezes) and the café is a popular hang-out for the young and trendy population of Balat. 

Location: Balat

Price: $$

Recommendations: You can capture some great shots here for Instagram almost anywhere you go, but the most popular image I’ve seen is standing at the bottom of the rainbow stairs and shooting upwards towards the top of the café. Centre your subject sitting in the middle of the steps if you have one. 

 

F'Roses Cafe

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that F’Roses Café was purpose built for Instagram. And, frankly, it probably was. 

Located well off the beaten track in Arnavutköy (about a $10 taxi from Galata/Karaköy, the café has developed a unique identity and a strong theme – can you guess what it is? If you guessed Roses (pink ones to be exact), you’d be correct. The café is stuffed full of them. 

If I had to pick a winner, I would say that, for pure dedication and style, F’Roses is the most Instagrammable café in Istanbul by quite some margin with almost 30k followers on the platform

It also serves some incredible cakes and pastries, including some with special rose flavourings…who would have guessed. 

Location: Arnavutköy 

Price: $$$

Recommendations: I won’t teach you to suck eggs. There are a tonne of Instagram photo opportunities at F’Roses. Since it’s a bit of a trek to get there, I would recommend you take your time, have lunch and enjoy the setting. 

Kybele Hotel & Café 

The Kybele Hotel is located right near the main strip in Sultanahmet and is the perfect stop for tired tourists looking to stock up on cake and coffee. 

It’s a popular attraction for photographers who spot the the hotels vibrant blue exterior out-shinning most of the surrounding buildings. The café itself is also colourful and filled with bright cushions and traditional Turkish lanterns. 

The hotel’s restaurant also offers an superb array of local delicacies should you require more fuel than a simple tea or coffee. 

Location: Sultanahmet 

Price: $

Recommendations: Don’t forget to checkout the hotel’s interior, it’s equally vibrant and worth taking some photo’s of. 

Salt Galata Cafe & Library

Far more than just a simple café, Salt Galata is located within the old Ottoman Bank building in the Galata district. With 4.5 Stars on Tripadvisor.com, it’s fair to say that this cafe makes the cut for one of the best and most instagrammable cafes in Istanbul.

There’s a library as well as a cultural centre. The spot is a popular one among the cities students and academics. It’s a great place to spend a long afternoon reading, writing or generally mulling things over (if you have the time). 

Location: Galata 

Price: $$

Recommendations:  Making your way up onto the balcony you can get some fantastic shots of the white pillars and the atrium below – like the photograph above. 

Where is the best place to stay in Istanbul

When I visited the city in 2019, I stayed in Karaköy. I would strongly recommend it. 

Karaköy is one of the more modernised and gentrified districts in the city. It’s full of wonderful restaurants, trendy modern architecture, shopping and – if you’re interested in staying out late – many, many bars that are open late. 

 You can easily reach all the popular sites by tram or simply by walking. There are some great value hotels in the area. I’d recommend the following: 

  • 10 Karakoy Hotel – a gorgeous 5* right in the heart of Karakoy. 
  • Wings Hotel – another 5* with beautiful, stylish rooms just past the Galata Bridge. 
  • Kolemen Homes – stylish, great value apartments perfect for multiple travellers.

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Hi, I’m Hamish, British born adventurer, photographer, writer and self-confessed travel addict. Welcome to by blog, My Travel Fix; a jumble of stories and mis-adventures from my travels around the world.

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