Istanbul Nightlife

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Nevizade Sokak, a side street 1 block from Istiklal Caddesi, is an area popular with locals for it's many small "meyhanes" - Turkish taverns, and outdoor sitting areas for chatting and drinking. All along Nevizade, primarily on nice evenings, you will find tables set up outside with loads of people chatting away; snacking on "meze" - small Turkish dishes, and sucking down Efes beer or some "raki" - a Turkish liquor. The taverns and bars here are generally quite small, but are great places to hang out with friends. Many of them play a variety of music, anything from traditional Turkish tunes to Rock. But if you really want to experience Nevizade, grab a spot outside on the street. When we were here, it got so packed outside, people were sitting anywhere they could, even on the curbs of the street. It was great! A excellent place to do some interesting people watching as well!

The Mevlevi Order of Whirling Dervishes was founded in Konya in 1273, but you don't have to travel to central Turkey to see one of their performances. The group featured in the accompanying photograph performed in a room at the Sirkeci train station. As you walk around Istanbul, look for flyers or brochures about their performances. Often, the Whirling Dervishes will perform as part of a dinner package.

There are not many followers left of this sect of Sufism, so what you see might not be authentic. The act of rhythmically spinning in synchronization is suppose to be part of the spiritual journey. The more you know about this group, the more you will enjoy the performance.

There are not many places to see a belly dancing show in Istanbul. One of those places is Sultana's, a packaged dinner show, which cost 40 Euro per person.

The Sultana, the mother of the sultan, was in charge of the harem and its concubines. At the beginning of the show, the audience watches as the sultana selects a new slave girl for the harem. If she is lucky, she will give birth to the next sultan and her power and wealth will increase. One of the ways a concubine would garner attention was by her belly dancing skills.

There are many good belly dancers here. Later in the night, folk dancers dressed in traditional Turkish costumes give a demonstration. The night ends with a singer performing well-known ballads from various countries.

This is more of a tourist trap than a cultural experience. I felt like I was in Disneyland, not Istanbul, while watching the show. That being said, I would recommend it to older travelers or people with children. The price includes the dinner, a small bottle of wine and transportation to and from your hotel.

You can purchase tickets from any travel agency in Istanbul or through your hotel. There will likely be literature about Sultana's in your hotel lobby.

Andon is the place you can find any kind of music entertainment.Turkish classical music and nigth club.Visit nice web page and find everything inside.Page is in turkish but you can get what it says. There are 4 section in the complex.It is an old neo classical house in Beyoglu District.first section is cafe,second one is PERA (PUB),MUDAVIM is a Restaurant with bosphorus wiew.Meyhane is Tukish style food (Mezes(turkish style appetizers) and olive oil based light foods) with Turkish music.And at the roof there is another restaurant with fusion food.If you want to best wiew from beyoglu while having your food go to this place

Crystal is the place to be after all the clubs shut down. This summer, due to the new 'noise level regulations' in effect on the European shores of Istanbul, many clubs have had to turn down their music at 2 am. So Crystal got busier earlier than usual. Cyrstal was good again this summer. I was only there three times this time around but the second time was the best. There was a DJ from Chicago that rocked the club inside. The DJ booth now moved to the opposite wall but the sound is still top quality as before. The club is open from Thursdays to Saturdays (going into Sunday morning actually). It's in Ortakoy almost right underneath the enormous span of the bridge to Asia. The location with its large 'outdoor' bar and seating all around it, large covered lounge area and house music create a super cool atmosphere to hang out in and dance to house music if you feel like it. Last fall/winter, the lounge area was spiffed up so that it's now sleeker and more disco-ey with disco balls, black and white scheme that lends the lounge a rsuper retro feel. Crystal books top DJs from Europe and the US regulary + hosts the best DJs in Turkey as well. Inside is the cavernous club with its dope sound system. Mostly deep, tribal and progressive house music is played in the indoor club but it's running a wider gamut these days from funky to break beats to electo tunes. Famous DJs from all over the world have gotten on Crystal's decks and some really good ones from Istanbul like UFUK and my friends, Evren + Evren played there a while back. I like it when house music is played in the lounge area by DJ Kiwi. One thing I don't like is it gets really hot in the summer months in the lounge area since it it not air-conditioned. The inside club is but there's so much smoke in there that I cannot stand being there for more than 10 minutes!

Dress Code: The dress code's pretty relaxed. Jeans is the predominant Crystal culture wear but for the tops, the trendier the better. Fashionistas have been known to hang out there but in the summer, it's really very casual. Men are usually in T's and crisp linens. Girls, feel free to wear your hot frocks with Christian Loboutins or Manolos, Jimmy Choos or Miu Mius, Gunmetals or G Shocks; your Diors, Dolces, Guccis or grunge, Stellas or Spassos; Polo Garage or Tweens and True Religion jeans and indie designer threads. Soho, boho or the real Bono...cool cats, gals and their pals are welcome as long as you have the matching attitude. It wouldn't hurt if you know people either...that should get you on the VIP line straight through the door. See you there when I go back!

I have made a list of several clubs in Istanbul.. Indeed there are many more but these are the ones that are most commonly known..

REINA
Muallim Naci Caddesi 120 – Ortaköy
Tel. : 0212 259 59 19. Web : http://www.reina.com.tr
Open all day from 17:00 to 04:00

SORTIE KURUCESME
Muallim Naci Caddesi No:141 – Kuruçesme
Tel. :0212 327 85 85
Open all day from 18:00 to 04:00, Except wednesdays

ROCK HOUSE
Dereboyu Caddesi 36/38 - Ortaköy
Tel. : (0212) 259 89 11
Open all day from 12:00 – 02:30, Located inside the Ortakoy princess hotel

THE JAMES JOYCE
Zambak Sokak 6 - Beyoglu
Tram/Métro : Taksim
Tel. : 0212 244 02 41
Web : www.irishpubjamesjoyce.com
Open all day from 10:00 to 02:00.

NORTH SHIELD
Nispetiye Caddesi No:47 - ETILER–Besiktas
Tel. : 0212 263 78 14. Web : http://www.thenorthshield.com
Open all day from 11:00 to 01:00. weekends 05:00

BESINCI KAT – BILSAK
Soganci Sokak 7 - Cihangir / Beyoglu
Tel. :0212 293 37 74. Web : www.5kat.com
Open all day from 11:00 to 01:00 except sunday

BABYLON
Sehbender Sokak 3, Asmali Mescit – Tünel / Beyoglu
Tel. :0212 292 73 63 Web : www.babylon-ist.com
Open Thursday to Saturday from 21:30 – 03:00

NUTERAS / NU PERA
Mesrutiyet Caddesi 149, Passage des Petits-Champs – Tepebasi / Beyoglu
Open all day from 18:00 to 02:00

KEMANCI – TAKSIM SANAT EVI
Sira Selviler Caddesi 69/1 – Cihangir / Beyoglu
Tel. : 0212 251 27 23
Open all day from 21:00 to 04:00

ROXY
Arslan Yatagi Sokak 3 - Cihangir / Beyoglu
Tel. : 0212 245 65 39
Web : www.roxy.com.tr
Open all day from 22:00 to

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We thought we could not leave Istanbul without seeing an oriental show and we were in luck. The Orient was 2 minutes walk...down the hill and round the corner.

The meal was tasty and there was a good choice available. We listened to the "Kanun" a typical Turkish instrument...saw belly dancing....other examples of folk dancing...men this time and even some vocal.

A good choice if you want to experience the flavour of words and customs of the Turkish people.

Dress Code: Some wore evening dress...not formal. Just be tidy. I would not consider jeans or sneakers appropriate.

For a la carte menu and the show the cost was 90 euro in 2011. We paid by credit card and it was charged as TL.

Look at the photo to get an idea of the programme.

Reina, the choice of both foresigners and local people on the shores of Bosphorus as a result of its quality and elegance, if you come to istanbul, Come to reina, regardless. I'm meeting to you :)

Dress Code: Ten Restaurants
NightClub
Turkish Nights