Cibalikapi Balikcisi, Istanbul

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This small restaurant is located by the Golden Horn. It is all wooden... wooden chairs, wooden tables, wooden floor... The ambiance is so nice also thanks to old long plays... Good food, clean kitchen, good service, nice music, lovely decoration and great view: by the golden horn, across the Galata Tower. That is why Cibalikapi is so special.

Favorite Dish: Cibalikapi's menu is excellent. I especially recommend the entry plates... You can chose to drink raki or wine. By the way, their wine menu is also the result of a good taste.

An old antique building, with old wooden tables and chairs. But clean as well as a luxury restaurant. And delicious wonderful seafood.

If you would like to taste a real choice of seafood, and breathe in an old Istanbul atmosphere Cibalikapi Fishery is a right choice.

A fishery for local citizens is also a good address for tourists. Without being disturbed or hassled, enjoy the harmony of old Istanbul living, with some greek episodes.

The seafood restaurant is open daily from 17:00 to 24:00 and weekends from 14:00 to 24:00.

To reach the restaurant you can take a taxi from Eminonu. Or could be reached by a good! walking.. When you are at Eminonu you will see the Galata bridge and take a taxi on the same coast.. After passing by the Galata bridge, you will see a second bridge and the restaurant is just after 300 meters from the second bridge, near the traffic lights.

The prices are relatively cheap. Salads and starters are around 2-3 USd in a small plate and fish prices are changing according to the season..

The restaturant was accepting Credit cards before, but they do not accept credit card anymore, due to high commision of the banks. So Please carry your cash with you..

Favorite Dish: All kind of seasonal fishes.. Fener shish is a good choice..

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Had it not been for a local's advice (thanks Erkem) we would never have found it - it took us ages to hit the right street... but when we found it, we found heaven! Cibalikapi is a wonderful old wooden restaurant on three floors, overlooking the Bosphorus, serving the best seafood I have ever eaten. What we especially liked is the fact that you are brought huge trays of mezzes, from which you can choose - so that you can see how fresh the fish is.

Favorite Dish: Who has told you that uncooked fish isn't safe to eat in Istanbul? We,, they were wrong... it's as safe (or as unsafe) as anywhere else.
The mezzes of raw fish we had were delicious and tasted "extremely" fresh. The grilled calamari were so fresh that they still had that jelly-like "patina" on them.

This small restaurant is the best place for tasting mezees (side dishes)! It's actually a fish restaurant, but the mezees offered before the main course will make it impossible for you to actually get to the fish, they are incredible. Also very neat place. As a local, take my time-tested word!

Favorite Dish: Mezees (side dishes). You won't be able to stop.

Before you even get to the food which is nothing special from what I nibbled, the check for two for a poor quality no name Turkish wine and just starters was 100 Euros. We did not even get to the main course.. We told the waiter to check the bill, he came back saying that the manager does not agree. We paid the bill but tried to warn the manager saying that they are loosing potential customers the answer was a mere.. do not come back here again anyway..