International coffee chains were unrivaled in Istanbul until recently. However, the boutique cafes that introduced Istanbul to the 3rd wave coffee brought a new flavor to the city. The best speciality coffee shops in Istanbul, whose popularity is increasing day by day, have spread to the most beautiful districts of the city.
Third wave coffee shops roast their own beans and serve coffee brewed from fresh beans. These boutique cafes, which use many different techniques of new generation coffee making, have brought a new style to cafes in Istanbul.
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Best Speciality Coffee Shops in Istanbul 2022
The best speciality coffee shops in Istanbul are located in touristic districts such as Eminonu (near Sultanahmet), Beyoglu (Taksim Square and Istiklal Street), Karakoy, Sisli, Nisantasi, Balat and Kadikoy (Asian Side).
Especially the cafes in Beyoglu, Eminonu and Balat are the ones on the best walking routes in Istanbul that I recommend in this blog. So you can take a break at these unique coffee shops while exploring the city.
1. Petra Roasting
Petra Roasting is one of the best new generation coffee shops in Istanbul. Petra Roasting, which brews its own roasted coffees with special techniques, has several branches in the city.
Petra Roasting offers great coffee beans for those who brew their own coffee at their home in Istanbul. It is also possible to buy special roasted coffee beans and coffee brewing equipment in the shop’s online store.
The most popular branch of Petra Roasting is located in Nisantasi district (Topagaci neighborhood). Nisantasi is a district famous for its fashion boutiques and is very close to popular accommodation places such as Sisli and Taksim.
Petra Roasting also has a branch in Kanyon Shopping Center, one of the best shopping malls in Istanbul. It should also be noted that the branch of Petra Roasting in Kanyon is a take away kiosk.
2. Brew Coffeeworks
Brew Coffeeworks is among the best specialty coffee shops in Istanbul Old City. Brew Coffeeworks, which has branches in Eminonu and Balat districts of the Historic Peninsula, serves delicious coffees.
Brew Coffeeworks’ shop in Eminonu is located on Hamidiye Street, which stretches from Sirkeci Tram Station to Spice Bazaar. This coffee shop operates under the iconic Legacy Ottoman Hotel, which stands out with its 19th century architecture.
You can reach the branch of this coffee shop in Eminonu by walking from Sultanahmet. Its branch in the Balat district is located on the cafes street right next to the Fener Orthodox Patriarchate.
As a tourist guide doing walking tours in the Old City of Istanbul, I often go to this coffee shop. I take a coffee break after my half-day tours starting from Sultanahmet and ending at the Spice Bazaar.
3. MOC İstanbul
MOC Istanbul opened its first branch in Nisantasi in 2014 and became very successful in a short time. MOC Istanbul, which has become a chain coffee shop today, has many branches near Taksim and Sisli, which are the popular places to stay in Istanbul.
The most popular branches of MOC Istanbul are located in Bomonti, Nisantasi, Gayrettepe, Osmanbey and Topagaci. All of these neighborhoods are within the borders of Sisli district. On the other hand, they are also very close to Taksim Square.
MOC Istanbul has branches in shopping malls such as Zorlu Center and Akmerkez on the European side. In addition, it has branches in Hilltown and Piazza, which are the popular shopping centers of the Asian Side.
This coffee shop offers some special mixtures. For latte-lovers, MOC offers a unique coconat-latte. They love mixing cinnamon and coconat flavours in their coffees. In short, MOC Istanbul is a good option for those who want to experience new coffee varieties.
4. Coffee Sapiens
Coffee Sapiens is located in Karakoy, the most popular district of Istanbul in recent years. Karakoy functions as a bridge between the Old City and Beyoglu. For this reason, Karakoy is a place where historical streets and modern buildings are blended.
Due to the opening of Galataport, the new Istanbul Cruise Port, in Karakoy, many new cafes and hotels have opened in the neighborhood. Coffee Sapiens is relatively one of the oldest coffee shops in the district.
The owners of the place defines themselves as “Coffee People”. As they are addicted to coffee, they would like to preapare the best for everybody. They have inventive roasting techniques and special blends. It is worth to try for coffee addicts.
5. Kronotrop
Kronotrop was established in 2012 in Galatasaray, one of the liveliest spots of Beyoglu. At that time, specialty coffee shops were not yet widespread in Istanbul. Kronotrop, which gained the appreciation of coffee drinkers, became famous in a short time.
Kronotop is importing the best coffee beans according to the harvest time of particular coffees. Therefore they are considered as an elite coffee place among the coffee-lovers. Kronotop have spread around the city with many shops.
You can find the branches of Kronotrop, one of the best coffee shops in Istanbul, in districts such as Karakoy, Moda, Nisantasi and Cihangir. In addition, it has branches in the city’s famous shopping centers such as Kanyon (in Levent) and Emaar Square Mall (Asian Side).
6. Coffee Department
Coffee Department is located in Balat, one of the most popular districts of recent years. Fener and Balat districts were among the most cosmopolitan spots of the city during the Ottoman period. For this reason, Fener Balat walking tour is one of the most popular activities in Istanbul right now.
With the increase in tourism activity in the region, very nice cafes and restaurants have opened in recent years. Two of the 3rd wave coffee shops on our list have branches in Balat. One of them is Brew Coffeeworks and the other is Coffee Department.
As a tour guide, Coffee Department is a place I take a break during my Fener and Balat tours. With its delicious coffee and cozy atmosphere, it is a place people prefer to relax and watch the people passing by.
7. Coffeetopia
Coffeetopia is a boutique coffee shop with branches in Eminonu (Old City) and Kadikoy (Asian Side) in Istanbul. Especially the branch of Coffeetopia in Eminonu is very popular. Located very close to the Spice Bazaar, Coffeetopia is one of the busiest coffee shops in Istanbul.
Coffeetopia’s branch in Kadikoy is located on Bahariye Avenue, one of the best shopping streets in Istanbul. This shop is relatively less touristic than the one in Eminonu and is a place where Istanbulites go for good coffee.
8. Walter’s Coffee Roastery
Walter’s Coffee Roastery is the most interesting coffee shop in Istanbul. The shop is named after Walter White, the fictional character in the TV series Breaking Bad. The theme and costumes of the coffee shop are also inspired by the series.
Walter’s Coffee Roastery is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, in the Kadikoy district. It is also very close to Kadikoy Fish Market, which is the indispensable address of Istanbul street food tours.
9. Montag
Montag is located inside the Kadikoy Market on the Asian Side. Being on the second floor of a building, Montag is not noticed at first glance. However, it is a pleasant place where you can watch people from the terrace while drinking your coffee.
Montag is a place that roasts its own coffee beans, just like the other specialty coffee shops on this list. As an Istanbulite living on the Asian side, I buy my coffee beans from here.
10. Soulmate
Soulmate is located in Uskudar, one of the touristic districts on the Asian side of Istanbul. After visiting Uskudar, you can take a break in this coffee shop, which is famous for its delicious coffees
The center of Uskudar is a place full of people during the day. When you come to Uskudar, one of the liveliest spots on the Asian side, you can visit neighborhoods such as Kuzguncuk and Cengelkoy. These two districts are the most beautiful places where you can observe local life on the shores of the Bosphorus.
It is very easy to come to Uskudar from Istanbul Old City. If you take the metro from Marmaray Station in Sirkeci, you can reach Uskudar in just 4 minutes. Marmaray is a subway that passes under the Bosphorus. Soulmate Coffee Shop is located right next to Marmaray Station in Uskudar.
Best Speciality Coffee Shops in Istanbul 2022 by Serhat Engul
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