Turkish coffee is made with cold water and sugar if desired and it’s served in a special cup. Turkish coffee stands out with different roasting and grinding methods but you need to know how to cook it to enjoy a delicious one.
In that sense, Turkish coffee that is cooked slowly in the sand or on coal is the best way to cook it. In this article, you can find the 14 best coffee shops in Istanbul where you can drink or buy Turkish coffee.
Best Turkish Coffee in Istanbul 2024
The best places to drink Turkish Coffee in Istanbul are generally in Beyoglu, Besiktas, Historical Peninsula (Sultanahmet and its surroundings) and Kadikoy (Asian Side) districts.
You can sit in these coffee shops and sip your coffee and observe the city life of Istanbul. Some coffee shops, such as Pierre Loti, are places with very beautiful views. These coffee shops are also the right places to buy Turkish coffee in Istanbul.
1. Mandabatmaz
Mandabatmaz is located right next to Olivia Passage and has been on Istiklal Avenue since 1967, where you can find delicious Turkish coffee. As the foam of coffee is so thick, it’s said “even a buffalo won’t sink in it”, the restaurant was named as Mandabatmaz (manda=buffalo). It’s one of the first places when it comes to Turkish coffee in Istanbul.
Although you can’t stay here for too long as the place is small, you should definitely visit it for coffee if you are at Beyoglu (aka Taksim). Moreover, service speed is really good at this shop.
Mandabatmaz is the best place to drink Turkish coffee in Istanbul according to many Istanbulites. You must experience this local place, which is very close to Taksim Square and Sultanahmet.
2. Sairler Kahvesi
Sairler Kahvesi is located on one of the quietest neighborhoods in Besiktas, Visnezade District. Sairler Kahvesi stands out with its nice décor and atmosphere as one of the coolest coffee shops in Istanbul. Moreover, you can dine here as well.
3. Pierre Loti
This place is named after the French author Pierre Loti and you can have your foamy coffee while you enjoy Sarayburnu and Golden Horn view here.
On this hill that you can reach via the cable car or on foot by walking through a cemetery, you can find some tea houses. This open-air space that can accommodate up to 1400 people is a popular place among both foreign and local visitors.
4. Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi
Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi is an old Ottoman monument and it’s located between Cemberlitas and Beyazit (near Sultanahmet). This place is famous for its shisha and Turkish coffee that is cooked on a coal fire.
Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi uses a special little roasted coffee and it’s also a very touristic place thanks to its historical atmosphere. Apart from coffee, different kind of tea, such as apple or sage tea, can also be found here.
5. Brew Coffeeworks
If you want to try different coffee types in a historical atmosphere, you need to visit Brew Coffeeworks at Eminonu (walking distance from Sultanahmet). It’s located at the ground floor of Legacy Ottoman Hotel on the way to the historical Sirkeci Railway Station.
On the wall of this place, you can see the Tortoise Trainer painting by Osman Hamdi Bey and the portraits of Architect Kemalettin Bey, the pioneer of 1st National Architecture Movement.
In addition to coffee, desserts that are made daily are supplied from the hotel. Cheesecake or macaroon might be a good choice to have alongside your coffee here.
Brew Coffeeworks is essentially a 3rd wave coffee shop. However, the new generation coffee shops in Istanbul are also very good at traditional coffee cooking techniques. You can drink Turkish coffee at Brew Coffeeworks, one of the best coffee shops in Istanbul. This place is five minutes walk from Spice Bazaar.
6. Emirgan Tarihi Cinaralti
Emirgan Tarihi Cinaralti is located across Emirgan (Bosphorus) bus station and it’s located among hundreds of years of pine trees and it is where it derives its name from.
This place was opened in 1948 and famous Turkish poets such as Yahya Kemal Beyatli, Behcet Necatigil, and Farik Nafiz Camlibel used to be the regulars of this place.
We can easily say Emirgan Tarihi Cinaralti is one of the most ideal places to drink Turkish coffee where you can enjoy the breeze from the Bosphorus at the same time.
7. Latife Turk Kahvesi
Latife Turk Kahvesi is located in Besiktas neighborhood. This place produces and grinds their own coffee and your coffee is served alongside delicious home-made desserts and fresh cookies.
Latife Turkish Coffee is located in Besiktas district, famous for its hotels with Bosphorus view. Although this shop is not well known by tourists, it is the best place to buy Turkish coffee in Istanbul.
8. Bebek Kahvesi
Bebek Kahvesi was originally a fishermen coffee house that was opened in 1945 and it has been a popular spot among many thanks to its tea, bagel, menemen, and of course Turkish coffee.
Bebek Kahvesi is located behind Bebek Mosque and it still maintains its nostalgic atmosphere. Apart from coffee, you can have lunch and dinner at Bebek Kahvesi while you enjoy the breathtaking Bosphorus view.
9. Sark Kahvesi
Sark Kahvesi was first opened in 1958 at Grand Bazaar. This coffee house attracts both domestic and foreign visitors with its authentic atmosphere, where coffee is cooked in sand heat.
If you wish to take a break from your touristic trip and enjoy a delicious cup of Turkish coffee, this place is highly recommended.
You should experience shopping in the Grand Bazaar, which is a must-see place for those who come to Istanbul. When you are tired of shopping and want to refresh yourself, you can drink the best Turkish coffee in Istanbul at Sark Kahvesi.
10. Fazil Bey’in Turk Kahvesi
Fazil Bey’in Turk Kahvesi has several branches but it was first opened at Kadikoy Fish Market. Fazil Bey’s sons decided to honor their father’s memory and they modernized the shop that Fazil Bey operated for almost 50 years at Kadikoy Carsisi.
The shop is decorated with coffee grinding machines and coffee sacks and you can buy fresh coffee here. You can enjoy different kinds of Turkish coffee such as gum mastic, cardamom, bitter chocolate Turkish coffee at Fazil Bey’in Turk Kahvesi.
The most important place to visit on the Asian side of Istanbul is Kadikoy. While visiting Kadikoy Fish Market, don’t forget to experience the best Turkish coffee in Istanbul at Fazil Bey.
Best Turkish Coffee Brand in Istanbul
Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, the best coffee brand in Istanbul, is a place to buy only ground coffee. You can buy Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi’s coffees from the shop next to the Spice Bazaar. There is also a shop in Kadikoy on the Asian Side.
Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi does not serve Turkish coffee like other places on our list. However, I must say that it is the preferred place for local people to buy Turkish coffee in Istanbul.
Best Turkish Coffee in Istanbul 2024 by Serhat Engul
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