Alsancak

Alsancak Review

North of the Archaeology and Ethnography museums is the Alsancak neighborhood, which attracts Izmir's trendy crowd. During the Ottoman period, the neighborhood was predominantly Jewish and Christian, and there are still a number of synagogues and churches in the area. The pretty two- and three-story Levantine houses with bay windows are tucked away along some of the backstreets, which perk up at night with the influx of young Izmirians drawn to the quaint cafés, bars, and restaurants. There are a number of boutique hotels in this neighborhood, so it's a good place to base yourself in if you're staying in town for a few days.