otherchelebi

Thanks Whathello

ThursdayD,

I strongly recommend the expensive "Ulus 29" and "Sunset" above Ortakoy/Kurucesme. Ulus 29 has some Turkish specialties and serves mostly French cuisine, has own bakery. Sunset is more eclectic, including good sushi and possibly the best and most expensive wine cellar in Turkey.

Down on the shore road, Kidonya has three floors with different cuisines. Its bar has excellent view. This is more moderately priced than the previous two.

Another good fish restaurant, further up the Bosphorus, just after the Rumeli Fortress, called "Iskele" is housed in what was formerly the ferryboat landing, smack on the water.

The restaurant at Hotel Sumahan is also good.

For budget restaurants with excellent views, you may consider Ismet Baba at Kuzguncuk, just after Scutary (Uskudar) Usually requires cash. and,

Sunanin Yeri at Kandilli, immediately next to the ferry landing.
You can take the criss-cross Istinye-Cengelkoy ferry to get there and back from and to the European side (this is a daytime ferry but gives you enough time to eat and catch the next round.
Their fried horse mackerel (istavrit) is the best in Istanbul.

or

Yenigun/Guzel Yer near the end of the Bosphorus, before Rumeli Kavagi on the European side. They have a different type of panaromic view including the Black Sea and good meze for a reasonable price. Pick your fish at the entrance and negotiate price.

This may be a good time to remind the readers of one of my older threads :

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...istanbul.cfm?9

thursdaysd

Thank you both!!!

HappyTrvlr

Otherchelebi, We enjoyed dining right on the Boaphorus at Sardunya which I found mentioned in one of your posts.

otherchelebi

HappyTrivir,

Sardunya is still good but the Bosphorus view gets better as you move further towards the Black sea.

Sardunya is great for those who sneak out of a cruise ship for a couple of hours and get back quickly, because it is within walking distance of the cruise ship piers.

amy_torres_sd

otherchelebi... I came back to this forum to seek your advice about our next holiday, hopefully in Turkey and Greece. My daughter and I just spent 3 weeks in Ecuador, including a one-week cruise in the Galapagos Islands. Daughter loved being on the water and I am browsing back through old posts for ideas for next summer. We had little to no wifi in the Galapagos Islands (we were there for 2 weeks overall) and I was surprised to learn yesterday of the bombing at the Istabul airport. I'm guessing that your advice remains the same.

Thannks in advance...
Amy

otherchelebi

Amy, you're right.

I cannot advise anyone to travel or not to travel to any country.

In terms of Turkey-Greece combination, there are many options and alternatives, some flying into or out of Izmir airport or taking short ferry ride from or to Rhodes, Chios, Samos, Lesvos. each of the corresponding areas in Turkey have excellent "Gullet" or smaller boat or cabin charters for what we call the "Blue Cruise." Google that title .

Start a new thread on sea vacations, including some fabulous resorts and I will respond there after you write the time period and some other requirements you may have regarding history, beach quality, hiking, rafting, spelunking, etc.

The Aegean coast, across from the Greek Islands have lost little tourism trade due to the bombing at Istanbul Ataturk airport. You may also wish to check TA which has British controlled forums for Fethiye, Marmaris, etc.

IvanTeklu

Personally I wouldn't worry. Statistically, your drive to and from the airport is still more dangerous than a visit to Istanbul.