38 Best Bars in Turkey

The Royal Castle claims to be the oldest bar in Side. It's just inland from the water, on the southwest corner of the old town, and its pub-like atmosphere includes televised soccer games that keep British patrons happy. There is also live music most evenings in season. Be warned, though: drink prices can be steep.

Overlooking the Ortaköy waterfront, Ruby offers a classy atmosphere and more intimate feel than the larger nightclubs farther up the Bosphorus. Dinner is served to a well-heeled crowd before the venue turns into a dance club.

A semi-alternative crowd hangs out at this bar on one of Alsancak's popular nightlife streets, taking in live jazz and alternative music events, standup comedy, and talk shows,  and ordering off the international menu in the family-friendly café area.

This intimate, dimly lit wine bar near Galatasaray Square has a long, mostly Turkish wine list and a knowledgeable staff to guide you through it.

Near the seafront on the road to Antalya, this hugely popular disco and restaurant are part of the same sprawling complex. Two large bars among the palm trees have a dance floor cooled with outdoor air-conditioning (really!). Drinks start flowing at 11 pm, and the music doesn't stop until about 5 am. Free transport to or from Alanya is available for groups of five or more.

Part of a small Turkish chain of café-bars (the first one was in Eskişehir), Varuna Gezgin has a cozy multistory interior lined floor-to-ceiling with books and travel-related ephemera. It also has a big back garden, making it a suitable option for all seasons. There’s an international menu and a good list of local beers.

Decorated with walls full of books and colorful souvenirs of the owners' global wanderings, this hip "travelers' café and bar" in Alsancak—now part of a popular Turkish chain—has made a name for itself with a keenly priced international menu (from Turkish breakfast to pad Thai to steak with oyster sauce) and a merry round of theme nights, quiz nights, and happy hours, with a wide range of cocktails on offer.