The House Cafe – Teşvikiye

Atiye Sokak No 10/ 1
Teşvikiye
T: +90 212 259 23 77
W: www.thehousecafe.com.tr
off the street in an apartment building. Look for the small sign on the first floor window

Mixed Menu
Mid Priced
Open 7 days til 10pm
Free WIFI

Great options in a friendly chilled atmosphere with a large communal table to sit around and enjoy your food or a just grab a juice or coffee. You can quite easily pass a few hours here with friends.

Menu options range from breakfast Turkish specialities like spicy-scrambled eggs (memnen) to more traditional breakfasts of breads and cheese. A range of great fresh juices get you started, try the House Boom combo juice with 1/2 banana, some apple, fresh orange and cherry juice.

Head down anytime of the day for lunch or dinner options from green lentil salad with white cheese and french mustard dressing or a large pizza with pear, walnut and rockfort cheese. If you want more space to yourself, try to grab one of the few tables for 2 in the back room and if you find smoking really gets up your nose, ask for seat right by the entrance.

For summer days and a Sunday brunch head to the Ortakoy and then go shopping at the local markets.

Museums to dine for along the Bosporous

If you are recovering from Valentines Day then some quiet contemplation might be in order this week. But not too quiet … lets burn some excess calories.

Finishing soon is the Cengiz Han exhibition at the Sabanci Museum why not just skip the gallery and head straight for desert at the Muzedechanga. Enjoy the view while nibbling on your brunch. Then walk the 4 floors and make sure you use the stairs. Think of the guilt free dining you just did and all that exercise.

Taking a taxi, get out at Rumeli Castle and admire the view and stroll around before walking down to Lucca in Bebek. Always busy and with great bar snacks and meals this should be good for lunch.

From here its a short trip back to the city – choose a ferry if its fine … or grab a taxi across the road from the cafe.

But stop along the way for one more fantastic view – the Istanbul Modern – head for the back and the breathtaking view from the cafe! Yup, you should now be intellectually full and ready for another coffee and cake with that view!

Sunday Night – Free Party at Babylon for the Closing of the !F Festival

Valentines Day – Suggestions

Well it’s Valentine’s this week – another commercial excuse to wantonly spend excess money on your loved one. Damned be those who don’t spend the money and stick to their socio-economic anti-commercialisation ‘principles’. Thanks be Valentines Day for anyone in L O V E !

However … if you don’t have a window seat at Ulus 29 or tickets to Kenan Dogulu and you want to go see the UEFA Cup Fenerbache Game, then DAMNED TO DAMNATION BE YOU.

If you are looking for alternative ideas this week … try calling Tuus for a later dinner or maybe Besinci Kat (5th floor) for the queer set.

Some other suggestions are to head to Tesvikye and one of the pharmacys and spend a bit on Dermalogica products – We recommend the Dermalogica MultiVitamin Power Firm for and Eye and lip area. Try Taylife for a treatment and book a night in the Sofa Hotel.

Happy Valentines Day to all those who are loved and be loved in return

— Alternatively do just listen to Bob Marley sing ‘could you be loved’

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Bonnie Prince Billy – Friday 9 February

Bonnie “Prince” Billy has been performing for some time now. I saw this american singer-songwriter in London last year playing from his latest album. You can call this indie and guitar based or maybe ‘alternative country’ but he’s a treat.

Expect him to play songs from his 12th album, The Letting Go. Recorded in Reykjavik with one of Bjork’s engineers – its a mix of folk, country and blues with strings attached.

• Tickets from Biletix