Cocktails from Istanbul

Finding good cocktails in Istanbul is something to write about … because its a long story filled with many nights of drinking around Taksim and not finding what you are looking for.

There are many bars and restaurants that you can get local beers and wines from. Local wines are nothing to write home about, but seeing a bottle of Australian’s finest supermarket wine for about £40 is scary. Import wines are always going to be better but there is a 100% taxes on these luxuries.

So back to cocktails and where to find them … Limes are usually impossible to find here, so most cocktails get ruined with fresh lemons, juice or pummelled chunks of the stuff. So here then is your guide to places to try to find a good drink, or at least get rotten drunk.

Timeout’s travel guide recommends Besinci Kat (5th floor English site), where you can usually find the ingredients for a good drink. They do have limes!

Adventurous spirits will probably want to try Vogue for its view, Loft for its quiet and subtle decor or Ulus 29 for the poshness of it all.

But back to Taksim – a good cocktail is hard to find – if you like a cocktail that will blow your socks off – or is so strong that you think its on alcohol then head to Şimdi which is off Istiklal Cad, the last street on the right before the Swedish Consulate in the Atlas Apartment building. They don’t seem to have a website. But they have great meze / tapas, free wireless and a good mojito with lots of mint. They give out free snacks too, which you need with a drink this strong.

I met Joe recently, he’s the Mixologist at Saf – a new restaurant with cocktail bar next to House Cafe in Tunel. Saf means Raw and is a new hip vegetarian restaurant in Istanbul. And he likes to mix a good cocktail – the Expat Harem served on the rocks in a long glass is brilliant, ginger beer, vodka and fresh cucumber juice.  Though the lack the punch of the Simdi Mojito, his Rosa Mojito will be excellant on a summers night.

Changa will be my last mention today… their ‘Wanganui’ New Zealand inspired kiwifruit cocktail is probably their best. Or maybe its the lychee cocktails or the kumquat cocktail that is best … you decide … just stay for the chocolate truffle selection for desert.