The 10 Most Authentic Tea Gardens In Istanbul

Undoubtedly Bebek Kahve is one of Istanbul’s premiere locations to brush shoulders with high society. Their polished clientele is matched in grandeur only by the neighborhood’s sublime setting on a calm cove along the Bosphorus. Bebek Kahve’s food menu offers a good reason to prolong one’s visit, whether to people watch or gaze at ships traversing the Bosphorus. Perhaps more so than other sections of Istanbul’s straits, Bebek offers a vantage of beautiful nature on both sides of the water, with large houses and quaint palaces dotting the waterside.

Located right on the Bosphorus, patrons of the Çengelköy Çinaraltımight be met with the splash of waves in their eagerness to secure the rare waterfront perch. Having garnered fame as the set for many a Turkish soap opera, this cafe easily has the seating capacity for several casting crews. Open all hours of the day, the cafe takes its name from a couple of hundred year old sycamore trees casting shade over the massive grounds.

Named after a 17th century Safavid Persian army commander who resettled in Istanbul, Emirgan has served as a relaxing garden repose for centuries. Today, the historic ambiance of the locale lives on in the Emirgan Park and the adjacent tea garden with views of the second bridge crossing the Bosphorus. Nearby is the Sakıp Sabancı Museum, famous for its collection of traditional Turkish art.