Locanta Maya: Chef Didem Şenol’s contemporary take on traditional, seasonal Turkish ingredients is a welcome addition to the city’s culinary scene. Don’t miss the zuchini fritters starter, Gregers emphasizes. The tables in the minimal, rustic dining room can be booked up well in advance so be sure to make a reservation before you go. It’s located in one of our fave areas – Karaköy – so make sure to take a wander around for a pre-dinner drink or digestif.
– Gregers Tang Thomsen, co-founder of Superpool

Fener and Balat: These neighborhoods, located on the historic peninsula of Istanbul, still preserve the pre-1930s atmosphere. Fener was mainly an area dominated by Greeks, while Balat a Jewish quarter. Over time, different communities and religions have converged and mingled in these areas leaving characteristic religious monuments, colored Ottoman houses, peculiar red brick buildings, and fascinating facades. They are greatly neglected neighborhoods, however today we witness some rehabilitation and renovation programs for the area. – Seyhan Ozdemir, co-founder of Autoban

Galeri Nev: Founded by Ali Artun and Haldun Dostoglu in Ankara in 1984, the gallery opened its Istanbul wing in the early nineties. It’s one of the oldest contemporary art galleries of it’s kind in Istanbul and houses lots of my favourite artists, says Deniz. Its focus on the modern masters of Turkish art, as well as emerging young artists, makes it a good choice while on a whistlestop tour of the city.
– Deniz Ova, Director of the Istanbul Foundation For Culture And Arts

Kuzguncuk: A visit to Istanbul is not complete without exploring the Asian side of the Bosphorus. In particular, the area of Kuzguncuk with its rows of 19th century houses that just don’t belong to Istanbul. The pretty neighborhood has been home to Jews, Greeks, Armenians and Turks for centuries – each group’s unique cultural heritage can be seen in the mosques, synagogues and churches that stand side by side.
– Engin Onder, founder of 140 Journos

Grand Hotel De Londres: Set right on Taksim Square, this hotel is famed for an old world romantic feel conjured by its luxuriously gilded and rich velvet interior. It opened shortly after the Orient Express began its route through Istanbul in the late 19th century, bringing a new wave of Western style to the city. Ernest Hemingway is one of a long list of notable guests – he stayed for three weeks in the 1920s when covering the Turkish nationalistic forces.
– Baris Gumustas, founder of Crafted In Istanbul

Moda: It’s meeting place for creatives in Istanbul who can be spotted sitting in one the countless trendy cafes and restaurants dot the streets of this quiet residential Asian-side neighborhood. Take a walk along the water, enjoy a seaside meal or simply wander and admire the impressive street art that has popped up over the past few years thanks to an annual local street art festival.
– H. Cenk Dereli, an architect and co-founder of Kontraakt

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