Job Discussion Forums

[DanzigMFer]

I'm going to be living in Istanbul in September but don't yet have a job or a place to live. Can anyone who lives/has lived in Istanbul give me some sage advice concerning where I should make camp? I'm looking for an area that has a few lively expat bars and also some restaurants where I can get foreign food. You know, the area where all the cool kids hang out. Come to think of it, I guess I'm just looking for Istanbul's Itaewon. Recommendations?

[tarte tatin]

There isn't really anywhere in Istanbul that equates to Itaewon. Foreign restaurants are still few and far between. On the European side, Taksim is where the greatest concentration of bars is to be found, and there are some foreign restaurants around Taksim and Beyoğlu (Chinese, Thai etc). Cihangir, off Taksim has quite a few foreign residents of various nationalities. I believe there are also foreign restaurants in Levent and Etiler but I don't know that part of town very well. These areas are pretty pricy to live in, although there are always exceptions and people luck out sometimes with reasonable apartments.

On the Asian side, Kadık�y has some bars where expats hang out and a more alternative vibe, although not much foreign food. Bağdat Street (Bostancı, Suadiye, Caddebostan, G�ztepe) is a long street which runs through the aforementioned neighbourhoods. It has many boutiques, designer shops, restaurants and bars. Some ethnic foods but mainly chain restaurants. The housing immediately around Bağdat Street is expensive but there are cheaper places to be found a couple of train stops away.

Hopefully, other people here will be able to post about a wider range of neighbourhoods, but as I said there is nowhere that has just the same vibe as Itaewon.

[gloomyGumi]

this was helpful to me too. thank you. i dont want an Itaewon thing, I m looking for more of a family-oriented neighborhood where we (my wife and 11 year old daughter) can live like locals and eat local food. Not looking for expat bars/fancy boutiques/places where I'll see 100 Americans/Australians/New Zealanders/Canadians every hour. Looking instead for a working class, local no frills eateries kind of of humble neighborhood.