Much more than a city of former empires, İstanbul is the new cool, especially at night, with its rooftop bars, modern restaurants, state-of-the-art event centres and lively traditional taverns. On both sides of the strait, the city’s neighbourhoods exude their own particular nightlife charm, whether it’s a secret cocktail bar or a stage hosting the best indie bands.  

İstanbul is famous for many things. What first comes to mind may be the domes of Sultanahmet’s historic architecture, lavish Ottoman palaces and the city’s seagulls hovering above the ferries that glide along the Bosphorus. Yet, the urban and cultural energy that blossoms once the sun goes down is still a bit of a local secret, often accessed only by those who know where to go. From rooftop bars that bask in glorious sunsets all the way back to street level, where music, performing arts, craft cocktails and even tavern liveliness take centre stage. İstanbul’s nightlife is as multitudinous as its endless network of winding backstreets, on both sides of the strait.

In its golden era during the 19th century, the neighbourhood of Beyoğlu was Istanbul’s most European part with a mixture of neoclassical architecture and an influx of Levantine residents. Nowadays, Beyoğlu continues to exude its modern virtues in all its forms, from gastronomy to art and fashion. At night, the lights of the newly resurrected Atatürk Cultural Center glow with tremendous conviction, with enough space to host operas, theatre productions, concerts, art exhibitions and workshops for big and small.