Frequently asked questions

We are open every day from 07:00 — 02:00. We serve from morning breakfast through to late at night.

Our address is Cankurtaran Mah. Kabasakal Cad. Arasta Çarşısı No:45, Fatih Sultanahmet / İstanbul — inside the Arasta Bazaar, between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.

The Blue Mosque is a 3 minute walk (150 m), Hagia Sophia 5 minutes (330 m) and the Basilica Cistern 5 minutes (290 m). We are well placed for a break in the middle of your sightseeing.

Just fill in the reservation form on our website — your details reach us via WhatsApp and we confirm by phone. If you prefer, you can call us directly on +90 530 523 73 05.

It isn't required, but evenings with live music and weekends get busy, so we recommend booking ahead.

We do take group bookings. Let us know your numbers and date on +90 530 523 73 05 and we will arrange the table layout in advance.

Yes. We serve apple-flavoured nargile prepared over charcoal in the traditional tombeki style.

Yes, we serve breakfast from 07:00 in the morning. Alongside the Turkish breakfast spread there are menemen, omelettes and a range of toasted sandwiches.

Yes. Meat-free options include hummus, cacık (yoghurt with cucumber), aubergine in tomato sauce, shepherd’s salad, vegetarian kebab and gözleme with cheese, spinach or potato.

No. There is no bread or cover (table) charge on your bill. Our prices include VAT.

The whole menu is published on this site with prices — see the Menu page. Prices are updated from time to time; to be sure, you can confirm on +90 530 523 73 05.

There is no street parking in Sultanahmet. The Torun Sokak car park (paid) is at Torun Sok. No:26, Sultanahmet, about a one minute walk from us.

The Sultanahmet stop on the T1 tram line is the closest; from there it is a few minutes' walk towards the Arasta Bazaar.

We have live music with kanun and def every evening. Start times shift with the season and the evening call to prayer, so we suggest confirming before you come.

There is a sema (whirling dervish) performance every evening; each session lasts about 20 minutes; the show is our treat for guests, with no extra charge. Start times shift with the season and the evening call to prayer, so you are welcome to ask us about the programme for the evening you plan to visit.

Yes. All the meat we use is halal certified; no meat without halal certification ever enters our kitchen.

No, we do not serve alcohol. We do have a wide non-alcoholic selection: ayran, lemonade, a range of fruit juices, Turkish coffee and teas such as sage or mint-lemon.

Yes. We have an open garden of about 500 square metres with a roof that opens and closes — so you can still sit in the garden when the weather turns. We do not have an enclosed terrace floor; the garden is our seating area.

Yes, you can pay by credit card.

Yes, we have English-speaking staff. We can easily help our foreign guests with orders and reservations.

Yes, our venue is wheelchair accessible. If you have any particular need, just mention it to our staff when you arrive.

Yes, we are a family-friendly place. Thanks to our large garden, the layout gives families with children plenty of room to relax.

Yes, we offer free wireless internet for our guests.

In Türkiye all emergency calls go to one number: 112. Call it for an ambulance, the fire brigade, the police or the gendarmerie. Across Türkiye, 112 also answers calls in English, German, Arabic and Russian.

Ask shopkeepers and their staff. Traders are in the same spot every day, they know the area inside out, and they gain nothing from misdirecting you. Stepping into an open shop gets you a faster and more reliable answer than stopping someone in the street.

The tram and metro lines run their last service around 00:00, while we are open 07:00 — 02:00. So for the last part of the night the rail network is closed. If you plan to stay late, arrange your return in advance; if you take a taxi, make sure the meter is running. Just tell our staff if you would like help.