Istanbul Bar and Food prices

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AshtonBlueMooner

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Just working out how much cash to take and wondered if any bluemooners have been out recently to give an idea on prices, decent places to eat and drink. I know @kerem gokmen has provided loads of good information but prices would be helpful. Going to take cash and Turkish Lira loaded on to my Wise card. Exchange rate with Wise is currently 1 GBP = 24 TRY (Turkish Lira) which is excellent. For comparison Tesco are offering 1 GBP = 21 TRY.
Getting very excited for this and the planning adds to it. Taksim Square here we come.
 
hi,
first of all i recommend you come to Besiktas Square/besiktas pubs street (taksim is ok, but you ll understand what i mean when you come)... believe me.. follow my previous posts.
yesterday i wrote a post about prices. i am pasting here. below.

alcohol is expensive for turkish people (thanks to our islamic government, %300 taxes on alcohol) (Very very expensive compared to our buying power), but it is normal for european people.even cheap. i know.

for food. food is great everywhere and cheap. you may mail me for good restaurands, fast food etc. but feel free, food is excellent everywhere. if you wanna have good dinner with your family or friends in an elegant place, also mail me.

ok, here is the post of yestarday. i am pasting.
-------------------------------------------------
credit card everywhere... 90% contactless. use credit card. but matchday no alcohol in the stadium normally (they will not make an exception for the final i think, i will keep you informed). And there are no pubs near stadium. But there will be mobile turkish guys selling beer. thats how we drink near the stadium in Gala stadium. So hold some cash for matchday near stadium. so how much cash?
ok,
1 beer is 40 Turkish Lira at stores at the moment = 2 USD. They may double the price near stadium, those guys.
at pubs, at Besiktas and Kadıkoy, it is depending. Last month i paid 50TRY in a pub at kadıkoy. But in nevizade street (taksim) i paid 100 TRY (it was a BJK-GS game so they increased the price).
So, normally 50-60 TRY in pubs. But since english fans are coming they will increase it. 100 TRY = 5 USD probably, we will see.
Turkey in a deep financial crisis at the moment. terrible things are happening financially, i dont wanna talk about that and depress you. Sunday 2nd round elections. Next week there will be fluctuations ( i can not comment on which way, it is not legal, but you get it :)) ) on Turkish Lira. We will see. It will not affect you on a negative way, probably you will have a cheaper stay :))
So, depending on your beer consumption make your calculations, near stadium. Hold cash only for matchday near stadium.
cheers.
 
AshtonBlueMooner said:
Just working out how much cash to take and wondered if any bluemooners have been out recently to give an idea on prices, decent places to eat and drink. I know @kerem gokmen has provided loads of good information but prices would be helpful. Going to take cash and Turkish Lira loaded on to my Wise card. Exchange rate with Wise is currently 1 GBP = 24 TRY (Turkish Lira) which is excellent. For comparison Tesco are offering 1 GBP = 21 TRY.
Getting very excited for this and the planning adds to it. Taksim Square here we come.
Click to expand...
to buy turkish lira, wait a little, Fx rates will fluctuate (i can not comment/i am a finance person and it is illegal) next week. after tommorow's elections. :))) cheers
 
Taksim square or Besiktas Square? ok forget about everyhing i wrote; tonnes of advantages of Besiktas (or Kadıkoy) and some disadvantages of Taksim. Forget them

Is not it better to drink and spend time, in the bosphorous seaside? Taksim square is in the center of ugly buildings :)))
cheers. check the foto: bosphorous; one of the most beautiful places on earth. Drinking there is priceless.
 

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This is really good advice Karem. I do think though, despite your helpful info, most will end up around the most well known areas, so Taksim Sq. just because that’s easiest, and most well known.
 
This is really good advice Karem. I do think though, despite your helpful info, most will end up around the most well known areas, so Taksim Sq. just because that’s easiest, and most well known.
 
I am only there Saturday and Sunday.
Staying Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in Fatih.
Will try and see a little bit of Istanbul another sea but will not have a lot of time.
 
kippax_blueboy said:
Will we need any cash?
Can we avoid cash only places?
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everywhere credit card. take turkish lira only for matchday near the stadium..
cheers.
there is one more thing about cash, just came to my mind yesterday. i will write a long post 2 weeks later, mentioning everything. but i can mention it now also.
ok,
there are beggars all over istanbul. most of them small kids. they are kind. they sell stuff. when you sit in the streets they may come to you. they are kind dont worry. you may ignore them and they will go.
but sometimes, for example, when i sit in a pub at Besiktas or Kadıkoy, those kids come. i always give some money ( 5liras, 10 liras). if you ignore them they go away; but sometimes they can be too sticky and disturb your conversations with your friends. so you may hold some turkish liras for that. dont give more than 5 -10 turkish liras.
or you may bring your GBP coins from england (which you do not use), carry it, and give GBP coins to them.
cheers.
 
dancity19 said:
This is really good advice Karem. I do think though, despite your helpful info, most will end up around the most well known areas, so Taksim Sq. just because that’s easiest, and most well known.
Click to expand...
Despite me saying that, I’m planning on booking a restaurant for a group of us on the by the waterfront and just staying there for most of the day.
 
I was just going to take cash for transport and use my card for everything else but when changing my money yesterday the woman at TUI was telling me I'd be charged quite a lot for each transaction on my card so got more and hoping not to use my card.
 
kerem gokmen said:
everywhere credit card. take turkish lira only for matchday near the stadium..
cheers.
there is one more thing about cash, just came to my mind yesterday. i will write a long post 2 weeks later, mentioning everything. but i can mention it now also.
ok,
there are beggars all over istanbul. most of them small kids. they are kind. they sell stuff. when you sit in the streets they may come to you. they are kind dont worry. you may ignore them and they will go.
but sometimes, for example, when i sit in a pub at Besiktas or Kadıkoy, those kids come. i always give some money ( 5liras, 10 liras). if you ignore them they go away; but sometimes they can be too sticky and disturb your conversations with your friends. so you may hold some turkish liras for that. dont give more than 5 -10 turkish liras.
or you may bring your GBP coins from england (which you do not use), carry it, and give GBP coins to them.
cheers.
Click to expand...
Really appreciate all your advice Kerem.
 
dancity19 said:
This is really good advice Karem. I do think though, despite your helpful info, most will end up around the most well known areas, so Taksim Sq. just because that’s easiest, and most well known.
Click to expand...
taksim is cool. enjoy...
 
kerem gokmen said:
debit card is ok. when i was living in amsterdam, and coming to istanbul to visit, i was using my debit card eveywhere.
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Thanks KG.

Can I ask you something else please pal - me and my 2 lads are staying near SAW airport as that’s where our flights are from/to, given the game won’t be over until early Sunday morning what is our best way to get from the stadium back to the hotel near SAW?
 
dancity19 said:
Despite me saying that, I’m planning on booking a restaurant for a group of us on the by the waterfront and just staying there for most of the day.
Click to expand...
mail me if you need advice.... cheers
 
dancity19 said:
It doesn’t look as nice as the other places tbf, I just think it’s where most will head to. But I’m only guessing. What is Liman Restaurant like?
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liman restaurant: great place... all of the restaurants, seaside, they are great.
 
BringBackSwales said:
Thanks KG.

Can I ask you something else please pal - me and my 2 lads are staying near SAW airport as that’s where our flights are from/to, given the game won’t be over until early Sunday morning what is our best way to get from the stadium back to the hotel near SAW?
Click to expand...
no worries,
if i were you, i use the metro, or bus from stadium to city center. then you may use metro from city center to SAW (it may not be open at that time to SAW, let's check match week/ metros will be open from stadium to center, but i am not sure about SAW metro). or come to city center, then taxi.
or after the game, if you can find a taxi, take it. it may be hard to find a taxi. it is always hard in istanbul to find a taxi.
 
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