Pierre Loti Café

From the top of the Galata tower you will spot it in the distance at the end of the Golden Horn overlooking the cemetery of Eyup in this authentic neighbourhood perched at the top of an ancient village outside the city walls. You will sense a quiet atmosphere, green areas (bearing in mind that you are in a city of 15 million inhabitants) and you will be able to imagine the incredible views of the Golden Horn which you can have from the Cafe. The Cafe owes its name to Pierre Loti, a famous French writer who used to love staying there to observe the life of the Golden Horn and the beauty of Istanbul. His love of Turkey is returned a thousand folds by the Turks themselves who like this area so much that it is often difficult to get a seat there during summer or winter. Be patient and enjoy the view standing up and jump in as soon as a seat becomes vacant. The cafe serves soft drinks and tea but no food. So bring your picnic or choose from the many vendors perched there. If you get there by cable car do walk down to discover a beautiful old Ottoman cemetery of old and more recent graves set in nature. This is a peaceful and authentic place, a small gem of Istanbul. It may not be on your list of priorities but it will give the perfect ending to your stay and leave you with unforgettable memories of this great city.