The back story
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The back story
Karaköy: the back story
From Genoese harbour and banking street to galleries and some of the city’s best tables.
Neighbourhood guide · on the Golden Horn
Karaköy: Our Favourites
Istanbul’s old port quarter reborn: Istanbul Modern and Galataport on the water, MICHELIN-starred Neolokal, Karaköy Lokantası, baklava at Güllüoğlu and a Sinan hammam.
What's onThis week in Istanbul
What to see
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Renzo Piano on the Bosphorus
Istanbul Modern
Turkey’s leading museum of modern and contemporary art, in a Renzo Piano building on the Bosphorus at Galataport, opened in 2023.
Kılıçali Paşa, Tophane İskele Caddesi No:1/1, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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A promenade on the Bosphorus
Galataport
The waterfront cruise port and promenade at Karaköy and Tophane, with shops, cafés, Istanbul Modern and the Museum of Painting and Sculpture.
Kılıçali Paşa, Meclis-i Mebusan Caddesi, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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An Ottoman bank turned cultural centre
SALT Galata
Exhibitions, a research library and archives in the grand 19th-century Ottoman Bank building on Bankalar Caddesi.
Bankalar Caddesi No:11, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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Turkish painting at Galataport
Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University’s collection of Turkish painting and sculpture, in a waterfront building at Galataport since 2021.
Galataport, Tophane, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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Sinan’s restored masterpiece
Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı
Sinan’s hammam of the 1580s in Tophane, beautifully restored, with set hours for women and men.
Hamam Sokak, Tophane, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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The view over the whole city
Galata Tower
The Genoese tower of 1348 above Karaköy, with a 360-degree balcony over the old city, the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.
Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi, BeyoğluExplore View on map
Where to eat
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One MICHELIN Star (2026)
Neolokal
Chef Maksut Aşkar’s modern Anatolian cooking in the SALT Galata building, with views over the Golden Horn; one MICHELIN Star and a Green Star.
Arap Camii Mahallesi, Bankalar Caddesi No:11/1, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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Bib Gourmand (2026)
Karaköy Lokantası
A tiled, buzzing dining room by the Karaköy piers: home-style lokanta dishes at lunch, meze and rakı at night; a Bib Gourmand.
Kemankeş Mahallesi, Kemankeş Caddesi No:57, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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Bib Gourmand (2026)
Tershane
A modern Turkish restaurant on the eighth floor of a Karaköy hotel, with views over the Golden Horn; a Bib Gourmand.
Arap Cami Mahallesi, Tersane Caddesi No:24, Karaköy, Beyoğlu (Hotel Momento, 8th floor)Explore View on map
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Fire and the Bosphorus
Mürver
Wood-fire cooking with Anatolian produce on a rooftop by the Karaköy shore, with Bosphorus views.
Novotel İstanbul Bosphorus, Kemankeş Caddesi No:57-59, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map
Cafés
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Baklava by the piers
Karaköy Güllüoğlu
The famous baklava house of Karaköy: pistachio baklava, börek and tea in a busy hall by the waterfront.
Kemankeş Caddesi No:67, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map
Bars & nightlife
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A Karaköy favourite
Unter
A bistro and bar in the lanes of Karaköy, busy from brunch to late.
Karaali Kaptan Sokak No:4A, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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Jazz by the Galata Tower
Nardis Jazz Club
Istanbul’s best-known jazz club, a few steps from the Galata Tower.
Galata, BeyoğluExplore View on map
Where to stay
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On the Karaköy waterfront
The Peninsula Istanbul
A luxury hotel on the Karaköy waterfront, opened in 2023 across restored historic buildings by Galataport.
Kemankeş Caddesi, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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A bank turned hotel
Vault Karaköy
A House Hotel in a grand former bank building on Bankalar Caddesi, with a rooftop terrace.
Bankalar Caddesi No:5, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map
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A boutique hotel below the tower
Georges Hotel Galata
A small boutique hotel in a historic building in Galata, with a rooftop terrace.
Serdar-ı Ekrem Sokak, Galata, BeyoğluExplore View on map
Share your Karaköy tips
Know a lovely corner of Karaköy? Share your tips with other visitors.
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