For those in the know, Istanbul only comes to life once the sun sets. There is certainly an astounding range of nightlife in the city, from cutting edge techno to belly-dancing. The best place to start is BeyoÄŸlu, which is home to plenty of wine bars, jazz joints, and hip rooftop bars. In contrast, the tourist area of Sultanahmet has few venues worth mentioning. Start your evening off at one of the many meyhanes,which is a type of Turkish tavern famous for raki and mezze platters. Some of the best nightclubs are in Ortaköy, overlooking the Bosphorous. The most popular is Sortie, famous for supermodels, millionaires, and the effortlessly cool. For jazz music, head to enduring classic, Nardis Jazz Club. Clubs and bars stay open very late and drinks are affordable in comparison to European cities. Be careful of visiting adult entertainment clubs as these are notorious for ripping off tourists. Always establish prices before ordering anything. For local listings check out Time Out Istanbulor the Turkish Daily News.
