Turks in general, are pretty good at the whole brunch thing. I'm sure the Ottomans had it all worked out centuries ago that lazing about on a Sunday morning with the papers, an endless supply of coffee, and little meze dishes of delicious morsels of olives, fresh vegetables, bread, honey and clotted cream was truly the only civilised way to spend one's precious leisure hours.
Here is a low-down of the our best brunch places in Istanbul, starting with:
Mangerie - Bebek
Mangerie is an über-hip place in the affluent suburb of Bebek. If coming from central Istanbul, a short bus or taxi ride down the coast will take you to this hidden oasis. It is actually really quite hidden, as Google Maps does not help. You need to walk down the high street towards the intersection and find a small flight of stairs that takes you up to the top floor. If in doubt ask the nice lady at the homewares and design store, who will point you in the right direction.
Upon arrival, we were seated on the balcony, facing directly into the view below. After we quite got over ourselves at how cool we were for finding this place, we perused the menu and opted for the a standard Turkish meze style breakfast, or as we have now coined it, the 'full Turkish'. Out came generous portions of bread, fresh clotted cream with honey, cheeses, nutella, jams, and a bowl of fresh tomatoes with thyme. In addition we also ordered some eggs with Turkish sausage. All of this with some pretty stunning views. The restaurant itself, with long wooden communal tables, fresh flowers and bookshelves along the walls, invites its customers to stay awhile - not least because their breakfasts are so delicious. If you're not in the mood for breakfast, Manger also serves a range of Western and Turkish style salads, sandwiches and quiche.
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| Breakfast with a view |
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| Mangerie Bebe |
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| A delectable spread at Mangerie Bebek |
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| Trendy interiors with an assortment of mid-century furniture and George Nelson lighting |
Bebek itself is interesting to have a walk around; it is clearly a suburb for the well-to-do. Continue down the Bosphorus coastline heading back in the direction of Istanbul, as there is a footpath leading directly to the next town, Arnavutköy, whilst, being slightly less fancy than Bebek, holds its own in terms of interesting side streets and traditional architecture.
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| Perfect day for a stroll in Bebek |
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| Arnavutköy |
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| The ornate and brightly painted exteriors of homes in Arnavutköy |
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