Read, eat and discover

Every day new hot spots are popping up around Istanbul. Restaurants reflecting the city's dynamic cultural variety or the strength of the Turkish economy penetrate our lives daily. This week, we will examine places both new and old, as well as those still waiting to be discovered. There are very different options available but every option is designed around a different concept, making each option truly unique. If large crowds are not your cup of tea, you would enjoy visiting Le Baron. With a standard of quality that is as high as the ceilings of the place, Le Baron features Chester-type sofas, walls adorned with furniture, crystal chandeliers and a cigar room. Le Baron is located in Zorlu Center and functions like a secret sanctuary, even reminding me of the high-level men's clubs in London or the luxurious, members-only restaurants of New York City that are frequented by wealthy businessmen for lunch or dinner. The cigar room in Le Baron restaurant has customized climate control with the temperature and humidity level in the room specially adjusted. Here you can choose from Cuban and Columbian cigars, depending on your taste, and leave your cigar inside the cigar room at your leisure.



When it comes to food, Le Baron is a heaven for sushi lovers. Their specially designed chopsticks are the perfect utensil for trying the fresh and savory Crispy Unagy or the Le Baron Beef Roll, which has a unique taste. In addition to the sushi, the duck is especially delicious as well. One of my favorite dishes, the Tiger Shrimp, includes three jumbo shrimp that are served on a large platter, marinated with their shells removed. Try the shrimp dish with caramelized lemon sauce for a savory experience. Le Baron also has a DJ who plays beautiful music and features Turkish Pop on some nights and 70's and 80's music on Thursday nights. Le Baron's may begin having Jazz nights, which will be sure to satisfy Miles Davis' lovers or the like. Le Baron also has a lovely terrace and sitting area where guests can enjoy a pleasant summer evening. I would like to thank the owners, Alp Franko and Julien Martin, for establishing such an incredible restaurant in Istanbul. Stop by Le Baron and feel like an English aristocrat.

The second place I'm going to suggest is a place you will enjoy the cool summer nights and unique flavors: Goya. The place that was previously opened in Karaköy district is now open in the Reina Night Club and I think it is the best corner in Reina. We met with dear Uğur Güven, one of the partners, who invited me to the place I had always wanted to visit. The view and the decorations are superb. Golden palm trees, marble tables, a chic bar and designed sofas are waiting for you at Goya.

Restaurant chef Ramazan Uçar is experienced, knowledgeable and most of all, from Bolu, the hometown of the most famous Turkish chefs. I tried the cocktail menu of the place before I tried the food and learned that some of the cocktails are prepared in barrels. I loved the cocktails called Mykonos and

Passion Dream. Among the dishes, on the other hand, steak with asparagus and the selection of sushi is delicious. My favorite was the Teriyaki Duck, which is duck cooked with orange, ginger, honey and soy sauce. The duck is then marinated in the sauce for six hours. Among the desserts, on the other hand, the Mango Parfait was absolutely delicious. Normally I don't like mango and find it sour but I really loved this dessert. I think Goya is the best place in Reina with its ambiance, service and food. I can say it's one of the top three places on the Bosporus. Stop by before the summer is over and while you're there don't forget to stop by "Cave" right on the bottom floor of Goya to have some fun.

Although it's old, the place I have frequently been stopping by lately is 1901 Salata New York in the Nişantaşı district. It is one of the places to enjoy the summer with a back garden, outdoor terrace and DJ performances, which are fully equipable here, along with a front balcony where you can watch people walking around Nişantaşı. Although it looks like a place only for salads, it's famous for its pizzas. I especially loved the caramelized pear pizza. The salads, on the other hand, are of a wide variety. This is the best place in Nişantaşı for people who are on a diet. By the way, the prices are unbelievably affordable, so cheap they are somewhat shocking. I asked Nurcan, the owner of the place, where the name 1901 came from. To my surprise, the construction date of the Public Hotel in Beyoğlu, which is in the same establishment group was 1901. This is why the name of the cafe in Nişantaşı became 1901. The breakfast listed on the menu as Gourmet Fountain Breakfast is served on weekends as well. Village women sit on the floor making fresh bazlama dough and it is served hot at your table. Homemade jams and cheeses accompany them. You can have as much bazlama as you like. In other words, the breakfast has no limit. Stop by 1901 Salata New York the first chance you get.

Another brand new concept in food and beverages this summer came from Gülben Ergen. The "Nanny" character the famous actress played in the previous years became a reality when Gülben Ergen created the Dadi Mutfakta brand consisting of natural homemade dishes and healthy pastries. Located in the district of Levent, this is a cafe concept inspired by patriotic red-and-white color themes. The names of dishes are jotted on a blackboard while checkered table cloths add warmth to the place. With flavors that will remind you of mother's cooking, Dadı Mutfak or "Dadi's Kitchen" in Turkish also offers a catering service and to-go service for homes and offices. I liked the potato pie and mastic-gum pudding. The cold mezes must also be tasted as well as the kidney beans. Dadı Mutfakta can be a fast, delicious and economical solution for lunch. I congratulate Gülben Ergen and her team for their spirit of entrepreneurship.

Top 3 Venues of the Week
Le Baron / Zincirlikuyu
Goya / Ortaköy
İl Riccio / Bodrum

Top 3 Hotels of the Week
Elysium M Gallery / Taksim
Bella Sombra / Bodrum
Nars Hotel / Ilıca

Top 3 People to Follow This Week
Orkide Gökhan / PR Person
Kaan Bimplis / NLP Expert
Avni Öztopçu / Artist

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