Mozaik Cafe Restaurant - Two visits One thing that does set Mozaik apart from other restaurants is its lively vibe. You can taste the enthusiasm in the dishes you’re served, and it comes with some entertainment. Stay strong and bypass all the other restaurants in this beautiful laneway and join in the fun atmosphere of Mozaik, it will be worth it, and you will be dancing on the street with fellow guests and staff. The team are fun and lively, full of energy and love chatting with guests whilst providing very attentive service to everyone. Great cocktails and food. Traditional Turkish cuisine, excellent menu and a wide variety of choices. Very entertaining delivery of some unique dishes, this adds to the vibe, and everyone gets involved. Designed for comfort, very cosy with lounge dining and heating outdoors. Located In a beautiful cobblestone laneway, providing a relaxed space away from the hustle and bustle of the busy Grand Bazaar and Mehmet Akif Ersoy Park. Not only will you enjoy a fantastic dining experience, but you will also walk away with new friendships. We loved it so much we were back the next day for a long lazy lunch, rolled into dinner with our new friends. Finish the evening listening to great tunes with the resident DJ, with a Shisha and Raki, otherwise known as Lion's Milk -- the Turkish national drink made of twice-distilled grapes and aniseed. We were also surprised with a special treat for our wedding anniversary on our first visit. The kindness and generosity of the team helped us fall in love with Istanbul and the people. Recommend Mozaik Cafe Restaurant. It is perfect for a fun evening with a group of friends enjoying warm and friendly staff and fantastic Turkish food.

Solera Winery - One visit Solera Winery is a quaint wine bar just off the busy İstiklal Avenue and has incredible value for all your local wines and food. A very cheerful local spot has cosy decor and exudes warm energy. They host an extensive wine list by the glass and bottle, complimented with a small but delicious menu to satisfy your hunger. We were incredibly impressed with the chicken curry, it was perfection. Super friendly team, the wine bar has an emphasis on local Turkish wine and food. The wine is available for takeaway at a great value. It's a great bar to stop off after exploring the local neighbourhood.

OMEGA Boutique - One visit Buying a luxury watch to celebrate a milestone in your life occurs so rarely. After months of watching videos on YouTube, hanging out in way too many watch boutiques, I finally decided to switch brands and move to Omega. The Omega boutique in Istanbul was the perfect buying experience. A wide selection of male and female watches are on display and all available for sale. The team was very knowledgeable and didn't try to upsell; they ensured I selected the right watch for my current digital nomad and traveller requirements. I decided on the Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M reference 210.30.42.20.04.001 I just loved the construction, a rugged watch that would handle day to day wear, and seriously the dial changes colour in the environment and gives this watch a beautiful personality. My watchband was adjusted at the boutique while chatting about watches and sharing our travel journey. Truly an excellent buying experience.

Boutique Saint Sophia Hotel - Four nights Perfect location for exploring Istanbul and all the main tourist attractions. You are steps away from Hagia Sophia ( Ayasofya ). Upon entering the hotel you are warmly welcomed and check-in is a breeze. We were pleasantly surprised with the rose petals and fruit platter in our room to wish us a happy anniversary. The rooms are clean, modern and spacious, we stayed in a Grand deluxe room with a small balcony to enjoy the view. You have the most magical view of the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO world heritage site. Which after 85 years as a museum, in 2020 it was redesignated as a mosque. Originally a church from 537-1453. With Bvlgari amenities, and heavenly linen you are guaranteed to sleep peacefully, we loved listening to call to prayer at dawn, truly provides you with the full experience. Breakfast is served each morning downstairs in the restaurant or on the terrace, eggs are cooked to your preference, accompanied by a bread basket, cheese and salad. They definitely make sure you have the energy to get through your day of exploring. The terrace is a great spot to relax and hide away from the craziness of the city, it is tucked away above the street and as the hotel is located in a cobblestone alleyway with foot traffic only, you can enjoy your downtime. A beautiful boutique hotel in the old city, you won't be disappointed with your stay in Istanbul.

Art Smyrna Cafe - One visit You will be delighted with this Turkish cafe in Beyoğlu, which is nestled in a quiet cobblestone street away from the high pedestrian traffic and only a one-minute walk from Galata Tower. Super friendly team, you are warmly greeted by everyone and ladies are presented with a sweet little flower to welcome you. The menu is full of classic Turkish comfort food and some with a twist. The dishes were full of flavour and deliciousness. Limited wine selection, but they'll create a cocktail with their limited range of spirits to enjoy with your meal, and the drinks are uniquely served garnished with a flower. Art Smyrna cafe is a perfect spot for breakfast or lunch. We loved the eclectic interior and the tunes playing to provide you with a warm and cosy feel like you are dining at home.

360 Istanbul - Two visits 360 Istanbul is located in İstiklal Avenue, moments from Taksim Square. The restaurant is set in a penthouse in a 19th-century apartment building spoiling you with 360 views over Istanbul and a close up of St Antoine's Church steeple. On our first visit to Istanbul seven years ago, we had the most wonderful experience here, enjoying the food, exceptional wine and live dancers and singers. Our second visit, unfortunately, did not live up to our first experience. It feels it is now trading on its name and location. It was disappointing to see the food standard and ambience slip. It needs some love to spark it back up, and decor spruce up is required. It was the same furniture from seven years ago and is tired and needs to be deep cleaned or replaced. It doesn't know if it's a tourist venue or a quality dining experience. Without a dress code, expect to see the place full of tourists heading up for the magical sunset views, of course, and insta pics whilst sitting on their coffee. They are focused on TripAdvisor reviews, so you are encouraged to write one and mention the waiter's name, this never feels genuine. The food, wine and cocktails didn't quite match the pricing, but once the service team warmed up to you and realised you were not just there for a drink, they were fantastic. Kudos to Mario, our waiter, for bringing smiles and laughter to our table. Honestly, many more wonderful dining establishments with unstoppable views over Istanbul are more worthy of your money until they have decided to give it a facelift and refresh.

Sarnic Restaurant - One visit Wow! This restaurant is steeped in history located inside a 1500-year-old cistern. Sarnic was a perfect first dinner in Istanbul to begin the celebrations of our 15th wedding anniversary. The pictures do not do it justice. You enter from a beautiful cobblestoned alley, Soğukçeşme Sokağı, which is a small street with historic houses in the Sultanahmet neighbourhood of Istanbul. N othing will prepare you for the entrance down the grand staircase, large columns and domed roof, genuinely like the Titanic. Impeccable service exceeded our expectations. Our waiters were very attentive, and the Chef visited us a few times and was loads of fun. The very knowledgeable staff help you navigate a great list of local wines. Our first time experiencing Turkish wines, and the team expertly guided us on the best choices, were impressed. Cocktails were heavenly, definitely a highlight in Istanbul to date. For those wishing to enjoy the incredible surroundings, the team welcomes you to enjoy a drink without dining. The food was, without a doubt, amazing. We enjoyed our dining journey over the evening. It was great to sample a new cuisine after being in the Balkans for 18 months. We were surprised by a special dish that was part of the tradition during a circumcision ceremony. It was mixed meat and melon. We love experiencing new dishes and flavours. The ambience of the restaurant was friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed meeting a lovely family at our neighbouring table, beautiful girls from Uganda celebrating a birthday. Recommend visiting Sarnic fine dining for a night to remember.

Entire loft hosted by Aya Property - Four nights Our first Airbnb in Istanbul was located in a quaint cobblestone laneway, with a local bohemian vibe, away from the hustle and bustle of Galata. It is an Architectural designer home in a small block of approximately eight apartments and perfect for short term stays to explore the area. You have all the mod cons of a designer home, including a lift for those who travel with luggage. The kitchen is equipped with all your basics should you need to cook and dine at home. However, you are spoilt for choice with an abundance of restaurants, all within a few minutes walk. Whilst the fridge might be considered small, it is sufficient, and as you primarily dine out, it isn't an issue. A full-size washing machine and dishwasher are available in the apartment, with supermarkets within a few minutes walk. The open plan bedroom and bathroom are very spacious with loads of storage, but do bear in mind the open glass ensuite might not be for everyone, ideal for couples. The bedroom overlooks other apartments, but you can be assured privacy with the blackout drapes during the evening. Our host Can was a delight to communicate with and very generous and available. The location was terrific. You are a heartbeat away from the magnificent Galata Tower to capture those beautiful evening photos and a short ten-minute walk from İstiklal Caddesi, one of Istanbul's main shopping streets with all your mainstream brands.

We travelled to a country with 30,000 Covid cases per day and 200 deaths per day, Turkey. Australia may soon allow people to travel again, and I thought I would share our experiences of travelling during Covid. We have travelled through Morocco, Tunisia, Austria, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey since February 2020. Our first flight in over a year between Serbia and Turkey, and I wanted to share @Sally Schmidt and my experience. Firstly leaving Serbia, where smoking is actively encouraged and taken almost to an Olympic sport, yes, the first photo is real. We hired a local taxi (Mercedes, of course), total to the trip was $20 for a half-hour trip to the airport. Checking in to our Air Serbia flight was a breeze, from drop off to having a coffee in the airport, through immigration, including duty-free shopping a world record 45-minutes, all with a simple Antigen test, cost $39 each. Our first COVID test required for moving to a new country, since March 2020 there has been no testing required to cross borders. Our one and a half hour flight to Istanbul was a breeze, and at least 10% of flyers didn't wear a mask. We had a full catering service, including alcoholic beverages available. Social distancing is not enforced at Istanbul airport immigration, and none of the customs officers wore masks, but of course, were behind glass. A slow transfer into the city shared a ride with three beautiful Kenyan girls living in Switzerland off for a girls weekend away. Istanbul is the thirteenth-largest city globally, with approximately 15+ million in population, and tourism is thriving. Our impressions after the first two weeks of our three-month stay. No police officer will rugby tackle you for not wearing a mask; they smile and say hello as you walk. Ultimately it's your choice to wear a mask. It's a blessing not being able to speak the language, giving you relief from the media. A PCR test is often more than a week's wage (and not free) in the previously visited countries, so most people cannot get tested. Life goes on, and by the way, we caught Covid (like most people back in Albania in February this year - perfect valentine gift to Sally).

Angry Monk - Three visits Angry Monk a unique Japanese restaurant and cocktail lab in the heart of Belgrade exudes luxury with amazing and stunning design. The cocktails are definitely on another level, each cocktail is made with the highest of quality liquor and they all have an element of surprise. A very enticing range of signature cocktails, especially the Holly Smoke (see below)! The food is above expectation with a very unique spin on Japanese, but one you will be delighted by. You can't go wrong, each and every dish was incredible. You must try the Yaki Buns, literally a baked cloud bun, the lightest and freshest we have ever experienced!! The staff are very attentive and full of wonderful energy. A mesmerising and intimate indoor dining space, with beautiful booths to enjoy a long lazy meal, a great outdoor dining space that is great to watch the world go by. Angry Monk has ambience, a great atmosphere, definitely a hotspot to enjoy tunes with a DJ over the weekend. For wine lovers, you can enjoy a very well selected wine list to complement the delicious cuisine. The location of Angry Monk is a heartbeat from the pedestrian street, so a perfect restaurant for a pre clubbing night or after a day of shopping.