Istanbul: The Monocle Travel Guide Series

A portrait of Istanbul’s outposts of good food, design, retail, and more, this definitive travel guide will make you feel like a local no matter where you are from

On first impression, Istanbul can seem a touch demure. But beneath its inimitable skyline is a teeming, triumphant metropolis with imperial history, intrigue, and entrepreneurial zeal written into its streets. It’s a city constantly being remade and reimagined, and the resulting sense of opportunity and vigor is palpable.

Monocle has sought out must-sees with an eye beyond the obvious, whether it’s visiting the next up-and-coming neighborhood — teeming with bars, discerning clothiers, and coffee houses — or dropping in to an old-school kuafor for a haircut. This guide will point you in the right direction for the finest places to eat, drink, and shop, and navigate you through the city’s architectural gems, from Ottoman follies converted into art centers to backstreet Byzantine beauties. So join Monocle for a cross-continental jaunt with bites of simit-size lore thrown in for good measure. Now don’t miss that ferry.

Authors: 

Monocle reports from around the globe in print, on radio, and online. As its editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar. 

That information is now available in Monocle’s Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to you in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning markets. These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the best out of a city — no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning; Monocle’s team won’t list a hundred places to eat but they will tell you where’s best for everything from some tasty fast food to something truly celebratory. Cities are fun. Let’s explore.