Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Istanbul, Turkey : People walking and nostalgic tramway on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul, Turkey There’s no better way to waste away a few hours while exploring a new city than stopping into a bookstore and perusing the stacks, watching what the locals are reading over a cup of coffee and perhaps selecting a regional book to serve as a memory of your trip. If you’re planning a trip to Istanbul and want to schedule a bookstore cafe run into your itinerary, you’ll want to read on. Here are five charming bookstore cafes in Istanbul—both the Asian and European sides—to fuel up on caffeine and find your next great read.
Minoa Books & Coffee Minoa Books & Coffee in Akaretler should be your first stop if you’re searching for a charming cafe to cozy up with a good English book. The bookstore and restaurant stocks all of the latest bestsellers and classics in English and boasts a delicious onsite restaurant and cafe that makes the perfect spot for enjoying a meal and people-watching in the stacks. Türk Alman Kitabevi Cafe The Türk Alman Kitabevi Cafe is one of the oldest bookstores in the city, having opened its doors back in 1955.
These days, it’s one of the most beautiful cafes to stop and enjoy a coffee (or a mulled wine come wintertime) but you’ll want to note that this bookstore mainly caters to German readers and doesn’t offer a huge selection of English language books. Kadıköy İstanbul Kitapçısı If you’re visiting the Asian side of the city, you’ll want to make your way to Kadıköy İstanbul Kitapçısı . The bookstore is tucked upstairs just beyond the ferry entrance on the Kadıköy seaside and boasts an onsite Kahve Dünyası.
The bookstore is mainly stocked with Turkish books, but it’s the outside terrace you’re coming for. Its unique position on the second storey of the ferry terminal offers an incredibly unique vantage point of the ferries sailing in and out of the pier. FiL FiL offers a more contemporary take on the bookstore cafe; it mainly focuses on arts and photography books ranging from big-name artists to up-and-comers.
The artist-run space and publishing house is ideal for wasting away a few hours with a hot drink in hand while poring over a visually stunning read. Fahriye Cafe Back to the Asian side of the city, Fahriye Cafe is a small and cozy spot that specializes in coffee, books, and antiques, and that ethos is reflected in the decor, the menu, and the stacks of books for sale. It feels a bit like walking back in time, like visiting your grandma’s stylish friend—who introduces you to your next favorite read with a hot coffee or lemonade in hand.
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