By Justin Mays:
Inspired by the
recommendations in Daily Sabah last October, this article shares those
suggestions and adds some of Prime Property’s own for one of our favorite
neighborhoods in Istanbul. Sandwiched between Sisli and Beyoglu, elegant
Nistantasi is the perfect spot to spend a day shopping, dining, and exploring.
South of Nisantasi
has two areas to enjoy: Macka - famous for its large park with a strip of fine
dining establishments and five-star hotels on Mim Kemal Oke Cad and Harbiye
known for its outdoor performance space and Kucuk Ciftlik Park festival space.
This has been enjoyed by Istanbullus for decades during the summer, and a new
trendy dining and social establishment, Dekk. Macka Park fills up on the
weekends with people of all ages exercising, socializing, and picnicking.
To its west is
Osmanbey, with a good mix of local and international shops offering services
like hair and nail salons and local restaurants that you can access via the
metro. Tesvikye is adjacent to the neighborhood to the north and has many
luxury shops and local brands throughout its streets. Istanbul’s American
hospital, with its high-tech quality facilities and English language services,
is also here. These neighborhoods all complement each other and are walkable
from each other.
The historical
Nisantasi is up a hill from Besiktas and many upper floor flats here have
sweeping views of the city. Lively bars, international restaurants like Spago,
and luxury shops which include Louis Vuitton are spaced throughout the
neighborhood attracting people from around the world. Peruse Tesvikye street to
Macka street and enjoy looking at the stunning historical buildings while
dipping in and out of shops like Sephora and Zara and stopping for coffee at
the classic House Café next to the historical 1854 Tesvikye Mosque. The Cafe is
in a structure called Muvakkithane, unique to Turkey which used to house clocks
so that people could check prayer times.
Third-wave local
roast coffee culture and bespoke cocktails are the norms in this neighborhood,
and you could spend days trying all the local spots. The popular local chain,
Nusret, has its most stunning restaurant space here at Macka Palace, where
tourists and locals alike enjoy visiting. Try the famous gold leaf wrapped
steak for that Instagram post!
Nisantasi has an
interesting story behind its name, and if you pause at the mosque courtyard you
will find two archery target stones (Nisan-target, Tas-stone in Turkish). In a
nod to its Ottoman past when an archer would break records and a stone would be
erected in their honor. These stones are rare today and are dedicated to Sultan
Selim III in 1790, and the other is dedicated to Sultan Mahmud II in 1811. When
the Ottoman court moved to Dolmabahce Palace, Nisantasi transformed from a
rural area to a home for elites.
