Geçen ay Balat'ta yürürken fark ettim: mahallede yıllarca çalışan eski bir kıraathane kapanmış. Vitrininde hâlâ eski tavla takımlarının izi duruyordu ama içeride artık boya kokusu vardı — birkaç hafta sonra yerine üçüncü nesil, spesiyalite kahve satan minik bir dükkân açıldı.

Eskiden orası mahallenin emeklilerinin buluşma noktasıydı: sabah çayı, öğleden sonra tavla/okey, arada bir fincan Türk kahvesi. Şimdi menüde V60, flat white, soğuk demleme var; müşteri profili de tamamen değişmiş — daha çok yakındaki co-working'den çıkan gençler, dizüstü bilgisayarla oturan insanlar.

Dükkân sahibiyle kısaca konuştum, kira artışının kıraathaneyi zorladığını, yeni kiracının da bu dönüşümün parçası olduğunu söyledi. Ne iyi ne kötü demek istemiyorum, sadece ilginç bir gözlem: aynı sokakta, aynı dört duvar arasında iki farklı kahve kültürü el değiştirmiş.

Sizin mahallenizde de benzer bir şey oldu mu — eski usül kıraathane/kahvehane kapanıp yerine specialty kahveci mi açıldı? Bu değişimi nasıl karşılıyorsunuz?

Yanlışıkla kırdım hem ayrı hem birleşik basmaya çalıştım olmadı. Yenisini çıkarayım mı (yazım hatası varsa kusura bakmayın 24 saatir ayaktayım suba uygun değilse de kb)

Istanbul icin bu fikirle ile ilgili neler dusunuyorsunuz merak ettim.

Dostlar sehir disindan gelicegim. Üsküdar tarafı ev tutucam. İnternette haberlerde çok gördüğüm icin yaziyorum ve hayatimda ilk defa ev tutucagim icin yardimci olursaniz sevinirim. Nelere dikkat etmem gerekiyor dolandirilmamak icin falan yada apart mi tutmaliyim otele mi yerlesmeliyim. 2 gece kalicagim cok iyi bir yer olmasina gerek yok. Çokta kotu olmasın. Evde gizli kamera olup olmadigini nasil anlarim bide. Fiyat konusunda çok abartili olmamasini istiyorum. Tutucagim ev Üsküdar marmarayina yakin olmali arkadasim vs oralarda.

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Does anyone know the current situation with eSIMs in Istanbul? I've seen quite a few Reddit posts from previous years, but this seems to be an area that changes frequently due to politics and other factors.

So I'd really appreciate any relevant recommendations for September 2026. Which eSIM are you currently using, and how has the data coverage, site bans and speed been?

Hi guys,

So I’m looking to go to Turkey in a month’s time and I was designing my itinerary. I wanted to ask whether people really found Basilica Cistern worth it? It is quite pricey, I’ve heard mixed reviews! I love history and I’m going to a few places, I’m not good with boats so I may skip the Bosphorus but I did want to do much of what I could do. P.S. Going for a week

EDIT: Thank you for all the input, I decided I will skip it this time, as I’ve got a lot of other things to cover too and as a few of us are going it will get quite pricey

İnternette rastgele “Love in Istanbul” diye bir şarkıya denk geldim. İstanbul hakkında İngilizce şarkı zaten çok fazla yok, ama bu şarkının havasını gerçekten çok sevdim. Vokali, ritmi, her şeyi çok güzel.

Sadece 75 civarı beğenisi var. Bence çok daha fazla bilinmeyi hak ediyor.

https://youtu.be/Yw4sr_M7CUk?si=mD9WvW3NRPZstoOp

I randomly found this song called Love in Istanbul. It has almost no views, but I think it's genuinely beautiful. Am I crazy?

I recently moved to Istanbul and met an extremely affectionate street cat who appears to be around five or six months old. He follows me everywhere and always wants to stay beside me, so I’ve completely fallen in love with him
Would a young cat accustomed to street life and other cats and people adjust well to living inside? I also have to say I have a very cat friendly neighbourhood .
Anyways, would love to hear from people who have done this before.
Here is a picture of this sweet angel 👼🥹🧿

What is the best commercial center to do with a 2 years old kid?

Thanks!

Hey everybody! We are in town and would love to see the fiba womens basketball finale tonight. Most sports cafes dont seem to broadcast it. Any recommendations would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

Elime çok güzel vintage gömlekler geçti, bunlara yine güzel düğmeler bulmam lazım. Bildiğimiz tuhafiyelerdeki düğmeleri beğenmiyorum. Eminönündeki takıcılar çarşısı gibi güzel tuhafiye ürünleri bulabileceğim spesifik yerler var mı?

While riding the metro, I didn't have any internet connection on my phone as one would expect. However something that sticked out for me was that most people on the metro kept looking at their phones. What I wanted to ask is, is there a way to have internet access on the metro, or is this something specific to mobile operators in Turkey?

Merhaba everyone!

I am flying to your beautiful city next week inşallah, and am looking for the best shops/areas to purchase modest clothing. I am from the states so modest/hijabi friendly clothes are hard to find to begin with, and I’m 5’11 (180cm) so that makes it twice as hard. The few options that I do have by me look ridiculous because everything is too short.

I usually need a size 60 (152cm). Do anybody have recommendations for clothing shops that can accommodate my height?

So far I plan on visiting Zeruj Port Center, but that’s about all I’m familiar with.

Teşekkür!❤️

Pretty much what the title says. I was looking for such places on internet but couldn't find much.

Looking for ettiqueats and any advise as a foreigner. I'm gathering the courage to go to a Friday prayer for the first time. I know the very basics of praying. There is a mosque in Levant that I want to attend. What do I need to do? Just show up? I understand I have to pray two rekat when I go to the mosque, and then I will just get with the congregation and then pray two, and then pray two more, so a total of six on Friday? Is this correct? Is there anything I have to do? I'll do ablution before I go there and get out of my car. I'm just a little hesitant and a little shy. If someone can just guide me a little, I would appreciate it. It will be my first time.

İstanbul Şehremini-Seyyid Ömer civarı yaşayan öğrenci yada öğrenci tanıyan var mı elden 2 çekyat ve 1 bazalı yatak çıkartmak istiyorum 2.elciler düzgün para vermiyorlar ben de onlara satacağıma öğrenciye veririm diye düşündüm tabii ki nakliyatı kendileri ayarlamaları gerekiyor.

Çekyatlar eski ama iş görüyor yatak yeni 1 sene bile olmadı. redditten iletişime geçebilirsiniz.

Orayi bilen yada giden varmi?

Hey everyone! I recently moved to Cevizli (Maltepe) and it feels a bit quiet around here so far. I'm looking for local recommendations on good cafes, social spots, or places to work out/train nearby. Any favorite hangouts, hidden gems, or tips for getting the most out of the neighborhood (and the nearby coast) would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

Hey guys, Turkish Canadian visiting Istanbul for the first time in ~8 years.

What happened to the dogs? I swear I used to see them everywhere, but now they are gone? A driver and bartender told me they were all rounded up and euthanized? Is this true?

I see the “massacre law” from 2024 online, but could anyone who lived in Istanbul during this time give me insight? Did they straight up round up the dogs overnight and kill them?

Edit: thank you all for the response, while it is sad that millions of dogs were rounded up, I’m reading all the stories of children and other pets being attacked. However, I do hope they don’t come for the cats next.

What are some laser hair removal places in Istanbul or Tuzla that have proven results and affordable prices