Local Expert
Jessica Tamtürk
Welcome to PlanetEye's Istanbul City Guide! My name is Jessica Tamtürk and I'll share with you insider's tips on how you can make the most of your trip to this intercontinental city.
Originally from…
Welcome to PlanetEye's Istanbul City Guide! My name is Jessica Tamtürk and I'll share with you insider's tips on how you can make the most of your trip to this intercontinental city.
Originally from Belgium, I now call Istanbul one of my home bases; the other being Los Angeles, California, the place where I grew up.
Whether you hail from the European or American continent, my roots – biological and experiential – makes me the virtual guide with the most to help you conquer this metropolis of over 15 million.
What you'll get through these pages is my unbiased opinion of destinations, hotels, and restaurants. You may even learn a little Turkish in the process through my STRICTLY SPEAKING segments at the end of each post. I'm a stickler for responsible tourism; that means that I firmly believe that the industry should integrate with a country rather than the destination complying itself to the whims of its yearly visitors. I hope you'll agree and use the language tool to mingle with the natives. You'll be glad you did!
Aside from keeping you updated on the ins and outs of the greatest city in the world (at least I think so), I'm hard at work developing a first edition, 500-page travel guide to Turkey for Avalon Travel Publishing.
If you like what you're reading, have a question or just need general info on Istanbul, then by all means drop me a line by visiting my website....
STRICTLY SPEAKING
Hos Geldiniz = Welcome!!!! (pron. Hosh Geldiniz) –
More
ISTANBUL'S CHEAP EATS II-DOY DOY & BURAHA 93
Located on Sifa Hamami Sokak are two really popular, inexpensive restaurants worth a try.
The first Doy Doy equates to cheap classical Turkish home food. Known for its kebab, the baked lamb moussaka with loads of fresh bread is a crowd favorite. The homemade baklava, not overly sweetened, and lokum also appear on the menu. Typically reserved for heavy smokers, the bottom floor tends to get noisy. Opt instead for Doy Doy’s rooftop terrace for uninterrupted views of the entire promontory.
The other draw, just two doors down, is Buraha 93. Known for its eponymous special kebab of grilled lamb morsels served with freshly bread baked on the premises, salads, pides (oval shaped dough slathered with cheese, meat, or sausage and eggs, and baked), as well as pizzas. Dervish shows and/or live music most summer evenings.
ESSENTIALS
DOYDOY
ADDRESS: Sifa Hamami Sok. 13, Sultanahmet
PHONE: +90.212.517.5188
PRICE: APPROX. 15TL/person
BURHAHA 93
ADDRESS: Sifa Hamami Sok. 17
PHONE: +90.212.518.1511
PRICES: APPROX. 15 TL
STRICTLY SPEAKING
BILL/TAB = HESAP (pron. as it's read)