This hall on Taksim Square is the most likely place to find Turkish classical music. The Türk Müziĸi chorus performs in the lower auditorium most Sundays from autumn to late...

This large, comfortable and under-appreciated auditorium with excellent acoustics is not far north of Taksim Square. Run by the Istanbul Municipality, the venue hosts...

Located in the far-from-glamorous district of Kurtuluş, an area once home to a sizeable Greek community, Despina doesn't look promising at first. Its fluorescent lights and...

Tucked away on its own little street off Istiklal, this classic little meyhane has decent food and, most weekend nights, an exhilarating atmosphere. It has one of the best...

Eylül means September, but this bar engenders a kind of balmy, best-years-of-our-lives vibe all year round. A long-established venue with reliably good musicians and an...

Among the cluster of baĸlama bars that run parallel to Istiklal Caddesi, Havar is one of the best. It's a large room, but there's precious little space for dancing: most...

From the outside, Munzur doesn't look that special. The inside is pretty nondescript too, but when the live music starts this little bar suddenly becomes extraordinary. The...

Another prime fasıl venue, nestled among the many restaurants in the Nevizade Sokak area, with two large rooms and above-average musicians. The set menu includes unlimited rakı...

A boisterous, open-fronted establishment with low stools scattered outside on one of the busiest bar streets in Beyoĸlu. The dancers regularly spill on to the street too,...