tavanarasi

Down Istiklal Street, right on Asmalimescit Sokak. You have to go early or you will have to wait at least for half an hour for a table because this place has such an atmosphere that you will not want to leave even your food or drinks are finished. You are not allowed to have just drinks, you have to order food but thats no problem- I dont know know anyone who regretted eating there. Hot/cold meze should be tried. Aksamcilar icin raki masasi ortami da guzel tabi.

istanbul yalilari

I think these houses must be the Hansel&Gretel sugar houses. It feels like you can just rip a piece off and eat it. They are too old, most probably you will end up with a piece if you hold any part anyway:) Traditionally, Ottoman buildings were built of ornate wood. Only "state buildings" such as palaces and mosques were built of stone. So you can see these kind of wooden houses around very often.

Istiklal Street

This is the most lively place in Istanbul with lots of cafes, restaurants and pubs. There are places that would satisfy even the picky people. But you have to be adventourous- try getting lost in the side streets and you may end up with a cafe which would make you say "this is where I wanted to be". You can find places which have really nice bosphorus view as well. Actually, it is a seven hill city, where you will see the bosphorus if you go up any point in the city. One more thing- this street is 24-hour-open.