Getting Drunk with Locals: 10 Best Local Bars in Turkey
Juggling Western and Eastern influences, Turkey is a true playa’. Lining the European side of the Bosphorus are a number of sleek, ultra-hip clubs and lounges; crowded, loud dance clubs; dive bars that rival the best of them and typically Turkish mehanes, prominently featuring old men drinking raki and eating meze. OTP cuts through the booze chase and gets you to the creamy Turkish center to getting drunk with locals at our Top 10 Locals Bars (and Clubs) in Turkey.
Balkon Restaurant and Bar
(Istanbul) Afternoon Buzz - Soak up the scene at this casual bar, with views of the Bosphorus Strait making it the perfect pre-party drinks place. Balkon serves breakfast, delicious pizza and a chill atmosphere. Take advantage of the calm before sitting and relaxing is replaced by sweating and screaming .
Arap Şükrü
(Bursa) Traditional Mehane - Bursa was the original capital of the Ottoman Empire, before they conquered Constantinople. If you’re not too busy conquering the known world for spices and harems, stop at Arap, a traditional mehane. These Turkish taverns specialize in serving rakı, a strong licorice-flavored spirit, which has variants all over the Balkans. Served with a glass of water to mix it to taste, sip the delicious beverage the traditional way and to keep the booze at bay by accompanying it with meze. These little appetizer plates of delicious salads, Turkish meatballs, stuffed tea leaves, dips and more are an essential component of an evening at the mehane.
Su Adası
(Istanbul) Bosphurus Club - Translated as “Sea,” Su Adasi is on an island! Populated by talented deejays, several restaurants and expensive cocktails, this is only worthwhile if you’ve put away a few liras for party purposes. Throw on the nicest, least-wrinkled threads, in your backpack (or buy them around town for cheap, try Kadiköy on the Asian side), scrub up, pregame like a dirty tramp (to save some cash) and raid the island with full force.
Antik Sur Cafe and Restaurant
(Mardin) Turku Time - Türkü is the traditional Turkish folk music that accompanies that sexy snap and step dance you’ve seen in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. In the Kurdish area of Eastern Turkey, if the planets align, Antik can be packed with tourists and locals who will welcome you warmly and drag you onto the dance floor. Best enjoyed after downing a substantial amount of rakı to get your dancing feet warmed up, traditional music and a lively crowd will show you the real deal way to party in Turkey. Start nursing your Turkish scruff in anticipation.
Neva
(Istanbul) Dive Bar – Up a sparse alley, down in the basement, Neva fits all the criteria for a seriously grungy dive bar. Loud rock music plays in tribute to Kurt Cobain (who holds permanent residence on their wall), beer is cheap and tequila is affordable. Swill shots then meander to the original Street Fighter arcade game. Filled with nostalgia, drink cheaply and play classic video games in Turkey like a boss. Hadouken!
Halikarnas
(Bodrum) Discotheque – This gigantic, Greek style disco, complete with sexy go-go dancers, is Turkish clubbing in all its gaudy glory. A stage full of entertaining erotic Turks tempt you to enjoy the lights, fog machine and cut more than a few rugs. While the surrounding Bodrum neighborhood houses an ancient world wonder, the ruins of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus (worth a peep during the day), really shake shit up by grooving at Halikarnas during the dark hours.
Araf
(Istanbul) World Music Flavor - If you’re sick of Turkish pop and Lady Gaga mash ups, Araf is a great escape. Located off Taksim Square’s Istiklal street (in Istanbul’s party central), on the top floor of a dingy apartment building, this bar is packed with exchange students. Reasonable drinks and a bumpin’ stereo that blasts anything from Balkan punk music to Klezmer. When your inner gypsy is satisfied, head back to the street where pilaf carts and stuffed mussel salesman are waiting to feed your late-night munchies.
Babylon
(Istanbul) Live Music - Babylon hosts a ridiculous variety of genres and acts, from famous Turkish rock groups to electronic musicians, and has won several awards as a jazz venue. Most clubs with live music will charge a cover in Turkey, and if you’re going to pay, do it the right way. Babylon isn’t a spectator sport; kick over the tables if they’re in your way and bust a move.
Riddim
(Istanbul) Hip-Hop – The premiere hip-hop and R&B joint in all of Turkey, Riddim recently hosted The Game, Ja Rule, Busta Rhymes, and Lil’ Jon (yeah!). If you’re aching for hip-hop, Riddim is the place to get crunk wit’ it. The bass is hard, the beats are sick and getting down with hip-hop loving Turks will redefine the genre as you know it.
OTP Tip: Brown bag it!
It might not look too classy but technically, it is legal to buy your own alcohol and suck it out of a brown bag in Turkey. Locals might shake their head in disgust at the disreputable deeds of the youth today, but don’t expect to spend the night in a drunk tank unless you start doing something really stupid (like raiding a bakery for late night baklava). Little “Tekel” stores sell nuts and dried fruit along with liquor, so stock up before heading to the water to enjoy the view without burning through your travel war chest!
From divey grunge to swishy swank, make your way around Turkey’s best for drinks, music and tastes of the traditional. Take the Turkish precaution of eating a bowl of the creamy oily tripe soup, işkembe, to lube up your innards and enjoy successfully navigating an evening far away from your homeland.
A native of the American southwest but a burgeoning telenomad, Ross enjoys the wilderness, street food, and living to tell the tale.
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Turks can get pretty wild while drinking
They party like crazy!
Yeah, they are great party people. You should however pay more attention, as they may be really violent too
Turkey is an amazing place to spend your holiday. Locals are great and they really love to party.
The best holiday I’ve had was in Turkey. Cheers from France!
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