This nightlife bucket list gathers twelve places to go out in Istanbul, from relaxed bars and live music rooms to late-night spots with a view. It is for visitors who want a clear shortlist instead of searching district by district. Browse the ideas, note the ones that match your taste and your neighbourhood, and use the list as a starting point for planning your evenings in Istanbul.
This list gathers 12 places to go out after dark in Istanbul, from rooftop terraces with skyline views to craft beer bars, a cabaret room, an Irish pub and a live music hall in a converted brewery. It suits visitors who want a clear shortlist instead of scrolling through endless venues, and it covers both the European and Asian sides. Use it by choosing the mood of the evening first: views, beer, live music or dancing. Then pick the venue that matches and check its current schedule. The entries run from relaxed neighborhood spots to a luxurious Bosphorus-side club.
Seven Hills
NightlifeFatih
Perched between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, this rooftop bar and restaurant looks out over both landmarks and the Bosphorus. A full bar and a seafood menu make it easy to pair a drink with dinner while the skyline lights up around you.
The United Pub
NightlifeBeşiktaş
Draft and bottled beers fill the menu at this friendly neighborhood pub in Beşiktaş, from local Turkish brews to international classics. Casual food and outdoor seating make it an easy place to start an evening or end one with friends.
Cheers Karaköy
NightlifeBeyoğlu
Karaköy's Mumhane Caddesi is home to this cocktail bar and kitchen, which opens early in the morning and keeps going until 2 AM. Innovative drinks, a casual atmosphere and both indoor and terrace seating suit a relaxed evening in the district.
Babylon
NightlifeŞişli
Babylon is Istanbul's leading live music venue, founded in 1999 and moved to Bomontiada in 2015. An intimate brick hall in a converted beer factory hosts international and local jazz, rock, electronic and world music. Check the programme and choose a night with a band you like.
Taşra Kabare
NightlifeKadıköy
On Kadıköy's Neşet Ömer Street, this cabaret restaurant blends 19th-century European cabaret style with Turkish and German cuisine. Theatrical productions and jazz concerts fill the evenings, so it works as a full night out with dinner and a show.
Tamirane
NightlifeSarıyer
Tamirane runs two locations, in Sarıyer and Üsküdar, and pairs fresh burgers with live music. Weekend jazz sessions and Sunday morning acoustic performances give it a sophisticated, relaxed atmosphere that suits a long dinner or a slow weekend start.
U2 Istanbul Irish Pub
NightlifeBeyoğlu
Taksim's small Irish pub pours officially certified Guinness and hosts live Irish folk music. Rugby and Celtic matches are broadcast, and the owner Leo and the bartenders keep the mood welcoming for locals, expats and travelers alike.
Sortie
NightlifeBeşiktaş
Sortie is a luxurious nightclub along the Bosphorus with an open-air design and sparkling water views. Six restaurants and three bars let you eat and drink before moving to the dance floor, which makes it a full evening in one place.
Sanayi-1A
NightlifeŞişli
Ferah Sokağı in Nişantaşı holds this craft beer bar and beer garden with 24 rotating taps of local Turkish and imported beers. The space is casual and unpretentious, which suits beer enthusiasts and after-work drinks.
Upperist
NightlifeBeyoğlu
On the 20th floor of The Marmara Taksim Hotel, this 360-degree rooftop bar overlooks Taksim Square, the Bosphorus and the Historic Peninsula. Crafted cocktails, light bites and DJ performances accompany unobstructed views of the Istanbul skyline.
Bosphorus Brewing Company
NightlifeŞişli
Hidden in the residential Gayrettepe neighborhood, this craft brewery and gastropub serves house-brewed English-style ales. A vine-draped patio and a wood-lined interior give it a cozy feel, and its English and Turkish owners shape the relaxed pub style.
Craft Beer Lab
NightlifeBeşiktaş
Akaretler is the setting for this industrial-design craft beer bar, which lists over 100 international brews. A hidden garden and street-side outdoor seating place it in the heart of Beşiktaş nightlife, a good stop for variety-minded beer drinkers.
Group venues by district to avoid long rides at night: Upperist and U2 Istanbul Irish Pub both sit around Taksim, while Cheers Karaköy and Seven Hills suit an evening near the old city. Craft Beer Lab and The United Pub share Beşiktaş. Keep Babylon and Taşra Kabare for evenings with a show, and check programmes before you go.
Final thoughts
Choose one place for your first night and see how the evening unfolds before adding more. Opening times, entry arrangements and programmes can change, so check the venue's official page before you go, and plan your way home in advance, especially late at night.
Ask Ayla