Cliff(y) Goes Dining

Blown away by the delicious local and international food! Thanks to airline miles, my BFF and I'd be flying in style with Turkish Airlines, though not directly to Singapore. Because of that, we also had the opportunity to visit Turkish Airlines Lounge at the new Istanbul Airport in the Arnavutkoy region, trying all sorts of dishes and beverages offered inside the massive lounge.

Washing down tasty cooked food with 'raki'! UPDATE (01/05/2020):  With the closure of Istanbul Ataturk Airport to commercial passenger flights in April 2019, the lounge has closed down. My last moment at Istanbul Ataturk Airport in Turkey was spent at Millennium Lounge, which is located on the second floor of the international terminal above the food court. I found the selection of food and beverages to be on the smaller side, but I didn't want to eat a lot anyway prior to the Business Class flight to Doha, Qatar.

Scrambled eggs with more tomatoes than eggs... It was my second time staying at WOW Airport Hotel (4*) near Istanbul Ataturk Airport, which has recently stopped handling commercial passenger flights due to the opening of the new international airport. I didn't have breakfast there during my first stay, but did so during my second stay before flying out of Turkey.

Virgin experience with hazelnut-sans-chocolate spread! On my third visit to Istanbul, Turkey, I stayed at Hotellino Istanbul (4*) that's situated near Gulhane Park. This hotel is better than the nearby Gulhane Park Hotel (4*) in terms of not only buffet breakfast, but also politeness of and service rendered by the staff.

Drawn by the aroma of grilled mackerel sandwich~ Balik ekmek (lit. fish bread) is Turkey's answer to street food. According to my sister, the government has unfortunately pretty much clamped down on street vendors selling those aromatic fish sandwiches. We happened to spot a street vendor near Karakoy Ferry Terminal on our way to the renowned Karakoy Gulluoglu .

Sumptuous seafood casserole cooked in saffron-based sauce! As a doting big brother, I treated my sister who loves seafood. The name Sultanahmet Fish House appeared when I tried to do online search of good seafood restaurants. Interestingly, the phrase "where sultans have dined for centuries" is written on its webpage, although the restaurant was only founded in 1994.

Colourful main courses with vegetables, fries and rice! My sister, BFF and I had a truly enjoyable time at Buyukada, the largest of the nine Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara. The island is reachable from Kabatas in 2 hours by ferry. Before climbing up to Aya Yorgi Church, we had lunch at Lunapark Restaurant that's situated at the centre of the island.

Turkish meatballs topped with Mexican sauce and cheese, anyone? In Istanbul, Turkey, my sister brought my BFF and me to Kadikoy, a laid-back residential neighbourhood with lots of eateries commonly patronised by youngsters according to her. She introduced us to Güverte Café, a pocket-friendly café that serves mulled wine in winter.

Best item: Asian style fried noodle! It was hard to say goodbye to my sister. There wasn't any teary moments, but we eventually parted ways as I walked to the immigration control area, ready to leave the country. Given that my BFF and I'd be travelling in the Business Class of Saudia, we were able to make use of the chic, yet small SkyTeam Lounge before flying off.

Sizzling hot Turkish beef sausages~ My BFF and I found ourselves back at WOW Istanbul Hotel to spend our last night in Istanbul, Turkey (although we booked a room that didn't include breakfast). For dinner, we went to Choppers Point, a cool-looking biker-themed restaurant within a short walking distance from the hotel.

Have you heard of Noah's Pudding before? With the help of my sister, my BFF and I finally crossed the Bosphorus Strait and climbed to the peak of Camlica Hill. We had dinner at the one and only restaurant up there, which is run by the government. There's a cover charge of only  ₺1.00 (~S$0.30)  per person.

A non-alcoholic cocktail with Blue Curaçao? My hope of having a particular dish I've been longing for at  Spectra Café & Restaurant was dashed when I got to know that it has closed down. Online search brought me to Amedros Café, a highly rated eatery with impeccable service that has been around since 1995.

Why stop at one dessert item? Ever since I first tried  kunefe  (Turkish wiry cheese pastry) three years ago in Selcuk, a small town in Western Turkey that's near the ancient city of Ephesus, I've fallen in love with it. Of course, my sister knows where to get a nice one in Istanbul. Off we went to Saray Muhallebicisi somewhere along the bustling Istiklal Street.

Fancy some Xinjiang dishes with ingredients like 'udon' and 'kimchi'? Yuksel Uygur Restaurant is my sister's to-go place whenever she's craving for Chinese food. As the name of the restaurant suggests, it serves  Halal  Chinese dishes. For the uninitiated, the majority of the Uygurs, who are primarily Muslims, live in Xinjiang, China.

A wide array of Turkish and Western cold dishes! My BFF and I spent three nights at Gulhane Park Hotel (4*) in Sultanahmet, which is conveniently located near Sirkeci Marmaray station. Look forward to the colourful spread of cold dishes served for breakfast every morning, which is the (only) highlight of the buffet line. 

Enjoying delectable seafood on a 'ship'! My sister is an avid fan of seafood. Given that she's tired of eating kebab, I decided to give her a treat at one of the many restaurants under the bustling Galata Bridge spanning the Golden Horn. At Yildizlar Restaurant with its ship-like interior, the price of each dish is clearly written on the menu.

Yummy chicken kebab dusted with pistachio crumbs! Welcome back to Istanbul, Turkey! I'd wanted to go to Doy Doy Restaurant in the Sultanahmet area a few years ago, but I didn't manage to find it on my first trip to the charming city. With the help of my sister who's studying there at the point of writing, I finally managed to drop by the restaurant with a terrace for lunch.

Memorable last meal in Istanbul with sumptuous 'revan kebap'! UPDATE (22/12/2017):  The eatery has closed down. With a heavy heart, my BFF and I dragged our luggage out of the hotel. Before leaving the old town of Istanbul, Turkey, we had lunch at a simple hotel restaurant nearby. It was a good decision to dine there, especially having just found out that it's quite highly rated in the Internet.

Baklava, glorious baklava galore~ After the relaxing dinner at Nostra Casa , there was just one more place that we had to visit without fail. Karakoy Gulluoglu specialises in the quintessential Turkish baklava , a type of pastry made of layers of filo and sweetened with simple syrup or the likes. A must-go place in Istanbul, Turkey, it's been in business since 1820, close to 200 years at the point of writing.

The messiest and the best tiramisu I've ever had thus far! Our last evening in the heart of the old city of Istanbul, Turkey, was spent on a highly rated Italian restaurant. It offers a rooftop terrace where diners can view the sunset while enjoying their food.