Istanbul Nightlife
Istanbul offers a nightlife and entertainment in any direction you wish to. The choices in "Istanbul nightlife" is varied and there are several districts for nightlife all over the city; Ortakoy, on the shore of Bosphorus where you will find trendy and expensive nightclubs, the Istiklal Street from Taksim to Tünel where you will find usually cheaper alternatives and Aksaray with the more Turkish style nightlife and red-light district. As in most cities, drinks prices vary hugely also in Istanbul. The tavernas are relatively cheaper compared to nightclubs or live music venues. Tavernas usually close at 24:00 and most bars at 01:00 or 02:00, while nightclubs can stay open as late as 06:00 on weekends.Nevizade Street, a side road which is only one block parallel to Istiklal Street in Taksim, is a street popular within locals for it's many small Turkish taverns (in Turkish "meyhane") and outdoor sitting areas for eating and drinking. All along the Nevizade street, especially on nice evenings, you can find tables set up outside with loads of people chatting, eating their "meze"s (traditional Turkish dishes) and drinking their beer or "raki". The meyhanes and bars in the Nevizade Street are generally relatively small, but are suitable locations to hang out with friends. A typical meal with a decent amount of drinking will cost you about 30 EURs.
Reina and Sortie are 2 trendy nightclubs in Kurucesme (near Ortakoy) district of Istanbul. They both have restaurants within the club and a vast space for drinking, dancing and enjoying the stunning view of the Bosphorus. These 2 clubs are the most popular nightclubs in Turkey. Entrance is around 25 EUR and drinks are quite expensive compared to Turkey standards. (a beer would cost 7 EUR and a mojito 15 EUR). If you're looking for a calm entertainment, you can also visit these clubs early in the evening when it's not very crowded, take your place near the sea and enjoy your drink with the magnificent view. Bear in mind that the dress code in these clubs is pretty strict, shorts, bermudas or sandals are not allowed.
Crystal is the place where you will continue dancing after other clubs close. Because of the noise regulation for the clubs on the Bosphorus shore (Reina and Sortie), these clubs will reduce the music volume after 2 am in the night. So if you like high volume it's time to shift to Crystal after 2 am.
If you prefer rock music, you can go to the Rock House in Ortakoy center. If you prefer hard rock or heavy metal Kemanci in Taksim is a famous rock bar in Istanbul for a long time that never lost its popularity. There is of course no dress code, drinks are cheap and average age is early 20s.
For visitors who want to see something more exotic, many nightclubs especially around the Aksaray region offer oriental shows with experienced bellydancers, groups of Russian or Romanian dancers, and flashy singers. But be sure to check the prices before you enter to this kind of a club because there is cases where drinks are sold with a very high price to scam the guests.