Boozy Nights in Beyoglu, Istanbul

No backpacking trip, or indeed any trip is complete without at least one (or many more) messy nights out sampling the local nightlife.

The Beyoğlu district of Istanbul is luckily replete with all manner of bars, clubs, live music venues, wine bars and cocktail joints. After a few nights out chilling on what we called ‘bar street’ (although it’s actually called Sofyali Sk.) We decided to go upmarket and become posh packers for the night.

Wine and Cocktail Bars in Beyoglu

A bottle of Rituel red wine taken in the Solera Winery bar in Istanbul

Our first bougie stop for the night was the Solera Winery, a little wine bar, tucked into a small, but deep shop in front off Yeni Çarşı street. As we arrived, the open shop front beckoned us in, its tables spilling invitingly onto the street.

The interior was a mixture of plush furnishings and, bizarrely, pictures of rural Vietnam (we checked and there was no Vietnamese wine on the menu). As the place specialised in Turkish wine we ordered a bottle for the table. Spicy and deep it went down easily and soon our eyes turned towards the meze selection. We decided to order the cold meze, and the waiter soon returned to our table bearing a tray full of choices. Despite the near overwhelming temptation to choose all of it, we restrained ourselves. We chose: hummus and bread, sardines in olive oil, and the dolma. To put it mildly, we were very happy with our choices. Despite the Bond villain level error of red wine and fish, the food was a perfect accompaniment to the wine. The meze and the wine came to approximately 250 lira which is (£12 or $14.5). Solera Winery had won two new fans. Inexpensive, delicious wine paired with thoughtful and well prepared food, it was a winner!

As the night was yet young, we wandered back to bar street for a beer and a main meal before resuming our more upscale endeavours.

We returned to Yeni Çarşı street and sought out the Flekk cocktail bar, which had been recommended by Geena from Beyond the Bucketlist. A sumptuous interior of mood lighting, candles and tongue in cheek faux aristocracy paintings awaited. Nestled into our corner of the cocktail bar, we were presented with what can only be described as an incredible cocktail menu.

The Flekk cocktail menu lighted by a tealight

By incredible, we mean that; Ellie ordered the cocktail named after an Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajökull. Anywhere that names cocktails like this must have a sense of humour or at least must enjoy the spectacle of people attempting the pronunciation. Ellie tried in vain, the waiter eventually taking pity and just saying “ah yes, I know the one”. The cocktail itself however, was no joke. Tequila mixed with the sweet notes of vanilla and coconut liqueur combined with spicy pink and white pepper and ginger, delivered a cocktail as disruptive to the senses as its namesake was to aviation in 2010.

John in the meantime, opted for the more easily pronounceable St Martin. A gin based cocktail, melded with hibiscus and black raspberry liqueur finished with a citrus kick. Once more, Flekk knocked it out of the park. Balancing the sour sharp lime butting heads with the sweet black raspberry and both of them being improved because of it. The cocktail was far more than the sum of its parts.

And because no trip to a cocktail bar is complete with just one cocktail, we of course ordered another round. Sampling others from the menu. We can’t spoil everything, but can report that the second round was as good as the first (although with less funny names).

Flekk came to us via a recommendation, and we endorse that and pass that recommendation on. It was fantastic and reasonably priced (especially when you’re visiting from London) with cocktails costing approximately 150 to 210 Turkish Lira (£7 to £10 or $8.50 or $12). Our bougie night ended at Flekk, our bellies and souls full of fine wine, okay beer, good food and a selection of excellent cocktails. We recommend seeking these two places out should you want to treat yourself whilst in Istanbul.