Aşşk Kahve

The story

Reached by walking down toward the water beside the Macrocenter in Kuruçeşme, the cafe opens onto a large garden that runs to the shoreline of the Bosphorus. Seating sits practically at sea level, so the water forms the backdrop for most outdoor tables, and there are more tables inside. The mood is cozy and family-style, and the kitchen goes well beyond coffee. Breakfast is the meal worth an early start, while the menu also covers burgers and pasta, along with drinks such as homemade lemonade and milkshakes. Attentive service, the garden and the view together make it a place suited to lingering over a meal rather than a quick stop.