16 Great Places for Craft Beer in Istanbul, Turkey

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Istanbul is known for many wonderful things. Its food is perhaps some of the best on the planet. Its history is some of the longest and most intriguing. Its sights, from the famous Istanbul things to see and do to the views across the Bosphorus to the radiant golden sunsets, are gorgeous.

What Istanbul is not known for is craft beer. Alcohol is subjected to high taxes in Turkey, thus discouraging many drinkers. Coming from expensive San Francisco, I had no real issue with paying similar prices for a craft beer or a cocktail in Istanbul, but compared to other prices in the country, you’ll experience quite a shock if you want to drink here.

That said, there are a few good places where you can go to drink craft beer in Istanbul. Here are my favorite spots, including breweries, taprooms, beer bars, and bottle shops..

The Best Breweries in Istanbul, Turkey

Somx Brewery (Taproomx)

For a long time, craft beer aficionados in Istanbul had to make a long trek to find local beer, with most bars and breweries located in the suburbs and Kadıköy.

This all changed with the opening of Taproomx by Somx Brewery. The taproom is a fun music and art-inspired bar located in the narrow alleys of Beyoğlu, not far from the Tünel funicular railway station.

The cool space features modern wood furniture along with bar seating. There are also a few covered tables outside.

Along one wall, there’s a DJ booth for spinning vinyl.

A brightly-lit tap list sign above the bar beckons you inside. When I visited, there were around eight house taps from Somx Brewery, along with five guest taps. However, the bar has space for even more taps.

I enjoyed a tasting tray of six of their house beers. It was a good way to try a variety of styles.

For non-beer drinkers, there are negronis and margaritas. There’s also a food menu as well as popcorn.

I hope Taproomx and Somx do well, as this busy area had been lacking quality beer prior to their arrival.

Address: Asmalı Mescit, Jurnal Sk. No:4, 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye (map)
Website

The Populist

The Populist is the home of Torch, one of the main craft breweries in Istanbul. They have two Istanbul taprooms, one in Bomonti and one in Galataport.

The original bar and Torch Brewery are located in the former Bomonti Brewery, which has been turned into an entertainment complex with several interesting bars and restaurants.

Bomonti is a bit away from where most visitors to Istanbul are likely to be, but the city’s good public transportation makes it easy to get there. The closest metro station is Osmanbey.

The Galataport location has beautiful waterfront views.

The Populist has a nice selection of beer, with a good variation in styles. The food menu has a lot of meat and BBQ.

Overall, The Populist feels more American & British than most other bars in Istanbul, but it does everything well. It’s a cool spot in an area that’s a fun night out.

Address: Tarihi Bomonti Bira Fabrikası, Cumhuriyet, Birahane Sk. No: 1/D, 34381 Şişli/İstanbul, Türkiye (map) – Bomonti
Address: Galataport, Kılıçali Paşa Mah. Meclis-i Mebusan Cad L5 Blok No: 8/2D Kat: Zemin +1, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye (map) – Galataport

Bosphorus Brewing Company

Bosphorus Brewing Company is another popular craft brewery in Istanbul. As with The Populist, it’s also a bit of a journey to get to, but if you’re taking the time to research beer options here, then you’re probably okay with a bit of a trek for a pint. Gayrettepe is the closest metro station, though the walk does involve a hill and passes underneath a highway.

Once you make it, you’ll be rewarded with 8 taps of their house-brewed beers. Bosphorus feels very much like an English pub. Their beer styles have more of a British influence than American (think real ales), though the bar food menu had a mix of both American & British bar food.

If you’re lucky, you can have one of Istanbul’s many cats join you for a date.

Address: Esentepe Mah, Gayrettepe, Yıldız Posta Cd. No:1 D:1A, 34394 İstanbul, Türkiye (map)

The Best Craft Beer Bars in Istanbul, Turkey

Sanayi-1A

Sanayi-1A is my favorite Istanbul beer bar. While the original bar is not the easiest place to get to thanks to its suburban location, the journey is worth it. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the İtü – Ayazağa Metro station. Just remember that the walk from the station is downhill, so you’ll have to walk uphill on the way back after having had beer.

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Sanayi-1A is a fun hangout for all mammals. In addition to humans, there were also cats and dogs inside when I visited.

The beer bar has space for 24 taps, along with a fridge with some bottles. Basically, the bar has beers from pretty much every Turkish brewery. This isn’t a massive number of breweries, of course, but Sanayi-1A is the place to go if you’re looking for something local, rare, and new.

I enjoyed a house IPA as well as a Bomonti Rye IPA from Efes craft group. While I’d normally avoid a macro craft, I couldn’t resist a Rye IPA since it’s one of my favorite styles.

I visited on a quiet afternoon, but the bar also hosts events, with beer fans spilling out onto the outdoor patio in front of the building.

More recently, they have opened a more centrally located beer bar in Nişantaşı.

Address: Atatürk, Organize Sanayi Sitesi 1. Sokak No:1, 34485 Sarıyer/İstanbul, Türkiye (map)
Address: Teşvikiye, Ferah Sokağı No:15/A, 34000 Şişli/İstanbul, Türkiye (map) – Nişantaşı
Website

Craft Beer Lab

Craft Beer Lab is located in a trendy area of Beşiktaş. It’s one of my favorite craft beer bars in Istanbul.

Not only does it have a large selection of Turkish craft beers from Gara Guzu, Red Tower, and Pablo, but there are also beers available from other international breweries, plus some traditional German and Belgian beers.

Based in Muğla, Gara Guzu is easily the biggest and best craft brewery in Turkey. If you spot their beers while out anywhere in the country, get one because that’s probably the best beer you’ll have for a while. Their 4C IPA isn’t just a great beer for Turkey; it also holds up well against beers from other places.

In addition to having great beer, Craft Beer Lab is just a cool place to hang out. There are nice inside spaces, but assuming the weather is nice, you’ll want to hang out in the massive outdoor garden. You’ll never expect from the street that there’s this hidden oasis back here, but make sure you find it.

Address: Sinanpaşa, Şair Nedim Cd. No:4, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul (map)

Biergarten

Being a predominantly Muslim country, understandably, there aren’t a ton of places in Türkiye that serve both pork products and alcohol.

However, Biergarten in Beşiktaş brings a bit of Germany to Istanbul.

This German-style beer hall has been open since 2016 and has a full food menu, including bratwurst, frankfurters, and other meaty favorites.

The front section of the bar is a smoking room where most people sit. Unfortunately, a bit of smoke smell wafts to the back.

Biergarten offers a selection of beers, with several German options, of course. However, they also have some excellent Turkish beer. The menu isn’t necessarily up-to-date with the rotating offerings, so it’s easiest to just walk to the fridge in the back to see what’s available from a couple of dozen or so bottles.

It was here where I discovered what quickly became one of my favorite Turkish craft breweries, A Sante.

This father-and-son team based in Adana is creating some fantastic beers. I enjoyed an Imperial Red, which is a style I don’t see all that often, even in major beer cities, as well as a Cold IPA.

Address: Cihannüma, Barbaros Blv. No:81 D:1A, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye (map)
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Ziba

Ziba is a chill little bar located down a quiet alleyway, just off Istanbul’s bustling Istiklal. They have solid cocktails, a nice relaxed vibe, and a few bottles of beer from Gara Guzu & Pablo. Oh, and there are also a couple of cats that hang out inside.

Address: Tomtom, Akansu Sk No:10, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul (map)

Bira Fabrikasi

Bira Fabrikasi is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, in Kadiköy.

The bottle selection isn’t huge, but it’s the best in the area, with several Gara Guzu options available.

Address: Caferağa, Sakız Gülü Sk. 10/A, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul (map)

Berlin Platz Pub

Berlin Platz Pub is another Germany-style beer bar in Kadiköy.

Like many local bars, the bar offers a lot of Frederick & Tuborg “craft” beers. However, there’s also another craft fridge with a bunch of beers from breweries like Gara Guzu, plus a few German beers such as Weihenstephaner.

I enjoyed a Ter Skose India Pale Lager from Gara Guzu while listening to some good classic rock and blues from bands such as CCR, Dire Straits, Johnny Cash, and Pearl Jam.

The downstairs space is fairly small, but upstairs there’s a much bigger area for busier nights. That floor also has an additional beer fridge with a bit larger selection.

The bar also seems to be affiliated with Pablo Pub right across the alleyway, as it had the same “happiest hour” signs, plus a similar beer selection which also includes Guinness. 

Address: Caferağa, Pavlonya Sk. no:22, 34000 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye (map)

DRAFT

DRAFT in Kadıköy is a multilevel bar and restaurant with a nice beer selection.

There are many Turkish craft beers, but also a good amount of different beers from Belgium and Germany. The prices are also a bit lower on this side of the Bosporus.

One of my favorite things to have with cold beer is fried chicken, which is one reason why I enjoy DRAFT. Their food menu from B.O.B. Fried Chicken includes several different options, plus burgers.

The patio out front has heaters, making it a comfortable spot year-round. I sat next to a cat who was also enjoying a comfy padded seat.

I enjoyed a Nova Room Tripel, which was not bad at all. It’s always good to see something other than lagers and IPAs in Turkey. The Troyka Astro Double IPA was also decent.

Address: Caferağa, Moda Cd. No:64, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye (map)
Website

Joker No.19 & Joker No.5

Joker No. 19 is a big, busy spot for cocktails and craft beer with a rectangular bar filling the center of the main room.

It’s a lively spot, so it’s not a place to go if you want to go for a quiet drink. The smoking room gets particularly busy.

The bar offers a couple of dozen craft beers, plus a large whiskey selection and cocktails.

I enjoyed a 3 Kafadar Cherry Sour, then an A Sante Vienna Lager.

Address: Sinanpaşa, Beşiktaş Cd. No:19, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye (map) – Joker No. 19
Address: Harbiye, Atiye Sk. No:5, 34367 Şişli/İstanbul, Türkiye (map) – Joker No. 5

James Joyce

Yeah, the James Joyce is an Irish pub. But Irish pubs can be depended on for a couple of things: decent beer and televised sports. I went in to watch an Arsenal match on TV and was pleasantly surprised to find that they had several craft beers available, including Gara Guzu, Pablo, and Graf. There was also a fair amount of British & European beer available (including Guinness, of course), at least a bit more than other bars in Istanbul.

Address: Hüseyinağa, Balo Sk. No:26, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul (map)

The Best Bottle Shops in Istanbul, Turkey

Rind

Despite its small size, Rind has the best selection of drinks in Kadıköy, if not all of Istanbul.

This excellent bottle shop sells not just beer, but also spirits and wine.

Amongst the great local craft selection, which covers pretty much every brewery you can think of, I spotted something rare to take home: Old Queen Barling, an English barleywine from DAS Bira.

Address: Caferağa, Sarraf Ali Sk. No:3, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye (map)

There are a few other bars & restaurants around Istanbul that also have small craft beer selections, including Beer Hall, Kozmonot, Taps Bebek, Thales Cafe Bar, and Varuna Gezgin. I noticed that bars tend to come and go pretty quickly in Istanbul. There are several beer bars that I had bookmarked to check out only a few months beforehand that were already gone. For example, I tried visiting a couple of small local beer bar chain AYI locations, only to find the buildings empty. I imagine it must be tough to keep a bar running when prices are so volatile but keep in mind that this list will likely change quickly.

There are 15 million people living in Istanbul. While only a small percentage of them may drink, this still leaves a market that is ripe for potential if only given the opportunity. I fell in love with Turkish cuisine while I was there. There’s a wealth of unique flavors and dishes in Turkey. It’s impossible not to dream about the potential craft beers that could be inspired by this food.

Imagine a stout that tastes like baklava, kunefe, or Turkish delight. Or a beer that is reminiscent of thick Turkish coffee or beloved tea. On a basic level, simit would make for a nice base. Perhaps a honey & water buffalo clotted cream (bal & kaymak) ale would be delicious. Who am I kidding, I know it would be! When I was in Istanbul, I drank fresh orange & pomegranate juice nearly every day. How about a sour or IPA that uses these fruits? How about a beer that tastes like balik ekmek, the fish sandwiches served beneath Galata Bridge? Yeah, I may have taken this too far (though oyster stouts do exist… so… yeah, maybe not so crazy?).

My point is that Istanbul has so many delicious tastes that some enterprising breweries could utilize them to make the most unique beers in the world. In the meantime, you’ll have to make do with the places I’ve listed above if you’re looking for craft beer in Istanbul.

Have you spotted other great places in Istanbul for craft beer? Let me know in the comments!

Do you love craft beer? Check out more of my recommendations for the best craft beer around the world!