5 coffee shops for caffeine-connoisseurs in Istanbul

You’d never find Montag unless you were specifically looking for it. Located on the second floor overlooking the busy street below, the roastery and cafe has a sleek brass-wood-marble interior as well as carefully chosen coffee beans from around the world that appeal to every taste.

Located on Burgaz island, this little roastery and cafe (only open on the weekends) was established by two childhood friends from Chicago and Istanbul respectively. After enjoying some responsibly sourced and roasted coffee, head to the nearby home-turned-museum of Sait Faik Abasıyanık, one of Turkey’s greatest writers.

Inspired by New York’s speciality coffee scene, Kaan Bergsen amassed roasting knowledge at Toby’s Estate in Brooklyn and returned to Istanbul to put his education and passion to practice. The result was Petra, a roasting company and cafe where making excellent coffee and educating consumers about good taste is the sole aim.

Kadıköy’s third-wave coffee roastery is spread out comfortably on two floors with plenty of space to work on your laptop or read a book the entire day. Known for their excellent brews, Rafine also prides itself on its homemade baked goods such as Salted Caramel and Chocolate Tart or Cinnamon Rolls.

Balat, Istanbul’s old Jewish quarter, is alive with new venues opened by young people who are turning their dreams into reality. Coffee Department is Balat’s craft coffee shop with a very serious Probatino coffee roaster and the high-quality brews of owner Metin Benbasat who simply loves what he does.