Run by two attractive, young Turkish ladies, the small but perfectly formed Alti Café is one of the top cafés in Istanbul.

Its Turkish breakfasts (olives, cheese, honey, and so on) are especially popular with the area’s creative types (artists, photographers, advertising execs) though it serves food, good coffee and a full range of alcoholic beverages all day long.

During spring and summer customers hang out in the cute, leafy back garden, which is full of brightly coloured throws and cushions. If you’re planning to spend some time wandering around the nearby antique district of Çukurcuma (recommended) then this is an ideal place to start or finish.

The prettily decorated Alti also doubles as a boutique selling Indian-style clothes designed by the owners, just to prove how naturally creative everyone around here is.