istanbul

Society

In the era of faceless phone snatchers, I miss the chutzpah of the old-school con man

These days, scams tend to come via our digital devices. But I like my swindles street side and in person

Society

‘Kolay gelsin’ is Turkey’s great societal leveller. English-language cities should take note.

There's power in a good phrase, especially when it acts as a social leveller in our increasingly anonymised cities.

Retail

A walk through Beymen’s stunning OMA-designed flagship in Tersane

Turkish department store Beymen’s new concept shop offers a museum-like take on premium retail, inside a 600 year-old shipyard.

Travel and restaurants

Istanbul’s secret village: Why Kuzguncuk is the city’s coolest historic quarter

Hidden in the sprawl of Turkey’s largest city, Kuzguncuk is a slice of old Istanbul on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. Once a quaint village, it is now a stylish, spirited neighbourhood.