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Kybele Café Restaurant: Have Some Turkish Coffee at this Perfect Local Hotel Favorite in Istanbul
Kybele Café Restaurant
Between coffee shops, coffee tables, and perhaps even the best coffee to try, there’s no doubt that the hotel lounge bar–cafe close to the Basilica Cistern known as the Kybele Café Restaurant should be one of the choices for this. This rightfully opulent old-school café in the heart of Istanbul’s Old city, close to the Sultanahmet tram station, the Kybele Hotel has this charming café restaurant that you have to just visit as soon as you find the time to do so. With all the antique lamps and lighting, it makes you imagine as if you are visiting a long-lost artistic Turk grandparent, who loves to collect antique Turkish furniture and ornaments, it’s so fussy and cozy.
For the inner grandpa in me, I was immediately drawn into the obvious nostalgic atmosphere of the Kybele Café Restaurant. The richly colored rugs, old etchings, elaborate prints, and seemingly endless glass lightings hanging from the ceiling, the place is consistent with the overall theme of Kybele Hotel – a jewel box filled with stunning Turkish treasures. Fascinating enough, this enchanting place is actually a byproduct of the owner’s love for genuine antiques, artworks, and Ottoman rugs (and carpets). It’s easy for me to say that I did not feel like a paying customer, but more of a relative of a Turkish family visiting them for the holidays. It’s so warm and welcoming!
Adding texture to this overall Turkish spoiling space, they offer good food and coffee choices. From cold drinks, hot drinks alcoholic drinks, to breakfast sets, starters, crepes, waffles, and omelets, salads, pizzas, and desserts – choices are homey and obviously for casual dining. Although I have observed that they were a bit slow with their service, even if the place wasn’t too packing during that afternoon that I visited, I still think that they were okay given that they were accommodating when they were serving our orders. Plus, the waiter spoke very good English, which I fully understood right from the very beginning.
The lamps give that mood lighting to accentuate the overall area and the rest compliments well with the items here. Who knew that coffee and local lamps will turn out to be a bright idea? And did I mention that the rest of the hotel area is purely Instagram-worthy? Yes, both the Kybele Café Restaurant and Kybele Hotel are the things that you should be swinging by for, if you are in this popular street in Istanbul. My clear regret during that day when I dropped by this place was not staying long enough; what can I do, the rest of Istanbul awaits, and my itchy feet is preventing me to stay longer. But I think, if I will get a second chance, perhaps my whole afternoon would be spent just chilling here.
Address: Yerebatan Caddesi, 23 Sultanahmet 34110 Istanbul / TURKIYE
Opening Hours: Daily 7:30 A.M. – 12:00 A.M.
Official Website: http://www.kybelehotel.com/
