Kumkapi

Having been a fishing village during the Byzantine period, Kumkapi was a recreational region,
especially for the non-Muslim population during the Ottoman period. Thus, this part of the city has turned into a multi cultural area characterized by its multireligious and multiethnic inhabitants and it has continued to be an alternative recreational area for many centuries. Today, Kumkapi is stil one of the most popular tourist sites of istanbul with its traditional fish
and raki culture cultivated by Turkish, Armenian, Greek and Jewish citizens. Kumkapi restaurants, which open their doors to both Turks as well as foreign guests in the early hours of the evening, have tables on the streets of Kumkapi during the summer time. These “street tables”, which have been a prominent recreational characteristic since the Byzantine period, turn all of Kumkapi into a festive area well into the late hours. Located on the seaside, Kumkapi has a refreshing atmosphere with its iodine sea winds. Many distinct and delicious appetizers prepared by skillful cooks, such as topik, an olive oil based dish made with potatoes, chickpeas, onions and sesame; Circassian chicken; pilaki, fish or beans with olive oil and onion; humus, chickpeas seasoned with sesame oil and various spices; fava mashed broad beans with olive oil; lakerda, pickled tuna fish; or stuffed mussels are served at the restaurant tables on Kumkapi's cobblestone
streets.

One of the most important characteristics of Kumkapi is that it is the district closest to fresh fish suppliers in istanbul. The biggest fish marketplace of the city is located on the coast by Kumkapi, thus allowing the freshest fish to be served in Kumkapi restaurants. The fish and raki restaurants, where it is common to witness people speaking in different languages, are extraordinarily lively with roaming musicians playing violin, clarinet and drums. If you go to Kumkapi restaurants you will have the chance to listen to traditional Turkish fasil music or to watch oriental belly dancing.
These performances continue to the early hours of the morning.