I stumbled upon this area, the first time I visited Istanbul, Turkey, a very long time ago. Back then it was not this colourful, but had a quiet, local charm. I found a hole in the wall restaurant with a grandpa serving the best chicken kebap. I had to visit twice. Devoured my food sitting on the street curb, next to a man sharpening knives on an old style whetstone. These days it is a lot more polished. It has evolved into a colorful neighbourhood with a good amount of restaurants and cafes, shops, and a little street art. Some of the architecture have an Old West vibe. I have no idea what the neighbourhood is called, but it is close to Küçük Ayasofya / Little Hagia Sophia, where the slope towards Marmara Sea flattens. It’s about a 10 minute walk (southwest) from Sultanahmet Park, and the famous mosques. This place is definitely not as vibrant as Balat looks to be, but here you’ll escape the crowds.
