There are many cafes in Istanbul, but which ones are good? In Balat, I visited Velvet Cafe and had an amazing Turkish Breakfast. In this article, I will tell you more about it!
What to expect in this article:
About Balat area in Istanbul
Balat is one of the oldest and most colorful neighborhoods in Istanbul. It is very well known for its narrow, cobblestone streets and colorful old houses. Besides that, it was home to Greeks, Armenians, and Jews, so you can imagine the interesting history.
Today, you can still see their influence in the area’s churches, synagogues, and mosques. The neighborhood is a mix of cultures.
Balat is also known for its many cozy cafes where you can enjoy local flavors. It has become more famous in the last years because of the umbrella street and colorful stairs, which made it famous on Instagram. Not only is the history interesting, but it is also a famous spot to take Instagram-worthy pictures.
Our experience in Istanbul
In October 2024 I had the chance to visit Istanbul with a friend. If you are wondering if you should visit Istanbul, I would say… just go! I loved this metropolis. There is so much to do, see and did you know there is a European and Asian side?
In 3 full days we were running around to capture as much as we could and I think we did a pretty good job, but more about that later.
Anyway, coming back Velvet Café in Balat. We actually wanted to visit another breakfast place, but that turned out to be closed. My friend then randomly came to this café, and we wanted to give it a go, as the reviews were good and we were pretty hungry.
Velvet Cafe in Balat
A little background story about the Velvet Cafe:
”My name is Yuksel Kukul. I’m running the cafe with my soul sister and business partner “Begum”.
We opened the first branch in Galata in 2013 in the memory of my grandma. Velvet Cafe Balat was opened in 2018 and the Galata branch was closed last year. My grandma’s roots came from Sudan in Africa in the 1800s and my grandma’s great-grandfather worked in an Ottoman palace as a head of the coffee makers. So here we are happy to share our story and also, we are happy to go on with the same business of my great great grandfather in a modern way.”
Turkish Breakfast
We sat down at Velvet Cafe, admired the friendly vibes and decoration and then decided we wanted to go for the Turkish Breakfast and Turkish teapot. Wow, that was amazing!
The breakfast spread included fresh bread, different cheeses, olives (black and green), juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, grapes, honey, and jam.
We received goat cheese, feta and one young cheese, which were all good. The Turkish sausage was packed with rich, smoky flavors; even though I usually stick to chicken, I couldn’t resist it!
The butter was made with mandarine, which made it very fresh. If you wanted, you could also ask for more bread, but it was enough for us.
The olive oil was made locally in East Turkey. There was also a pastry, eggs cooked to perfection, and delicious tea. The tea, while traditionally strong, was mellowed perfectly in the teapot. We ordered a portion for one, but it was more than enough for two.
Everything was so fresh and full of flavor, which made us love Turkish food and the experience.
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My recommendation
Velvet Cafe is a cozy, charming spot with lots to admire, thanks to its vintage decor and comfortable seating. You can choose to sit inside or outside in their hidden garden. They even have smoke-free areas, which is great, especially since smoking is common in Turkey, but it’s not for everyone.
The staff is friendly, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is warm, which is why I decided to share my experience (not a paid promotion, unfortunately!).
While the Turkish breakfast (priced at 700 TL) is a highlight, there are many other delicious options to try. You can enjoy bagels, various egg dishes, cheeses, soups, toast, and wraps. Everything is fresh, tasty, and reasonably priced, making Velvet Cafe a great spot for any meal.
How to get from the airport to Balat?
Going from the airport to the center of Istanbul or your hotel can be difficult. We grabbed a taxi on the go and paid around 50 euros. On the way to our hotel, the driver said there was a lot of traffic and asked if he could take a different route which cost more. As we just arrived and had no clue, we just told him yes.
On our way back to the airport, we found out it cost half the price.
One way to avoid this is to book through Welcome Pickups.
This is a trustworthy company, they speak Engish and have 24/7 customer support if something goes wrong. Click on this link for more information.
I hope you liked reading the article and I can’t wait to hear about your experience at this café!
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