Worth it: cocktails on the patio of the Ciragan Palace
While the most pricey of the cocktails we enjoyed in Istanbul (around $20 USD), this was one of the most delicious glasses of wine I had during our trip. But how could it not be? It was the late afternoon and after having enjoyed some sightseeing during the morning, we had become a bit tired and found a seat at a table on the beautiful patio of the ornate Ciragan Palace to give our tired feet a break (however afterwards, we couldn’t help ourselves from wandering the grounds). The location was once a palace, but now houses a luxury hotel overlooking the Bosphorus. Olives, cheese, apricots, almonds, sun dried tomatoes and salami were complimentary refreshments served with our drinks. We liked to think of it as our way of enjoying a glimpse of luxury on a dime.
top two images my own, bottom two images via
Istanbul / March 2012
