All my life I have been an avid collector of travel information. I’d collect boxes and boxes of torn bits of paper from the latest travel magazines and papers. It’s only recently I have thrown them away but this hasn’t stopped me….Evernote is now bulging with similar notes!
The time has come to share some of these gems that I have tried and some of those I haven’t…..
Tuesday Travel Bites starts today!
Travel Bites is not necessarily about food. It but could be a travel tip, a town not to be missed, a new hotel opening, a special B&B or a little restaurant or cafe that you must try. Anything really!
In the past I have always written about places I have personally been to. This will continue but if there is some new and exciting happening around the word that I think you might like to try before I can, this is where you’ll be able to read it. There’s already a  couple of restaurants in Paris that I’d love to be trying now before they become too popular…..
First up is a great little cafe from my last port of call in 2012, Istanbul.
Datli Maya
This cafe is housed in an old simit bakery in the trendy Cihangir district of Istanbul. It’s a pleasant walk around the hilly, tree lined streets surrounding the Firuzaga Mosque.
The original wood oven is the first thing you see as you enter the tiny cafe. It may have been converted to gas but the aroma of freshly baked breads was just as inviting. On the table, sesame covered simits, a traditional turkish bread, and delicious soft bread rolls as well as a huge plate of pistachio biscuits waited for hungry customers.
Upstairs the small dining room was buzzing as delicious looking plates of pides, boreks and soups passed us on the steps. In one corner, a large samovar stood ready to dispense endless cups of cay (tea).
This is a great area of Istanbul to explore and if you’re ready for a cup of tea or a light lunch, drop in and say hi but don’t miss the pistachio biscuits!
Postnote: Since my visit here in November 2012, the ownership of Datlyi Maya has changed hands and unfortunately when I returned this year (2013), the pistachio biscuits were not the same!
Datli Maya
Türkgücü Cad No 59A
Cihangir ( Behind the Firuzaga Mosque)
Tel: +902122929057
www.datlimaya.com
Open everyday from 8am – 10pm
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Yum! Thank you for the wonderful tips. I am off to Italy tomorrow and next month I am doing a side trip to New York and I am going to look through your suggestions for that glorious city.
How wonderful Debra. Italy and New York. You’ll have to try and go to Istanbul as well….it’s so much fun! Hope the New York posts help you. Make sure you check out the restaurant guide!
How inspiring would it be to work in a kitchen with such beautiful walls. I have added this to my One Day Soon in Turkey Pinterest Page. Hope you have many more Istanbul snippets to share:)
I’ll have to check out you pinterest page Jan. There’s lots more to share!
How interesting, Jenny and as Jan said, what a beautiful place to work – I’d never take my eyes off those walls. I’d also never stop eating, that’s for sure! Love your idea of travel snippets 🙂
It is a lovely quirky room Jo. I’ll be going back for lunch next time! Thanks for the confirmation of the snippets!
Such an interesting and colorful cafe both inside and out.
It really is Karen. Have you been to Istanbul yet? I can highly recommend it!
Mmmm, heard lots of good things about this place and intend to go next time we’re in Istanbul (Hopefully soon!) After a recent debate on our blog, we also need to try simits in Istanbul to see if they really are different to everywhere else. 🙂
Julia
I’d love to hear your opinion on the simits here Julia. I thought they were great but I’ve only had the simit cart ones to compare them too. I didn’t realise they varied from city to city!
Hungry yet again! I’m really interested in going to Istanbul hopefully this year. If I go for 4 nights, what things must I not miss?
You’d love Istanbul Shing. Any chance you can stretch it to 5 days!! The only reason I ask is that you will spend two days exploring the historic Sultanahmet area, another exploring the European side of Istanbul and the fourth on a Bosphorous cruise and back to the Asian side. All a bit rushed but it can be done. It doesn’t leave much time for anything that you miss or to be able to sit and enjoy a lunch, do a food tour or head to a couple of sites that are just our of the city. I am planning to do a blog post on what to see in Istanbul so it may be a bit clearer then but if you’d like some more info in the meantime, please send me an email.
What a great idea for blog post and I love your mouthwatering food photos.
Turkish food has to be some of the best in the world! We loved all the mezzes on our recent visit to Turkey. If anyone needs inspiration on where to stay in Istanbul, they can read our travel post on “Three Top Boutique Hotels in Istanbul: From Hip to Historic” http://www.sandinmysuitcase.com/top-boutique-hotels-in-istanbul/
Turkish food is the reason I keep returning to Istanbul. It’s such an exciting city, isn’t it. Next time I will stay in the Beyoglü area so I’ll have a look at your suggestion of the Tom Tom Suites. Thanks for the link.