don’t leave istanbul without that “meyhane experience”. it’s not just about the food. it’s about sitting down with friends, great conversation, sampling various food, and of course the famous turkish rakı is a substantial part of this. of course there are many meyhane places in istanbul, and especially in the taksim area. but i highly recommend going to demeti, which offers a very classy atmosphere along, of course, with fantastic food. i would advise to book a table early, and weather permitting, to ask for a table on the balcony (only a small number available). you will be treated to a sweeping view across the bosphorus and over to the asian side of the city. the inside is just as comfortable, with the decoration giving glimpses into a by-gone area of istanbul. you will be able to chose the cold mezes (small dishes) from the glass counter, but make sure to leave some room for warm mezes or a main course (like fish or turkish meatballs). i went with two friends. the wait staff did a great job helping with selecting a few specials. if you want to try original turkish şalgam ( a fermented, quite distinct vegetable drink), this would be the night for it. i loved the combination of the food, the şalgam and rakı.