The view from the balcony overlooking the Golden Horn will take your breath away over and over again.
Mehboob’s place is fantastic if you want to experience the real İstanbul outside of the more westernized enclaves of Beyoğlu.
It’s far more intimate and authentic, and I absolutely loved my time in Balat.
Pro tip: eat at New Balat and buy your bottled water from Bakkal Hasan. Get the full breakfast spread at Balat Antique Cafe. And check out Cafe obscura if you’re into photography.
Also consider being a dear and asking your taxi driver to stop on Vodina Caddesi and walk the last 3 blocks yourself. Those streets are hilariously awful for cars to attempt to climb, but it’s also a beautiful stroll on foot/ great glute workout.