Open since the 1950s, Moda Tea Gardens sit atop a small hill along the coastline, overlooking Sultanahmet across the southeastern end of the Bosphorus. As their names suggest, three adjacent ‘gardens’ consist of a broad expanse of open-air space dotted with many tables and chairs. Lined on both sides with trees and sharing a wide walkway with an equally historic park, the gardens had always been one of the first places that came to mind when the Moda area was mentioned.
Unlike many of Istanbul’s overly welcoming cafés and shops, the Tea Gardens quietly carry on their tranquil coastal life and attract visitors all year round. On summer afternoons, strolling beneath the small amber lanterns adorning the trees, then picking a table to watch the explosions of color at sunset, has been a real treat for many generations of Istanbulites.
Even on cold, grey winter days, sheltered under the parasols with a good book and a steaming cup of tea or sahlep dusted with cinnamon offers a rare sense of peace in Istanbul.
The food selection is limited to grilled cheese and a few pastries, and it may not be the best you could find around. However, I dare say Tea Gardens are one of the best spots in the city to calm a restless mind, catch up with friends, and slip into a coastal village mood in the heart of Istanbul.
Comments are closed.