The bar scene in Kaleiçi concentrates on a handful of lanes in the upper part of the old town, where rooftop bars and narrow-door venues compete for the tourist trade. The atmosphere is convivial if generic: Turkish pop and international hits, cold Efes beer, cocktails made with varying degrees of seriousness, and terraces that stay busy until 2 or 3am in summer.
It is not the most sophisticated nightlife in Turkey, but the old-town setting — stone walls, Ottoman lanes, glimpses of the harbour — makes it more appealing than the equivalent in most resort towns. The bar action picks up noticeably after midnight.