Kuzguncuk is a small neighbourhood on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, north of Üsküdar, that has maintained the kind of multicultural character most of Istanbul has lost. Greeks, Armenians, Jews, and Muslims lived here side by side for centuries, and a synagogue, a church, and a mosque still stand within metres of each other on the same street — one of the few places in Istanbul where this remains visible.
The main street, İcadiye Caddesi, is lined with wooden houses and small cafes that have become popular with Istanbul artists and intellectuals over the past two decades. Come by ferry from Kabataş or Eminönü to Üsküdar, then a short dolmuş ride or 20-minute walk north. The neighbourhood is quiet and residential in feel, a genuine local community rather than a tourist attraction.