The Büyük Mecidiye Mosque at Ortaköy is one of Istanbul's most photographed landmarks: a small, elegantly ornate 19th-century mosque right at the water's edge on the Bosphorus, with the Bosphorus Bridge looming above it. Built in 1854–1856 in an Ottoman Baroque style, it sits on a platform over the water and catches the evening light in a way that makes it look more like a stage set than a functioning mosque.
The surrounding Ortaköy square is a lively neighbourhood with cafes, art galleries, and a Sunday market popular with Istanbulites. The area is known for kumpir (stuffed baked potatoes) sold from carts along the waterfront. An evening walk along the Bosphorus from Beşiktaş to Ortaköy and back is one of the better free activities in the city.