Ortakoy is one of the liveliest waterfront neighbourhoods along the Bosphorus. The centrepiece is the Ortakoy Mosque, built in 1854 in a distinctly European Baroque style — Corinthian columns for minarets, ornate capitals, more palace than prayer hall. It sits right on the water with the Bosphorus Bridge looming behind it, making it one of the most photographed spots in Istanbul.
Around the mosque, a square full of cafes, bars, and restaurants spills onto the waterfront. On warm nights it is packed — a good place to sit with a tea or a beer and watch the boats pass. Street vendors sell kumpir (loaded baked potatoes) and waffles.