DNZ

Photos via LondonEater

For a long time, between 1995 and 2003, the Italian scene in Istanbul has been limited to Mezzaluna Restaurant. Mezzaluna lost some of its appeal in the interim and has diversified its scope and services by opening its fast-food branch, the Mezzaluna Express –delivery of express Italian meals for those in a hurry. That said, Mezzaluna continues to hold the quality of its service and meals, ceased, nevertheless a long time ago, being the first-date restaurant of the city. Now just a good choice for an informal meal, found in a corner in every shopping mall.

Da Mario of the Doors Entertainment Group, received the flag from Mezzaluna; and proved itself to be an upscale, romantic Italian Restaurant on the hills of Etiler. The menu, too, is designed to offer plenty of Italian tastes, including the Osso Buco, as well as oven-baked pizzas and good Italian wine. Criticism remains to be made still for the heavy spices used in the pasta sauces, which has turned my stomach upside down more than a few times. Some also comment that, “it used to be a cool place”; now frequented by business people for business lunches and by families or mid-aged couples on weekends. Still a possibility on the list of date, business, romantic and serious dinner restaurants and has been chosen once the “Best Restaurant in Istanbul” by the Financial Times in its special Turkey additional copy –year unknown and unannounced…

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Photos by Caner Erol

Olympos is in a valley at the south coast of Turkey, approximately 90 kms away from Antalya. The city of Olympos was initially founded in the Hellenistic period and was attested its name as a result of the nearby mountain Olympos. According to Homer, from these mountains, Poseidon saw Odysseus sailing away from Calypso’s island, and called up a great storm that wrecked him on the shores of the island of Nausicaa. Legend also has it that these mountains are the birth place of Santa Claus.

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It’s funny how fast the city I live in is changing… Just, as I thought I was grasping the gist of the Tunnel district, I found myself face to face with a new challenge. The Kuledibi Mahallesi has become an extensive neighborhood with so much to do whether you are a local or tourist.

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