After our dreamy mini-moon at Drie Kuilen, we spent a few more days soaking up family time in Cape Town—eating our way through every last moment, and buying all the South African snacks and spices we could fit in our bags. But before heading back to Toronto, we made one final stop.
We had purposely booked with Turkish Airlines so we could make the most of their long layover in Istanbul—a city that’s held a piece of my heart since my first visit nearly 15 years ago. Back then, I was younger, wide-eyed, and utterly obsessed with everything from dolmas to the chargrilled seafood in Izmir (still dreaming about that fish, honestly). This time, I wanted to taste a sliver of that magic again—and share it with my husband. Let’s just say… with 10 hours and no sleep, it turned into a flavour-packed, semi-chaotic, absolutely unforgettable little detour.
3AM Landings & a 5AM Turkish Breakfast
We landed in Istanbul around 3am, groggy but buzzing with excitement. After figuring out how to get through immigration and finding our way through the airport, we hired a driver for the day—Hamza, whose English was limited but whose vibes were good.
By 5am, Hamza had taken us to a cozy spot overlooking the Bosphorus. The sun was just beginning to shimmer over the water. We were served a gorgeous sucuk (spiced sausage) and egg skillet, fresh simit, and hot chai that warmed us up from the inside. It was the kind of breakfast that wakes up your soul.
We sat for a while, dipping simit into runny yolks and sipping chai. After breakfast, we took a stroll along the Bosphorus, watching early morning fishermen cast their lines into the still waters. Quiet, calm, golden. A perfect start.
Souvenir Stops & Surprise Tour Guides
After breakfast, Hamza took us around to see a few more sights, and we eventually ended up at a souvenir shop—pretty sure it was his friend’s place (classic!). With our “Merhaba” and “Teşekkürler” only getting us so far, we leaned into haggling with humour. We walked away with some lovely keepsakes—and, let’s be honest, probably a few things we didn’t actually need.
Somehow, this stop came with a bonus: an unofficial tour guide (another one of Hamza’s friends, naturally) who decided to tag along for the next leg. I can’t remember his name, but I do remember him telling us he’d had triple bypass surgery just a few weeks earlier—and was still keen to show us around. Well, of course, there was a small fee involved. Respect. His hustle was real.
We strolled cobblestone streets, he shared bits of history in broken English, and we made our way to the majestic Hagia Sophia. It was my second time visiting, but standing there with my husband—snapping pictures, listening to stories, it felt completely new again. Of course, our new friend made sure to be part of our pics. Iconic.
Turkish Coffee With a View
After reconnecting with Hamza, we asked for somewhere with a view and some proper Turkish coffee—the real thing, in the real place.
He drove us up to Pierre Loti Café, named after the 19th-century French author who fell in love with Istanbul (same). Perched high above the Golden Horn, it offered a breathtaking view of the city’s layered rooftops, mosques, and waterways.
We ordered tiny, powerful cups of coffee—dark, rich, and beautifully bittersweet. We sat with it all: the skyline, the stories, and the caffeine kicking in.
Just the two of us… well, plus Hamza and a crowd of others, of course. But somehow, it still felt like our moment—the skyline stretched out before us, a soft breeze in the air, and that rich, unmistakable smell of strong Turkish coffee lingering all around.
A Kofta Kind of Goodbye
Time was starting to run out, but we couldn’t leave without lunch. Turkish lunch. We asked Hamza to take us somewhere low-key, something local. He knew just the spot.
I couldn’t tell you the name of the place, there was no Google search, no menus in English, and just the pure hustle and bustle of the lunch rush. Metal chairs scraped across tiled floors, conversations buzzed all around, and the smell of charcoal smoke and sizzling meat filled the air. It was exactly the vibe.
Hamza ordered for us (language limitations = full trust in his picks), and what arrived was honestly a dream: succulent lamb kofta with rice, roasted peppers and tomatoes, warm bread, pickled peppers, crunchy pickles, and a fresh salad on the side. We devoured every bite.
The first bite—smoky, juicy, spiced just right—took me straight back to why I fell in love with Turkish food in the first place. I looked at my husband and saw that same “oh damn, this is good” look on his face. That moment is imprinted in my memory now.
Turkish food just speaks to the soul. There’s something about it that’s so grounded, so honest. Fifteen years later, and I still feel the same way.
Back to the Airport, Hearts Full (and Bellies Too)
Lunch done, bellies full, and reality calling—we made the long drive back to the airport. The exhaustion hit hard—the kind that sinks into your bones and wraps your brain in a cozy food-and-flight haze.
I wish we’d had time to grab one last piece of baklava, but we were out of steam. Thankfully, that little treat (Turkish delight) with our Turkish coffee earlier had held us over. Still, next time? Pistachio baklava is a must.
In just 10 hours, we managed to squeeze in so much. From early morning çay to charcoal kofta and history on cobbled streets—it was chaotic, cozy, and wildly beautiful.
From the Karoo to the Bosphorus (and Beyond)
This whole wedding journey—from our South African feast to quiet mountain mornings in the Karoo, and finally a whirlwind layover in Istanbul was everything we could’ve dreamed of. It wasn’t a traditional honeymoon. It was something better. Something us.
And now that we’ve got a little one in tow (our tiny foodie-in-the-making), the next adventures will look a little different—but just as full. Of flavour, of laughs, of moments that sneak into your heart and stay there.
Here’s to food that feeds the soul, stories that surprise us, and detours that become the main event.
✈️ Catch up on the full journey:
💍 Love, Lekker Food & Laughter: Our South African Wedding Feast
🌄 Mini-Moon in the Karoo: Food, Nature & Quiet at Drie Kuilen
CocoaGirlinToronto 
3 thoughts on “10 Hours in Istanbul: A Whirlwind of Chai, Kofta & That Turkish Magic”