Kybele is a delightfully eccentric café and small hotel in the heart of Sultanahmet, world-famous for its ceiling — hundreds upon hundreds of coloured glass lamps that turn the room into a warm, jewel-lit Aladdin's cave. Family-run and stuffed with Turkish antiques, kilims and curios, it is a wonderfully atmospheric spot to pause between the area's big sights.
Settle in among the lamps for a Turkish coffee or apple tea, a glass of wine or a light meal of mezze and Turkish classics. It sits moments from the Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia, which makes its cosy, colourful, antique-crammed rooms a charming refuge from the Sultanahmet crowds.
Local tip: Come in the evening when the hundreds of lamps are lit and the room really glows — it is magical and very photogenic. It is a lovely spot for a relaxed drink rather than a big meal.
Good to know
- Where: Yerebatan Cd. No:23, Sultanahmet, Istanbul
- City: Istanbul