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By Root 1013 0

from a foreigner’s point of view, you know, to really notice and appreciate things that are peculiar to us but things which normally wouldn’t mean much to another Istanbulite. I mean, how would I otherwise know to notice and appreciate a simit vendor in the streets of Istanbul? Or the exceptional view going over the Bridge of Bosphorus? I think my job has made me love my country even more, with all its pluses and minuses. Also, having worked with five-star hotel guests most of the time, I’ve met many celebrities, CEOs, some leading people in world politics and economics. Each experience has been unique, and I became a friend, temporarily, with some important people.

Q: What are your busiest times of year?

A: May, June, September, and October.

Q: What are your top five favorite things to show visitors in Istanbul?

A: Hagia Sophia, the Chora Church, the Grand Bazaar, the Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent, a Bosphorus ride.

Q: Which hotels do most of your clients frequent in Istanbul?

A: Number one is the Four Seasons, and more than 50 percent of my guests stay there. Also popular are the Çırağan Palace Kempinski, the Hyatt, the InterContinental, and Conrad Hilton. Among these, one of the best concierge services in the world is at the Four Seasons. Whatever you need, the staff will get it for you!

Q: When clients ask you for some recommendations for places to eat, what are some of your suggestions?

A: This is almost impossible for me, a foodie with a very sensitive stomach, to answer! I’ve got too many places in Istanbul where I just love to eat! In the old city, my top two favorite places are Hamdi, the kebab house, and Balikçi Sabahattin, the seafood place. There’s also of course the world famous Sultanahmet Koftecisi. Köfte is the Turkish name for “meatball,” and that’s a very local thing to eat. Around Taksim/ İstiklâl, my two favorite are İmroz, a seafood place with a few dozen meze choices (Imroz is off İstiklâl in the little street Nevizade), and Zencefil, a vegetarian restaurant, again off İstiklâl, with very yummy food. Trendy places in this area are Mikla and 360, and also Tike is a special kebab place. Another favorite place, on the Asian side, is Çiya, which is a restaurant of Turkish southeastern and east Mediterranean cuisine. It is really a reflection of a vast geography from Anatolia to Mesopotamia and the variety of culturally prosperous people that have existed on that land. Here, all the Azerbaijani, Georgian, Turkish, Arabian, Armenian, Ottoman, Syrian, Seljukian, and Jewish dishes are prepared according to the original customs and beliefs. Farther afield, I like Bebek Balikçısı a lot (another seafood place) and I should not forget to mention Asitane, in the old city but not in the heart of the tourist district. This is a place for visitors really looking for something different, a restaurant whose menu is inspired by a book from the sixteenth century called A Book of Banqueting. This is where you’ll taste authentic Ottoman cuisine.

Q: When you have a day off, what are some things you look forward to doing in Istanbul?

A: Modern art museums are a new trend in Istanbul. Most of them are private museums and they are all very dynamic establishments. For me, since most of my guests prefer to see the ancient things, the modern art museums are more exciting. I also love movies, and in the summer I’m a big follower of the International Istanbul Music Festival. (iksv.org/muzik/ english/)

Readers may contact Gamze directly via e-mail at artaman@superonline.com. More information about her, and other highly recommended guides, may be found online at Turkeytravelplanner.com.

Travelium, established in 1989, is a major travel agency in Istanbul specializing in private guides and limousine service. The agency is the exclusive travel company for a number of top hotels in the city, including the Çırağan Palace Kempinski, Four Seasons, Hyatt Regency, InterContinental, Sheraton, Hilton, W, and many others. (+90 212 240 8820 / travelium.com.tr)

Personalities

Natives, Expatriates, and Passionate Visitors