View from Pierre Loti Cafe looking over the Golden Horn.
Along the Golden Horn lies the district of Eyüp, and sitting atop the Eyüp cemetery, sits the popular and frequented Pierre Loti Cafe.
Either a 40 minute walk uphill through the city’s largest and oldest cemetery, or a quick cable car ride can take you to the top.
At the top of Eyüp cemetery sits Pierre Loti Cafe, named after the French novelist. Pierre Loti first came to Istanbul in 1876, resided in Eyüp and frequented the cafe. Today it’s a popular meeting place for drinking tea and known for its commanding views over the Golden Horn.
It’s always crowded with locals and tourists alike, but if you’re lucky you’ll be able to grab a seat. I wasn’t in the mood for regular traditional Turkish black tea, so I opted for apple tea instead.
Drinking apple tea at Pierre Loti Cafe.
We decided to walk down from the cafe to fully take in the views over the Golden Horn and the picturesque tombstones dating back to the Ottoman Era as we descended.
You’ll also see the wall lined with quotes in Turkish and English.
If you’re up for a food adventure afterwards, head right across the Golden Horn (via ferry) to Sütlüce for uykuluk!
The red flag at the top of Eyüp cemetery marks the spot of Pierre Loti Cafe.
