Istanbul Iskembecisi

Iskembecisi means ‘tripe soup café’ in Turkish, but don’t let that put you off. The decor has seen better days (despite starched white tablecloths & attempts at gentility), but the food is still in its prime. Apart from the aforementioned tripe soup, you can also indulge in other offal delicacies such as lamb’s tongue broth or liver & onion salad. Smiling staff will guide you through such off-piste choices, but the menu also features more standard meats from the grill (anything from a humble chicken shish to a princely fillet steak). Turkish-brewed Efes Pilsen makes a refreshing accompaniment, but with the place staying open until 5am, shots of raki often pep up the crowd of leftie Stokies, pool-playing locals & middle-class couples out for a late-night bite.