Travel video guide
Where to Eat in İstanbul: Croissant With Cheese and Egg | Varedelo
This guide turns Back in Istanbul for 2 days 🇹🇷 from Max McFarlin into a practical food map with 3 saved spots around Beyoğlu, Fatih, and Moda. The mapped places include a bar, a neighborhood, and a restaurant stop. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Max McFarlin thoroughly enjoyed exploring the relaxed and trendy Moda neighborhood on Istanbul's Asian side, emphasizing the superior quality of local sports massages and homecooked cafeteria-style meals. He concluded his stopover by reflecting on Turkey's effortless beauty and hospitality before heading to his next destination in London.
What this map is good for
- Planning a bar stop or short itinerary in Beyoğlu.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 3 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Poker Pub Taksim
Bar in Hüseyinağa, Solakzade Sk. No:3 D:7, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye, Hüseyinağa, Beyoğlu, İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available - Gar Musichall (Tarihi Gar Gazinosu)
Restaurant in Aksaray, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Paşa Cd. No:5/2, 34490 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye, Aksaray, Fatih, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Moda
Neighborhood in Moda, Caferağa, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye, Moda, İstanbul, Türkiye
Food notes from the video
- croissant with cheese and egg
- monster cookie
- pickle
- simit
- dried plums and apricots
- macadamia nuts and pistachios
- homecooked Turkish cafeteria food
- smash burger and french fries
- 2 more included in the app.
Experiences captured
- morning run on the Asian side of Istanbul
- visited a takeaway and dine-in croissant shop
- lost and replaced Invisalign braces
- received a sports massage for alignment
- shopped for souvenirs and knock-off clothes
- recognized by a fan at Poker Cafe
- bought dried fruits and tea for parents
- got a professional shave at a barbershop
Planning notes for Istanbul
Istanbul is a transcontinental city located on the Bosphorus Strait, serving as a geographical link between Europe and Asia. Historically, it functioned as the capital for the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. The city’s historical core, much of which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, contains structures from various eras, including the 4th-century Roman Hippodrome, the 6th-century Byzantine Hagia Sophia.
Must-try foods nearby
- Cağ Kebabı
Widely trending in 2026 as the 'king of kebabs,' this Erzurum-style delicacy consists of marinated lamb stacked on a horizontal spit and wood-fired. - Balık Dürüm
The modern, more portable evolution of the classic fish sandwich (Balık Ekmek). Freshly grilled mackerel is seasoned with a secret blend of spices. - Hünkar Beğendi
A pinnacle of Ottoman palace cuisine, this 'Sultan’s Delight' features tender, slow-cooked lamb chunks served over a creamy. - Islak Hamburger
The legendary 'Wet Burger' of Taksim Square. These sliders are doused in a garlicky, spiced tomato sauce and kept steaming in a glass humidor, resulting in a soft, pillowy texture. - Midye Dolma
Plump mussels stuffed with aromatic rice, currants, pine nuts, and a heavy dose of black pepper.
When to go: The best time to visit Istanbul is during the shoulder seasons of April to May and September to October, when the weather is mild (15°C–25°C) and the city is ideal for walking. Summer (June–August) is the peak tourist season with hot.
Local tips
- Purchase an Istanbulkart at major transit hubs to access the city's extensive network of ferries, trams, and metros efficiently.
- Always verify that the taxi meter is switched on before starting your journey or use a ride-hailing app like BiTaksi to avoid overcharging.
- When dining, expect a leisurely pace as meals are social events, and it is polite to leave a 5-10% cash tip if a service charge is not already included.
- Accept offers of tea from shopkeepers as a sign of hospitality, even if you do not intend to make a purchase.
What travelers are noticing
- Viral Balık Dürüm (Fish Wrap) stalls in Karaköy, featuring innovative spicy sauces and charred flatbreads.
- Artisanal Midye Dolma (Stuffed Mussels) carts in Beşiktaş, trending for their larger, herb-infused rice fillings.
- International Istanbul Gastronomy Festival 2026, showcasing fusion street food and modern Anatolian techniques.
Planning questions
What is this video map?
It is a crawlable guide to the mapped places from Back in Istanbul for 2 days 🇹🇷, with the creator video, a static map preview, and selected spots from the trip.
Can I save these spots?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save the places, keep planning notes, and revisit the guide from your phone.
Does this replace watching the video?
No. The video remains the source, and the map makes the places easier to scan, compare, and save while planning.
Use it on your trip
Save this food map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.