Scenic Old Town pub with sunset views, friendly multilingual staff, creative house liqueurs, and mixed kitchen consistency; great for drinks and live music, less ideal for fast or refined meals.
My Friends Pub delivers a compelling drinks-and-views experience anchored by spectacular panoramic vistas and warm, multilingual service, but inconsistent execution prevents a higher grade. Waits stretching 40–60 minutes and variable food quality undermine reliability, while review patterns showing signs of encouraged feedback create moderate uncertainty in the assessment. Best approached as a destination for sunset and live music rather than culinary precision.
Hidden below street level in Kaleiçi, this spot opens to a cliffside terrace with sweeping sea and mountain views. The vibe leans lively with concerts, karaoke, and a friendly team who often switch between Russian, English, and Turkish. One guest summed it up: "Sunset right from the table, staff warm and quick on drinks," though others note waits when it is busy. There are some review authenticity concerns - some review patterns are consistent with solicited or influenced feedback. The cooking is pub-comfort first—stroganoff, steaks, shawarma, pizzas—supported by house-infused liqueurs and fun cocktails. It shines as a drinks-and-view destination where the bar guides choices well; the kitchen can be tasty but uneven, especially at events. Expect casual plates rather than fine dining, with value driven by the panorama more than precision. For families, it works if you keep it simple: the Margherita pizza (390 TL), burgers, fries, and milkshakes are kid-friendly. Portions can run small on some dishes and the terrace may have smokers near you, so pick seats accordingly. No explicit kids menu is noted, but basics are present and staff seem accommodating.
Area vibe: Historic cliffside Old Town with tourist foot traffic, sunset viewpoints, and bar-restaurant terraces.
Safety: Generally safe, busy with tourists; well-lit pedestrian lanes though narrow stairs and crowds common.
What's nearby: Close to Hıdırlık Tower, sea cliffs, boutique hotels, bars, and live-music terraces popular at sunset.