Lebiderya is a challenge to find, but well worth the hunt! Tucked down a tiny ally way and on the roof of a 6 (or so) story building, Lebiderya offers a vibrant local hot spot with sweeping views of the old city. Keep in mind that you can still smoke in Turkey and if the weather is not conducive to having the windows open, then it can be a little annoying. While the food is great, it is not extraordinary. It is well priced and a worthy effort for a nice evening with locals and a view. http://www.lebiderya.com/lebiderya/eng/1_2_index.html
You can walk the social district after dinner and enjoy hookah and tea at a café while people watching. Really bad picture, but this is me in front of Lebiderya...a thrill to find!
Amedros Café is on the Sultanahmet side of the city and has FANTASTIC food. If you plan on dinner, then a reservation is strongly recommended, but you can easily pop in for lunch without a wait. It too is a lively atmosphere with primarily travelers eating. It offers very authentic and very delicious Ottoman cuisine. Do make the effort to find it if you are in Istanbul. http://www.amedroscafe.com/
NOW, if you can't make it to Turkey any time soon and need a little Turkish fix, then Cafe Istanbul in Plano really does a great job too!!
