Jasmine Cafe Bar, Beyoglu

This small bar is loud, lively and popular with musicians who often hang out here just to find out what other musicians are up to. There is communal seating along several long wooden benches strewn with bright cushions behind drab formica tables. When people start dancing, it's impossible to sit outside—the crowd has been known to spill out on to the cobblestoned back street! As the place is so tiny, reservations are recommended at weekends, particularly during the winter months.