Barba

Barba is Greek for “uncle,” the honorific by which drinkers in the Ottoman era addressed non-Muslim bar owners—and a traditional name for a contemporary dive with a beer list 80 labels strong. Barba isn’t big—the entire bar consists of a 12-seat, U-shaped bar supplemented with tables seating 30 more. It’s decidedly relaxed; a nice change of pace from Istanbul’s many see-and-be-seen bars. Customers come in search of Turkish microbrews like Gara Guzu blonde, whose citrusy crispness finishes on a pleasantly bitter note, but owners Cem Koklukaya and Onur Yusufoglu are just as happy to mix a Highland Morning (scotch, grapefruit juice), Greenback (gin, mint liqueur, lemon juice), or other cocktails on request.