This small but nice gay cafe & restaurant is located on a narrow lane on Istiklal Avenue, somewhere opposite of St. Antoine Church. There is a sign-board of the cafe with rainbow flag colors at the entrance of the lane (Saka Salim Sokagi)
In summer they put table outside. There is free wireless internet connection in the area. The prices are very reasonable and various foods are available from 13:00 till 22:00 o'clock. Attended by nice gay men, and there are no hustlers or rent boys usually.

Visitor comments about this venue
"I probably was here too early, but it was empty except for the barista and his new boyfriend. I'm sure that it would have been nice had it been more crowded, but it's a good GAY place to get a cup of coffee when you're wandering around Istiklal Caddesi. " (Posted by Way from USA on 22/03/2010

'Good music, nice atmosphere. But the young waiter should be more professional, always on movil, even when we wait for ask for drinks, not very friendly, and when asked for help with the directions for another gay bar (that all people there knows) answered, roughly, I don't know that bar! (Posted by Manu from Portugal on 19 May 2010

Chill Out Cafe (12:00- 24:00)
Address: Istiklal Cad. Balyoz Sok. No:17 Beyoglu Tel.+90 (212) 249 47 84
Gay friendly cafe-shop at the entrance of the 5 storey hostel. Actually it is the lobby of the hostel and not very big. Not a place to be visited for deliberately to meet gay people.

Inside Cafe Lounge (12:00-24:00) Closed down in August 2010
Address: Lamartin Cad. NO:11 Kat:4 Beyoglu.

 

Cruisy day time venues. Not particularly gay or gay-friendly
There are several straight venues around Taksim square which are like meeting places for gay men usually before going to gay bars/clubs., or early in the day time. They are mostly self-service cafe-restaurants and the managers/staff are not very gay-friendly in real meaning. But probably because of their location, especially some gay-men living in the neighborhood would always be around. But there will also be many rent boys and bad hustlers in and around these venues, so please be selective with the people you may encounter.

Haci Baba & Jimmy's (09:00-01:00)
Address: Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Taksim Square, Next to Mc Donald's-Taksim, Istanbul
Former Han cafe-restaurant was transformed into a self-service restaurant in early 2008, half of which offers Turkish style fast-food (Haci Baba) the other half is Jimmy' Fried Chicken, but there is not even a wall separating both. Probably because of its location just at the center of Taksim, it is still a little cruisy in the evenings, just as it was when it was Han Cafe.
 

Mc Donald's Taksim on a summer day

Mc Donald's - Taksim  (09:00-01:00)
Near Taksim Square. Frequently attended by the gay people and some escort boys especially in the Summer evenings. Beware of cheap hustlers in the neighborhood.

Biraci Pub (09:00-01:00)
At Taksim Square next to Taksim Mc Donald's. More gay in the evenings and weekends. It is attended by gay man only because of its location and the management does not like any visible gay action so it is recommended to be a little discreet.

Burger King's Taksim  (09:00-02:00)
Address: Istiklal cad. NO:1 Taksim (At Taksim Square)
You can rest for a cafe and observe fewer gay-related people. It's as cruisy as any self service cafe could be near Taksim square. But there may be rent boys or some tourist hustlers hanging around inside and in front of the entrance.

Simit Sarayi (09:00-:00:00)
Address: Cumhuriyet Caddesi Taksim (across the Taksim Mc Donald's)
A Turkish style fast-food cafe restaurant, mainly selling traditional Turkish pastries. These pastry shops are named after simit , a traditional ring-shaped bread covered with sesame seeds. which was once sold on the streets by the street vendors only. In recent years these "Simit Houses" because popular, competing with Mc Donald's and the like. We recommend you to try simit and Turkish tea menu at least once.