GENERAL INFO: Turkish
lesbian life has become very visible in the last 5 years especially in
Istanbul and several lesbian venues were opened in recent years. Until
recently lesbians used to be minority in gay life of Istanbul, and
they had to go to some of the gay bars because there were indeed few lesbian
people that could go out comfortably. The main reason for this might
be the women in general are not approved to go out on their own and
stay late after midnights even if they are from modern families,
partly also because of security reasons. This was just the opposite for
gay men, because they would go out and stay late, using the male-oriented
culture.
In fact culturally being lesbian can be more tolerated than being a
gay men in Turkey. For instance, in the macho culture of the country "a girl
like a boy" is a praising phrase while to be a boy like a girl is
fairly humiliating. (!)
The society is also changing fast in recent years and as a result of
the changing mentality, women in general including lesbians have more
freedom then they used to until several years ago. Internet has also helped a
lot for this positive changes and Turkish lesbians are now more
visible on the internet. There are many local lesbian chat channels,
dating and personals
websites and groups uniting Turkish lesbians.
Lesbian Venues in Istanbul:
BIGUDI
24:00 - 04:00 (open Friday, Saturday) Address: Atif Yılmaz Caddesi (street) Bayram
Sokak (Atif Yilmaz Caddesi is the narrow street next to the small
mosque (Huseyin Aga Camii) on Istiklal Caddesi. The club is just
round the corner on the left, when you turn left to the lane (Bayram
Sokak) on your fisrt left.
The first lesbian-exclusive club of Istanbul has moved back to the original address it
was first opened 2 years ago, in March 2008.
The unique only-lesbian club&bar of Istanbul, in fact in whole of
Turkey. All staff including security girls and administration
are also lesbians naturally.
Google Map Locating Atif Yilmaz Caddesi and
Istiklal Avenue
Visitor feedbacks:
"Bigudi is no more in Bayram Sokak. It is just on the upper floor of Bigudi Cafe. The prices are very reasonable in cafe section which is a
mix place with nice music. Club is free to enter on Friday nights.
There is entrance fees on Saturday nights. Only women are allowed to
enter to the club. The music is mixture of Turkish and European
pop and the DJ is fairly good." 07/04/2009
KARANTINA
Open 23:00 - 05:00.
Friday and Saturday
only
ADDRESS:
Istiklal Caddesi (street) Imam Adnan Sokak (lane) No: 11 (building
no).
Beyoglu, Istanbul - Turkey
Weebsite:
http://clubkarantina.tr.gg/
Imam Adnan Sokak is right opposite of MANGO shop on Istiklal.
Opened in early July 2009 the venue is open only for ladies on Friday
and Saturday nights. They organize shows, karaoke, live music and DJ
performances.
Google Map locating Imam Adnan Sokak
BIGUDI CAFE PUB
Open everyday 14:00-02:00
ADDRESS: Istiklal Caddesi, Balo Sokak. No:20 Kat:4 (4th floor)
Beyoglu, Istanbul
There is Club Gate at the entrance floor of the same building, which
is also a gay and lesbian friendly straight club.
Bigudi Cafe Pub is a collaboration of former lesbian friendly Cilek cafe&&bar
on the same building. The new place is upper floor of Cilek (4th
floor) Major activities informed by the mangers are parties, board
games, and special Bigudi kitchen
Google Map Locating Balo Sokak
ROCINANTE
11:00 - 02:00 ADDRESS: Sakiz Agaci Caddesi, Ogut Sokak No:6/2
(2nd floor)
Beyoglu/Istanbul.
Ogut Sokak is a lane/street somewhere behind the small mosque (Aga Camii)
on Istiklal Avenue .
Web:
www.rocinantebar.com
This cafe bar is officially not a lesbian venue but almost all regular
clients and even the staff are lesbians. Attended by more butch types. The
prices are much lower than most gay clubs here. Busier in the
evenings and late afternoons.
Google Map locating Ogut Sokak
BACKBAHCE
Open 23:00 - 05:00.
Friday and Saturday
only
ADDRESS:
Siraselviler Caddesi, Soganci Sokak, No:7/1, Cihangir - Beyoglu,
Istanbul
Web:
http://www.barbahce.com/
Walking from Taksim, pass Alman Hastanesi (private German Hospital) on
Siraselviler street, and turn into the second street on your left.
Located on this small street (Soganci sokak) opposite of "Taksim Ilk Yardim"
public hospital.
After opening party on April 13th, 2007 the back room of the senior Barbahce gay club will serve to lesbians only on Friday and Saturday
nights.
Google Map locating Soganci Sokak
Lesbian - friendly Venues in Istanbul:
16:00
- 02:00 (more busy in the evenings) This is a
nice and safe day time gay cafe-bar but is also attended by some
lesbians if not exclusively. It is a safe, nicely decorated place to
go with friends or to meet new ones. Visit
their website for more information, location map and contact
information:
Website: Gay Cafe Bar Istanbul
GATE
Open 23:00 - 05:00.
ADDRESS:
Istiklal Caddesi, Balo Sokak. No:20 Beyoglu, Istanbul - Turkey.
A gay and lesbian friendly night club. There may be considerable
lesbians in this clubs, because of the lesbian managed Cilek Cafe on
the same building (3rd floor) owned by the same people.
BARBAHCE
Open 23:00 - 06:00.
Open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
ADDRESS:
Siraselviler Caddesi, Soganci Sokak, No:7/1, Cihangir - Beyoglu,
Istanbul - Turkey.
Located on the Soganci street opposite of "Taksim Ilk Yardim"
public hospital. Normally an after midnight gay club with a
safe&modern atmosphere, but it has been a popular place for some lesbians
for many years. You can feel at home here.
OTHERSIDE
15:00
- 02:00
ADDRESS: Istiklal Cad. Zambak Sk. No:2 Kat:5 Taksim, Istanbul.
The gay club has moved to an new place on terrace floor on Istiklal
street, close to Taksim square. You can go at least for good shows and
music
PAZARTESI
CAFE
-12:00-02:00
Istiklal Cad. Abdullah Sok. No:9 Beyoglu, Istanbul - Turkey.
Phone:+90 (212) 292 07
47
(Abdullah Sokak is a lane opposing the
entrance of the big Greek Orthodox Church near Taksim Square)
This 3 floor
cafeteria of the feminist magazine
"Pazartesi" is also very gay and lesbian
friendly. The place is not exclusively gay or lesbian but it may be a
good place if you want to see some young Turkish intellectuals and "liberals".
Beer is much cheaper than gay&lesbian bars and they also sell house-made
food in the evenings.
BESINCI
KAT RESTAURANT ( "The Fifth Floor") 09:00 – 02:00
Address:
Siraselviler Caddesi (street), Soganci Sokak, No:7,
Kat:5 (5th floor) Cihangir (locality) Beyoglu
(Suburb) Istanbul-Turkey.
Web:
http://www.5kat.com/
Soganci Sokak is the street opposing Taksim Ilk Yardim Hastanesi (state hospital)
This roof restaurant-bar is on the 5th floor of the same building with
the senior gay club called Barbahce. Meals are not very cheap but
still reasonably priced when you consider the painstakingly prepared
meals and breathtaking view of Bosphorus straight and Asian part of
Istanbul. Its also has a small bar usually busy in the evenings and
open until around 01:00 am. Drinks at the bar is cheaper than most gay
clubs. It would make you feel special to know you are eating your meal
or drinking a cup of wine on Europe , while watching the beginning
of Asian continent laying in front of your eyes.
TURKISH
LESBIANS ON THE INTERNET
Please note that there are
dozens of websites and chat channels for Turkish lesbians but here
we are only listing few of them which
have English content.
LAMBDA
ISTANBUL
Turkish
gay and lesbian liberation organization located in Istanbul
Address: Istiklal Caddesi (street) Tel Sokak (lane) Katip Celebi
Mahallesi (locality)
28/5, Kat:4
(4th
floor) Beyoglu - Istanbul
Google Map
Locating Tel Sokak (lane)
Phone:+90212 245 70 68
Kaos GL Turkey's first
exclusively gay lesbian magazine which
also formed a gay&lesbian rights organization in capital city Ankara
recently.
KAOS CULTURE CENTER
Open Wednesday, Thursday Friday Saturday
between 14:00 - 18:00 hrs
Address:
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvari
29/12 Demirtepe, Kizilay / ANKARA Phone/
Fax: 0312 230 03 58 Web:
http://www.kaosgl.com
LESBIAN
TRAVEL GUIDE
LESBIAN TRAVEL AGENCY
Istanbul gay com
is a cooperation of Pride Travel which is owned and managed by a
Lesbian lady.
http://www.turkey-gay-travel.com/aboutus.html
They will be happy to help you organize your holiday plans in Istanbul
and Turkey. You can visit their office just to say hello and have
a cup of tea.
RECOMMENDED ISTANBUL HOTELS FOR
LESBIANS
Below listed hotels in Istanbul can especially be recommended to Lesbian
tourists. They are located in safe and central neighborhoods and offer
good prices comparatively.
HOTEL
BRIEF
DESCRIPTION
SUMMER
RATES
WEBPAGE
Location: 200
meters to Taksim Square
Gay owned studio flat
available daily, only 200 meters away from Taksim Square providing most
hotel facilities such as breakfast, air-condition, safe box, cable TV
with international channels, wireless ADSL connection bath etc.
Location: Sultanahmet,
On a safe, central and quite street Non-smoking hotel. All wireless Internet
If you are in search of a small
elegant hotel in Istanbul that offers blissful serenity, luxurious
decoration and staff on hand to satisfy your every whim, look no
further than Hotel Tria Istanbul. Book from Pride Travel
Location: Sultanahmet,
On a safe, central and quite street
This delightful Inn
owned and run by two sisters continues its own tradition Close to
practically everywhere worth visiting in the old city, Very
popular with tastefully decorated rooms and comfortable
beds.
Location: Sultanahmet , next to Topkapi Palace
entrance
Especially
recommended to lesbians clients, due to its quality and very liberal
administration.
Rooms with Air-condition, Direct phone, Satellite TV, Wireless
ADSL Internet Access etc.
International
Lesbian Resources
International
Lesbian resources practically listed based on location (country/city)
listing lesbian dating, personals, news, publications, lesbian groups
and organizations and other lesbian websites.
Butch Femme Transguy UK At Butch-Femme.co.uk you will
find all means of information and discussions between people all over
the world whose identities range across the spectrum from butch to
femme to female-born-transgendered. This site is only for Butches or
Transguys into Femmes and Femmes into Butches or Transguys.
Lesbianation.com
The leading virtual community and editorial website for lesbians.
LesbiaNation offers the latest in entertainment, travel destinations,
sports scores and coverage, business, and health news for the lesbian
community. Register for free and interact with other LesbiaNation
members through real-time chat, member profiles, personal ads,
discussion forums, and branded instant messaging
Lesbian Worlds - Providing
resources and information of issues, events, politics, discussions and
community.
For lesbian link exchange with us please
Click Here But first add our
link as below:
Link to:
http://www.istanbulgay.com/lesbian.htm
Title:
Istanbul and Turkish Lesbians.
Description:
Istanbul and Turkish Lesbian Guide. Meeting points, bars, clubs,
hotels, personals and dating websites.
Turkish
lesbian life has become very visible in the last 5 years especially in
Istanbul and several lesbian venues were opened in recent years. Until
recently lesbians used to be minority in gay life of Istanbul, and
they had to go to some of the gay bars because there were indeed few lesbian
people that could go out comfortably. The main reason for this might
be the women in general are not approved to go out on their own and
stay late after midnights even if they are from modern families,
partly also because of security reasons. This was just the opposite for
gay men, because they would go out and stay late, using the male-oriented
culture. 
Turkey's first
exclusively gay 