My first trip to Istanbul wasn't about the food — it was about the city. To be honest, I barely remember where we ate. We grabbed whatever was nearby, everything ranged from perfectly fine to genuinely tasty, and that was enough. The focus was elsewhere.

The second visit was different. Shorter, but more deliberate: we started seeking out places rather than simply stumbling across them.

Then came trip number three. We did the research. We checked the Instagram favourites. We chased recommendations. This time, we approached Turkish cuisine with purpose.

The result? An Istanbul food guide three trips in the making. Curated and tested — with a few honest opinions on some of the city's most overrated spots as a bonus.

Let's be honest: most of us barely travel anywhere without a laptop these days.

The tricky part? A good breakfast spot doesn't necessarily make a good place to work. So, after several days of laptop-hopping across the city, here are the places that delivered on the essentials: decent Wi-Fi, accessible plug sockets, and enough space to spread out (needed, I know).

Sarayburnu Aile Çay Bahçesi — The menu is extensive, but the real reason to come here is the view. In fact, you could happily sit with just a tea and still feel like you got your money's worth.

Try to visit around sunset — it faces the evening light, and on cooler days they provide blankets, making it one of the most comfortable places to watch the city wind down.