Turkish Delight: AYR's Jac Cameron On Where to Eat, Drink and Play in Istanbul, Turkey

Seldom is a work trip fun or adventure-filled. For most, off-site excursions are confined to a hotel or convention center, where daylong conferences take place, leaving little opportunity to venture out and explore. This isn’t the case for Jac Cameron, the co-founder and creative director of AYR, a New York-based womenswear label that offers everyday pieces like shirts, dresses and jeans.

She travels periodically to Istanbul, Turkey, where she sources materials for her Aloe jean at ISKO, a denim mill in the city that is certified by the Better Cotton Initiative. Seeing how it is a 10-plus-hour flight to the city, she takes full advantage of the time she is not in a factory or speaking to vendors.

And who could blame her? Istanbul is so rich in history and off-the-beaten-path haunts that it would take many trips to fully understand the vibe of the city. Luckily for Cameron (who is a tourist to the core), she has a great excuse to keep going back—and expense it, too.

From the best places to eat and drink to the best places to shop, check out Jac Cameron’s travel guide to Istanbul.

What are your favorite cultural attractions?

My visit to the Museum of Innocence was one of the more touching and special experiences I had while there. The Museum of Innocence is located in a 19th century house in Istanbul that was created by novelist Orhan Pamuk as a companion to his novel with the same title. The novel details the story of Kemal, a wealthy Istanbulite who falls in love with his poorer cousin—and the museum displays the artifacts of their love story. The Blue Mosque was pretty stunning, too.

What are the best hotels that guests should stay at?

I stayed at Soho House, which is in the Beyoğlu district and was built from the restoration of a 19th century palace. The building was quite incredible to walk through. You could feel the history in the walls of the building. The clubhouse building used to be the U.S. consulate from 1906 to 2003.This neighborhood is also one of the best for antique shopping. You can find everything from vintage upholstery to vintage records, jewelry and tapestries. The best afternoons are spent getting lost in the winding streets of this neighborhood, as there are so many great little cafés to sit and watch the world go by.

The Pera Palace Hotel is a great option as well. It is notorious for being the location where Agatha Christie wrote Murder On The Orient Express. She always stayed in room 411 and apparently one of her diaries went missing in this room. It still has never been found to this day.

Where are the best places to shop for local goods?

The Grand Bazaar is a must-see and fulfills my love of digging for treasure. There are so many cute, locally-owned shops with authentic Turkish wares: incredible hand-sewn tapestries, hand-made Turkish delights, washed cotton towels and glass wear. I scored a huge amethyst crystal here.

The Zorlu Center, based in the Beşiktaş district, is one of the most incredible luxury shopping centers in Istanbul. I loved walking around this new building. The architect built the center with an open-plan feel and lots of landscaping-slash-greenery. There are great restaurants, and it is a truly beautiful building to discover, as the design of it is so striking.

What’s the ultimate souvenir from the city?

The massive amethyst crystal I snagged at the bazaar.

Where is the best place to go for a cocktail, and what is your drink of choice?

I’m a red wine lover, so that tends to be my drink of choice almost always. However, I enjoyed a martini on the rooftop of Mikla. This is the best view of the city, as you have an unobstructed view of the Bosporus at sunset. It was a dream of mine to experience.

I also loved walking around the Teşvikiye neighborhood. There is lots of winding cobbled streets with the cutest little bars. It is an amazing neighborhood for an evening stroll.

Where is the best place to have dinner, and what is your go-to on the menu?

Sunset Grill & Bar in Ulus Park was one of the best dining experiences I had while in Istanbul. It feels like a secret utopia perched on top of a hill—and one of the best places to watch the sunset. The entire front of the restaurant opens out to the view, and you can dine inside or outside on the lawn. I had the mahi-mahi with sautéed veggies and flour-less chocolate cake. I enjoyed every bite. The menu has a strong Japanese influence and they have a huge vintage wine menu. There is a very magical and romantic feeling in this restaurant. It is for sure an amazing date spot.

What is the best weekend activity in the city?

The Turkish bath houses are incredible and the perfect way to relax and unwind on the weekend. We went to Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam, but I also heard that Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamam is incredible, too. The experience lasts about two hours: you shower and are led into a marble circular room where the body scrub and hair wash take place. It’s hands-down one of the most relaxing experiences I have ever had.

What are the places that people should avoid, and why?

I didn’t really experience any. If you’re not into crowds, stay away from some of the more touristy areas.

What is your favorite memory of the city?

Singing, dancing and drinking raki with friends in 9 Ece Aksoy bar in the historic Pera neighborhood.

Follow Barry Samaha on Twitter (@barry_samaha) and Instagram (@barrysamaha).