Mandabatmaz

★ 4.6 · 3,935 reviews Istanbul Opened Opening date unknown

Directions Website

Thick Turkish coffee down a Beyoğlu passage

Mandabatmaz hides down the narrow Olivya passage off İstiklal, a handful of low stools and copper pots. The name roughly means a water buffalo could not sink in it, a claim about how thick the coffee is, and the brew here is denser and more foamed than most.

It does one thing, Turkish coffee, and does it in the old style over a heated surface. It has become a small institution for a break off the İstiklal crush.

Good to know

Cash only, and the coffee is meant to be thick.

What guests say

Reviews by Google

August Vigen Smolarz 93 reviews · Local Guide 8 July 2026

A fine little coffee spot hidden away from the buzzy shopping street. The small side street where Mandabatmaz is located is surprisingly quiet and calm.
Hugo L 71 reviews · Local Guide 16 June 2026

Incredible traditional turkish coffee and San Sebastian cheesecake; get both and indulge in the complementing flavours 🤩 We had low/no sugar in our coffee, as the cheesecake complements it so well. We advise stirring your coffee at the top a bit, to get rid of the gritty cream/top, but some people like that; up to you. Definitely worth popping by!
Davi Marti 614 reviews · Local Guide 29 May 2026

local Turkish cafe. The traditional cafe place. Serves both, locals and oat tourist , situated on one of the best areas of Istanbul. $$$$
Lizeth Mogotocoro 53 reviews · Local Guide 20 April 2026

You can taste the tradition in every sip. The atmosphere feels authentic and welcoming, making it more than just a coffee stop; it’s an experience. If you’re looking for real Turkish coffee, this is the spot. I’m a Colombian coffee lover, and this place truly captured my coffee-loving heart.
Haoheng Zeng (Mark) 6 reviews 2 April 2026

Coffee taste totally different from Italian and Vienna style. It seem boiled with coffee grounds. You can taste some small bits of coffee grounds with creamy foam in the first sip. It is amazing. If you don’t mix the drink, at end you will have the grounds left on the bottom. I am not an expert in coffee, but this is the second best coffee I have tried in my life( the first was espresso on the boat in Lago di Comi). It has a mix of chocolate, nuts flavor at beginning, then a bit of fruity sour coming appears after you swallow down. I like mostly the grounds at the end, it just feels like the Sugarcane residue with aromas of milk, coffee, and nuts. I also ordered Sebastian cheese cake. It is surprisingly good too. Only pity is that when the clerk asked me if I wanted to add chocolate sauce on top of the cake, I said yes and then I felt like, the cheesecake itself is amazing without the chocolate sauce. So I removed the sauce aside and ate the cake alone. If you are not a super fun of chocolate sauce, I will recommend you do not add it, or at least on the side. Cheers!