Sal Café Bar, Istanbul

Popular with tourists seeking a true Türkish experience, Sal does a roaring trade all year round. It's located in a smallish room with low ceilings and bench seats hugging the walls. Low coffee tables bump your knees while you sip Raki and watch the rowdy musicians. The ambiance is incredibly intimate and it's usually a thoroughly interactive experience. You will hear the sounds of the Zurna, a type of reed pipe that inspires Halays(a Türkic version of line dancing) at weddings and special events. Merely spectating is not welcome here and patrons are dragged off their seats to join in the fun. The music starts at 3p on Fridays and Saturdays and 5p on other days.

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