İzmir takes its coffee seriously (one of Turkey's first third-wave roasters opened here, in Alsancak), and in the evening the city drinks rakı over meze in old meyhanes. My saved list had no cafés or bars, so I added all nine on the advice of travel guides, the local guide Mes Prestiges (and its bar list) and Lonely Planet, and checked each one on Google: still open, rated 4.2 or higher, with more than a hundred reviews. Descriptions are put together from Google Maps reviews; I have no notes of my own yet.
Prices are Google's average spend per person; valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 100 ₺ ≈ $2.
In short
- Best coffee: Poka Coffee Roasters on Kıbrıs Şehitleri, roasting its own beans and open until midnight.
- Croissants and cakes: Marilen Atelier Pâtisserie and Leone in Kültür, five minutes apart; Reyhan Pastanesi is the old classic.
- Turkish coffee to take home: Ilyas Gonen Dibek Kuru Kahvecisi in Hisarönü, easy to combine with Kemeraltı.
- An old meyhane: Hayyam in Basmane, meze and rakı, but check the bill.
- One street for the evening: 1469. Sk. in Alsancak has fish at Clup Ali and beer at La Puerta.
Coffee and breakfast
Poka Coffee Roasters
Alsancak · coffee shop and roastery · 200–400 ₺ (≈$4–8) · daily 7:45–0:00
Google Maps · website · Kıbrıs Şehitleri Cd. 171
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 600+): a café that roasts its own beans; local guides say since 2016, making it one of İzmir's first. Reviewers praise the cappuccino, the lattes (house specials included), iced cortado and Spanish coffee; there's almond milk and decaf, plus San Sebastián cheesecake and brownies. Friendly staff who speak English. Downside: not everyone liked the toasties. Mes Prestiges recommends it too.
Marilen Atelier Pâtisserie
Kültür · patisserie and coffee · Tue–Sat 9:30–19:30, Sun to 19:30, closed Mon
Google Maps · website · 1387 Ümran Baradan Sk. 1/E
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 300+): a small atelier patisserie that makes everything in-house; you can see the workshop upstairs. Reviewers praise the croissants, éclairs, tarts and savoury pastries, Levantine biscuits and a homemade lemonade from an old recipe, and one calls the espresso the best in İzmir. Calm, quiet and dog-friendly. Downsides: the coffee didn't win everyone over, and one guest had an awkward exchange at the till.
Leone Patisserie & Boulangerie
Kültür · French patisserie, breakfast · Mon 8:00–19:00, Tue–Sat 8:00–21:00, Sun 9:00–17:00
Google Maps · website · Vasıf Çınar Blv 29/A
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 2,100+): a French bakery and patisserie with breakfasts and fresh croissants, French right down to the music. Reviewers like the cakes (chocolate and cherry, for one) and quick service even for big groups. Downsides come up often: pricey for the portion size, an almond croissant with almost no filling, and a cappuccino some found weak.
Reyhan Pastanesi
Kültür · patisserie and breakfast · daily 7:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · Dr. Mustafa Enver Bey Cd. 24
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 6,600+): İzmir's classic patisserie; guides say it has been open since 1965. It's mostly European cakes and pastries, with some Turkish desserts too; the güllaç and pumpkin cake get special praise, as do the big breakfast for two and the Earl Grey. Downsides: on the pricey side, often crowded and noisy, and at rush hour orders get forgotten.
Ilyas Gonen Dibek Kuru Kahvecisi
Hisarönü · Turkish coffee roaster · 200–400 ₺ (≈$4–8) · Mon–Fri 8:30–19:00, Sat to 19:30, Sun 12:00–18:00
Google Maps · website · 904. Sk. 54
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 140+): a family coffee shop in Kemeraltı that has roasted and mortar-pounded (dibek) coffee for several generations; you smell it from several doors away. People come mainly for beans and ground Turkish coffee to take home or give as a gift; there are filter and espresso roasts too. Downsides: it's hard to find in the lanes, and the service can be curt.
Bars and meyhanes
Hayyam Meyhanesi
Basmane · old meyhane · 800–1,000 ₺ (≈$16–20) · daily 17:00–0:00, Mon and Sun to 23:30
Google Maps · Anafartalar Cd. 723
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 290+): a simple two-floor meyhane with the owner behind the bar; guides say it's over seventy years old. Reviewers praise the homemade cold meze (aubergine, yoghurt, beans, dolma) and, among hot dishes, liver and köfte; you get by with gestures and a translation app, but it feels like home. The downsides are serious: one foreign guest says their bill was nearly doubled for things he took as treats, and another was rudely refused a takeaway. Agree on prices up front. Mes Prestiges recommends it too.
Clup Ali Restaurant
Alsancak · fish meyhane · 2,000 ₺+ (≈$41+) · daily 10:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · 1469. Sk. 35
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 430+): an old fish restaurant in a two-storey house with an open courtyard, unpretentious but with fresh fish. Reviewers praise the grilled sea bass, red mullet and calamari; the meze are fresh though the choice is small, and service is attentive. Downsides: best to skip the toilets, and one guest found the pricey turbot disappointing.
La Puerta Alsancak
Alsancak · bar and pub with food · 400–1,200 ₺ (≈$8–24) · daily 12:00–1:00
Google Maps · Instagram · 1469. Sk. 69–71
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 2,400+): a bar behind an unmarked wooden door, with brick walls, a big courtyard and a retractable roof, so in summer you can sit at the bar in the sun. The draw is a long beer list, Turkish craft included, and good music; staff remember returning guests. Downside: the kitchen is weak (the schnitzel and burgers get panned), so come here to drink.
%100 & MORE Alsancak
Kültür · restaurant and cocktail bar · daily 10:00–1:00
Google Maps · website · Meksika Sk. 9
According to Google Maps reviews (4.2 from 1,300+): a big place to eat and drink cocktails, sometimes with a DJ in the evening. Reviewers praise the sauces, truffle-and-parmesan fries and dry-aged steaks; the cocktails are good but small. Downsides: overpriced for the level, some starters disappointed, and staff can be cold and slow.
One last thing
Alsancak's cafés stay open late (Poka and Reyhan until midnight), so coffee and cake can wait for the evening. And skip Marilen on Mondays: it's closed.
More on İzmir: where to eat, what to see.