At the Kahvalti Salonu

The traditional breakfast is the kahvaltı – literally kahve alti, or’under (before) the coffee’, which is to say the food you eat before drinking a coffee. It is actually the most complete meal of the day – the equivalent of a brunch. In Istanbul it is quite acceptable to eat kahvaltı late, even in the afternoon. The main thing is allowing the time to savour it. Sunday is often an occasion for lingering around a well-laden table, and the kahvaltı salonu (restaurants specialising in breakfast) are full to bursting all day long.