Balık Ekmek boats at Eminönü waterfront

The balık ekmek boats at the Eminönü waterfront are a self-organised street-food stop below the Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn side of Fatih, Istanbul, with no single tour operator. Several moored boats serve grilled fish sandwiches directly from rocking boat-kitchens, and the stop is regarded as the classic Istanbul street lunch. Balık ekmek means fish and bread: a fillet of grilled mackerel, usually, is tucked into a piece of bread with onions and lettuce, often with a squeeze of lemon and salt. On this walk, the suggested activity is to buy a sandwich straight from one of the boats for around 80 to 120 TRY (1.6 to 2.5 USD) and eat it standing at the waterfront rail, watching ferries, fishing lines and the Galata Bridge crowds. The food is savoury and filling, and it forms the street-food centrepiece of the route between the Spice Bazaar and the ferry to Kadıköy. Pickled vegetable juice (turşu suyu) and drinks are sold from nearby stalls to accompany the sandwich. There are no tickets or reservations; payment is made on the spot, usually in cash, and service is quick. The area is crowded at lunchtime, particularly on weekends and in summer, and visitors should expect a lively, noisy waterfront. Because the boats are moored and food is prepared on board, visitors who prefer a more settled environment can eat at the simple tables set along the waterfront. Prices are posted or agreed at the boat, so checking the price before ordering is sensible. Anyone with a fish or shellfish allergy, or avoiding fish bones, should be aware that the sandwiches can contain small bones. The stop sits a short walk from the Spice Bazaar, the T1 tram at Eminönü and the ferry piers, and it combines food with some of the best views of the old city skyline.