Istanbul

Karloff

Meet Karloff from Istanbul. The bar sits in Topağacı, a quieter corner of Nişantaşı, in what used to be an antique shop. Old furniture and curiosities from those days still set the tone, with a pool table in the middle of the room. It feels like walking into your grandma’s living room.

There is no sign on the door. The neighbours found it first, and others soon followed. Karloff is a place people don’t just visit, but return to. The drinks are served with as much character as the room: whisky shots come in Turkish tea-house style, and Karloff’s takes on the Whiskey Sour and the Negroni are the ones to try. Early in the evening it is quiet and intimate; towards midnight it feels more like a small club. Now Karloff is making the trip from Istanbul to Oslo Cocktail Festival.

Meet Karloff at Eldorado 1891 on 3 October.