FOOD AND DRINK

in Kars there is little distinction between a restaurant, cafe and bar as all serve food to some extent. RESTAURANTs will have a more extensive menu, while cafes mostly have dessert options and fast food, and most bars and discos have an eating section where they serve grills, kebabs and fast food. But bear in mind that none of the cafes serve alcohol, nor some of the restaurants. in our list in the restaurant section, we point out where no alcohol is served; others should be assumed to have a licence.

RESTAURANTS

KRISTAL RESTAURANT

Since 1952 this restaurant has specialized in doner, kebabs and stews. it also makes a good selection of local Kars dishes. Eriste (home made noodles), goose, and manti (Turkish- style ravioli) are served on Saturdays. Discounts for groups are common but ask in advance. it also does home deliveries.
Address: Halit Pasa Caddesi (Street), 127
Tel: 0474 212 51 00
Web: www.kristallokanta.com

KA-MER MUTFAK and CAFE

This restaurant in a beautiful historical building is run by KA-MER (Women’s Center) and serves home cooking. For a feast of local dishes, call two days in advance to make your request. it is also a pleasant place to drink tea or coffee and read magazines or newspapers at any time of the day.
Address: Yusufpasa Mahallesi (neighbourhood), Halit Pasa Caddesi, 97
Tel: 0474 212 89 57

FASIL OCAKBASI RESTAURANT

On the top floor of the Belediye Cinema, it serves a large variety of kebabs and mezes. Ocakbasi means ‘in front of the fire’ and in a traditional ocakbasi restaurant people sit around the large grill where dozens of portions are cooked by the chef. There are local dishes and vegetarian options in this restaurant. in the evenings there is live fasil (classical Turkish) music which is common in ocakbasis and especially meyhanes.
Address: Faik Bey Caddesi, 100. Yil ishani (100. Yil Office Blocks), 1st floor
Tel: 0474 212 17 14

KAYABASI CAFE & RESTAURANT

in summers the food is served in the garden and in winters by the fireplace. The menu consists of grilled meat, fish and mezes. For local specialties, they need to be informed one day in advance.
Address: Ortakapi Mah., Sehit Hulusi Aytekin Cad., inside the Mesut Yilmaz Park
Tel: 0474 223 20 65

HAVUZ BASI CAFE RESTAURANT

This restaurant specializes in dishes with goose and fish. Nargile (water pipes) are also available here, but alcohol is not served.
Address: ismail Aytemiz Park
Tel: 0474 223 56 62

SIRIN ANADOLU MUTFAGI

There is a family section in this two story restaurant. They serve goose every Monday and Friday; manti every Wednesday andSunday. Other days there are kebabs and stews. No alcohol is served here.
Address: Karadag Caddesi, next to Vakifbank (Vakif Bank), 55
Tel: 0474 212 33 79

ANTEP SOFRASI

The dining area is decorated with old Kars pictures. Food consists of kebabs, doner, lahmacun (Turkish style pizza with minced meat). No alcohol is served here. it also does home delivery.
Address: Ataturk Caddesi, 162
Tel: 0474 212 90 93

OCAKBASI RESTAURANT

Serves a large selection of kebabs and mezes in two dining rooms next to each other accompanied by live instrumental music. No alcohol is served.
Address: Ataturk Caddesi, 276
Tel: 0474 212 00 56 – 212 21 61
Web: www.kaygisizocakbasi.com.tr

YESIL LAHMACUN

Serves lahmacun and pide (like lahmacun but with thicker bread and a variety of toppings) as well as cig kofte (raw minced meat kneaded with bulgur and spices). No alcohol is served.
Address: Ataturk Caddesi, 255
Tel: 0474 223 82 83

CADDE RESTAURANT

Specializes in spit-roasted chicken on charcoal. There are also kebabs. No alcohol is served. it also makes deliveries. Address: Faik Bey Caddesi, next to Durmuslar Otomotiv,
Tel: 0474 212 02 07

KOSEM GOZDE CAFE and RESTAURANT

This restaurant serves kebabs and stews and in winter makes goose dishes every day. it is open until 11pm and does not serve alcohol.
Address: Orta Kapi Mahallesi, Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Pasa Caddesi, 197
Tel: 0474 223 86 76 – 212 39 01

LITA CAFE RESTAURANT

Ocak Basi A four-story building with one floor spared for a cafe. There are kebabs and vegetarian dishes here as well as freshly squeezed juices.
Address: Kazim Karabekir Pasa Caddesi, 127
Tel: 0474 223 98 97 – 223 98 84

CORBA ASKIDA

The name of the restaurant means “the soup is on the hanger.” it sounds as strange in Turkish as in English. it refers to a charity policy of the restaurant which requires people to pay double the price of the soup they drink. if you wish you can ask them to hang a soup for you and they will hang one blue boncuk (evil eye medallion) on the board which will later enable a poor person to have a free soup. it is a spacious place with large wooden tables and rugs hanging on the walls. The village-style ayran (yoghurt drink) is one of their favorites.
Address: Ordu Caddesi, next to army station, across Ataturk Primary school
Tel: 0474 212 66 93

CAFE & PATiSSERiE

RUYAM

A place where you can enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee and listen to folk songs. They also serve pizza and fast food.
Address: Faikbey Caddesi, 19
Tel: 0474 223 20 30

KILICOGLU CAFE

There is a wide variety of cakes and desserts along with fast food. it also has a wirelessconnection and a large screen TV which makes it crowded on days of important football matches. it is a two-story building in the middle of the town and playsTurkish pop music.
Address: Faikbey Caddesi, 145
Tel: 0474 212 34 66

KAHVE MOLASI

in this spacious two-story place, whose name means ‘coffee break’, you can play scrabble, monopoly and other card or board games or read magazines, daily newspapers or world classics from their bookshelves. its walls are decorated with small sculptures. They also serve fast food.
Address: Ortakapi Mahallesi, ibrahim Gokce Sokak, 6
Tel: 0474 212 08 19

DOGUS PATISSERIE

Basically a place to have desserts but also makes simit (a Turkish-style bagel) and on Sundays they make manti. On the weekends a village breakfast is also served in the mornings. On some days there is live music and it is also a good place to learn about the cultural activities of the city, which are announced in brochures on their board.
Address: Ortakapi Mahallesi, Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Pasa Caddesi, 27
Tel: 0474 212 52 39 – 212 78 35

EYLUL PATISSERIE

Apart from desserts, there are also kebabs, pizza and fast food, and in the mornings they also serve breakfast. On the weekends there is live music. it has a corner where you can sit comfortably on some cushions and read newspapers and magazines provided by the place. They also make deliveries.
Address: Ortakapi Mahallesi, Kazim Karabekir Caddesi, 282
Tel: 0474 223 42 54 – 223 31 77

SEMA DAMLA PATISSERIE

This three-story patisserie aso serves as a restaurant with pides and kebabs on their menu as well as deserts. On Wednesdays they make manti. They also do home deliveries.
Address: Ataturk Caddesi
Tel: 0474 212 56 16

KITAP-LIK KITAP EVI CAFE

it calls itself book house and cafe as there is a bookstore inside the cafe. They also serve fast food. Local musicians play there occasionally.
Address: Yusuf Pasa Mahallesi, Kucuk Kazim Bey Caddesi, 38
Tel: 0474 212 86 13

NAZAR CAFE

This three-story building serves manti on Saturdays and fast food and pide in the rest of the week. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays there is live music
Address: Ataturk Caddesi, 103
Tel: 0474 223 66 58

SAKLI BAHCE

As the name (“secret garden”) suggests, this old mansion house has a nice garden which is open only in summer. The mansion is attractive as well with its high and decorated ceilings. it also serves fast food.
Address: Yusuf Pasa Mahallesi, Karadag Caddesi. No phone.

SEYITOGLU EMIRHAN CAFE FAST FOOD

its name is also a brand name for their products. They specialize in baklava but also serve pizza and fast food. it is a spacious place with three floors. They make deliveries
Address: Kazim Karabekir Caddesi, 95
Tel: 0474 223 78 68 – 223 21 03
Web: www.emirhantatli.com

ARYA MUZIK EVI and CAFE
A music venue and cafe established by local musicians. Apart from plenty of folk music, which is played live on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, there is also breakfast and fast food. They also have a selection of culture and arts magazines and music books, as well as chess and backgammon.
Address: Ortakapi Mah., Faikbey Cad., 96
Tel: 0474 212 84 37
Web: www.aryamuzik.com.tr.tc

BARS & DiSCOS

BARIS EGLENCE MERKEZI

it calls itself an entertainment center as it claims to provide all sorts of entertainment for all moods and tastes. in this old building decorated meticulously, one floor is a restaurant, one floor is a cafe and the basement is a disco. it serves pizza and fast food as well as some local dishes like manti. in the cafe you can play chess and backgammon. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays there is live music.
Address: Yusuf Pasa Mah., Ataturk Cad., 33
Tel: 0474 212 82 81

BOLERO CAFE BAR

This bar, listed as the best bar in Eastern Anatolia, takes its name from Ravel’s famous music. in daytime it functions as a cafe and at nights becomes a bar with a dance floor.
Address: Orta Kapi Mahallesi, Faik Bey Caddesi, 100. Yil Ushani, 2

ADRES DISCO

it used to be the dining hall of the old Russian Consulate opposite. Now this onestory building is used as a disco. This also serves grills, has an oriental corner with cushions on the floor, and an enclosed garden. There is also live music and it occasionally holds Caucasian folk dance shows.
Address: Yusuf Pasa Mahallesi, Ataturk Caddesi, 33
Tel: 0474 2128281

BIRA BAHANE

This spacious two-storey pub is a nice place to have a few drinks anytime of the day or night. it has a warm and comfortable feeling – hence the name: ‘Beer is the Excuse.
Address: Kucuk Kazim Bey Caddesi, 56
Tel: 0474 212 53 89