MAC Café at Kanyon Shopping Centre, Istanbul
MAC Café is at the entrance level of MARS Sports Club. As it is tucked in a corner at the far end of Kanyon, one of the largest shopping centres in Istanbul, you might need directions to locate it but once you find the heavy door and step into the café, the ‘mall’ atmosphere is left immediately behind. This is a softly lit, roomy and hushed space complete with high ceilings. There is a small sitting area surrounded by book shelves and a bar that offers fresh juices.
Menu is not extensive but offers a good choice of healthy food with plenty of salads. We opted for a vegetable pasta with goats cheese and omelette, both of which were well made.
Mac Café is open to non-members. You can sit comfortably sipping your drink, pick up a book or a magazine to flip through, complete your work or study (there is free wi-fi) or read your own book without getting disturbed. You won’t really understand how time passed, unless you need to use the toilet facilities, which were less than satisfactory at the time of our visit.
The choice of books and magazines is rather limited too. Most shelves were empty when we visited.
Address: Mars Sports Club, Kanyon Shopping Centre, Floor 1. Esentepe Mah. Buyukdere Cad. No 185, Levent, Istanbul.
Tel: +90 212 353 09 99
Opening hours: Weekdays from 06:30 till 23:00. Weekends from 08:00 till 21:00
