ISTANBUL Tango Dancing Hotspots – by TangoILONA February 2010
For updates and corrections please email tangoilona@gmail.com
WHERE TO STAY:
Most of the Tango happens on the European side. Most tourists stay in Sultanamet, which is close to all the Tourist sights, however most Milongas are in Taksim. Late night Taxi back to your Sultanamet hotel will cost around 15-20 TL. In my future trips I will stay in Taksim and take the public transit (1.5 TL each trip) during the day to see the touristic sights while walking from the hotel to the Milonga would be great fun. Taksim area however is a mad house! There are millions of people there every day walking along the pedestrian streets eating, and just hanging. This is fun but if you prefer a quiet place to stay, don’t stay there!
In general milongas in Istanbul are very nice accompanied by BEAUTIFUL views of the city. The dance levels vary significantly, as do the styles. The people are very friendly, for most part. Most milonga entrance fees include a drink. The floors are often laminate with some stone and few wood surfaces.
MILONGA SCHEDULE
This is the list of Milongas that I got by doing extensive research before my trip in Feb 2010. I attended some of them and have included the details here.
Monday
ARMADA OTEL 21:00 – 02:00 Organizer Serdar Sungar – 0532 664 88 36 - Ahırkapı Restaurant – Sultanahmet, close to the tourist spots. This is an elegant & formal traditional Milonga. Entrance fee is which includes a drink and dessert.
Tuesday
(1) TANGOİST milongası - Aydın Kocamusaoğlu - Beer House - Sıraselviler Cad. No: 35/1 TAKSİM Had a hard time finding it because I didn’t know that the name of the place on the original list had since changed. Found it by wandering on the street and being spotted by a friendly Tanguera who directed me there! It turned out to be right next door to the Studio 333! This is a regular bar with a dancefloor in the back, the floor is slanted. The view is spectacular. The dance style here is more modern and the crowd is yonger.
(2) LA CUMPARSİTA 21:00 – 01:00 Hayati Tekin –Mecidiyeköy – I DON’t KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ONE.
(3) TANGOJEAN TANGO CLUB 21:30 – 02:00 İrfan Yüksel Organier –Beyoğlu / Taksim
This is a full time restaurant and Tango Club, quite unusual in my Tango Tourism experience. Entrance is 20TL which goes towards your drinks. Floor is laminate with two columns in the middle of the floor. Dance level is varied. This place is a bit hard to find as it is in the pedestrian walking zone so taxi’s won’t get you to the door. Ask the local Tangueros for exact directions.
Wednesday
*** (1) ISTANBULTANGO STUDIO 22:00-02:00 Host Murat Elmadagli – Studio 333, Siraselviler cad. no:33 3rd Floor, Taksim. This was my favorite place to dance! This place is very close to the centre of Taksim square on a one way street, close to many fast food restaurants and the Hospital Alamagn It’s a lovely studio with very friendly and warm people. Yonger crowd hangs here. Modern dance styles are practiced but they are also very good at traditional style. Entrance 15TL including a drink. Practica entrance is 10TL.
(2) TANGOJEAN TANGO CLUB 21:30 – 02:00 İrfan Yüksel - Beyoğlu / Taksim>
See above explanation on Tuesday night. Apparently on Wednesdays they play ONLY alternative music.
Thursday
POINT HOTEL 22:00 – 02:00 Güralp Diner –Talimhane / Taksim This is 500m walk from the Taksim square. It’s the top floor of the hotel, with an AMAZING view of the city. There is a nice outdoor terrace which use used for dancing in warm weather, and for smoking year round. The floor is laminate and quite sticky. Host was friendly. Entrance was 15TL including one drink.
Friday
(0) Levent Tenis Kulübu 21:30 – 03:00 Serdar Sungar –4th. Levent. This is some distance from Taksim 20TL taxi fare. The area is called “4th Levant” its also on the subway line, station “4th Levant.” Ask for the Tennis club next to the Migros Supermarket. The room is long and narrow. The traffic is irratic. Floor is laminate and sticky. Room gets quite hot. Dance levels varied as did the friendliness of the people.
(1) FENERBAHÇE DALYAN CLUB 21:30 – 02:30 Aydoğan Arkıs - Kadıköy
(2) TANGUISIMO DANS STÜDYOSU 22:00 – 02:00 Tanju Yıldırım –Feneryolu
(3) TANGOJEAN TANGO CLUB 21:30 – 02:00 İrfan Yüksel –Beyoğlu / Taksim
Saturday
*** (1) ISTANBULTANGO STUDIO 22:00-02:00 Murat Elmadagli - Siraselviler cad. no:333 kat:3 Taksim - See details above.
(2) BAILA TANGO 21:30 – 02:00 Metin Yazır - Beyoğlu
(3) TANGOJEAN TANGO CLUB İrfan Yüksel - Beyoğlu / Taksim
(4) MACKOLİK COMPLEX 21:00 – 01:30 Hasan Gogani –Kadıkoy
(5) VAKIFTEPE 21:30 – 02:30 Güralp Diner – 0532 344 45 45
Sunday/ Domingo
(1) PONTE MİLONGASI 21:30 – 01:30 Ayşe Tunsoy –Beyoğlu İş Merezi - TOP of the CITY! This is located inside the pedestrian zone at the top of an office building. The view is AWESOME! The floor is stone! It ends at Midnight so plan accordingly.
(2) TANGOJEAN TANGO CLUB 21:30 – 02:00 İrfan Yüksel - Beyoğlu / Taksim