Some evenings in Sultanahmet call for a full dinner, and some call for something looser: a table full of small plates, a pot of tea or a cold drink, a hookah slowly warming up and friends who are in no hurry to leave. At Harab'be Cafe on Divanyolu, that second kind of evening is built around warm appetizers. They arrive crisp and hot, they are made to be shared, and they turn a quick stop after a day of sightseeing into a long, relaxed night. This guide walks you through the warm appetizers on our menu, how to combine them with cold mezes and drinks, and why October is one of the best months to enjoy them in the historic heart of Istanbul.
Why Appetizers Are the Heart of a Sultanahmet Evening
In Turkish food culture, the meal rarely begins with a single plate. It begins with many small ones. Mezes and appetizers are placed in the middle of the table, everyone reaches in, and conversation moves at the same pace as the food. This habit of sharing is one of the reasons Turkish dining feels so warm and social, a tradition we wrote about in more detail in our article on Turkish hospitality.
Harab'be Cafe is a cafe and hookah lounge rather than a formal restaurant, and our appetizers suit that spirit perfectly. You do not need to commit to a three-course dinner. You can order two or three appetizers for the table, add something cold and fresh, and keep adding as the evening goes on. For travellers who have walked all day between Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar, appetizers are often exactly the right amount of food: satisfying, but light enough to leave room for tea, dessert or a second round of hookah.
Our menu divides appetizers into two families: cold mezes, which are prepared in advance and served chilled or at room temperature, and warm appetizers, which come straight from the kitchen. Both have their place, but on a cool autumn evening it is the warm appetizers that most guests reach for first.
Spicy Chicken Wings: The Table Favourite
If there is one warm appetizer that disappears fastest from our tables, it is the Spicy Chicken Wings. The wings are seasoned with spices, cooked until the skin turns golden and crisp, and served in a small cast-iron pan with potatoes and our Luziana sauce for dipping. Fresh carrot sticks and a wedge of lemon on the side cut through the richness and make every bite feel lighter.
Chicken wings are a natural sharing dish. Everyone takes one, the pan goes around the table, and somebody always asks for another portion. They pair especially well with a cold beer such as Efes Pilsen, a fresh lemonade or one of our moctails. If you are planning a longer evening, the wings are a great opening plate before moving on to something more substantial from the Turkish Cuisine section of the menu, which we covered in our guide to what to eat in Sultanahmet at Harab'be Cafe.
A small tip from our team: if you are sensitive to heat or ordering for children, ask your server about the spice level when you order. Our staff will happily recommend the right appetizers for your table.
Mozzarella Sticks and the Cajun Basket
Two more warm appetizers have become regulars on our tables. The first is Mozzarella Sticks: long fingers of mozzarella coated in a crunchy crust, fried until the cheese inside melts, and served with potatoes and Rancero sauce. They are simple, comforting and loved by every age group, which makes them a safe choice when you are ordering for a mixed group of friends or a family.
The second is the Cajun Basket. Here, marinated chicken pieces are fried until crisp and served with potatoes and a honey mustard sauce. The Cajun seasoning gives the chicken a gentle warmth and a slightly smoky edge, while the honey mustard adds sweetness. It is one of those appetizers that feels made for long conversations: easy to pick at, satisfying and full of flavour.
Ordered together, the Mozzarella Sticks and the Cajun Basket cover both cheese lovers and chicken lovers, and with the Spicy Chicken Wings they form a small trio that easily feeds three or four people as a light meal.
The Beer Platter: Several Appetizers on One Board
When a group cannot decide, the Beer Platter decides for them. This is our largest warm appetizer, built for sharing from the start. On one board you will find mozzarella sticks, paçanga pastry (a crisp fried pastry roll traditionally filled with cured beef and cheese), cheese rolls, cajun mushrooms, onion rings, sausages and potatoes, served with several dipping sauces.
The Beer Platter is popular on football nights, during birthday gatherings and whenever a larger group arrives at once. It gives everyone something they like, it looks generous in the middle of the table, and it goes well with almost any drink on the menu, from a cold beer to fresh juices and soft drinks. If you are organising a get-together with friends or colleagues, our article on the best place for your group hangout in Istanbul explains how Harab'be works for bigger tables.
Turkish Classics Among the Warm Appetizers
Not every warm appetizer on our menu is a pub-style favourite. Several are classics of the Turkish kitchen, and they are a gentle introduction for visitors who want to taste local flavours without ordering a full main course.
- Sigara Böreği (Cheese Rolls Pastry): thin pastry rolled around a cheese filling and fried until golden. The name means "cigarette pastry" because of its slim shape, and it is one of the most loved snacks in Turkey.
- İçli Köfte (Rolled Meatballs with Filling): a thin shell of pounded bulgur wheat wrapped around a filling of spiced minced meat and walnuts, served as two pieces. Crisp outside, soft and aromatic inside.
- Falafel: fried balls of chickpeas with onion, garlic, parsley and spices, a good vegetarian option to place next to the meat-based appetizers.
- French Fries: served with ketchup and mayonnaise, the easiest addition for children or anyone who simply wants something salty with their drink.
Mixing these Turkish warm appetizers with the international ones is part of the fun. A plate of sigara böreği next to a pan of chicken wings says a lot about Harab'be itself: a cafe rooted in old Istanbul, welcoming guests from all over the world.
Balancing Hot Appetizers with Cold Mezes
Warm appetizers taste even better when they share the table with something cool and fresh. Our cold mezes are the perfect counterpoint. Cacık, made with yoghurt, garlic, cucumber and fresh mint, cools the palate after the spicy wings. Humus, prepared with mashed chickpeas, tahini, garlic and cumin, works beautifully with falafel. Acılı ezme, a finely chopped spicy salad of tomato, onion, garlic, chili pepper and pomegranate sauce, adds brightness to fried dishes.
Other cold choices include Patlıcan Salatası (baked aubergine with peppers and a garlic and olive oil dressing), Yaprak Sarma (stuffed grape leaves), a Cheese Plate with traditional Turkish cheeses and greens, and the Mix Meze Plate, which gathers several olive oil starters on one plate. A simple rule works well for most tables: order one cold meze for every two warm appetizers. That way the table always has contrast, crunch next to creaminess and heat next to freshness.
Building a Sharing Table for Friends
How many appetizers should you order? It depends on how hungry your group is and how long you plan to stay, but here are a few combinations our guests often choose:
- For two people, a light evening: Spicy Chicken Wings, one cold meze such as cacık or humus, and a pot of Turkish tea or two fresh drinks.
- For three or four friends: the Beer Platter in the middle, a Mix Meze Plate on the side and one extra warm appetizer, such as the Cajun Basket or Sigara Böreği.
- For a vegetarian table: Falafel, Sigara Böreği, Mozzarella Sticks, humus, patlıcan salatası and yaprak sarma.
- For a big group or a celebration: two Beer Platters, wings, mozzarella sticks and a selection of cold mezes, followed by a shared dessert plate.
When it comes to drinks, our appetizers are flexible. Beer is the classic partner for the Beer Platter and the wings, but many guests prefer our signature cocktails or a moctail such as Virgin Mojito or Watermelon Mint. Fresh pomegranate juice is excellent in autumn, when pomegranates are in season in Turkey, and fresh orange juice is always a bright, refreshing choice. And for something warm, the Harab'be Tea, our own blend of cinnamon, ginger, linden, pomegranate flower, fresh mint, lemon and honey, is a lovely companion to fried appetizers on a chilly evening.
Appetizers and Hookah: A Slow Evening Ritual
Harab'be is also a hookah lounge, and for many of our guests, appetizers and hookah belong together. A typical evening starts with a few plates and a drink while the hookah is being prepared, then continues with slow conversation as the coals settle. Light, shareable appetizers suit this rhythm far better than a heavy main course, because no one feels rushed and the table never gets crowded with empty plates.
If you are new to hookah, our first-timer's guide to hookah in Istanbul explains what to expect, from choosing a flavour to how a session works. Fruity options such as our Harab'be Mix Specials or the fresh-fruit heads like Mr. Pineapple and Mr. Grapefruit go especially well with savoury appetizers, since the sweet, fresh aroma balances salty and spicy flavours.
Autumn Evenings in Sultanahmet
October is one of the most pleasant months to visit Istanbul. The summer crowds thin out, the light over the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque turns golden in the late afternoon, and the evenings become cool enough that a warm interior feels inviting again. It is the season when guests move from the open front section of the cafe to the cozy corners inside, with their red sofas, Ottoman-style lamps and stone walls.
After a day of exploring, the walk back along Divanyolu Street leads straight to our door. The T1 tram passes along the same avenue, so it is easy to reach us from Eminönü, Beyazıt or the Sultanahmet stop. Ordering a few warm appetizers, a hot drink and perhaps a hookah is our favourite way to end an autumn day in the old city, and many guests tell us it becomes their regular evening ritual during their stay.
Finishing on a Sweet Note
A table of warm appetizers is mostly savoury, so we always recommend leaving a little space for something sweet. Our dessert menu includes baklava, rice pudding, soufflé, ice cream, a seasonal fruit plate and a Mix Dessert Plate that brings baklava, rice pudding and cheesecake together for sharing. If you want to know more about the history of Turkey's most famous dessert before you order, read our article Baklava: A Sweet Taste of Tradition. Pair it with a Turkish coffee or a final glass of Turkish tea and the evening feels complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the appetizers at Harab'be suitable for sharing?
Yes. All of our appetizers are designed to be placed in the middle of the table and shared. The Beer Platter in particular is built for groups.
Do you have vegetarian appetizers?
Yes. Falafel, Sigara Böreği, Mozzarella Sticks, French Fries and cold mezes such as humus, cacık, patlıcan salatası and yaprak sarma are all meat-free. Please tell your server about any dietary needs or allergies when ordering.
Can I order appetizers with a hookah?
Of course. Many guests enjoy appetizers together with a hookah and a drink. Light, shareable plates fit the slow pace of a hookah session very well.
Where is Harab'be Cafe located?
We are on Divanyolu Street in Sultanahmet, within walking distance of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern, and close to the T1 tram line.
Conclusion
Warm appetizers capture what Harab'be Cafe is all about: good food made for sharing, a relaxed atmosphere and time that seems to slow down in the middle of historic Sultanahmet. Whether you come for a quick plate of chicken wings after sightseeing, a Beer Platter with friends on a match night or a long autumn evening of appetizers, tea and hookah, there is always a seat waiting for you on Divanyolu. Gather your friends, choose a few plates for the table and let the evening take its time.
