Turkish Wine Bar Review: Bordo Şaraphane
It’s been ages since I posted a wine bar review. Sorry about that. Especially to all you on the Asian side whom I’ve accidentally been ignoring! Now, finally, a wine bar review on your side of things: Bordo Şaraphane.
My last visit here was actually an embarrassingly long time ago. But while there I completely forgot to take any pictures, thus delaying this review so terribly! I enjoyed my visit but was glad to meet a friend there so we could split a bottle. One of my continued arguments with “wine bars” in Istanbul is the maddeningly small selection of by the glass wines. While Bordo’s overall list was pretty decent, it definitely falls into that limited glass selection category.
On the positive side, like Beyoğlu Şaraphanesi, Bordo provides a cleverly color-coded menu. Wines have colored dots next to them to indicate their style (aromatic, light-bodied, full-bodied etc.). The bar has followed that through by adding the codes to the food menu to help assist diners in selecting a wine to best pair with the food!
Bordo Şaraphane
Bozkır Sokak, Fenerbahçe Kadıköy
+90 216 450 26 98
Open Tuesday – Sunday from 13:00 – 1:00
*Exact location on Bozkır Sokak unknown – they’ve only given the street name on their Instagram. Super helpful.
August 26, 2022
Kian Ann Lawrence Ang
Thanks Andrea – they don’t open on Mondays. The colour coding is helpful for someone not familiar with Turkish wines (like me), but the proprietor is helpful. I also noted that wine-by-the-glass is generally not practised in this country. If they are available, I have to ask if the bottle was freshly opened or has been sitting in the fridge for a few days. The other bug-bear of mine is the amount poured. Since there is no mark on the glass, there are wide variations in the amount poured. So too are the size of the glasses which can also vary from places to places.
August 26, 2022
admin
I absolutely agree about the amount poured, there are so many variations. As for by the glass options…the only places I know with a larger selection are Solera, Pano, and Beyoglu Saraphanesi. I keep hoping though!
August 27, 2022
Kian Ann Lawrence Ang
Thanks for the tips, Andrea. I will check out those places.
August 27, 2022
Lorraine
Oh don’t start me on the selection of wines by the glass…. the most limited and sorry excuses for wine are the only options for lone diners or those who just want to enjoy that one glass of wine as it’s a workday tomorrow. Let’s hope some owners of wine bars and restaurants who care about wine are reading this blog…. at least give us a few more choices and not just the ‘house wine’ (whatever the hell that is) option
August 27, 2022
admin
This is what I miss so much about Beppe when it was a physical restaurant. They had a great by the glass selection but had also invested in a Coravin. They’re really not that expensive and if a few places would get just one it would totally change the by the glass game.