Turkish Wine Bar Review: Bordo Şaraphane
Updated
It was years ago that I first published a review of Bordo Şaraphane. Since then, the bar moved, first to Fenerbahçe…but now it’s back in Kadıköy! If, like me, Fenerbahçe was just too far away, now is your chance to stop in at the relocated and improved Bordo.
Bordo Şaraphane
It seems like each time Bordo moves, it improves. This time, tucked away on a quiet street, the bar lives in a three-story, historic building. The main level opens into tables and soft lighting, along with a small front room and private table. Upstairs, light floods in from the street-facing windows, highlighting the ever-changing art decorating the walls. There’s even a small wood stove they light during the cold months.
In the back, a small open-air terrace gives you the benefits of being outside without choking on pipe exhaust (just cigarette smoke). The top floor Bordo uses for private events, workshops, tastings, etc.
Check out the video Vines & Pearls and I shot there on our recent visit for more highlights.
But How’s the Wine List?
Atmosphere gets you only so far. Happily, Bordo offers far more than that. Their generous pours and incredibly fair pricing span quite a few by-the-glass options. Their general selection is interesting and includes names both big and small.
One thing they carried on the move is the cool way they organize their wines. Bordo provides a cleverly color-coded menu. Wines have colored dots next to them to indicate their style (aromatic, light-bodied, full-bodied etc.). And not just the wines, 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 also offers something few other wine bars do: flights! They’re listed as “tasting menus” but essentially they’re flights. You can choose white, rosé, or one of two red flights and receive four different wines.
Bonus – Bordo also has a tekel license so you can buy bottles to take away!
Bordo Şaraphane – Getting There
Osmanağa, Sakız Sk. No:32, Kadıköy
+90 552 577 44 22
Open Tuesday – Thursday from 16:00 – 0:00 & Friday – Sunday from 15:00 – 01:00
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.