Where were you born?

Gaziantep, Turkey.

Where do you live?

Tarabya, Istanbul.

What’s the best feature of your neighbourhood?

It is like a little village on the Bosphorus, with sailing boats, traditional fish restaurants and a lot of green.

Which is the most interesting area for design-lovers?Galata and Karaköy. The most beautiful buildings from the Ottoman period are here and it is full of individual designer stores.

What are your favourite stores in Istanbul?

Bilstore on Meşrutiyet Caddesi – it is the ultimate design store (Gaia&Gino pieces are sold there). Also Autoban on the same street – I love their furniture designs. And the Arzu Kaprol boutique on Abdi İpekçi Caddesi – I love her dresses.

Could you name your favourite museums?

I like the Kariye Museum for its mosaics and the Sabancı Museum for its location and the quality of its exhibitions.

What are your favourite restaurants?

Changa on Sıraselviler Caddesi in Cihangir for the best fusion food, Karaköy Lokantası on Kemankeş Caddesi for traditional Turkish food, and Balıkçı Kahraman in Sarıyer for the best traditional fish restaurant.

Do you have a favourite local café or bar?

Molka on Köybaşı Caddesi in Yeniköy; it’s the one where you see your local people.

Any recommendations for local foods/dishes to try?

I love içli köfte (ground beef inside bulgur), grilled octopus and dolma.

Where do you take out-of-town friends?

A boat tour on the Bosphorus, lunch at a fish restaurant in Anadolu Kavağı, and definitely the Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace.

Do you have a favourite walk in Istanbul?

I love walking along the Bosphorus from Tarabya until Arnavutköy; this is very refreshing.

Please tell us a secret.

Büyükada (the biggest of the Princes’ Islands) is a must-see; it is very idyllic and getting there takes only half an hour by boat from Bostancı in Istanbul.