Pinokyo

Pinokyo is a gay bar tucked onto Büyük Parmakkapı Sokak, an alley off Beyoğlu's İstiklal Caddesi that concentrates several of Istanbul’s queer nightspots. It’s an unpretentious drinks-and-music spot pulling a mostly local, mostly male crowd. Things stay relatively tame until late, when the volume shoots up and the room packs in. Over 900 Google reviews give it a 4.1 average—fair enough for a venue that runs purely on cheap drinks and loud pop. Doors open nightly from 17:00 to 04:00. Midnight onward on weekends is when the floor gets properly jammed. Keep your wits about you. Same-sex relationships are legal across Turkey, but Istanbul has banned Pride marches since 2015, and spots like this survive by keeping their heads down. Skip any public displays of affection once you step back out onto the street. Inside, watch your drink, and steer clear of friendly strangers who push to move you to a second bar.