Ortakoy

While the Taksim area draws the vast majority of partygoers, the small neighborhood of Ortakoy happily enjoys its less popular status. You won't simply stumble onto this cool enclave; located north of Beyoglu along the Bosphorus, you'll need to take a bus from the Kabatas tram stop to reach it. Hopping a taxi will be a necessity in the nighttime. But the journey will be well worth it. Its isolated position translates to a more Turkish crowd with few tourists. As one TripAdvisor says, "I always take my guests here for a real feel of Istanbul nightlife."

During the day, you can explore the narrow streets that divide a dense array of market stalls and shops. But when the sun goes down, crowded restaurants and bustling bars take over. Ortakoy is a nightlife hub for Istanbul's trendy and wealthy young people, so expect to pay dearly for your delicious food, drink or that breathtaking view of the Bosphorus.

As a rule, the action starts up later than most Americans are accustomed to. So plan on sitting down for a nice meal around 9:30 p.m. and not reaching Ortakoy's hottest bars and clubs till at least midnight. Reina -- the reigning queen of the Istanbul's nightlife scene -- is right on the water and a guaranteed good (if costly) time.