I am looking for some opinions and advice on Ataşehir (for a few different reasons i am moving to that area), what is good in the local area, any good stores or coffee shops around etc?

I am sitting in Atasehir right now, at Barnie's Cafe (I come here for the free internet access).

Atasehir would suck big time for some people, but be great for others. There is a Migros, and some coffee shops, plenty of places to get borek and cay, etc. A couple pharmacies, even a half-assed (make that quarter-assed) illegal video place. A McDonalds, a Burger King, a Starbucks, all the beautiful things to satisfy one's soul.

Atasehir is also pretty conveniently located close to the E5 and TEM freeways, so transport is decent, if you can spare a few minutes for the minibus ride to the main transport links, which are in the adjacent neighborhoods (or if you have a car and are headed for the freeway anyway).

However, if you are looking to be close to what any normal person would consider life worth going out for at night, definitely, definitely do not move to Atasehir.

Matt

Istanbul overspill for people with an earthquake or tsunami fixation...

my mother-in-law lives there...you could save me a job and do the weekly visit

Well i have previously lived in (this month is 3 years in Istanbul) Ataköy, Şişli, Taksim (just behind Marmara Hotel), Istiklal (next to Ağa Camii) and at the moment in Tepebaşı. And i am not that much of a party person and work is now on Asian side, so is girlfriend and have found my social life and nights out drift to Kadıköy. But i am looking for a cheap base as i plan to spend more time out of the country (doing reporting stuff) so i think Ataşehir fits a general balance.

From a practical viewpoint Im sure you are right - handy for Sabiha Gökçen and fast onto Bağdat etc...İve not checked the rents recently but would've thought you could pick up something closer to the Cadde for same price as Ateşehir? Personally I really like the Anatolian side - I've just spent the last 2 years in Kandilli and a lot of time around Kuzguncuk, Bağdat, Moda (my 1st choice but too far from kids school) Kalamış etc. ...so we're moving to Etiler next week...perhaps we can swap notes in 6 months - east v west etc.

Let me know when you want the mother-in-laws address - tea and baklava on tap

Totally not worth it. It looks nice in the beginning, but after 2 months you'll start getting depressed, gain weight and loose your hair.

Oh dear, geordiedave, you do not want to look like Ataşehir! How does Tepebaşı suit you? Or would you rather look like Nişantaşı?

[quote user="RSA" post="105951"]after 2 months you'll start getting depressed, gain weight and loose your hair.[/quote]

Before RSA came to Atasehir, he was happy-go-lucky, without a care in the world, he had six-pack abs, and a full head of hair that flowed in the breeze, like in a shampoo commercial. Thank god he moved to another part of the city recently, after life in Atasehir the guy looked like he was about to keel over and die.

Matt

So let's wait and see what Nişantaşı will do to him. Can you feel it already, RSA?

geordiedave, have you considered anywhere around minibus yolu - erenkoy, goztepe, etc? i live in erenkoy, just near the minibus road, i'm 3 blocks from havas kozyatagi on ataturk cad, a 5minute taxi from icerenkoy carrefour and 15min minibus to kadikoy or 5min minibus to bostanci. there's a weekly bazaar across the street, lots of small parks and tree-lined streets and plenty of shops all around to make life convenient. i know of a huge 3 bedroom flat in goztepe going for 850/month!

Ataşehir doesn't have 24-hour transit to/from Kadıköy or anywhere else for that matter. That should keep it off your list unless you have a car & don't partake in alcohol.

My problem maybe that when it comes to accommodation i am quite a tight arse, i would live in a slummy area for 450-500 a month for a flat. There are a few dumps for that range around Beyoğlu, i am not sure on my priorities, i am not one generally for stylish living at all, my diet of DiaSA brand food and watered down cheap Efes probably does wonders for my constitution. But on Asian side would prefer something maybe with better transport to Kadıköy.

Where is work located exactly?

Well i do some teaching work at a place on Bağdat Caddesi. I went to Ataşehir and looked a bit closer, especially at the transport, and saw that in reality it would be little quicker getting to Bağdat Caddesi from there than getting a ferry and bus from European side so think i will stick with Beyoğlu. There are a few little places on edge of Tarlabaşı for the price i want. Also maybe not much good moving for work reasons if i don't want to stay teaching for long. So maybe will work on the Tarlabaşı look (smelly, filthy, developing a liking for rats and a kindly approach to muggers). One half of me likes the grime and the noise, other half likes the idea of somewhere functional and relaxed, the less sensible side normally wins out.

Altıntepe and Küçükyalı spring to mind. Walkable to Bostancı Meydanı and from there you have 24 hour transport to Kadıköy & Taksim. I've got a couple of friends who have 2 bedroom flats in the area for 600 ytl. Sahibinden.com lists flats for 500-600 as well. Just be sure you're relatively close to minibüs caddesi or the walk down to Bostancı from E-5 is quite a haul.