To many Turks belly dancing is seen as a kind of striptease and thus not something for decent people to attend to. That’s probably why it’s mainly served to tourists when they flock the crowded restaurants in Istanbul’s Kumkapi-district or at so called ’oriental shows’ designed to give visitors a glimpse of Anatolia’s variety of cultures. That said, almost all Turkish women know how to do the belly dance, but they generally prefer to do so with out dressing up in a glittery bikini.

Should you wish to see really good belly dancers who seem to enjoy what they do (that is not always the case in Kumkapi) you would want to get your self a table at Al Jamal in Istanbul’s Macka-district.

The food is top notch Lebanese mezze, the décor is outrageously decadent and the belly dancers are the perfect fulfilment of any visitor’s dream of the Orient. Feel free to stuff your bank notes any where in their dresses and feel free to join the dancing at any time.

With a ’drinks included set menu’ this won’t be your cheapest night out in Istanbul, but it could be one of the best.

AL JAMAL; Taşkişla Cad. No: 13; Maçka Demokrasi Parkı Ici.

Navigation among the calling touts of Istanbul’s Nevizade area is not an easy thing to do. The selection of restaurants and bars is vast, and you don’t even have to look for fish and mezze to eat, or beer and raki to drink – they will look for you, thanks to the multi linguistic waiters.

Nevizade is very crowded on weekends, even by Istanbul standards, but not all the city’s nightlife is equally amusing. I usually head to Peyote, located on a side alley to the main street of Nevizade, where amusingly enough it’s not a question of managing a tout, but more to convince the doorman to actually let one in.

Peyote doesn’t accept men only groups or male individuals on weekends. They believe women will be able to control otherwise uncontrollable men, and don’t give a damn whether you are a regular, a foreigner, sober or well dressed. Guys only groups cannot enter. Period!

If you are a man who doesn’t have female company, you can try to sneak in with a group who does, or try to convince any female coming in or out or passing by, to accompany you through the door. Once inside the GT’s on the roof top terrace are a pleasant, but strong reward. It’s the genuine and relaxed atmosphere on the roof that has earned Peyote its name among Turks in their 20’ies and 30’ies and expat residents.

Peyote, Kalyoncukulluk Caddesi. No. 42, Beyoglu, Istanbul

Go further: Read Mashup Culture's guide to the best roof top bars (including Peyote) in Istanbul here.

Cahide is probably your most unexpected experience in Istanbul. It’s yet another of the city’s well kept secrets, this time hidden in Macka Park, below Taksim Square, where a fabulous drag show takes stage.

The drag queens are a peculiar mix of artists in all sizes, some of them more fascinating by their big bellies than by their dress and some probably better performers than singers.

So what make the show such a marvellous experience, is not the artists themselves, but the combination of drags and the huge enthusiasm by the audience. The age of the spectators vary from youngsters in their early 20’ies to seniors of 60 or 70 years, and despite the fact that Turkey to a large extend is considered intolerant towards sexual minorities, the crowd has nothing but love and affection for the drags.

After their show, they are treated like rock stars when they circle the floor to collect hugs and have their pictures taken with members of the audience. The cabaret also features some of the city’s best belly dancers and other shows, but they all remain a side act to the drags.

Cahide, Kadirgalar Caddesi, Macka Parki, Macka, Istanbul. The show is only on in winter