You will see the heart and soul of Istanbul at one of the many Cay Bahcesis (Tea Gardens). These tea gardens are a favorite haunt and are excellent places for you to just sit down, relax, and of course, have some refreshing tea. You may also play some board games such as backgammon.
It used to be that a number of tea gardens were exclusive only for men. But you may be hard-put 
to find one in the city right now. Tea gardens also serve as religious venues – they sometimes even are venues for weddings. This can provide you with an interesting glimpse of the local culture and color. See the locals all garbed in their wedding finery.
As the name suggests, these places serve mostly tea. No alcoholic drinks are available, although you have a wide range of choices when it comes to tea – the favorite Turkish black tea, Turkish coffee, the ayran or apple tea. Ayran is a yogurt-based drink that is surprisingly salty instead of sweet. But it is a refreshing drink that you should try, along with a variety of cakes.
Here are some tea gardens located in the city:
Feshane Children’s Entertainment Park (Eski Feshane Caddesi, Defterdar Duragi, Eyup) Mainly geared towards children, these are filled with activities that are a sure hit for the child in you. There are also play areas for you to spend a relaxing afternoon with your family, if you have brought them here for a holiday.
Gulhane Park (Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet) This park is within the walls of the Topkapi Palace, just at the foot of the hill where the royal abode stands.