SALT Galata, Istanbul

There were no exhibitions on.  Not sure if this is due to C-19 but as I understand this is often the case.  The building itself as most reviews suggest is definitely worth a stop.  Stunning white interior.  Walk to the different floors (only two or three) rather than taking the lift as you can appreciate more of the architecture.  Look up too!  There is a research library as you enter but you can't go in unless you have a booking.  You can look inside though.  There is a coffee shop / restaurant which was open and toilets.  Clean and well kept.  Free to enter but you must have your HES code to hand and proof that you have been vaccinated or you can't go in.  If there are no exhibitions and you don't plan to stop at the coffee shop, then you need maybe fifteen minutes at the most. 

SALT Galata is culture complex which is located in the old headquarters of Ottoman Bank, the central bank of the Ottoman Empire. The building is very impressive with high ceilings and marble ornaments. Inside the complex there is a library, a bookstore, a café, an upscale restaurant open only 3 nights a week, an exhibition area and conference rooms. It's always vibrant with visitors, mainly students. We were there last weekend for the exhibition about the first Turkish female painter Mihri, The exhibition was very professionally prepared and entrance was free of charge. Parking is quite problematic here (except at the nights when the upscale restaurant is open, they offer valet service), so best is coming here by foot. It's not a big distance from neither Pera nor Karaköy.

Salt Galata is a leading place for researchers, youngsters, academics. It is located in the old Ottoman Central Bank building, on the “Bankalar Caddesi” (Banks Street). It has a very wide library for both researchers and university students, a cafe, restaurant and is the new home to Istanbul’s legendary Robinson Crusoe bookshop. It has a museum on the old Central Bank (by the way, the current Turkish Republic’s Central Bank’s Istanbul main branch is the next door neighbor to this building). It is very interesting to see the old safe boxes, documents on customers, photos, old banknotes and even papers of exchange market. It is a bit difficult to find the museum, most of the museum part is located separately and better to ask to staff. On the minus 1 floor there is always an exhibition. Upper floors are being used by academics etc. worth to see it. Thanks to Dogus Holding and it’s owner Ferit Sahenk who gifted such a beautiful place to Istanbul.

After walking to Galata Tower, we were so tired, we entered SALT Galata hoping to rest our feet and warm ourselves. We entered the cafe but it was packed with students, so we walked up the mezzanine of the cafe, but they said it was closed. So we waited for an available table. We went downstairs to the art gallery, which was nice, some watch art installation there too. Then we went in the Robinson crusoe bookshop. Nice books, interesting ones, but the shopkeeper was rude.

We, and shortly before us an American lady, walked away from this museum after being told it was not free as was widely advertised. It IS free for Turkish citizens but is 55 TL for non Turks. Whereas we can understand some differential this seemed rather a tourist tax so we chose not to enter. The American, independently, did the same. Shame.