Arsen Lupen Taksim is a multi-level bar with a rooftop terrace on Mis Sokak, steps from Istiklal. It runs live music, karaoke, and open-mic nights under city views. The crowd is young and the room gets loud.
The bar sits on Mis Sokak off Istiklal, a short walk from Taksim Square, per Tripadvisor. It spreads across several floors and tops out at an open rooftop terrace with city views.
The look is part of the draw. Walls papered with old newsprint and umbrellas hung from the ceiling give the rooms their character, as Like A Local describes.
The program runs nightly. Live bands, karaoke, open-mic sets, and DJ nights rotate through the week, with rebetiko and indie rock among the regular sounds.
The rooftop is the calmer floor. The terrace trades some of the volume below for air and a view, which makes it the spot for a slower drink.
Pricing sits at $$ for Istanbul, modest for the central location. Drinks are straightforward rather than a craft-cocktail program.
Reviewers rate the energy over the bar list. Recent Google Maps reviews praise the staff and the music while noting the drinks are basic, so the night turns on the room rather than the pour.
Thursday adds beer pong with free-drink stakes, part of the bar's lean toward events over a quiet sit-down.
Mis Sokak is bar country. The lane and the streets around it pack in venues, so Arsen Lupen works as one loud stop on a Beyoglu night.
The bar posts its live schedule on its own site, which is the quickest way to match a visit to a band or a theme night.
First-timers should head up to the rooftop early for a seat, keep the order simple, and time the visit to a live set. The energy peaks late.
The multi-floor layout spreads the night out. Lower rooms run louder and busier, while the rooftop offers air and a view for a break from the volume.
The decor sticks in the memory. Newsprint walls and hanging umbrellas give the bar a scrappy, lived-in look rather than a polished one.
Open-mic culture runs deep here. The venue has hosted Spoken Word Istanbul, an English-language night of music, poetry, and stand-up, among its regular events.
The crowd is young and international. Students, travelers, and locals mix on busy nights, pulled in by the music and the low door cost.
Drinks are functional rather than crafted. The bar pours beer, raki, and simple cocktails, which keeps prices down and turns the focus to the stage.
Mis Sokak makes the location effortless. The lane is lined with bars off Istiklal, so a night can start or end at several spots within a few steps.
The energy builds late. The early hours stay manageable, then the rooms fill and the music takes over as the night runs on.
The bar has built a reputation as a spot that stays off the standard tourist track while sitting in the middle of the Istiklal scene, which is part of its pull for return visitors.
For a first visit, climb to the rooftop early for a seat, keep the drink order simple, and time the night to a live set when the rooms come alive.
Arsen Lupen earns a place on any honest list of the best rooftop bars in Istanbul. Our Istanbul bar guide covers the rest of the city, and the rooftop bars guide ranks rooms worldwide.
Best for live music, a young crowd, and a loud night near Istiklal. Skip it for a quiet drink or a polished cocktail program.
What to order
- 01
Draft beer
The default pour
- 02
Raki
For the local table
- 03
Simple cocktail
Keep it classic
- 04
Shot round
For the karaoke floor
