Benachin, fried tilapia fish, bissap, ginger beer, djembe drums, straw-woven bowls, displays of beaded bracelets and necklaces, and portraits of Black femininity are not what one would typically associate with Istanbul’s historic neighbourhoods. This is especially true for the Beyoğlu district, known for its late 19th and early 20th-century Western-influenced and Art Nouveau architecture, charming antique stores, and outdoor cafes. However, Kara Lounge restaurant is a place that stands out. I first learned about Kara Lounge in 2021, a year after it opened, when I was invited there for a meetin…