Ortaköy (literally Middle Village in Turkish) is a neighborhood, once a small village in the Besiktas district of Istanbul, Turkey, located in the middle of the Bosphorus European bank.
Ortaköy was a cosmopolitan area during the Ottoman period and the first decades of the Turkish Republic with the Turkish communities, Greeks, Armenians and Jews. Today, the neighborhood is still home to many different religious (Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox and other Christian) structures. It is also a popular spot for locals and tourists, with its art galleries, night clubs, cafes, bars and restaurants.
The neo-Baroque style Ortaköy Mosque is a beautifully ornate structure, right on the quayside of Ortaköy, bordering the waters of the Bosphorus, and therefore highly visible to the passing boats.
Many renowned schools such as Kabataş Erkek Lisesi and Galatasaray University, are located in Ortaköy. The European pylon of the Bosphorus Bridge, one of two bridges that connect the European and Asian banks of Istanbul, is also located in this neighborhood.
Ortaköy was George W. Bush's place during the NATO Summit in 2004, which he did at the University Galatasaray.