Start with a neighbourhood, such as Moda
The official tourism guides to Moda and Kadıköy provide context for exploring the Asian side. Choose an actual venue or public seating area near your route. A district's waterfront character does not guarantee a sunny café table.
Follow the shoreline at the exact pin
The coast bends, so the direction of the open view changes from place to place. At your planned local time, the sun may come from the landward side rather than across the water. Check the nearby buildings in that direction, not just the scenic outlook.
Slopes and elevated terraces need observation
Hills, retaining walls and changes in height can affect the local horizon. Coffee in the Sun's building-shadow model does not include terrain or calculate the precise sunlight on a terrace at a chosen floor. Use photographs or a visit to verify those factors.
Include the journey in the plan
If a ferry or another connection is part of the outing, check the expected time you will reach the seat. A sunny map area now may be shaded by the time you arrive. Choose a fallback in the same neighbourhood rather than assuming a quick move across the city.
Check the season and current arrangements
Low winter sun differs from summer sun, and trees or covers can change the terrace's exposure. Confirm weather, opening hours and outdoor seating through the venue. Water views, direct sunlight and comfort are three separate things to compare.
Try the building-shadow check before you leave
Open Coffee in the Sun, find your chosen spot and compare the estimated building shadows at arrival and departure. The free app includes today's timeline and three time jumps per day. The model uses mapped buildings, whose coverage and accuracy vary; it excludes trees, awnings and terrain, and cloud cover is not part of the shadow answer.
Use the five-step terrace check to interpret the result. Keep a nearby alternative and confirm the real seating on arrival.
