In addition to having a lovely selection of turkish towels, bathrobes, scarves and bed linens, the…read morecustomer service here is divine. Sezer was so helpful, enthusiastic and kind. I don't know if we paid more than the bazaar prices, but if we did it was worth it to me to shop in such a peaceful space away from the hard working but overwheliming hawkers everywhere else.

We were on the return leg of our sojourn into the famous Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, already laden…read morewith bags, when we stumbled upon a side street in the bazaar with old wooden architecture that must date back to Ottoman times. On the shop walls, amidst the thousands of carpets, were newspaper postings of famous customers who've frequented Şişli Osman Carpet & Kilim over its commendable history. The lovely family who run this lovely shop have global recognition, from Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands and Hillary Clinton to Rick Steves of US travel documentary fame. The lattermost endorsement helped seal the deal in terms of credibility. Their carpets are painstakingly handwoven, dyed with natural products, including pomegranate and indigo plants, and come with certificates of authenticity from a business dealing in this same area of the Grand Bazaar since 1894. This long-running family business is run by true gentlemen. Thank you for the lovely handwoven nomadic style rug, originating from master craftspeople in central Turkey, and for a wonderful buying experience.

Rick Steve's guide says this shop is the best in the city and if all the famous people photographed…read moreat this place is a testimony to that, it must be true. It's a little off the beaten path but once there, they'll show you hundreds of beautiful Turkish carpets. They'll offer you tea as they show you their goods. We didn't buy any as it is super expensive, but still cheaper than what you'd get in the USA.

This shop has an amazing selection of wool (and has some great buttons too). It's a dream if you…read morelove to knit. The lady, who owns the shop, was so friendly too. I'm from the UK and I found the prices to be a bargain!

This is my favorite yarn store in istanbul. They have the most selection of natural fiber yarn that…read moreI have seen in istanbul before. The staff is very kind and helpful. One of the owners and her daughter both speak English, which is so helpful.

We stumbled into this shop because they had a nice cat inside and there was no aggressive bulky…read moreoutside insisting we go in. Two parts, we got a smaller Turkish mosaic lamp that may or may not make it back packed in bubble wrap and clothes, and a little rug for one of our cats, and a pillow case for our cat sitter, and a scarf for a Philosopher friend. In the ceramics part of the shop we got some pretty bowls which also might not survive the ride in luggage but they did wrap them up well and they are embedded in clothes and yarn. The Chief of Staff is in to knitting and bought yarn in Turkiye, which makes for good packing. None of this was expensive and the attempts to upset weren't overbearing.

This shop is absolutely amazing. Everything is handmade by the owner who is extremely kind,…read morehospitable, and skilled in his craft. I loved that he was open about differences in pricing and reasonings, and showed me how to distinguish quality ceramics from cheaper made ones for future reference in future travels. We spent a long time chit-chatting and I learned a lot more about his craft. The resident kitty is also super cute. I will absolutely be visiting again if I get the chance to return to Istanbul. Thank you for such a beautiful experience!

This is a must see, must do while in Instanbul, but the shop owners and sales people while kind,…read moreare also aggressive. If you ignore them in English, they will try talking to you in Spanish. They immediately want to know where you are from (probably to adjust the price). If shopping for rugs or gold, it's imperative you haggle with them otherwise they will not respect you. I only bought costume jewelry, cocktail purses, some silk shawls, a cotton table cloth and pillow cases....I bought so much that I had to buy another suitcase.

I was looking froward to the Grand Bazaar and while I'm glad I was able to see it, I would…read morerecommend visiting the Spice Bazaar instead. First, to describe, the Grand Bazaar was overwhelmingly smokey. With the heat the smell was even more unpleasant on top of being extremely crowded and I was disappointed to learn from our guide that everything luxury branded is fake. Our visit was included in a tour we took and while I'm glad I was able to visit it, I much preferred the Spice Bazaar which was less busy and had better air quality. All in all, I wouldn't recommend taking a tour that includes the Grand Bazaar during the Summer but stopping in on your own time for a few minutes to take in the history of the space is definitely worth it.

Sales Associates at this location are welcoming and patient while making your selection. Murat &…read moreEsra made the experience of purchasing the handbag delightful. We celebrated afterwards with true Turkish style hospitality by drinking çay and Turkish coffee. Esra, a veteran sales associate, originally from NY, keeps me updated with latest items. Getting tax exempt is an additional perk while shopping abroad. Dior handbag is a classic and timeless style. Great addition to anyone's collection.