I like the spice market that located in the prime area with a lot of walking distance attractions…read more This included the river cruise and seafood restaurants at the river, Suleymaiye mosque, grand bazaar and more. The spice market is not big but the surrounding market is a big extension to the market. The best and premium items in the bazaar. The surrounding market vendor gives you bargains with price on the outside. We got the turkey coffee on the outside market. Even the Turkish delight is cheaper at outside.

Thank you so much for this referral, indeed a special place to shop for spices, dried fruits and…read moretea. The personnel is extremely friendly and helpful! The name of the shop has changed, but if you bring up the old name in the conversation, their faces lighten up

I loved this Spice Bazaar, inside it had a beautiful adorned ceiling that made us feel like being…read moreinside a mosque or an Arabic mansion. The bazaar itself was not as crowded as others, it was very well laid out and the store employees were not pushy at all. There are vividly colored spices displayed alongside jewel-like lokum (Turkish delight), providing eye candy for tourists and locals who make their way here every day. Stalls also sell caviar, dried herbs, honey, nuts and dried fruits as well as gold, jewelry and some clothing. Just a great colorful place to wander.....

The Spice Market (SM), in Istanbul Turkey is known to locals and tourists as having one of the best…read moreselections of spices in the world. In addition to spices they also offer several selections of sweets and other candies. Various ingredients make up a wide range of teas, which, are sold at the SM. Some tea mixtures are known to combat cold & flu like symptoms, while others are known to improve circulation and offer other health benefits. Many of the tea leafs are colorful while producing a pleasant aroma. Visitors are provided samples of teas and sweets which, were very flavorful. All purchases are vacuumed sealed for easy transportation back to your destination. The vendors are very welcoming and are eager to discuss the importance and value of tea consumption. Without question, you will be amazed at the abundance of teas and sweet treats, as well as, the size of the SM. I'd also recommend you indulge in a cup of traditional Turkish Tea at the SM while shopping. If you've never had it, it's definitely worth trying. Also impressive is seeing the method in which Turkish coffee is prepared using hot coals.

After reading some reviews from various places on where to go in the spice bazaar, the name…read moreArifoglu came up a few times. So I made some notes on what I wanted to buy, how much I can get it in the states, and prices in various sizes. When I went to the spice bazaar I took mental note of what prices they had of various spices and what they were selling them for, as one place had one Sumac for 10TL more for a half a kg then Arifoglu had for a whole kg. So after looking around for a while I stopped in Arifoglu, they man with glasses helped me and he was super nice. He saw my list and asked to see it so I gave it to him. He beat all the prices on my sheet, as well as giving me 10% off everything too. Since I also bought about 3 lbs of spices he threw in something for me too. I bought some saffron from him as well. It was funny because I bought some Iranian saffron, and I brought a sample from home to make sure it was the same stuff since I'm not a spice savant that can tell the difference between the real and real looking fake stuff. He was impressed and give me another discount off the top. It was still al little more than you can get it in the US if you know where to go. But I figured I give it a try. I mentioned Turkish saffron as gift for friends who didn't cook who wanted it. And he scoffed and said Turkish saffron is stuff other places they sell to tourist who don't know better. I thought it was funny that he admitted that. Not only would I come back here if I needed spice and was back in Istanbul. I stopped in again before I left to pick up a few other things I decided to bring back.

Ignore all the other vendors trying to get you in to their stores as you walk through the Spice…read moreBazaar and head straight here. They don't hassle people to come in because they don't need to. They have a great variety of spices & herbs at great prices. But what drew me in was the big sign I thought was kind of funny: "mysterious scent of harem"... I had to investigate. I'm glad I went in, a whole wall is dedicated to their selection of perfumed and essential oils... It was amazing. I wish I bought more!

Holy Cafe is one hot place by the film producer Ozan Sökmen…read more It's great for casual hang outs it the hot summer days Must Try: delicious cakes with ice cold smoothie

İ love eat i came here wonderfull place i think you should come this place you can try have a nice…read moresay

Viyana Kahvesi was one of my favorite café experiences in Istanbul. The location alone is worth…read morevisiting, with an absolutely stunning view of the iconic Galata Tower. Sitting outside, enjoying dessert while taking in one of the city's most recognizable landmarks, creates a truly unforgettable atmosphere. Of course, the star of the show is their famous San Sebastián cheesecake. It lived up to every bit of the hype. Perfectly creamy, rich, and slightly caramelized on the outside, it was incredible on its own--but the warm chocolate drizzle takes it to another level. Every bite was indulgent without being overly sweet, making it one of the best desserts I've had anywhere. The combination of amazing food, excellent coffee, and a front-row view of the beautiful Galata Tower makes this a must-visit spot in Istanbul. Whether you're looking for the perfect dessert, a relaxing café experience, or an Instagram-worthy view, Viyana Kahvesi delivers on all fronts. A true Istanbul gem that I'll be thinking about long after returning home.

This cafe is famous for its fun locations with a nice patio and its rich San Sebastián style…read morecheesecake. I tried the Dubai chocolate version with pistachio, Belgian chocolate and knafeh....it's almost too rich to handle. The plain version is also delicious. There are multiple locations. This one is located in the courtyard of a famous building, the Narmanli Han on Istiklal street, with a lovely fountain outside. Very nice patio and great service. Super polite and fast. There's also a gorgeous location next to the Galata Tower.

Best breakfast brunchish They have very friendly, open…read morespace ,comfortable chairs and some part for smokers - they open the roof - lot of choice at their menu . I was there for breakfast ordered fried eggs with old kashar (cheese ) love it then simit ( kind of pretzel susame bagel mix ) plate comes with very tasty cheese olive tomatoes salad . Tea comes for 2 glass and good . They have variety of desert my choice cheese cake . Overall nice experience. Definitely come again.

Grandma is located inside the Akmerkez shopping mall but has an opening to the street. It has a…read morevery cozy decoration and the staff is very friendly. The food is ok and reasonably priced considering the neighborhood. They make eggs all day and it is a life saver for someone like me who doesn't always want to spend too much on food but want to get their protein after the gym :) For times you do want to dine and look for a healthy option, I recommend the fish. Coffee isn't the best, I'd recommend you stick to tea. They also offer a variety of delicious looking pastries. If you are misfortunate enough to be working on a weekend, Grandma can offer you a nice change of space. Indeed you'll see a lot of unfortunate white collars going there to work and enjoy the day.

Walked around Taksim square after dinner looking for dessert and we came across this place, glad we…read moredecided to take a leap of faith and go in. Cute store with different levels but their balcony level was absolutley beautiful. Considering us being in a tourist place, the dessert was not expensive. It was about $10 for each of us. I got 2 baklava and it was absolutely delicious , you can most likely won't find one like that back in states. We also order a kunafe small stray and it came with the most delicious goat ice cream, they are to died for! Service was quick and friendly. Would deff reccomend everyone to come here to give it a try!

Solid coffee, but the baklava with ice cream was SO good. It was very unique of a combination and I…read morelove that their ice cream is so thick. They also have a large food menu so it's definitely an easy place to stop for anything.

This is one of my cheapest meals in Istanbul. Cheaper isn't better, but wholesome is. Imagine…read morehomestyle cooking served cafeteria style. This is a vegetarian Nirvana. There were about fifteen options to choose from with two meat options during my visit. You get five choices for a 100 lira. Otherwise, there were some alternate options such as a bechamel-looking lasagna. Popular lunch spot but quick turnover.

By far.. after so many restaurants.. the best home meal…read moreGreat service.. sweet people.. a great experience.. will be back tomorrow...!!!! Food it's home beautiful cooking, fresh, variety and very tasty... A must to visit