I was meet by pretty nice employees of Vodafone that quickly asked me what I wanted and immediately…read moregot me seated down and basically had me connected in less than 30 mins. The shop was nicely arranged and clean. It's not as big as the Turkcell next door but you will find everything you should need and if not they will be able to order it in.

I was surprised when Yelp requested a review of the Istanbul Culinary Academy because I know of…read moreYelp only within the US. I dearly love the ICA and will look for my food pictures to post. But I also want to acknowledge Armaggan's upstairs restaurant. As with all of Armaggan, the restaurant is exquisite. Architecturally, its interpretation of traditional stylistic themes is informed, refined and minimalist, but with richness in materials and lighting--especially in galleries displaying different categories of objects and inside the restaurant and on its innovative terrace. It is not pastiche or parody. Staff told me that it is run by a family who cares about and studies Turkish history and culture. Today, I am reminded by Yelp that I had not finished typing this review from 2 years ago. I will post it anon. The longer I have been away from Istanbul the more I miss its cosmopolitan people and my many favorite spots there. Armaggan would be unique in any of the world's great cities. But even in a place where almost everything (except pork and alcohol) has been examined, interpreted, improved and refined over the centuries Armaggan still stands out. Just a few steps from the Grand Bazaar, on a quiet and pretty street, is the pristine edifice of polished beige stone and crystal clear glass. It resembles a large private vault, but is an emporium of Turkish culture. The finest contemporary arts and crafts are displayed as if in a museum. And my favorite aspect, the restaurant, offers the classiest interpretation of indigenous Turkish food. Not tourist or hotel or fusion food, but traditional recipes prepared with the best ingredients and served in elegant yet understated fashion. Armaggan seems proud to offer grandma's recipe. Armaggan and ICA are local treasures that buck the tourist oriented trend. Traveling around the country I was disappointed to hear: "We do not have Zeytinyagli Enginar on the menu. That's what we eat at home!" But at Armaggan is it served proudly and elegantly.

One of the best department stores that you can find in Istanbul, especially if you're looking good…read morequality stuff such as Turkish kaftans, souvenirs, fabrics, rugs and so on. It also has a very good restaurant with Turkish Ottoman cuisine on the terrace. Of course, like all the quality things, the prices are high but it's worth it.

I've been going to Taşgınca Optik in Istanbul for the past 3 years, and it's become a must-visit…read moreevery time I'm in Turkey. I've even tried several other places, but I always find myself coming back to Taşgınca Optik, and for good reason. The staff is absolutely amazing, very attentive, reliable, and genuinely committed to providing the best service possible. They take the time to understand your needs and make sure everything is just right, which is something you don't find everywhere. Their selection of eyewear is stylish and high-quality, and the level of care and attention to detail is unmatched. I've also recommended them to friends and family, and every single one of them has had just as outstanding an experience as I have. If you're in Istanbul and looking for exceptional service and great products, I can't recommend Taşgınca Optik enough!

Yet another great little shop that we found while exploring the narrow tiny streets around the…read moreGalata tower. This store was dedicated to all things Turkish bath related - Natural soaps, towels, etc. This is the place that gave us a great recommendation for a local Turkish bath to try out. The people that worked here were extremely informative and very friendly.

What an awesome ceramic store!!!…read more First off it goes without saying that the Turkish hospitality was fantastic. We had mentioned to our guide we wanted to get a ceramic bowl (I know they usually have deals with the stores they take you to, but since there was very little in the way of Yelp reviews to go by in Turkey we rolled with it). The store is on multiple levels and my son even got an opportunity to make a small bowl himself with a bit of instruction. The selection of crafts were all made in house and clearly most of them were by masters of the craft. Yes, the Grand Bazaar was close, but the quality of those goods are iffy to say the least. After making our bowl, and a cup of excellent Apple Tea, I had narrowed my choices down. My biggest regret was I want to buy more, but the shipping had me worried. The owner, who also is the main artist, was very reassuring about the shipping. We paid and went on our way. After a bit of time once we had returned home the box arrived intact including our little bowl we had made fired and ready to go. That was a nice touch. I cannot recommend this place enough if you are looking for artisanal ceramic from Turkey!

My girlfriend and I were blown away by Ark of Crafts and the curator, Nilufer. It was so much more…read morethan I expected even after reading the great reviews on Trip Advisor. I am happy to be the first to move the tips to Yelpers. We spent an hour in this tiny corner of the beautiful upstairs terrace bar of the Adahan hotel. You just want to pick everything up, feel it, and inspect the fine craftsmanship in the details. And Nilufer is always with you to explain each piece and each artist. These are real artists and much of it is made by or support women. After spending so many days wandering around Istanbul walking into shops wondering what is fake and what is legit it's so refreshing to have someone walk you through some of the real deal items that hold much of Istanbuls charm. I felt more informed when visiting other places like the Grand Bazaar because we came here first! Ornate pottery, detailed painted pieces, fine china, housewares, etc. The space is a wonderful place to spend the hour it should take you to explore. The view from the terrace is a terrific reason too, but go there, have a tea, coffee, beer or wine (apparently there's a great breakfast here, and a nice place for a drink at night too) and let Nilufer be the biggest reason why Ark of Crafts really blows the others out of the water.

If you are looking for something different, unique, local made, sustainable and ethically produced…read moreBoutique 81 is the address!

This place is a total gem. For one of a kind designs the prices are very affordable. The designers…read moreare lovely and kind. Inside is so cool. The furnitures and decorations are also well organized and have a retro inspritaions. They design their own clothes and jewelries so there is no fast production. I loved the idea of being unique and wearing unique pieces which felt like they made it for me.

Overall a fantastic experience for my wife and me. They were communicative and friendly. Honest…read moreabout price up front, and their artistry was impressive. When we arrived they offered tea and water, made us feel comfortable. We are very happy with our tattoos and if we lived in Istanbul, we would be back.