Best Spots For Food Shopping In Istanbul

We can’t even begin to talk about food shopping in Istanbul without mentioning the Egyptian Bazaar in Eminönü. Purportedly built from revenue acquired through the Ottoman region in Egypt, this market has been around since 1660. Today, the market is alive and well, selling mounds of spices, dried fruits and nuts, Turkish delight and other sweets. When you make your way outside, the bazaar also has a section of cheese sellers that have some of the best Turkish varieties you can imagine. If you’re in the mood for some Turkish coffee, make sure to drop by Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi or Nuri Toplar nearby for the best.

One of the best places to shop completely organic, the Feriköy Organic Market has brought together farmers and brands dedicated to the same cause of eco-friendly living and eating. Every Saturday, you’ll find the best of what’s in season as well as popular organic brands such as Sonett (organic household cleaning items from Germany), Palivor Çiftliği (an organic farm in Trakya), and Orgagen Ambarı (one of the first organizations to introduce organic products to Turkey). Abiding to the organic theme, there are no bags provided so make sure to bring your own totes. Another good recommendation is to have a gözleme before you begin shopping from the market ladies who make them fresh every morning.

One of the Asian side’s most important destinations for food shopping is a conglomeration of various shops on one street that offer a spectrum of delicious goods. From organic honey to fresh fish, pickled vegetables to fresh produce, a butcher that exclusively sells giblets to a shop with a huge variety of dried fruits and nuts, there’s nothing you won’t be able to find. When all that shopping gets your appetite going, drop by Borsam Taşfırın for a crunchy lahmacun with all the right fixings.

One of the European side’s prime destinations for food shopping is on the street right across the famed Galatasaray High School. Follow the path marked by a metal arch and don’t be discouraged by the heavy smell of kokoreç (seasoned intestine sandwich), because past these sellers you’ll discover an array of great speciality shops selling everything from cheeses to fresh fish. Make sure to drop by Şütte Şarküteri for a great array of cold cuts and sandwiches, Üç Yıldız Şekerlemecisi for amazing Turkish Delight and candy varieties Petek Turşuları for everything pickled, Titiz Manav for great produce, and Bünsa Baharat for spices and teas.

Every Saturday the giant Beşiktaş Pazarı sets up to bring a huge collection of fresh produce to the neighbourhood and beyond. The two-floored, open-air market not only has produce, dried fruits and nuts, and pickled vegetables, but also a whole array of household goods, shoes, clothing and undergarments for bargain prices. If all that shopping has made you a bit hungry, drop by the bakery stands where you can indulge in some homemade Turkish pastries.