Where To Eat Istanbuls Best Desserts

As a cosmopolitan city, Istanbul‘s dessert scene spans from the best version of the Turkish classics, like Turkish delight, to excellent executions of international favourites. We chose the best spots for dessert in the city for you to indulge your sweet tooth!

Mille-Feuille at Pelit Pastanesi

Pelit Pastanesi has been making excellent desserts since 1957, however, their Mille-feuille is one of the main standouts and probably the best in the city. This French pastry is composed of very thing layers of puff pastry, with pastry cream in between and topped with a layer of powdered sugar.

Éclair at Divan Pastanesi

Patisserie, Turkish, Dessert

Divan Pastanesi is the city’s most upscale patisserie and not only makes excellent cakes but also Turkish Delight and everything in between. Their chocolate eclairs just happen to be our favourite, with a rich dark chocolate filling that will definitely make your day.

Muhallebi at Göreme

Muhallebi is a thick pudding flavoured with mastic (resin obtained from the mastic tree), usually topped with cinnamon and served cold. Göreme Muhallebicisi in Kurtuluş is one of the best places to try out this milky dessert, as well as kazandibi (thick pudding with a slightly burnt caramel top). https://instagram.com/p/nqngJTrlDs/

Profiterol at Nazar

Patisserie, Turkish, Dessert

This very low key patisserie may look understated when you first see it, but once you walk in to the view of the little éclair and the house favourite profiterole (pastry balls filled with cream and covered in chocolate sauce), it will make you extremely happy in every way.

Kuru Baklava at Bilgeoğlu

There’s a lot of places where you can eat baklava in Istanbul, but not all of them are good because of the wavering quality of ingredients. However, you can be sure that the kuru baklava (thick pistachio baklava) at Bilgeoğlu, who always use top quality clarified butter, is always excellent.

Bahariye Nailbey Sokak No. 3/C, Kadıköy, +90 216 336 00 49

https://instagram.com/p/974FnUB1h2/

Orange Baklava at Konyalı Pastanesi

Restaurant, Turkish

Open since 1897, Konyalı started its life as a restaurant serving traditional Turkish dishes. However, at this branch everything revolves around dessert, most notably the excellent baklava with orange that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

Dondurmalı İrmik Helvası at Hünkar

Helva is another important member of the Turkish dessert collection and Hünkar, one of Istanbul’s best Turkish restaurants, serves up an excellent İrmik Helvası (halva made with semolina) that hides a scoop of ice cream inside. https://instagram.com/p/BC-7OA3Sw7f/

Turkish Candy

This category is a bit difficult to narrow down because Istanbul has three very excellent and historic purveyors of Turkish candy and Turkish delight. Cafer Erol (on the Asian side and open since 1807) is known for its delicious marzipan in the shape of fruit and vegetables and a colourful collection of Turkish akide candies with flavours such as rose, lemon, mint, sesame and much more. Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir were purportedly responsible for creating Turkish Delight during the days of the Ottoman Empire and their nostalgic store in Eminönü has all the amide candies: Turkish delight, halva, and every paste variety imaginable. Üç Yıldız Şekerlemicisi is one of the lesser known confectioners, but their Turkish Delight with mastic is divine, as well as their Turkish candies and homemade jams.

Cafer Erol: Yasa Caddesi No.19 Kadıköy, +90 216 337 11 03

Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir: Hobyar Mahallesi, Hamidiye Caddesi, No 81-83, Fatih, +90 212 522 0666

Üç Yıldız Şekerlemecisi: Dudu Odaları Sokak No.7 Galatasaray, +90 212 293 81 70

https://instagram.com/p/BBQopztK7Oh/

Badem Ezmesi at Meşhur Bebek Badem Ezmesi

Badem ezmesi is a thick almond paste most comparable to marzipan, and the famous family-run Bebek Badem Ezmesi has been around since 1904 serving the same excellent confection. The pistachio paste also comes highly recommended. https://instagram.com/p/BBw4v29Ly5r/