If you’ve ever been to any of the imperial mosques around Turkey, it’s likely you have seen the beautiful dark red and turquoise hues of the famous Iznik tiles. Even though the Iznik tiles lived out their heyday during the Ottoman Empire, the tradition still continues and there are only a few places that sell real hand-painted Iznik ceramic. Definitely drop by Iznik Art in the Grand Bazaar to get your hands on some genuine hand-painted ceramics.
Orta Kazaslar Sokak No.64 – Halıcılar sokak No.18, Grand Bazaar, Turkey, +90 212 512 34 73
Iznik Tiles | © Feride Yalav-Heckeroth
Baklava is a dessert that is popular in many Middle Eastern cultures and can therefore be frequently found outside Turkey. However, Bilgeoğlu’s amazing kuru baklava, made with pistachios from Gaziantep and clarified butter can only be found on Istanbul’s Asian side. You’ll know you’ve come to the right place when you see the large stack of baklavas in the window.
