Istanbul’s history is like no other, because it has been the bridge between East and West throughout history, and as such, it has had a long lasting impact in everything raging from commerce to politics, arts and architecture. The city is a jewel in itself, and wandering through its alleys and neighborhoods is a great way to truly understand Istanbul’s magic and magnetism. But, what if we told you that you can find anything you need in just one place? That you can actually dive deeper into Istanbul’s culture and history in a single place? It might be difficult to believe at first, but you’ll soon see that we’re not messing around.
We’re talking about the Grand Bazaar, the heart of Istanbul’s Old City and the most chaotic and vibrant testament to the city’s history. What started as a small warehouse built during the times of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461 grew into a massive market encompassing approximately 58 streets, with 22 entrances and countless labyrinth-like passages filled with secrets and hidden gems. Here, there are endless possibilities, and you’ll find everything that you didn’t even know you wanted. Jewels, carpets, fabrics, clothes, lamps… you name it, it’ll probably be right there. Don’t you feel like something is missing? Of course! We haven’t talked about the fact that at the Grand Bazaar you’ll find some of the most exquisite food in Istanbul. Think about it as having a taste of history. Precisely, that’s what we wanted to focus on today, on the gastronomic experience that you can have at the Bazaar, and everything that it can tell you about Istanbul and its Ottoman past.
Şark Kahvesi
Şark Kahvesi is a very popular coffeehouse in the Grand Bazaar, that attracts lots of tourists due to its beautiful classic decoration: the painted silhouettes, antiques and Anatolian tablecloths will take you back to another time, when Istanbul had another name and the city was a splendid ancient metropolis. Moreover, lots of vendors and people who work at the Grand Bazaar algo go to Şark Kahvesi, so you can rest assured that the food and beverages that you will try are authentically Turkish. Obviously, if you go to a coffeehouse in Istanbul you’ll have to try tea or coffee, and here in Kahvesi, it means being part of the most essential Turkish activity of them all, because here, having coffee (especially) is not just drinking a beverage; it is more like a lifestyle that has been maintained for over 500 years. Actually, Turkish coffee is made through the world’s oldest coffee brewing method, which was invented in the 16th during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. At Şark Kahvesi, coffee is still prepared on a stove filled with hot sand and brewed in a copper pot, and it is served with the purpose of giving its customers a moment to relax, watch passengers go by and enjoy each other’s company, as well as the other delicatessen that can be found in the coffeehouse. This place is the perfect example of how the Grand Bazaar has been key to preserving the oldest Turkish traditions and keeping them alive in an ever changing world.
Turkish coffee is way more than a beverage; with its traditional preparation, it is a lifestyle that still prevails in Şark Kahvesi.
Gaziantep Burç Kebap:
Moving on, we have a small but incredible restaurant located in one of the Grand Bazaar’s narrow side streets, called Gaziantep Burç Kebap. It may seem like any other business in the Bazaar, but in reality it is the perfect place to find some of the most delicious Turkish dishes. If you feel like you’ve heard the name Gaziantep before, don’t worry, you’re not crazy! In reality, Gaziantep is a city located in south-east Türkiye, and it is pretty famous, because it is considered one of the country’s gastronomic capitals. Thus, you can probably guess that this restaurant serves some of the best dishes from Gaziantep, although you might not know that the now ubiquitous dish of kebap (which you can find anywhere in the world) is precisely one of the most renowned meals from the city’s gastronomy. This means that when ordering in Gaziantep Burç Kebap, you’ll have the opportunity to try some of the best versions of this typical Turkish dish. For example, some of the most popular kebap in the restaurant are the eggplant and adana ones, and when you try them, you’ll understand why this tiny spot in the Bazaar is so famous and beloved. Additionally, kebaps are not the only exquisite dishes served in the restaurant, as there are also fresh salads, alinazik (which is marinated beef morsels served with eggplant purée), stuffed dry eggplants and dry pepper, as well as kunefah, a delicious dessert. Ultimately, this is a place that brings the best of Turkish cuisine to the heart of the Grand Bazaar and of Istanbul.
Gaziantep Burç Kebap brings the best of Gaziantep’s gastronomy to the Grand Bazaar, including their famous kebaps.
Havuzlu Restaurant:
Up until now, we’ve seen a coffeehouse known for its traditional Turkish coffee and a restaurant that brings the best of Gaziantep’s cuisine to Istanbul. To finish off our blog, we would like to mention Havuzlu, one of the most iconic restaurants in the Grand Bazaar, which has been open since 1959 and that throughout the years, has provided visitors and locals alike with the best of traditional Turkish and Ottoman food. Havuzlu is a restaurant with a charming atmosphere and a classic touch that makes it stand out from other restaurants in the Bazaar, something that combined with a delicious menu, always served hot, of course make it probably the best dining spot of the Grand Bazaar. If you want to have lunch there, our recommendation would be to arrive before 3 pm, because otherwise there’s going to be quite a long line before you get the table. Obviously waiting would ultimately be worth it once you get the plate that you’ve ordered, but we know that when one’s traveling time is precious! Maybe, you’d prefer to visit the restaurant late in the afternoon to drink a cup of tea or coffee, and that is just a great idea, because you can sit by the fountain and relax for a bit with an exquisite coffee in your hand. Don’t you feel like a local already?
Havuzlu is one of the most iconic restaurants of the Grand Bazaar and since 1959 it has delighted all visitors with its traditional Turkish and Ottoman cuisine.
Well, this is how we end our gastronomic journey through the Grand Bazaar. What we tried to do today was to showcase how you can get a taste of the traditions, culture and history of a place through its food, and we think that with the spots we showed you, that’s exactly what we did. Now that you know that Turkish coffee is a lifestyle, that some of the best kebaps come from Gaziantep, and that you can still try the delicious food from the Ottoman period, you can see Istanbul with other eyes. Definitely, the Grand Bazaar is a marvelous gem that has kept the city’s traditions alive through the years and wonderfully showcases the colorful, vibrant and magnetic nature of Istanbul.
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