If you’re a dessert lover, you’ll love baklava. This Turkish pastry dessert is a real treat, and there are some fantastic establishments across Istanbul that serve incredible examples of it to diners. So if you’re visiting Istanbul for the first time of the fiftieth, you need to try the Baklava at the locations we’re about to discuss below.
We’ve put together a list of where to find the very best baklava in Istanbul if you’re not sure where to start. Read on to find out more about them and see which of them take your fancy. Each establishment is different and offers something unique, yet they all serve delicious baklava.
8 Best Baklava Shops in Istanbul 2024
The best baklava shops in Istanbul can be found around Sultanahmet and Taksim. With a short walk from Sultanahmet, you can reach Sirkeci Square or Eminonu and find Baklava places on our list. If you are looking for baklava around Taksim, you can try the historical shops on Istiklal Street or Karakoy. For those staying on the Asian Side, there are great options around the Kadikoy Fish Market.
1. Karakoy Gulluoglu
One of the names most commonly associated with baklava in Istanbul is Karakoy Gulluoglu. It’s been there since the 19th century and has been run by the Güllüoğlu family that whole time. This Karakoy location first opened in 1949 and it’s still serving some of the most delicious baklava in Istanbul to this day.
They create traditional baklava using peanuts from Gaziantep and walnuts from Karahisar, but there are some Güllüoğlu specialities you should try out while you’re there too. For example, the sobiyet baklava and the chocolate baklava are both worth trying out because they taste simply divine. Be sure not to miss out.
Karakoy Gulluoglu is by far the most famous baklava place in Istanbul. This baklava shop is located in walking distance from Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Galata Tower. You can reach out to the spot with a simple tram ride from Sultanahmet Old City as well.
There are several reasons why Karakoy Gulluoglu is the best place to buy baklava in Istanbul. First of all, this baklava shop is located at equal distance to two important touristic centers such as Taksim Square and Sultanahmet. Second, the shop is designed to serve and sell baklava quickly. You can see the stands with many types of baklava at the same time and make a decision right away.
2. Hamdi Restaurant
Hamdi Restaurant is located in Eminonu and it’s a great place to stop and enjoy authentic Turkish baklava and other desserts while you’re exploring and learning more about this part of Istanbul. They also serve hot food and great drinks, but many people visit simply for the desserts.
It’s a place that has a great location and the views over the historic city are simply amazing if you’re sitting by the window. The service is always very friendly too, and you won’t be let down by the food that’s served once you’re inside and enjoying the ambience. It’s a must-visit location when you’re in the city.
Hamdi Restaurant is reachable from Sultanahmet by walking. In order to come to Hamdi from Beyoglu (Taksim), you need to cross the Galata Bridge. The restaurant is right next to Spice Bazaar.
3. Hafiz Mustafa
Hafiz Mustafa (Hakki Zade) is a chain of dessert shops that you’ll find dotted around Istanbul and the surrounding areas. It has a reputation for incredible desserts and that reputation is well-earned. It’s a big hit with locals and tourists alike, and that just goes to show how strong the quality of the food really is.
There’s a location in Sirkeci and other places, but no matter which one you find yourself in, you certainly won’t be let down by the quality of what’s on offer. The food is like no other place in the city and the range of desserts on offer is unbeatable. You’ll spend a long time deciding which of the many tantalising treats you actually want to order.
You can find Hafiz Mustafa (also known as Hakki Zade) dessert shop in Sirkeci, Eminonu and Istiklal Street (Walking streeet from Taksim Square to Galata Tower).
Hafiz Mustafa has become the fastest growing dessert brand in Istanbul in recent years. Located on Istiklal Street, the heart of the city, Hafiz Mustafa is also known as the best baklava shop in Taksim (aka Beyoglu).
4. Ali Usta Baklava
You’ll find Ali Usta Baklava in Sirkeci, which is a small quarter in Eminonu, the main transportation hub of Istanbul’s Old City. The dessert you’ll find here is among the finest in the city or anywhere in Turkey for that matter. As well as serving baklava, they also serve kadayıf, a sweet and crispy treat made from phyllo dough.
Both the kadayıf and the baklava are incredible at Ali Usta and they shouldn’t be missed. They have a range of options in both of those two dessert categories and you owe it to yourself to sample a few of each when you find yourself exploring Sirkeci. You won’t regret it.
Sirkeci is a little square next to Sirkeci Tram Station. It’s just a few minutes walk from Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. It’s definitely recommended to come down to Sirkeci in order to experience the local eateries. Hocapasa Restaurants offer great local food whereas Ali Usta offers the best baklava in Istanbul Old City.
5. Koskeroglu
This busy and bustling restaurant is most famous for its baklava, and if you find yourself in its vicinity, you must try it out. Koskeroglu is located in Karakoy, and the food served is both authentic and affordable. It’s very close to Galata Tower, which makes it a good place to stop and eat when you’re seeing the sights in Istanbul.
Another thing Koskeroglu is famous for is the kunefe, which is a sweet pastry dish. It’s most likely something that you’ve never experienced before, but you’ll certainly want to. It’s like no other dessert dish in the world, and Köşkeroğlu is the perfect place to try it out.
6. Konyali Restaurant
The views over the water are enough to hold your attention when you’re dining at Konyali Restaurant, but if you can take your eyes off them for a second, you’ll notice the incredible quality of the food too. Their authentic Turkish kebabs are great, but the dessert is where the restaurant really shines.
The baklava is fantastic, as are the other dessert options you’ll find on the menu. It’s the ideal setting to sit back, relax and enjoy some amazing Turkish food. There are few better locations in the city.
Konyali Restaurant is very close to both Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque) and Eminonu (Spice Bazaar). In Konyali, the best baklava restaurant in Istanbul, you can experience local Turkish food and then eat your dessert.
7. Cigdem Pastanesi
Cigdem Pastanesi is home to some of the best Turkish desserts you’ll find in Istanbul. It’s located in the area of Sultanahmet and it’s often visited by tourists who come to the city. The menu is a joy to behold, with it including a wide range of Turkish cakes and desserts of all kinds.
Among them is, of course, some incredible tasting baklava. You really don’t know what you’re missing until you try it out for yourself. It’s also a very affordable and traditional establishment, which many people don’t expect with it being located in such a tourist-heavy region of the city.
Cigdem Patisserie is a great place specializing in many desserts. Cigdem, the best baklava shop in Sultanahmet, is a great refreshment spot for those who are tired of visiting historical places.
8. Sekerci Cafer Erol
If you find yourself in Kadikoy, you simply must stop at Sekerci Cafer Erol. Sekerci Cafer Erol is located right in the middle of the Kadikoy area and the brand has been serving amazing cakes and desserts to citizens and visitors to Istanbul for 200 years now. That incredible legacy is underlined by the quality of their cakes and desserts.
This particular branch in Kadikoy Fish Market has been around since 1945 and the standards of the food have remained high ever since. You can get some amazing baklava, but many people head there for the ice cream, which is said to be some of the best in the area.
Sekerci Cafer Erol is the best baklava shop in Istanbul according to Istanbulites living on the Asian Side of Istanbul. You can see that there is a queue in front of the shop at any time of the day.
Each of the destinations discussed above offers great Baklava, so be sure to try some of them out next time you’re exploring Istanbul and sampling its wonderful food.
Best Baklava Places in Istanbul by Serhat Engul