Oh, Baklava! Thin, crispy layers of buttery sweetness with a nutty crunch. But where’s the best Baklava in Istanbul? I’ve had to eat a lot of Baklava to come up with this list—such a delicious hardship. Here are five places in Istanbul serving up the BEST Baklava!
Here are 5 MUST-TRY places to eat the BEST Baklava in Istanbul!
History of Baklava
I won’t pretend to be a baklava expert, but I’ve eaten a lot of It! That must count for something, right?
The Baklava we know today was created in the kitchens of Topkapı Palace. It was so drool-worthy that the Ottoman Sultans kept their most elite soldiers, the janissaries, happy by gifting them trays of Baklava.
Love for Baklava spread along with the Ottoman Empire, which, at its height, included Greece, the Balkans, large parts of the Middle East, and portions of southeastern Europe.
Baklava makers everywhere added their own twist. In Türkiye, Baklava is typically made with pistachios; in Greece, it’s walnuts. Over time, different shapes and styles of Baklava have evolved.
Part of the fun is trying a selection, from the classic square shape to Midye Baklava, with its elaborate folds of filo wrapped around crushed pistachios and kaymak, the luscious Turkish version of clotted cream.
If you find Baklava too coying, try Sütlü Nuriye. This version includes milk, so it is softer and far less sweet than the original. A recent invention is Cold Baklava, which is milkier, severed cold, and usually topped with sweet cocoa powder.
There is also chocolate baklava or a decadent chocolate-dipped baklava. And for pistachio lovers, try Fıstık Sarma. It’s not exactly Baklava but a filo pastry roll loaded with crushed pistachios and fıstık ezmesi, which is like pistachio butter. It’s sweet, vivid green and oh-so delicious!
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Hafiz Mustafa
Founded in 1864, Hafiz Mustafa is one of the easiest sweet shops to find, with prominent locations in Istanbul’s most touristy areas like Sultanahmet, Eminönü and İstiklal Avenue. The interiors are stunning, and employees are wearing red fez hats. While one of the pricier options, their Baklava is VERY good, loaded with nuts and sweet buttery flavour. And their bright red packaging makes everything super giftable.
If you plan to bring some home from Istanbul, their Baklava is all-natural and has a short shelf life of 3-5 days. So make sure you buy just before you head to the airport.
Go to Hafiz Mustafa not just for their Baklava. They also sell beautiful Turkish delight gift boxes, tea sets, and more. And their cakes are like art, including a gorgeous Pistachio Baklava Cake. Yum!!
Ali Muhiddin Haci Bakir
Hacı Bekir, which opened in 1777, is famous for its Turkish Delight. Today, there are eight locations in Istanbul, including the original shop in Eminönü near the Spice Bazaar.
But head over to their gorgeous shop on İstiklal Avenue. The first-floor shop is loaded with tempting sweets and beautifully packaged boxes of their best sellers. Upstairs is a lovely tearoom where you can sit by the huge window overlooking the pedestrian street and people-watch while you enjoy a glass of tea and a slice of their sweet, buttery Baklava.
Don’t miss heading down to the basement and their fabulous Baklava bar, where you can have a one-of-a-kind experience and sample many different varieties. An elegant conveyor belt runs atop a long oval table, bringing a rotating array of covered plates of Baklava. Grab what you want and enjoy!!
I loved the experience, and this was definitely some of the best Baklava in Istanbul.
Old Shop (Opened in 1777): Zahire Borsası Sk., 34112 Fatih/İstanbul / Shop with Baklava Bar: İstiklal Cd. No:72, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
Çarşı Baklava
A foodie tip, whether it’s Baklava, kebabs or pide (Turkish pizza), the little shops outside the Grand Bazaar are the best! These are the places where the locals eat. And I would have NEVER discovered Çarşı Baklava if I hadn’t taken the Two Continents Food Tour.
Their Baklava is the real deal. It is flown in daily from Gaziantep, a city in the south of Türkiye famous for its Baklava.
This is a small grab-and-go shop with two or three tables out front. I got to try a bit of everything, and it was impossible to pick a favourite. Their Baklava was buttery and loaded with bright green pistachios. I returned to this place the morning of my flight home to grab some baklava to bring back home to Canada.
Address: Vezirhan Cd kapalıçarşı, No:59, 34120 Fatih/İstanbul
Faruk Güllüoglu
Faruk Güllüoglu was started by a family in Gaziantep in 1871. They’ve been making Baklava for five generations, so you can be sure it’s delicious. They opened their first shop in Istanbul in 1949, and there are now many locations throughout the city.
Of the bigger Baklava chains, Faruk Güllüoglu’s shops and packaging aren’t as fancy as some of the others mentioned. That helps to keep their prices a bit lower, but the quality of their product is high!
Their Baklava is flaky, not overly sweet or too gooey, and they don’t skimp on the nuts. My slice was stuffed with lovely green pistachios. And this is where I first tried the life-changing and ridiculously indulgent chocolate-enrobed Baklava. WOW!
Bilgeoğlu Baklavacı
Bilgeoğlu is a tiny shop just a 15-minute walk from the ferry station on the Asian side of Istanbul. Its only branch opened in Kadıköy in 1956.
While it might not look like much from the outside, I promise you, you won’t be disappointed. Their Baklava is divine and made with their homemade butter.
My advice: Try everything! My favourite was their Midye Baklava. Loaded with pistachios and kaymak, it’s creamy, crunchy, and sweet.
They also specialize in su böreği, which is buttery layers of almost paper-thin noodly pastry with white cheese and parsley. Many Turks eat it for breakfast, but it is a great snack any time of day.
Address: Bahariye Caddesi, Nail Bey Sk. No: 1-B, Kadıköy/İstanbul
There is so much more to eat when you visit Türkiye. Check out this post, Seven Unbelievably Delicious Turkish Foods.
