Sweet Istanbul. Turkish sweets from baklava to katmer
Istanbul is famous not only for kebabs and dürüms. Eastern sweets have been known since ancient times. Turks are true hedonists. After any meal, they will certainly order tea and dessert and spend a long time leisurely discussing the latest news. By the way, in Istanbul it's not at all shameful to have lunch in one place and then "move" to another for dessert.
There are countless Turkish sweets. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just baklava and Turkish delight. Those are rather what tourists have heard of. Real local gourmets will enjoy something new every day.
In this article I tell you about the most delicious, sweet and authentic desserts of Istanbul, and also give recommendations on where to try these treats to get the best impressions.
There are countless Turkish sweets. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just baklava and Turkish delight. Those are rather what tourists have heard of. Real local gourmets will enjoy something new every day.
In this article I tell you about the most delicious, sweet and authentic desserts of Istanbul, and also give recommendations on where to try these treats to get the best impressions.
Baklava
Honey baklava, or baklava in Turkish, only exists in fairy tales. In reality, this traditional Turkish dessert is made not with honey, but with sugar syrup. In Istanbul you'll find dozens of types of baklava: square, triangular or, as they call it here, carrot-shaped, with pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, chocolate. In Istanbul, baklava is arranged to form the Turkish flag and portraits of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. A true national treasure! Every housewife in every region has her own recipe.
Where to try it:
📍 Karaköy Güllüoğlu. The most famous baklava shop in the city. If you ask locals where to try baklava, they will definitely send you to this establishment. They've been selling baklava here since 1949, and the Güllüoğlu family has been making sweets since the late 19th century. The café was recently renovated and opened in a new location, but in the same Karaköy district. Stylish interior with notes of that same historic establishment, where all the staff wear white shirts and politely communicate with visitors in proper Turkish that you can hear on television and in series. In English too, of course. The café is located near the Karaköy waterfront, so you can visit it as part of a boat trip.
📍 Hafız Mustafa 1864. A famous chain of cafés with Eastern sweets. The prices are slightly inflated, like everything touristy in Istanbul, but it's worth it. Beautiful interior and delicious desserts.
📍 Safa. A simpler, more authentic place, but they serve equally delicious sweets there.
Where to try it:
📍 Karaköy Güllüoğlu. The most famous baklava shop in the city. If you ask locals where to try baklava, they will definitely send you to this establishment. They've been selling baklava here since 1949, and the Güllüoğlu family has been making sweets since the late 19th century. The café was recently renovated and opened in a new location, but in the same Karaköy district. Stylish interior with notes of that same historic establishment, where all the staff wear white shirts and politely communicate with visitors in proper Turkish that you can hear on television and in series. In English too, of course. The café is located near the Karaköy waterfront, so you can visit it as part of a boat trip.
📍 Hafız Mustafa 1864. A famous chain of cafés with Eastern sweets. The prices are slightly inflated, like everything touristy in Istanbul, but it's worth it. Beautiful interior and delicious desserts.
📍 Safa. A simpler, more authentic place, but they serve equally delicious sweets there.
Cold baklava (Soğuk baklava)
A trendy new Turkish dessert. The same baklava, but not as cloying, because it's covered not with sweet syrup, but with milk cream that tastes like melted vanilla ice cream. While you can ask to have regular baklava vacuum-packed and easily take it home as a souvenir for loved ones, you can't do that with cold baklava. The dessert needs to be eaten immediately. Cold baklava is definitely worth trying, even if you're not a fan of regular baklava.
Where to try it:
📍 Pier Habib Süt Balkava
📍 Karaköy Güllüoğlu
Where to try it:
📍 Pier Habib Süt Balkava
📍 Karaköy Güllüoğlu
Kunefe
A sweet from eastern Turkey, from Hatay province. Hatay is located on the border with Syria, so this dessert has the spirit of a true Arabian night and the Middle East. In my opinion, this is one of the most unusual Eastern sweets you can try in Turkey. It consists of a special type of cheese and thin strands of kadayıf dough. Künefe is generously soaked with sugar syrup. Optionally, you can add nuts, ice cream or thick cream — kaymak. Admit it, it sounds strange: salty cheese, sweet dough. But trust me, this dessert leaves no one indifferent. It surprises, amazes, makes your taste buds first go into shock, and then enjoy the unusual combination. I recommend getting it with ice cream. Künefe is served hot. If you add another combination to salty + sweet: hot + cold, you get a taste extravaganza.
Where to try it:
📍 Hatay Asi Künefeleri
Where to try it:
📍 Hatay Asi Künefeleri
Katmer
Another sweet that you absolutely must try during your trip to Istanbul. It consists of thin sheets of dough wrapped around crushed pistachios, semolina and kaymak. All this is baked for several minutes in a wood-fired oven until it has a crispy golden crust and is served with tea, coffee or a glass of warm milk. A magical combination! Katmer is one of those dishes that can be both a full meal and a dessert. In eastern Turkey, katmer is a popular breakfast. There you'll find many establishments that serve only this dessert. They open early, from about 4 AM, so that ordinary workers can charge up with energy before the workday. In Istanbul, katmer is served as a dessert in regular restaurants or in cafés with sweets.
Where to try it:
📍 By Ulus Steakhouse
📍Safa
Where to try it:
📍 By Ulus Steakhouse
📍Safa
Sutlac
If all children in kindergarten were fed sutlac, kids would love porridge. Because sutlac is nothing other than rice porridge with milk and sugar, baked in the oven. After baking, an appetizing crust forms on top. The dessert is eaten with a spoon, like pudding. Served cold.
Where to try it:
📍 Karaköy Özsüt. Here they serve desserts made from buffalo milk. They turn out rich and incredibly creamy.
📍 Murat Muhallebicisi
Where to try it:
📍 Karaköy Özsüt. Here they serve desserts made from buffalo milk. They turn out rich and incredibly creamy.
📍 Murat Muhallebicisi
Keskul
A milk pudding with added almond flour. A light dessert with a piquant nutty aftertaste that won't hurt your figure too much, but will add +100 to your mood.
Where to try it:
📍 Murat Muhallebicisi
📍 Hafız Mustafa 1864
Where to try it:
📍 Murat Muhallebicisi
📍 Hafız Mustafa 1864
Kazandibi
A truly unusual sweet because it contains... chicken breast! Don't rush to say "yuck." If I hadn't told you that there's chicken in the ingredients, you wouldn't have guessed. Everything combines so organically. The breast simply gives it a special texture. When I first tried kazandibi, I thought cheese had been added to the dessert. The taste is milky, with a caramel crust on top. You definitely won't forget this gastronomic experience. Lately, pastry chefs most often prepare the dessert without even adding chicken breast. If you want the authentic version, try it at a trusted place.
Where to try it:
📍 Murat Muhallebicisi
📍 Taksim Sütiş
Where to try it:
📍 Murat Muhallebicisi
📍 Taksim Sütiş
Turkish delight (Lokum)
Probably one of the most popular Turkish sweets. If you watched the series "Magnificent Century," you surely remember how Hürrem Sultan constantly ordered servants to bring her lokum.
There are several versions of this dessert's origin:
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once broke his tooth when eating a hard dessert. Dentistry is an expensive "pleasure" in all times, even for sultans. So the ruler ordered that only soft sweets be served at the table. The palace pastry chef had to be creative. He invented lokum, which consisted of sugar, starch and rose water;
According to another version, lokum was originally medicine: doctors mixed honey or sugar syrup with spices and herbs. Later its dessert version appeared;
According to the third version, the recipe for the sweet was brought to the Ottoman Empire from Arab states. Lokum translates from Arabic as "pleasure for the palate."
There are several versions of this dessert's origin:
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once broke his tooth when eating a hard dessert. Dentistry is an expensive "pleasure" in all times, even for sultans. So the ruler ordered that only soft sweets be served at the table. The palace pastry chef had to be creative. He invented lokum, which consisted of sugar, starch and rose water;
According to another version, lokum was originally medicine: doctors mixed honey or sugar syrup with spices and herbs. Later its dessert version appeared;
According to the third version, the recipe for the sweet was brought to the Ottoman Empire from Arab states. Lokum translates from Arabic as "pleasure for the palate."
However it may be, lokum is firmly associated with the East for us. On the streets of Istanbul it greets tourists literally at every stall. But it's important to know where to try it, because sometimes it's made from poor-quality products, with the addition of huge amounts of sugar. So the first impression might not be the most pleasant. Try lokum where it's been made for centuries or where natural ingredients are used.
By the way, lokum isn't just cubes sprinkled with powdered sugar. Pay attention to the sweet in "sausage" form. Such lokum can be vacuum-packed, so it stays fresh for several weeks.
Where to try it:
📍 Hazer Baba. Famous lokum production with minimal sugar content and with organic fruits and berries. This brand's products are expensive, but high-quality and very tasty. I recommend visiting their shop at the Egyptian Bazaar.
📍 Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir
📍 Lokum Atölyesi
By the way, lokum isn't just cubes sprinkled with powdered sugar. Pay attention to the sweet in "sausage" form. Such lokum can be vacuum-packed, so it stays fresh for several weeks.
Where to try it:
📍 Hazer Baba. Famous lokum production with minimal sugar content and with organic fruits and berries. This brand's products are expensive, but high-quality and very tasty. I recommend visiting their shop at the Egyptian Bazaar.
📍 Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir
📍 Lokum Atölyesi
Ayva tatlisi
Another favorite dessert of Hürrem Sultan. While you can argue about lokum, because when exactly it appeared is unknown for certain. Perhaps the red-haired sultana never even got to try it. But Hürrem definitely loved sweet quince. Quince is stewed for a long time in sugar syrup and spices, with the addition of lemon juice. The fruits become soft and acquire a terracotta shade. Served with nuts and kaymak, which neutralize the sweetness. In Turkey, pumpkin is prepared the same way.
Where to try it:
📍 Murat Muhallebicisi
Where to try it:
📍 Murat Muhallebicisi
Pismaniye
This is something between Turkish halva and cotton candy. Small sweet airy lumps that melt in your mouth. Come in different flavors: vanilla, pistachio, chocolate and others. An excellent sweet souvenir from Istanbul.
Where to try it:
📍 Koska
Where to try it:
📍 Koska
Dondurma
Or Turkish ice cream. It differs from ours not only in taste, but also in texture. Orchid root is added to the sweet, which makes the ice cream stretchy like chewing gum. On the streets of Istanbul you'll see men in red vests and fez hats who invite you to try the cold treat. Serving ice cream is a whole show. The seller will definitely play with you, not letting you take the cone in your hands. Playing with the ice cream man is children's favorite entertainment.
Where to try it:
📍 Streets of Istanbul. Keep in mind that you need to ask about the price in advance, clearly state the portion size and number of scoops. Istanbul ice cream vendors are quite the schemers.
📍 Mado. The homeland of Turkish ice cream is the city of Kahramanmaraş, or as Turks call it, Maraş. Mado is an abbreviation of Maraş Dondurma. So this café chain sells ice cream according to original recipes from its historical homeland.
Where to try it:
📍 Streets of Istanbul. Keep in mind that you need to ask about the price in advance, clearly state the portion size and number of scoops. Istanbul ice cream vendors are quite the schemers.
📍 Mado. The homeland of Turkish ice cream is the city of Kahramanmaraş, or as Turks call it, Maraş. Mado is an abbreviation of Maraş Dondurma. So this café chain sells ice cream according to original recipes from its historical homeland.
San Sebastian cheesecake
Yes, the famous Basque cheesecake is breaking popularity records in Istanbul. Despite the fact that the dessert's homeland is Spain, Turks came up with pouring liquid chocolate over it, sprinkling it with pistachios and shooting viral videos against the backdrop of Galata Tower. The cheesecake is indeed delicious and tender. It perfectly breaks up the string of Eastern sweets.
Where to try it:
📍 Viyana Kahvesi
Where to try it:
📍 Viyana Kahvesi
Dubai chocolate
Another foreign trend that has taken root excellently in Turkey. Practically every pastry shop and coffee house has made their own version of chocolate with pistachio paste and kadayıf dough. It's an excellent souvenir for family and friends.
Where to try it:
📍 Balbedem
📍 Şekerci Cafer Erol. A famous cafe in the Asian part of Istanbul. Here you'll find not only many unusual sweets, but also admire the facade if you come on the eve of New Year holidays. I told you more about this in the article about Kadıköy. You can reach the Asian shore by yacht by ordering a boat trip from Courage-Voyage.
Where to try it:
📍 Balbedem
📍 Şekerci Cafer Erol. A famous cafe in the Asian part of Istanbul. Here you'll find not only many unusual sweets, but also admire the facade if you come on the eve of New Year holidays. I told you more about this in the article about Kadıköy. You can reach the Asian shore by yacht by ordering a boat trip from Courage-Voyage.
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Lokma
A favorite treat of Istanbul kids, because lokma is often given away for free right on the streets. The thing is that lokma is a memorial sweet. It's distributed to commemorate the deceased. Lokma can also be bought in cafés with Eastern desserts. It looks like small balls in sweet syrup.
Where to try it:
📍 Safa
Where to try it:
📍 Safa
Irmik helvasi
Another "porridge" that will definitely appeal to both children and adults. Irmik is semolina. It's prepared with a large amount of butter and nuts, which gives the dessert a caramel flavor. Served with ice cream, which quickly melts when it meets the hot cereal. Sometimes decorated with whipped cream. Very delicious!
Where to try it:
📍 Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant. The establishment is located in the historic part of Istanbul — Sultanahmet. Here you can stop for lunch after walking around the city, and dessert will be served as a compliment from the establishment.
📍 Helvacı Ali
Where to try it:
📍 Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant. The establishment is located in the historic part of Istanbul — Sultanahmet. Here you can stop for lunch after walking around the city, and dessert will be served as a compliment from the establishment.
📍 Helvacı Ali
Candied chestnuts
I told you about chestnuts as street food in the article about Turkish street food. But Turks have adapted to making dessert from them. Chestnuts are stewed in sugar syrup, sometimes covered with chocolate. You can eat them like candy. You can bring them as a souvenir.
Where to try it:
📍 Kahve Dünyası
Where to try it:
📍 Kahve Dünyası
Turkish sweets are part of a rich cultural heritage, carefully passed down from generation to generation. From juicy pistachio baklava to sweet Turkish delight — each sweet tells a story, conveys traditions and the atmosphere of Eastern hospitality. With Eastern sweets, every tea time turns into a little celebration!
Ekaterina Kosova
- author of the article
I moved to Istanbul before it became mainstream. I love exploring the eternal city and discovering interesting and delicious places. I write texts, professionally stroll and travel, and freeze moments through photos and videos.
