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Beyoglu
One of Istanbul's best bookstores carries an impeccable selection of English-language books, especially ones dealing with the politics and history of Turkey and the Middle East.
Yeni Çarşı Caddesi No: 52, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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The Bazaar Quarter and Environs
There are piles and piles of antique rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings from Central Asia at Horasan, as well as walls covered in strands of colorful beads made out of precious and semiprecious stones from which the staff will help you create your own jewelry. Prices are fair.
Yorgancılar Cad. 22, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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The Bazaar Quarter and Environs
With two shops in the Grand Bazaar, İgüs offers one of the widest selections of scarves and pashminas found anywhere in Turkey, along with reasonable prices.
Yağlıkçılar Cad. 29 and 80, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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Beyoglu
This municipality-run bookshop near the Tünel funicular entrance just off İstiklal Caddesi carries a broad range of coffee-table books and other titles on Istanbul and Turkey, as well as arty and historical postcards and small gift items. There are also branches in the Taksim metro station and at the Kadıköy and Eminönü ferry docks.
Tünel Meydanı, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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Bosphorus
The flagship showroom of the İznik Foundation, dedicated to reviving and preserving the classic art of İznik ceramic and tile work, is in the upscale suburb of Etiler. Operating as a kind of design studio for İznik tiles, the foundation has lately worked mainly on large-scale institutional projects—ranging from metro stations and mosques in Istanbul to Hermès window displays in Paris—but also design tiles for private clients, and some individual pieces are for sale as well. Prices are high, but the quality is outstanding.
Cengiz Topel Cad., Tuğcular Sok. 1/A, Istanbul, Istanbul, 34337, Turkey
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Sultanahmet
If you are looking for handwoven pestamels (thin, flat-woven towels), blankets, bedpsreads, curtains, or upholstery material, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better source than this inviting shop in the Arasta Bazaar behind the Blue Mosque. There's a larger showroom nearby ( Ogul Sok. No: 20).
Arasta Carsisi, No. 135, Istanbul, Istanbul, 34433, Turkey
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The Bazaar Quarter and Environs
This store specializes in hand-worked copper and brass pieces, both old and new. It's also full of stylish lanterns in traditional Middle Eastern and contemporary styles.
Terziler Sok. 30, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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The Bazaar Quarter and Environs
On a backstreet just outside the western entrance of the Spice Market is the tiny flagship store of Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, Turkey's oldest coffee producer (founded 1871), whose finely ground coffee—which can be seen being ground on the premises—is legendary. You can buy whole-bean or ground coffee, which makes a good souvenir of a trip to Turkey.
Tahmis Sok. 66, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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Beyoglu
Turkey's homegrown jeans company, Mavi (which means "blue" in Turkish), has come a long way since its founding in 1991, with stores now in dozens of countries. The flagship Istanbul store near the top of İstiklal Caddesi (there are two other, smaller, branches farther down the avenue) carries the brand's signature jeans and casual wear, as well as a collection of hip Istanbul-themed T-shirts created by different guest designers.
İstiklal Cad. 123/A, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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Sultanahmet
You can find carved meerschaum pipes in many shops in the Grand Bazaar, as well as in many antique shops, but the collection here is extensive. The shop, founded by Bilal Donmez, is now run by his son, Bulent Donmez, and has a very helpful staff and reliably good wares, including other high-quality handicrafts.
Arasta Carsisi, No. 13, Istanbul, Istanbul, 34433, Turkey
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Beyoglu
On a side street off İstiklal Caddesi, Mor displays the work of a brother-and-sister team who incorporate antique and ethnic elements into their bold, modern jewelry designs. The chunky pieces, mostly made using bronze and stones, are affordably priced.
Turnacıbaşı Sok. 10/B, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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The Bazaar Quarter and Environs
One of the most unusual stores in the Grand Bazaar—indeed, anywhere—is Nick Merdenyan's tiny shop. The artist produces intricate calligraphic works and miniature paintings incorporating motifs and themes from major world religions, as well as universal nonreligious messages. Each small masterpiece is done on dried Dieffenbachia leaves, which he calls "Nick's missionary leaves of tolerance and peace."
Cevahir Bedesteni 24, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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The Bazaar Quarter and Environs
One of the major streets leading to the Grand Bazaar, Nuruosmaniye Caddesi has a pedestrian boulevard section lined with some of the Old City's most stylish (and high-end) shops, with an emphasis on fine carpets, jewelry, and antiques.
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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Beyoglu
This is more of an atelier and private showroom than a conventional store, but it's worth stopping in to check out designer Özlem Tuna's delightful collections of jewelry and delicate ceramic and metal tableware that put a contemporary twist on traditional Turkish designs and motifs.
Boğazkesen Cad. 63, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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Beyoglu
One of Turkey's premier booksellers for more than two decades has an upstairs floor dedicated to English-language works and carries an impressive selection of books in all genres, with a particular emphasis on nonfiction. A second branch in Nişantaşı ( Vali Konağı Cad. 5) also carries a good selection of English-language books, along with nice stationery and small gifts.
Büyükparmakkapı Sok. 3/A, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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Beyoglu
This Beyoğlu institution, now associated with the local arts institution SALT, stocks a well-chosen selection that includes fiction and nonfiction in English, with a focus on the arts, architecture, and urban culture. Specialty magazines and journals are also available.
İstiklal Cad. 136, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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The Bazaar Quarter and Environs
Reached through a doorway just outside the Fesciler Kapısı (Fezmakers' Gate) at the western end of the Grand Bazaar, the Sahaflar Çarşısı is the traditional home of Istanbul's secondhand booksellers. The market now mainly houses bookshops selling new editions in Turkish, primarily school textbooks, though a handful of secondhand and rare book dealers carrying books in English and other languages, as well as prints and other ephemera, is still located here. The market is open every day.
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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The Bazaar Quarter and Environs
Established in 1918 and now run by the fourth generation of the Şengör family, this experienced and trustworthy dealer has a large inventory of carpets from different regions of Anatolia.
Takkeciler Sok. 65–83, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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Beyoglu
This well-established dealer stocks an eclectic collection of antique metal objects, tablewares, lamps, paintings, clocks, jewelry, and other interesting finds.
Çukurcuma Camii Sok. 7, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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Nisantasi
One of Turkey's most established jewelry companies makes re-creations, and also chic interpretations, of ancient Anatolian designs and motifs. It has also branched out into home accessories along similar themes.
Koru Sok. 2, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey