Bakery counters in Istanbul worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.

Where to queue for bread and pastry

Karaköy Güllüoğlu ★ 4.8

₺ BakeryBaklava and Turkish pastryKaraköyWalk-in only

Karaköy Güllüoğlu, the one-counter Rıhtım Caddesi baklava emporium across from Galataport, has filled the Güllü family's pistachio version since 1949.

Worth the queuePistachio baklava

Directions

Hafız Mustafa 1864 ★ 4.3

₺ BakeryTurkish delight and baklavaEminönüWalk-in only

Hafız Mustafa 1864 on Hamidiye Caddesi, the original Sultan Abdülaziz-era confectioner still rolling lokum and laminated baklava in Eminönü over a 160-year.

Worth the queuePomegranate Turkish delight

Directions

Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir ★ 4.5

₺ BakeryLokum (Turkish delight)EminönüWalk-in only

Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir at Bahçekapı, the 1777-founded confectioner credited with inventing modern lokum, run from a heritage-listed shopfront beside Yeni.

Worth the queueRose-and-pistachio lokum

Directions

Saray Muhallebicisi ★ 4.2

₺ BakeryMuhallebi and Ottoman puddingsBeyoğluWalk-in only

Saray Muhallebicisi on Istiklal, the 1935 muhallebici pulling chicken-breast pudding, kazandibi and milk-pudding bowls into the small hours.

Worth the queueTavuk göğsü chicken-breast pudding

Directions

Beyaz Fırın Etiler ★ 4.1

₺ BakeryTurkish bakery and patisserieBeşiktaşWalk-in only

Beyaz Fırın in Etiler, a heritage Turkish bakery dating to 1836, working out of a two-floor Nispetiye Caddesi space with a vertical garden and a 350-seat.

Worth the queuePogaca cheese rolls

Directions

Borsam Taşfırın ★ 4.2

₺ BakeryStone-oven pide and lahmacunKadıköyWalk-in only

Borsam Taşfırın in Kadıköy, pulling stone-oven lahmacun and pide since 1968 from a glass-fronted counter on the Bahariye side of Caferağa. At Caferağa Mah..

Worth the queueSucuklu pide

Directions

Mado Caddebostan ★ 3.8

₺ BakeryMaraş-style ice cream and milk dessertsKadıköyWalk-in only

Mado on Bağdat Caddesi, the Maraş-origin Kanbur-family ice-cream brand whose first Istanbul branch opened in Caddebostan, famous for the stretchable salep.

Worth the queueKahramanmaraş dövme dondurma

Directions

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