Karaköy Güllüoğlu ★ 4.7
Karaköy Güllüoğlu has rolled phyllo baklava since 1949 at one Rıhtım Caddesi counter near Galataport, Nadir Güllü's pistachio version the canonical Istanbul.
OrderFıstıklı baklava, Şöbiyet, Kadayıf
Shredded kataifi pastry layered over melted Hatay cheese, baked golden in a copper pan, soaked in lemony sugar syrup, served hot with crushed pistachio and clotted cream.
Künefe is the canonical Levantine cheese pastry, with Antakya (Hatay) in southern Turkey claiming the strongest version; the pastry arrived in Istanbul's Beyoğlu kitchens through the 20th century as the city's southern-Turkish community grew. The dish uses Hatay's distinctive unsalted whey cheese for its stretchy melt, sandwiched between layers of crisp kataifi pastry. Hafız Mustafa, Saray Muhallebicisi and the Beyoğlu dessert houses all serve the version with kaymak (Turkish clotted cream).
3 editor picks for Künefe in Istanbul, ranked by editorial score. All Istanbul signature dishes · Künefe across every city.
Also in: Gaziantep.
Hafız Mustafa 1864 ★ 4.2
Hafız Mustafa 1864 on Hamidiye Caddesi, the original Sultan Abdülaziz-era candy shop at the Eminönü viaduct, now a multi-floor stop for baklava.
OrderPistachio baklava, Turkish delight, Sütlaç
Saray Muhallebicisi ★ 4.2
Saray Muhallebicisi on Istiklal, the 1935 muhallebici pulling chicken-breast pudding, kazandibi and milk-pudding bowls into the small hours.
Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide
Künefe makes more sense with someone from Istanbul explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Taste Künefe with a local in Istanbul
This dish
2 hours
Künefe Dessert Cooking Class at a Local Home in Istanbul
Learn to make künefe the traditional way in Mehmet's Istanbul home. Build the layers, flip it on the flame, pour the syrup, and eat it fresh from the pan together.
from$119 Check dates
Guided tour · 3 hours
Istanbul: Kadikoy Food Tour with 12+ Delicacies Tastings
Savor authentic Turkish dishes in vibrant Kadıköy. From lahmacun to menemen, coffee, and wine, discover the flavors, history, and traditions that make Istanbul a true ...
from$108 Check dates
Day trip · 16 hours
From Istanbul: Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flight & Lunch
See the highlights of Cappadocia on an insightful day trip, including Goreme Open Air Museum and the famous fairy chimneys. Enjoy a roundtrip flight from Istanbul and ...
from$179 Check dates