Where Istanbul shops, snacks and lunches: the markets worth your morning.
Food markets, farmers markets and covered halls: where Istanbul shops, snacks and lunches.
The Grand Bazaar covering 30,700 square metres of Fatih, 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops, with lokum, baklava and Turkish-coffee bean counters mixed through the spice halls.
Go for: Spices, Lokum, Turkish coffee, Souvenir food gifts
Mısır Çarşısı in Eminönü, the 17th-century spice market next to the Galata Bridge stocking saffron, sumac, pistachios and Turkish tea across an L-shaped vaulted hall.
Go for: Saffron, Sumac, Pistachios, Lokum, Turkish tea
Kadıköy Çarşısı, the Asian-side produce maze threaded through Güneşlibahçe Sokak, the city's most concentrated food market with Aegean fish, Anatolian cheeses and roasted nuts.
Go for: Fish, Aegean produce, Cheese, Olives, Mezze ingredients
Karaköy Balık Pazarı in the Perşembe Pazarı arcades, a 30-stall daily fish market where Bosphorus boats land at dawn and the better Karaköy lokantas shop the same morning.
Go for: Sea bass, Bonito, Anchovies, Calamari
Beşiktaş Cumartesi Pazarı, a 400-stall Saturday market spread across a multi-floor car-park building, produce on the ground floor and household goods upstairs.
Go for: Seasonal produce, Cheese, Pickled vegetables, Bulk olives
Kadıköy Salı Pazarı, the Tuesday and Friday neighbourhood bazaar in Göztepe, a covered market floor stacked with cheap seasonal produce, pickles, second-hand goods and vinyl.
Go for: Cheap produce, Pickles, Cheese, Spices
Peak food season in Istanbul is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Istanbul rewards trust.