10 food markets worth the trip across Turkey, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Turkey guides.
Almacı Pazarı ★ 4.7 · Gaziantep
sahinbey · Şekeroğlu Mah, Merkez, 27220 Şahinbey/Gaziantep
Almacı Pazarı has traded in central Gaziantep for around 250 years, and its stalls still carry the isot, pekmez, dried aubergine and green pistachio.
Tip: Buy isot here rather than at the airport. Ask for the coarse flakes, not the powder.
Kadıköy Çarşısı ★ 4.7 · Istanbul
kadıköy · Caferağa Mah., Muvakkıthane Caddesi No:18, 34710 Kadıköy, İstanbul
Kadıköy Çarşısı, the Asian-side produce maze threaded through Güneşlibahçe Sokak, the city's most concentrated food market with Aegean fish.
Elmacı Pazarı ★ 4.6 · Gaziantep
sahinbey · Karatarla Mah. Elmacı Çıkmazı, Şahinbey/Gaziantep
Elmacı Pazarı is the biggest food market in Gaziantep, a spice and nut bazaar named for the apple trade that once filled these lanes off Karatarla.
Tip: Come early. The nut sellers restock at dawn and the lanes are impassable by mid-morning.
Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) ★ 4.5 · Istanbul
eminönü · Rüstem Paşa Mah., Mısır Çarşısı, 34116 Fatih, İstanbul
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.
Kapalıçarşı (Grand Bazaar) ★ 4.4 · Istanbul
fatih · Kalpakçılar Caddesi, Beyazıt Mah., 34126 Fatih, İstanbul
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.
Feriköy Organik Pazarı ★ 4.4 · Istanbul
şişli · Ergenekon Mah., Lala Şahin Sokak, 34373 Şişli, İstanbul
Feriköy Organik Pazarı, the Buğday Association's Saturday organic farmers market in a Şişli car park since 2006, sourcing certified produce, cheese.
Zincirli Bedesten ★ 4.3 · Gaziantep
sahinbey · Alaüddevle Sk. No:30, 27400 Şahinbey/Gaziantep
Zincirli Bedesten is the covered market Darendeli Hüseyin Paşa built in Gaziantep in 1718, and its 73 units now sell spices, handicrafts and regional gifts.
Tip: Do the covered lanes first, then the open bazaar. The 73 units run to spices, handicrafts and gifts.
Karaköy Balık Pazarı ★ 4.3 · Istanbul
karaköy · Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mah., Fermeneciler Caddesi No:35, 34420 Beyoğlu, İstanbul
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.
Gümrük Hanı ★ 4.2 · Gaziantep
sahinbey · Şekeroğlu, Gümrük Cd. No:14, 27000 Şahinbey/Gaziantep
Gümrük Hanı is one of the old customs inns of Gaziantep, a stone courtyard off Gümrük Caddesi where coffee grinders and craft workshops still trade.
Tip: Kahveci Seddar Bey works out of the courtyard six days a week, closed on Mondays.
Kadıköy Salı Pazarı ★ 4.0 · Istanbul
kadıköy · Hasanpaşa Mah., Uzunçayır Caddesi No:50, 34722 Kadıköy, İstanbul
Kadıköy Salı Pazarı, the Tuesday and Friday neighbourhood bazaar in Göztepe, a covered market floor stacked with cheap seasonal produce, pickles.