Turkish Desserts and Drinks to Try in Istanbul: Baklava, Künefe, Lokum, Coffee and Boza
Try baklava (with pistachio from Gaziantep), hot künefe with cheese, Turkish delight (lokum), milk puddings like sütlaç and kazandibi, and Maraş ice cream. To drink: tea, Turkish coffee, ayran with food, salep and boza in winter.
Sweets
- Baklava: thin layers of pastry with pistachio or walnut, soaked in syrup. The best pistachio baklava follows the tradition of Gaziantep; Karaköy is the best-known place to try it in Istanbul.
- Künefe: shredded pastry filled with unsalted cheese, baked and served hot with syrup and pistachio.
- Lokum (Turkish delight): soft cubes of starch and sugar flavoured with rose, lemon or pistachio. Hacı Bekir, in business since 1777, is one of the oldest names.
- Milk puddings: sütlaç (baked rice pudding), kazandibi (caramelised milk pudding) and tavuk göğsü, a dessert made with chicken breast. The best place to try them is Hafız Mustafa in Sirkeci, right next to the Marmaray station: the staff wear traditional Ottoman-style hats, and with a pudding and a glass of tea in front of you it feels like stepping back into old Istanbul.
- Dondurma: stretchy Maraş-style ice cream, served by vendors who enjoy playing tricks with the cone.
- Lokma and tulumba: fried dough in syrup, a street favourite.
Drinks
- Çay: black tea in a tulip glass, drunk all day.
- Turkish coffee: finely ground coffee boiled in a cezve and served with the grounds; Turkish coffee culture is on UNESCO's list of intangible heritage since 2013. Order it sade (no sugar), orta (medium) or şekerli (sweet). Wherever you order one, ask: “Mehmet Efendi kahvesi mi?” (is it Mehmet Efendi coffee?). Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi is the best-known Turkish coffee in Istanbul, roasted near the Spice Bazaar since 1871, with a taste you won’t find anywhere else.
- Ayran: a salty yoghurt drink, the classic partner for kebab and döner.
- Salep: a hot, thick milk drink with cinnamon, made from orchid root flour, sold in winter.
- Boza: a fermented millet drink topped with cinnamon and roasted chickpeas. Vefa Bozacısı has served it since 1876.
- Şalgam and fresh juices: a tangy turnip and carrot drink, and pomegranate or orange juice pressed on the street.
Taking sweets home
Baklava and lokum travel well in sealed boxes; shops will pack them for the plane. Buy them on your last day and keep them in your hand luggage. If you are flying out of IST or SAW, we pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the airport at a fixed price.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the best baklava come from?
The pistachio baklava tradition comes from Gaziantep; in Istanbul, Karaköy is the best-known area to try it.
How do I order Turkish coffee?
Say how sweet you want it when you order: sade (no sugar), orta (medium) or şekerli (sweet). The sugar is cooked in, so it can't be added later.
What is boza?
A thick, slightly sour fermented millet drink served cold with cinnamon and roasted chickpeas, mostly in winter.