Shopping in

COVERED ("Kapalicarsi") Mon-Sat, 9:00am-7:00pm (closed Sundays) Five-hundred-year-old shopping mall in old city with more than 4,000 shops selling jewelry, carpets, leather, arts & crafts. A couple of suggested shops:

- Sisko Osman Carpets, Kapalıçarşı Zincirli Han No: 15 (90-212) 528-35-48, www.siskoosman.com - Abdulla Natural Products (handmade soaps, textiles, accessories), Alibaba Türbe Sokak No: 25, (90-212) 526-3070, www.abdulla.com

EGYPTIAN or SPICE BAZAAR ("Misir Carsisi") Mon-Sat, 8:00am-7:00pm Eminonu Southwest of Yeni . Established in 1664. The best of herbs, spices, dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, cheeses, olives, caviar, jams & teas. Closed Sundays & October 29.

HAYAT: Misir Carsisi No.8 —In the Spice Bazaar, Tel: (90-212) 528-4586. Spices, dried fruit, caviars.

ANTIQUE MARKET ("Antikacilar Carsisi") Mon-Sat, 10:00am-6:00pm Abide Sitesi, Mecidiyekoy. Old furniture, paintings, crystal, silver, porcelain, copper and carpets. www.mecidiyekoyantikacilar.com

ARASTA BAZAAR A charming street of boutiques, jewelry stores, handicrafts and carpet shops, cafes and restaurants, adjacent to the Blue Mosque. It’s the only bazaar open on Sundays! arastabazaar.com

JENNIFER’S HAMAM Arasta Bazaar No. 135 & 125 (Sultanahmet, next to Blue Mosque) Tel: (90-212) 518-0648. Beautiful, high-quality organic towels, linens and textiles hand-crafted in . Trip Advisor 2014 Certificate of Excellence winner! jennifershamam.com

AKMERKEZ Istiklal Cad. 62, Nispetiye Caddesi, , near downtown. Tel: (90-212) 282-0170. Shopping center with Istanbul's most elegant shops, including Beymen and Vakko. Also has a food court, cafes and supermarket. .com.tr/en

OTHER SHOPPING MALLS • MetroCity, , Tel: (90-212) 344-0660 • Kanyon, Levent, Tel: (90-212) 344-0150

CAFERAGA MEDRESE: Near Arts Bazaar, next to Aghia Sophia. Built by Sinan in the 16th Century, now a cultural and art gallery, courtyard with a café. Relaxed ambience.

PASABAHCE Istiklal Caddesi 314, Beyoglu. Tel: (90-212) 244-0544 Turkey's premier glassmaker. Traditional blue and white striped Cesmibulbul and porcelain tableware.

KUZU DERI LEATHER Bab-ı Ali Caddesi No: 7, A Cagaloglu Tel: (90-212) 513-5898. Finest leather and fur. Popular name for over 40 years. en.kuzu.com.tr. Be sure to tell them you are from “NESA” for a special discount!

PUNTO CARPET Nuruosmaniye, Gazi Sinan Pasa Sk. Vezirhan No. 17 34440, Istanbul, Tel: (90-212) 511-0853, puntocarpet.com. Be sure to tell them you are from “NESA” for a special discount!

ISTANBUL HANDICRAFTS CENTER Nuruosmaniye Cad. No: 32 & 54 Cagaloglu (near Grand Bazaar). Tel: (90-212) 517-6782, 520 91 92. Crafts shops in a restored religious school. You can see artisans at work and buy products. Be sure to tell them you are from “NESA” for a special discount! istanbulhandicraftcenter.com/

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Dining Out in Istanbul

Check out these links: • Culinary Backstreets Walking Tours: www.culinarybackstreets.com/culinary- walks/istanbul/ • “Best Restaurants in Istanbul”, CNN Travel: travel.cnn.com/best-restaurants-istanbul- 526756

HANEDAN FISH & MEAT RESTAURANTS Both restaurants are located in the same building. Barbaros Meydanı Motor Iskelesi Yani, Cigdem Sok. No: 3, Besiktas. (90-212) 259-4017

GALATA BRIDGE FISH RESTAURANTS/CAFES Spanning the and practically across the street from the Spice Bazaar, the Galata Bridge is a bustling melange of fishermen, foot and auto traffic, tourists, and boat docks, with fish restaurants and cafes underneath. Try a delicious fish sandwich as you take in the view!

ASITANE RESTAURANT Kariye Camii Sokak No: 6, Edirnekapı, Tel: (90-212) 635-7997. Serves Ottoman recipes from the Topkapi Palace. Atmosphere is nice and quiet, and it is located in an old wooden Ottoman-era building near the Chora Church. It's a bit of a ride from the hotel so plan ahead. www.asitanerestaurant.com.

ZEYREKHANE RESTAURANT Zeyrek Mah, Ibadethane Arkasi Sk. No: 10, Zehrek-. Tel: (90-212) 532-2778. A lovely setting with an amazing view of the Bosphorus and the Suleimaniye Mosque Complex. No alcohol served. www.zeyrekhane.com.

TOPAZ RESTAURANT Inonu Caddesi, Omer Avni Mahallesi No. 50, Gumussuyu. Tel: (90-212) 249-1001. A modern, pricey restaurant, excellent food and a jaw-dropping view. www.topazistanbul.com.

TIKE - Tike Gunesli: Kocman Caddesi, Ziyal Plaza No. 38, C Blok, Güneşli, near Int’l Airport. (90-212) 630-5930. - Tike Club: Hanımeli sok. No: 5-2, Levent, (90-212) 279-5070, 324-8763 Traditionally charcoal grilled meats, authentic appetizers, delicious desserts. (No alcohol served). Several locations around Istanbul. www.tike.com.tr

BALIKCI SABAHATTIN Cankurtaran Mh., Seyt Hasankuyu Sokak 1, Sultanahmet (90-212) 458-1824. One of the top seafood restaurants. Reservations necessary.

BEYTI RESTAURANT Orman Sokak 8, , near airport. (90-212) 663-2990. Meat dishes. Closed Mondays.

MARINA RESTAURANT Kurucesme Parki lei Kurucesme, Beşiktaş, (90-212) 287-2653, 287-6241. Seafood, nice Bosphorus view. www.marinabalik.com

URCAN Kireçburnu Cd. No: 13, Sariyer, near the Bosphorus Fish Market. One of the most famous and oldest fish restaurants. (90-212) 262-0024

ORIENT HOUSE At the entrance of the Grand Bazaar. International restaurant with a nostalgic atmosphere and delicious . Great for a break during a shopping trip to the Bazaar!

ARMADA TERRACE In the Hotel Armada, Ahirkapi St No. 24, Sultanahmet (Old City), not far from Aghia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. (90-212) 455-4455. A beautiful place to dine with a lovely view of the city. armadahotel.com.tr/pg_en/

BEYOGLU DISTRICT On the northern edge of the Golden Horn, once known at "Pera", the international quarter. The ‘Hip’, bohemian shopping, dining and entertainment district of Istanbul. Pedestrianized Istikial Caddesi is at its heart, runs from to Tunel/Old Pera. Recommended restaurants: Hasirli, Boncuk. Also: Cicek Pasaji (Balik Pazari, Nevizade Sokak, Galatasaray Beyoglu, off Istiklal Cadd.)

CICEK PASAJI (FLOWER BAZAAR) On Istiklal Caddesi, the “Flower Bazaar” is a pedestrianized street lined with charming restaurants serving “meze” and other traditional fare. Great atmosphere. Trip Advisor link (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293974-d1818303-Reviews- Cicek_Pasaji_Flower_Bazaar-Istanbul.html)

ORTAKOY QUARTER The cobblestoned Ortakoy Quarter, a 10-square-block area on the shores of the Bosphorus has scores of cafes, restaurants, bars and a permanent flea market with carpets, antiques and handicrafts. But the "essence" of Ortakoy is the "meze" (appetizer) restaurants. There are many to choose from! Here are a couple: § Ilhaminin Yeri: No. 6 Osmanzade St., a couple of blocks from the Bosphorus. Great spot for meze. (90-212) 260-8080 § A La Turka: No. 8 Hazine St., near Ortakoy mosque. Classic Turkish dishes. (212) 258-7924

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CEMBERLITAS HAMAMI Vezirhan Cad. No.8, Cemberlitas (not far from the Grand Bazaar). Tel: (90-212) 522-7974, 520- 1850. Open every day 6:00am-midnight. No visit to Istanbul would be complete without a Turkish bath! The "Original Turkish Bath" built in 1584. Based on a plan by the master architect Mimar Sinan. cemberlitashamami.com.tr/. No reservations necessary.

CULINARY BACKSTREETS Enjoy cooking classes and culinary walking tours through "lesser-seen historic backstreets and authentic markets". Visit some "untouristed monuments" in-between eating stops. Groups of 2- 7. www.culinarybackstreets.com/culinary-walks/istanbul