Have you ever thought that trying baklava was enough to say you’ve experienced Turkish desserts? Well, think again! Istanbul boasts a vibrant and diverse dessert scene that many visitors only skim the surface of. In this detailed checklist, we’ll dive deeper to reveal the authentic Turkish sweets that locals truly love—found in charming old-school patisseries, cozy neighborhood bakeries, and freshly made at traditional dessert shops. If you have a sweet tooth and a sense of adventure when it comes to food, this guide will point you to the must-try desserts in Istanbul and show you where to find the real deal.
You were searching ‘What To Eat In Istanbul’ and you’re almost there. Here are some of my favorite desserts in Istanbul. @atourguideinconstantinople
1. Confectioner (Sekerci Cafer Erol)
Taking the surname Erol, the family started to work in the Ottoman palace for many positions. At that time, the family’s work in the dessert production departments of the palace such as halvahane, sugar house and dessert house helped them to increase their experience in this field.
The family opened their first shop in Istanbul in 1807 and returned to their hometown after the great fire in Istanbul after the First World War. In 1935, their grandchildren returned to Istanbul to keep their family heritage alive.
Here’s selection of my favorites from the ‘Confectioner’
Rose Petal Pomegranate Flavored Turkish Delight with Pistachio
Pistachio Coated Pomegranate Turkish Delight
Kiwi Flavored Pistachio Turkish Delight
Rose Flavored Rock Candy
2. Incı (Pearl) Patisserie
Profiterole ‘Cream Puff’
Founded in 1944 by Luka Zigoridis, the patisserie is still in operation today. The patisserie, which is very well known by Istanbul locals, is open until 00.00 at midnight.
It is quite difficult to make a choice in the shop where there are many types of desserts. Everything is very high quality and delicious. That’s why I’ll just share the most well-known dessert of the patisserie.
Bonus: Right after you have the dessert, do not forget the Turkish Coffee.
3. Hacı (Hadji) Bekir
They came to Istanbul in 1777 and opened a small shop. This shop starts to produce confectionery such as Turkish delight, akide (rock candy) sugar, etc. The shop owner, who fulfilled his pilgrimage duty, started to gain fame as Hacı Bekir.
It became indispensable for generations of Istanbulites, young and old. I have been going to this shop since my childhood and I am still a subscriber today. Here are my favorite flavors:
Almond Paste
Halva With Pistachio
Dark Chocolate Covered Orange
Bonus: Don’t you ever miss to invite me 🙂
Reminder: It’s just the tip of the iceberg. As I have mentioned (Part 1), I’m sharing the full list of these types of elite tastes with all of my guests who have already toured with me.
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Oğulcan ÖZDİL, Founder & Professional Tour Guide
