Sabrina Cerri spends some time at Istinye Park’s super luxurious outdoor shopping area.
The restaurant Masa reigns at the centre of the area, lounge music pouring out from its expansive terrace to create just the right ambiance to accompany you as you make your way around the surrounding stores. The more than 20 different luxury brand boutiques standing side by side and running all the way around you in a fashionable blur are sure to set any shopaholic’s pulse racing! From Louis Vuitton to Dior passing through jewelers De Beers and Gilan and going back to Dolce and Gabbana and Gucci, it’s enough to make your head spin as their impressive windows tease you from every front. And if this wasn’t enough, Miu Miu and Gianfranco Ferre will be opening their doors in the next couple months!
But Istinye’s outdoor area has more than fashion to offer, with a variety of high-end venues to satisfy as many breaks as you wish to take from shopping, as well as a graceful flower shop and its own subsidiary of the famously delicious Butterfly Chocolates (be sure to sit at their small café and try the new macaroons or unexpected chocolate flavors like banana & black pepper, lemonade or even Raki!)
An added particularity, especially of interest for foreign visitors, is the Global Refund/tax free office located at the entrance of the mall enabling you to forego all airport hassle.
After an afternoon of wandering through this shopper’s paradise I’d like to highlight some of the places although as a general comment I was pleasantly surprised by the overall friendliness of the people working in the different venues – they make the place less daunting than it actually appears!
Ralph Lauren
Standing like a magnificent villa overlooking the area, Ralph Lauren’s only store in Turkey differentiates itself from the typical facades of the other fashion boutiques. It’s interior only reinforces this with it’s long winding staircase, beautiful paintings and lush décor which make you feel like you are entering Mr. Lauren’s house itself. The store carries the Collection (fresh from the runway), Black and Blue labels for women and the Purple, Black and Polo labels for men along with full accessory lines for both. From sumptuous eveningwear to more colorful and fun casual wear the store offers timeless style for all occasions.
Fendi
The store, although rather small in size when compared to most of the others, is nevertheless packed with goodies for all Fendi lovers. The quiet and downbeat atmosphere of the boutique is compensated by the wide assortment of colorful, quirky bags endlessly playing with the renowned Fendi logo but also including the more classic models together with playful shoes and a selection of ready to wear. The place is cozily cluttered with everything seemingly at reach making it easy to look around.
Bottega Veneta
Offering the largest variety of its products in Istanbul, Istinye’s Bottega Veneta store is a perfect reflection of the brand’s subtle yet undeniable elegance. The somber décor, clean lines and warm brown tones of the store are a reverence to the exquisite accessories that dominate the entrance. A floor to ceiling display flaunts an array of the house’s woven leather bags in various shapes and striking colors dominated by whites, oranges and blues, ideal for the summer… A stairway then brings you to the second floor where you can find a complementary albeit concise selection of the brand’s clothing collection.
Paul Smith
In true spirit of the brand’s colorful nature, the store is more upbeat and cheerful than its counterparts. As you enter you are faced with a white-washed wall cluttered with photos and paintings before you turn your head right and are greeted by an array of brightly colored accessories ranging from polo shirts and socks to trendy shoes for a modern businessman and lest you forget, the stripy multi-colored Paul Smith branded football. Also offered at the store are the women’s and men’s ready to wear lines that are surprisingly fresh and wearable – slightly more down-toned then the accessories.
BCBG
The Istinye Park BCBG is a rather packed store that can also be accessed from within the mall. The friendly staff are keen to help you whether you are in there for the easy going daywear or are looking for that certain dress to get you through an array of cocktails, weddings or other events of that sort which seem to multiply in the summer. The store is practically divided into these sections by an invisible line and all surround a pillar of accessories to suit any of your picks, though there is a certain tendency to drift towards the beautiful gowns in the corner that beckon to you in a rainbow of colors.
Beymen & Bej
Although Beymen has numerous locations throughout the country, their store in Istinye is still worth a visit. You enter into a dazzling white expanse filled with accessories whichever way you look. The store is dominated by a gigantic central staircase which leads you up to an equally luminous ready to wear floor or down to a more laid back area with upbeat music where you can find younger more casual collections. A great stop for those who want access to a vast range of the most sought after luxury brands in the fashion world all under one roof.
As soon as you start feeling dizzy from the seemingly endless store, you can just pop into Beymen’s recently opened Bej Restaurant/Bar, conveniently accessible from the store or from the street. Although only open since February the venue has already established itself as a hit and with its soon-to-expand terrace and young friendly staff, it’s sure to stay that way.
Ermenegildo Zegna
Although there are men’s collections sold in a large portion of the stores, the focus always seems to be on women. Ermenegildo Zegna on the other hand is strictly and undeniably masculine. The store breathes understated elegance and power, targeting the man who appreciates quality and classic beauty. The ambiance though serious is warm, supported by a welcoming professional staff. From the suits and shirts to the full range of accessories any businessman is sure to fulfill his shopping needs here. And then, if you wander upstairs you’ll encounter the Made to Measure service for the man who seeks true luxury. A professional tailor will take your measurements and help you select the materials for your tailor-made suit, shirt, pants or coat to be produced then shipped to you in a few weeks. Also worth noting, the brand’s own tailor comes from Italy to take appointments at the store (as well as the Nişantaşı one) every 3 to 4 months… something surely worth the wait.
De Beers
A little world of fantasy for every woman… This is De Beers’ only store in Turkey and it is truly everything you could wish for. The shop itself has no outstanding particularity but then it’s possible that the dazzling array of diamonds impedes you from noticing anything else. The store is divided into 3 areas; the first you are greeted with carries the Bridal Collection. Then as you move into the store you will encounter the Design Collection with its fantasy pieces and as if this was not enough, at the very back is a selection of High End pieces which are each more spectacular than the next… The welcoming salespeople only make the temptation harder to resist.
Complete list of stores: Hugo Boss, Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Dolce Gabbana, Paul Smith, Bottega Veneta, Gianfranco Ferre (soon), BCBG Max Azria, Gilan, Rhodium, Nazlim Cicek, Armani, Burberry, Coach, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Fendi, Dior, Beymen, Moschino, Chloe, Jimmy Choo, De Beers, Ralph Lauren.
Open everyday from 10:00am-10:00pm
Masa
It’s hard to miss Masa, the glass and wood giant with its dominating central location and its vast terrace that is almost always full any time the weather begins to warm up. The interior feels almost equally spacious with its high ceiling and floor to ceiling windows so that you don’t miss out on any of the action. It’s almost impossible to go to this shopping area and not stop for at least a coffee in this ever-bustling spot, which clearly is the place to be and be seen. The venue has been acting as a people magnet since the day it opened and has not lost an ounce of its popularity since.
I loved their crispy wood-oven pizzas though I’ve also heard that their variety of fresh homemade pastas are worth a try.
Borsa
Don’t be fooled by the inconspicuous entrance at one corner of the outdoor area. Just one flight of stairs (or elevator) brings you magically to a bright expansive dining area with floor to ceiling windows and a fantastic terrace overlooking the entire shopping area. There is also a room to the side seating up to 30-35 persons for private occasions.
For those already familiar with the quality and service of Borsa (in Harbiye) then this will be no disappointment. This is a must for those who seek and appreciate the refined delicacies of the Ottoman cuisine.
Some suggested main dishes are the Roasted bony lamb shank “Konya style”, the Grilled rack of baby lamb (double boned for a thicker meat) or the “Borsa” veal meatballs. Those with a sweet tooth will be tempted by the Aegean style fig and date pudding with vanilla ice cream, Orange semolina (“Irmik tatlisi”) with creamy ice cream or the classic “Ekmek kadayifi” with cream and walnut.
List of venues: Armani Café, Bej, Borsa, Butterfly