Best  for shopping

What Bağdat Caddesi lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in length. Literally. The street is wide and long and pleasant, with trees popping up outta the sidewalk, you’re free to walk 5-side-by-side, even. The shopping is standard, but the experience is so much nicer, as the area is quite well-kept.

V2k, Vakko, TopShop, oh my!

Caddebostan is the shopping district on the Asian side. And what a pleasant shopping experience it is! Bağdat Caddesi’s sidewalks are much wider than those you’ll find in Nişantaşı or anywhere else on the European side. Plus, Bağdat Caddesi stretches for miles, so you’ll get some great cardio in at the same time. Vakko and V2K are housed in a gorgeous old köşk (villa), complete with huge white columns and a majestic entrance. The selection is wide and the staff is very helpful. The TopShop on Cadde is a must for fans; you can often find pieces that have sold out in the Nişantaşı or Taksim locations, as a completely different crowd frequents this location. Unfortunately they don’t have a men’s section, so leave your boyfriend at home. The bottom floor has loads of shoes, and they even allowed us to use a student discount once, without an ID, shh, don’t tell! Cadde also has its very own GAP. Those familiar with the brand know it’s great for staples like jeans, long-sleeve shirts, polos etc; however, keep in mind that the buyers for GAP Turkey are different than those in the States or UK, so it’s worth popping into; we found the thinnest, softest worn-in shirts last time we were there, not unique, but worth the trip. Mango and ZARA also have extra big branches here; both are multi-leveled and rarely packed to capacity. In fact, the last couple times we stopped by they were empty and the staff was incredibly helpful and attentive. MAC has two branches on Cadde; the décor  is standard, dark and sexy, but again, if you can’t find fall’s hot color ‘Rebel’ (a plum-colored lipstick) anywhere on the European side, head to Cadde. Add in Nine West and Steve Madden for killer winter boots and heels, and you’ve got the Asian Side’s hottest shopping destination. There might not be unusual, one-off stores on Cadde, but you’ll definitely find items that are sold out at branches on the European side, and for that, it’s worth the trek. Plus, strolling down Cadde, under the shade of the many trees popping out of the sidewalk, you’ll never want to step foot in Akmerkez again!

Yoort

This frozen yogurt chain was smart to open its second chain on Cadde. Located at the corner of Iskele Street, Yoort is a familiar concept to Americans: made using few ingredients, water,  non-fat yogurt, sugar, and non-fat powdered milk,  the frozen yogurt also just happens to be probiotic (basically, it’s super good for your intestines!). The light, creamy yogurt comes in two flavors, original and flavor of the day, which changes (last time we went, it was strawberry); we recommend enjoying the original flavor, enhanced with loads of toppings. You can choose from chopped fruit- strawberry, banana, pineapple, kiwi, etc.- sprinkles, chocolate, nuts and much more. It’s the perfect refreshing snack. Mind you, yogurt isn’t the only thing on the menu- they’ve also got smoothies and recently added waffles. The interior is all white and simple, quite calming in fact. We quite enjoyed sitting at bar stools near the glass window, overlooking Iskele Street, but most enjoy it on the go.

(0216) 368 89 19 


Bağdat Caddesi 312/14


Zazie

Fans of Italian food are familiar with Zazie, most probably the Nişantaşı branch. However, the Cadde Zazie has everything the Nişantaşı chain has to offer, plus more: a bigger garden with a view overlooking the bustling street. Upon entering, you’ll find yourself in a large outdoor mezzanine; in the center, you’ll find a gorgeous square bar, in which the bartenders whip up delicious cocktails, wine and coffee, in addition to just looking groovy and adding a lot to the space. Bar stools surround the bar for those who prefer stopping by for a drink and some bar nuts before heading somewhere else. But trust us, that would be a huge mistake, as the pizzas, pasta, meat dishes, salads and desserts are all to die for. Zazie’s pizzas can compete gallantly with Otto and Miss Pizza’s- our favorite is the eponymous pizza, which includes tomatoes, fried eggplant, pine nuts and tulum cheese. Don’t underestimate the rest of the menu, as the grilled chicken dish served with a side of pesto mashed potatoes was unbelievably tasty.

0216 467 26 97

Bağdat Caddesi, no:235

BiBuçuk

BiBuçuk is the best place to enjoy wings in the city, and it just so happens to be located in a gorgeous outdoor garden. Choose from the house’s eponymous wings (spicy or normal), 5-spice wings and Buffalo wings. You can order them for larger groups as well, 24 pieces and 40 pieces are also on offer, not to mention the useful combo wings basket. They’ve also got one of the largest selections of beer we’ve found in Istanbul so far: Corona, Budweiser, Fosters, Bud, Schlenkerla, Belhaven and our personal favorite, Brooklyn! The menu is chock-full of standard diner fare- burgers, wraps, salads, and pasta. BiBuçuk might mean 1.5 but it gets a beş outta beş from us!

0216 478 0393

Bağdat Palas Apt. no: 302

Bağdat Caddesi

Caddebostan Park

This park makes us wish we lived on the Asian Side- there really is nothing like it on the European side. With a pathway that runs along the water for miles, fresh well-tended grass and a park for kids, it’s a great place to kickback on the weekends. The playground for kids looks brand-new and is often full of families spending quality time together. You can often find people working out along the water, either running, walking or biking. There are also some exercise machines set up, which can be used by anyone for free. You’ll often find punky teens drinking beer on the grass, couples seated along the waterfront, enjoying the view, but what really sets this park apart from the rest is how well-kept it is. The grass is bright green, there is hardly any trash lying about and there is even a public bathroom (1TL to use), which is quite clean (we tried it). Last time we stopped by, on a particularly hot day, there were even people swimming in the water, ramps set up for a skateboarding competition and music playing as part of the event for all to enjoy. It really seems like the community takes full advantage of this park, and thus the financing is provided to keep it in tip-top shape. We only wish we had something similar on this side!