A Local’s Guide To Kuzguncuk

Kuzguncuk is one of the neigborhoods which hasn’t lost the sense of local community yet. Although almost every week a new café of shop is opened, there are still markets, butchers, bakery standing still for years. I live closeby to this cute neighborhood, so I have a chance to visit often.

Is Kuzguncuk worth a visit?

If you love unique, cute, small neighborhoods with colorful houses like me, then it is worth your visit. Also great for café-hopping as the street is full of cafes with different styles from French mode to third wave to more traditional ones. But if you visit this place in the weekend, ther eis no chance to avoid the crowds especially in the afternoons. Spring and autumn is the best times to visit. And of course, around Christmas if you like the vibe.

Best Stores in Kuzguncuk

Read a book at Nail Bookstore: This bookstore is located In a beautiful building both from the outside and the inside. You can find both the Turkish and foreign writers. It has a café in the bookstore. There are also places where you can sit and have the joy of reading your book in peace. Of course except the weekends.

Relax at Homemade Aromaterapi store: This is one of the stores I love visiting even if I won’t buy anything. You can find essential oils, natural hair and body care products, home cleaning products and many more. The store itself smells like a spa day, you feel relaxed immediately as you walk in. The colors chosen for the decoration is so soft and bright that adds to the feeling of tranquility.

Buy gifts at Yirmiyedi Kuzguncuk: The outside of the building is also decorated in a festive vibe which is inviting already. Yirmiyedi Kuzguncuk is full of products carefully chosen from the thriving designers. I personally like the earrings and notebooks more than the other items. You can find cups, candles, teas and scarves and so on.

Best Cafes and Restaurants in Kuzguncuk

Drink your oat milk latte at Glow Coffee: I love how smooth oat milk latte tastes here. I also love the brownie but try not to eat every time I visit. The decoration is modern and cool. Since it is not on the main street, it gets less crowded than many other cafes.

Enjoy the view at Vapur Cafe: Even though this cafe has not much to offer in terms of food and drinks, it certainly offers the best view in Kuzguncuk as Kuzguncuk pier is transformed into a cafe while still serving as a pier two times a day. It is also the cheapest option as it is owned by Istanbul Municipality.

Try San Sebastian Cheesecake at San Sebastian Café: The best san sebastion in the neighborhood served with elegant porcelains. The chairs by the window offers a nice view of Kuzguncuk houses and streets.

Eat fresh and healthy at Pulat Çiftliği: If you are craving for something healthy and fresh like a salad, you can eat at Pulat Çiftliği.

Eat traditional at Metet Közde Döner: One of the traditional food in Turkey is döner and Metet is one of the best places to eat it in Istanbul.

Indulge in Desserts at Dilim Pastanesi: I especially love the mini sized desserts here like banana roll, tiramisu, éclair etc. Their poğaça and ice cream is also preferred among the locals.

Best Attractions to See

Agios Panteleimonas Greek Orthodox Church: This church with its tall bell tower on the möain street adds to the beauty of Kuzguncuk. It is one of the most photographed attractions here. However, the church is not usually open, I wonder if it opens at all.

Church of St. Gregory the Lusaveriç & Kuzguncuk Mosque: I am writing this two together as they are situated next to each other and stands as a representation of how the people has been living here in peace for a long time. These are not on the İcadiye Street but at the end of street on Paşa Limanı Road.

Colorful houses: Simitçi Tahir Street is famous for its colorful houses, you can see people waiting in line to take a photograph of themselves in front of these houses especially on the weekends. Actually, all of Kuzguncuk streets are full of beautiful houses. I personally love Tufan street’s upper parts and also the gardens of the ones in Tahtalı Bostan Sokak.

Abdulmecid Efendi Mansion: Even though this not in the center of Kuzguncuk, it is worth a visit when there is an axhibitin. As you can understand, the exhibitions are temporary and the mansion is closed unless there is an exhibition. The exhibitions are generally well-selected collections.Besides that, the mansion itself is so beautifully designed and reflects Ottoman and Egyptian styles in the both exterior and interior design.There are colorful tiles and best examples of calligraphy on the walls. It is also situated in a beautfiul garden where sometimes the exhibitons extend to. If you are going to visit the mansion, the best ways to reach here from Uskudar metro by getting off at Baglarbasi stop or by metrobus getting off at Altunizade stop. There are also buses from Kadıkoy (15F or 14M), passing closer to the mansion.You can then go down by the hill to Kuzguncuk, do not try the otherwise unless you want to get exhausted.