Travel video guide
Where to Eat in İstanbul: Cevizli Baklava From Ayhan Mortepe
This guide turns 32 LİRALIK BAKLAVA VS 175 LİRALIK BAKLAVA | BAKLAVA KIYASLAMASI from Ayhan Mortepe into a practical food map with 3 saved spots around Beyoğlu, Esenler, and Kadıköy. The mapped places include a dessert shop and a restaurant stop. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Ayhan Mortepe conducted a taste test across three different baklava shops in Istanbul to compare price versus quality. While Baklavacı Şemsettin won on price, he concluded that Karaköy Güllüoğlu offered the best flavor and high-quality ingredients. He ultimately decided that the superior taste of premium baklava is worth the higher price compared to budget options.
What this map is good for
- Planning a dessert shop stop or short itinerary in Beyoğlu.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 3 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Karaköy Güllüoğlu - Nadir Güllü
Dessert Shop in Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Kemankeş Cd. No:67, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Beyoğlu, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: High
Hours: Hours available - Baklavacı Şemsettin Esenler
Dessert Restaurant in Fevzi Çakmak, Atışalanı Cd. no:186/A, 34230 Esenler/İstanbul, Türkiye, Fevzi Çakmak, Esenler, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available - Çelebihan Baklava & Künefe & Katmer
Dessert Shop in Erenköy, Ethemefendi Cad. No:80-82/D, 34738 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye, Erenköy, Kadıköy, İstanbul, Türkiye
Food notes from the video
- cevizli baklava
- fıstıklı baklava
- havuç dilimi
- porsiyon baklava
- kuru baklava
Experiences captured
- visited Baklavacı Şemsettin in Güngören
- waited in line for baklava
- visited Karaköy Güllüoğlu
- took a car ferry across the Bosphorus
- visited Çelebihan in Kadıköy
- interviewed a baklava shop employee
- compared baklava prices and quality
- tasted baklava using the traditional upside-down method
Planning notes for Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey, is a transcontinental city located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, divided by the Bosphorus Strait. Historically known as Byzantium and later Constantinople, the city served as the capital for the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires over a period exceeding 1,500 years. The architectural landscape features structures from various historical periods. The Hagia Sophia, originally a 6th-century Byzantine cathedral, displays a massive dome and mosaics.
Must-try foods nearby
- Simit
The quintessential Istanbul street snack, often called a 'Turkish bagel.' This circular bread is encrusted with toasted sesame seeds and molasses. - Balık Dürüm
A modern, trending evolution of the classic fish sandwich (Balık Ekmek). While the traditional version is served in a bun. - Cağ Kebabı
Originating from Erzurum but a massive trend in Istanbul for 2026, this is a horizontal rotisserie kebab. - Midye Dolma
Stuffed mussels that are a staple of Istanbul’s late-night food culture. These are mussel shells filled with a fragrant mixture of herbed rice, pine nuts, and currants. - İskender Kebap
A decadent classic consisting of thinly sliced döner lamb laid over pieces of warm pide bread.
When to go: The best times to visit Istanbul are during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October).
Local tips
- Purchase an Istanbulkart for all public transport as cash is not accepted on buses and trams, and one card can be used for multiple passengers.
- Always carry Turkish Lira in small denominations for tips and street food, as credit card machines rarely allow adding gratuities to the bill.
- When dining at sit-down restaurants, a 10% cash tip is customary unless a service charge is already explicitly included on the receipt.
- Use official ride-hailing apps like BiTaksi or Uber to ensure transparent pricing and avoid common taxi fare disputes.
What travelers are noticing
- 2026 UEFA Europa League Final at Beşiktaş Park
- Transformation of historic Haydarpaşa and Sirkeci stations into major cultural hubs and archaeology parks
- The 18th Istanbul Biennial's public-program and community academy year
Extra place context
- Karaköy Güllüoğlu
The gold standard for baklava in Istanbul. While there are many branches of Güllüoğlu, the original in Karaköy remains the local favorite. Be sure to try their 'Sütlü Nuriye' or the classic pistachio baklava with a side of kaymak (clotted cream).
food
Official tourism resource
The official travel guide for Beyoğlu, a vibrant cultural district in Istanbul, provided by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Planning questions
Where did Ayhan Mortepe eat in İstanbul?
This guide maps all 3 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in İstanbul.
What are the must-try foods in İstanbul?
Creator picks from the video include cevizli baklava, fıstıklı baklava, havuç dilimi, porsiyon baklava. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this food map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.