Karaköy Güllüoğlu
Tea
Cold Baklava with Chocolate
Kol Kiymali Boregi – Rolled Beef Borek Pastry
Baklava
Located on the banks of the Bosphorus Karaköy Güllüoğlu is considered by many to be Turkey’s premier purveyor of Baklava, a history dating back to 1843 yielding everything from the standards featuring Walnuts or Pistachios to Bride Packs and cold Chocolate-topped squares soaked in sweetened Milk.
Still a lone storefront, though shipping throughout Turkey is available, the Güllü family’s story dates back to Hacı Mehmed who first started making Candies prior to training in Damascus and handing down his original recipes made entirely by hand.
Still family owned, grandson Mustafa opening Karaköy Güllüoğlu in 1949, it is inside a sparsely decorated room that locals and tourists gather to taste Istanbul’s flakiest Phyllo, whether wrapped around ground Beef in the case of Borek or loaded with Nuts and Honey.
Now producing upwards of two-tons of Baklava in a local factory daily, Gluten-free and low-Sugar iterations fitting current trends, prices range similar to other similar shops but for those arriving early the variance in texture from layer-to-layer and piece-to-piece is unparalleled.
www.karakoygulluoglu.com