If the Grand Bazaar experience is getting too be to much, you can either duck out for a tea or you can duck into Abdulla, an established shop that sells all sorts of natural goods. The store has a clean, chic look, with a subtly fragrant aroma. Look for the pestemals (hammam towels) made from cotton, silk, and hemp; rose-scented olive oil soaps, patchwork leather throws made from antelope skin; and hand-woven mohair rugs. Prices range from the budget to the luxury, and all price tags are fixed so you can relax your haggling skills for a time. Staff speak good English and are helpfully friendly rather than pushy. The prices here may be a little higher than you find elsewhere, but you're paying for hand-woven quality and it shows in the softness of the materials. This is a good example of a local enterprise that is preserving traditional Anatolian production techniques but presenting them in a thoroughly contemporary way.
Istanbul
Travel Guide
Istanbul› Shopping
Abdulla
58-60 Halicidar Cad.
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Grand Bazaar
Hours
0212/527-3684
Transportation
Tram: Çemberlitas
Web site
Abdulla
Map
58-60 Halicidar Cad. IstanbulNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.