Spice Bazaar

Lonely Planet review

Need a herbal love potion or natural Turkish Viagra? This is the place to find them, although we wouldn't vouch for the efficacy of either! As well as spices ( baharat ) , nuts, honey in the comb and olive oil soaps, the bustling spice bazaar sells truckloads of figs ( incir ) , Turkish delight ( lokum ) and fruit pressed into sheets and dried ( pestil ).

The number of shops selling tourist trinkets increases annually, yet this remains a great place to stock up on edible souvenirs, share a few jokes with the vendors and marvel at the well-preserved building. It's also home to one of the city's oldest restaurants, Pandeli, and to its attractive new competitor Bab-i Hayat.

The market was constructed in the 1660s as part of the Yeni Camii complex; the rent from the shops supports the upkeep of the mosque and its charitable activities, which include a school, baths, hospital and public fountains. It was called the Egyptian Market because it is thought that it was initially endowed with taxes levied on goods imported from Egypt.

Between the market and the Yeni Camii is the city's major outdoor market for flowers, plants, seeds and songbirds. There's a toilet ( tuvalet ) down a flight of stairs, subject to a small fee.

On the west side of the market there are outdoor produce stalls selling fresh foodstuff from all over Anatolia. Also here is the most famous coffee supplier in İstanbul, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi Mahdumları, established over 100 years ago.