The Grand Bazaar is the ultimate shopping destination in Istanbul for tourists as well as locals. Leather, rugs, jewelry, gold, silver, antiques...whatever your heart desires, you’re more than likely to find it at the Grand Bazaar.

But this huge covered bazaar takes a while to explore, and you’ll need to refuel at some point. Here is a list of our favorite eateries at or very close to the Grand Bazaar:

Havuzlu: Located very close to Şark Kahvesi in the Grand Bazaar, Havuzlu is an esnaf lokantası (tradesman’s restaurant) that was established in 1960. Although the food is that of classic tradesman’s restaurants, the spacious venue is quite opulent, decorated with İznik tiles, old prints, and antique carpets. There are approximately 20 varieties of hot and cold dishes prepared daily, including döner. Desserts include the traditionalşekerpare (mini cakes in syrup) and fırın sütlaç (baked rice pudding). Gani Çelebi Sokak No. 3, Grand Bazaar; P:  (0212) 527 33 46 

Aslan Restaurant: If you want to have good Turkish food and also want to get a bit of fresh air, Aslan Restaurant is the way to go. Located just a few steps from the Nuruosmaniye gate of the Bazaar, Aslan Restaurant is a modest-sized esnaf lokantası (tradesman’s restaurant) offering delicious Turkish comfort food on a daily basis. The menu changes daily, and includes hot dishes, soups, and olive oil dishes. Unlike many tradesman’s restaurants that overdo the butter, the dishes at Aslan are light for a tradesman’s restaurant, and very tasty. You’ll find a variety of Turkish classics: two versions of lentil soup (we strongly recommend ezogelin, made with red lentil, bulgur, tomato paste, and spices), artichoke, stuffed peppers, imambayıldı (an olive oil dish made with eggplant stuffed with onion, garlic, and tomatoes), many meatball varieties, türlü (mixed vegetable dish), döner (roasted lamb), kuru fasulye (beans), and rice. Vezirhan Caddesi No. 70, Çemberlitaş; P: (0212) 513 76 10 
 

Fes Café (small): If you’d rather not go for classic Turkish food and if you don’t want to step outside of the Bazaar, head to Fes Café on Halıcılar Caddesi, a trendy eatery where they serve excellent sandwiches, salads, and coffee. Here you can sip a frothy cappuccino while watching the crowd passing by on this busy artery of the Bazaar. Halıcılar Caddesi No. 62, Grand Bazaar; P: (0212) 528 16 13

Fes Café (large): If you need to take a breather, the larger branch of Fes Café is located just a few steps from the Nuruosmaniye gate, and serves as a chic, modern reprieve from the bustle of the Grand Bazaar. Take your pick from the sandwiches, salads, pastas, and main dishes, and make sure you drink a cup of their beautifully presented Turkish coffee before you head back into the Bazaar. Ali Baba Türbesi Sokak, Nuruosmaniye; P: (0212) 526 30 70-71 
 

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Shop at the Grand Bazaar; by Talya Arditi