‘Mulino,’ translates to mill in Italian and conjures the story of Don Quixote who battles windmills that he perceives as giants, their innocent wind driven blades turning into antagonistic arms. For those with less literary intentions, windmills were used to mill grain for food production with the power of nature.

The second interpretation is more befitting for Mulino Bakery in Göktürk where there is no battle present with imaginary giants but rather the churning of kitchen gadgetry. An immediate waft of a deep chocolate smell welcomes those who wander in to find glistening batter being poured into pans. In the front, freshly made cakes, cookies, brownies, tarts, as well as salty pastries like mini bagels and pizzas are all on display for take out.

After twelve years of working in the professional sector, long time friends Kerime Balta and Müge Başdemir opened Mulino in 2005.  Most notable is a round concoction called ‘soft,’ which is somewhere between a brownie and chocolate cookie, and true to its name, of a chewy and rich chocolatey composition.

A whole menu of other delicious treats is also present for those wishing to satiate their sweet tooth. Everything from devil’s food cake to cheesecake with chocolate sauce to nutella brownies and quiche with eggplant and parmesan await behind the glass display to be packaged and carried home. Special orders such as birthday cakes, lemon merengue tart, or mini raspberry cake, among many others are made to order.

It can be said that the only battle to be fought at Mulino is not to indulge in everything that has been freshly baked and is waiting to be enjoyed. Istanbul Caddesi, Neovista Çarşısı 14/8, Göktürk; P: (0212) 322 41 36