Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

HANDICRAFTS, BATHWARE ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 0212-252 7571; www.arzukaprol.net; Serdar-ı Ekrem Sokak 22, Galata; m Şişhane, j Tünel) Arzu Kaprol is Parisian-trained and lauded throughout Turkey for her exciting designs. Her collections of women’s clothing and accessories feature in Paris Fashion Week and are stocked by international retailers, including Harrods in London. This store showcases her sleek prêt-à-porter range. 7 İstiklal & Around o NAHIL ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 0212-251 9085; www.nahil.com.tr; Bekar Sokak 17, Taksim; h 10am-7pm Mon-Sat; m Taksim) The felting, lacework, embroidery, all-natural soaps and soft toys in this lovely shop are made by economically disadvantaged women in Turkey’s rural areas. All profits are returned to them, ensuring that they and their families have better lives. DENIZLER KITABEVI ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 0212-249 8893; www.denizlerkitabevi.com; İstiklal Caddesi 199a; h 10am 8pm Mon-Sat, noon-8pm Sun; m Şişhane, j Tünel) One of the few interesting shops remaining on İstiklal, Denizler Kitabevi sells antique maps, books, prints, photographs and postcards. MEPHISTO ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 0212-249 0696; www.mephisto.com.tr; İstiklal Caddesi 125; h 9am midnight; m Taksim) If you develop a taste for local music while you’re in town, this popular store is the place to indulge it. As well as a huge CD collection of Turkish popular music, there’s a select range of Turkish folk, jazz and classical music. It also stocks DVDs and has an upstairs cafe. There are other branches in Kadıköy and Beşiktaş. MAPS MUSIC