In August 2023, when I visited the store near Taksim Square I purchased a large red tin of mixed types of Baklava. I ended up giving it as a gift when I landed in Israel. Since I have returned back to New York, City, I have placed orders directly with the store two different times; each time ordering three large tins of baklava and other Turkish sweets. Customer service: 100%. shipping perfect. Quality of product is as if it were baked in our own kitchen. delicious, varied and presented beautifully. well worth the DHL shipping fees! I will continue to order again and look forward to visiting the store the next time I am in Istanbul. Alan J. B. - Flushing, New York read more

You can't come to Turkey and not make a stop here. Baklava is amazing. So many different types to pick from and plenty of packaged options for gifts. read more

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Yeah, I mean at the end of the day it's baklava. How many ways can you have it? I don't know what I was expecting but those video clips had raised my expectations. Then I got there. I found that this place is on every corner, five of their competitors are on every corner too. It lost the prestige. Baklava! Baklava! Come get your baklava! The realization that this was lower than expectations even impacted my experience with Türkiye experience. I would avoid it. I see why tourists avoid it. I didn't see anyone there, except some others like me who had been impressed by the social media coverage. read more

This is a must try place if you're in Istanbul. One of oldest names in Turkish confectionary and lots to choose from. We enjoyed all of our food, and our sever Anıl was very quick and friendly. Highly recommend and will come back! read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

This specialty baklava shop is located in all the popular spots in Istanbul. Some locations are takeout only, and some, like this one have the option to dine in and enjoy some of their specialty teas alongside some of their specialty desserts! This location was very popular. When I came there was a bunch of tourists (and maybe locals) inside the establishment. There wasn't really any clear instructions, and it seems like you just have to hope one of the baklava people notice you. I did feel a bit peeved by the fact that they weren't very friendly with foreigners. I noticed that they offered WHOLE samples to the native speakers, but didn't even offer any to us. When I did ask for a sample, they made it look like they didn't understand at first. But finally gave in and cut the baklava in HALF so that I can try. The baklava here is good, the prices aren't really clear, but I like the fact that they can seal the package in an airtight bag for those looking to bring it back home as gifts! read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Poppin on a Monday night! - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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A cafe with a long history. The manager who I assume is probably the current owner shows great care to the cafe. He personally tends to every single table and makes sure every aspect is perfect. We felt very taken care of. The tea and desert were also outstanding. We had a wonderful experience. read more

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Try the chocolate baklava! So delicious! We tried a sampler, but the chocolate one was the best. Service is quite good, and I recommend that you sit outside so you can have a good view of the nightlife. I ordered the sahlep, which is a "traditional hot drink from Turkey that's made from a flour derived from orchid tubers." It was interesting to say the least; very thick to drink and sweet. read more

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Hafiz Mustafa in Istanbul is honestly very hard to miss, and for good reason. They have an endless variety of Turkish desserts that are great to try when you're visiting, but also to take home to loved ones as the packaging is very nice and uniquely attributed to Istanbul! There is usually limited seating outside, but there is inside inside as well. There has always been a large crowd surrounding the inside and outside every time we've passed by, but despite such, we were seated very quickly indoors when requested. The walked us upstairs to a more quiet seating area and the service was decent overall. The menu was quite expansive, but we decided to order the classic baklavas with Turkish tea. The pistachio baklava with ice cream in the middle honestly stole the show and took the cake for the best we've had during our trip! It was all perfectly paired with tea. Would definitely recommend making a stop when you inevitably pass by one! read more

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So we got the baklava. But really, still puzzled about what all the hype was about? The ambiance was exactly as expected and the service was consistent with our experience from the rest of the country ( which was not super fantastic either ) read more

Had heard that this was THE place to buy baklava in Turkey, so decided to visit to buy some souvenirs. The servers seemed to be in a rush and I believe they overcharged us for the quantity, as we saw other people behind us with a similar sized box being charged way less. It's super busy in there, given the game of this place. The baklava is good; it's crispy and coated in syrup, and looks super attractive and shiny. While it does taste quite good, I am unsure if it's worth the premium - we paid around 440 Lira for the two boxes. read more

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SCAM WARNING - Hafiz Mustafa cheats EU customers! I ordered from their official website as an EU customer (Romania), where it clearly says: "For orders placed in European Union countries, there is no need to pay any customs fees, as the customs tax (VAT) will automatically be added to your order. If your country's customs make a request in this regard, please contact our customer service." That's a lie. When the parcel arrived, I was forced to pay customs fees, even though VAT was already included. To make things worse, the invoice inside the box was falsified -- it showed a fake value of 49.87 EUR, while I actually paid 120 EUR for the order. They intentionally marked it as "Receiver Will Pay Duty / Taxes" and sent it that way, completely ignoring their own terms. This is fraudulent behavior and misleading EU customers. read more

I love going to Hafiz Mustafa whenever i'm in Istanbul. It's my favorite! It's a nice cafe with such beautiful, intricate interior decor. They are the purveyor of sweets and delicacies... My favorite is the Knafeh and all of their baklavas. I also enjoy the traditional Turkish breakfast which consists of egg, olives, assorted cheeses, tomatoes, cucumbers, bread, honey and fresh fruit jams. I love the teas and coffees as well. I always take home bags of goodies from Hafiz Mustafa and gift them to all of my family and friends... Stop by if you're ever in Istanbul and enjoy some sweets with your sweets... read more

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You really can't go wrong with any of the Hafiz Mustafa locations in Istanbul. They are one of the oldest, most reputable makers of Turkish delight and various treats. Don't be put off by the crowds and lines on the bottom floor. If you'd like to dine in, there is a second and third floor above. We sat, ordered a 10 piece plate of half walnut and pistachio treats, chocolate ice cream slices, and tres leches saffron cake. Between 4 people, honestly a 6 piece plate would have been enough. The desserts, while delicious, are quite sweet, decadent, and filling. The tres leches cake was delicious. You can probably skip the ice cream slices, which kind of just tasted like a fudge ice cream pop. You can also order coffee, tea, and various drinks. They take cash and card, and you can also pick up some delights to take home for friends, family, or gifts. read more

If you want the best baklava in town; this is a must visit. We came here on our first night in town and ordered a 4 piece pistachio baklava and a raspberry tres Leche dessert. Everything was so good. Too bad we came too late in the evening that they already ran out of pistachio milk pudding and pistachio chocolate pudding. Very busy and we got our desserts to go instead of dining indoors upstairs. Can't go wrong with ordering anything from here!! read more

If your specialty is sweets and desserts, this is the spot for you. Haviz Mustafa an Istanbul gem which is scattered all around the city so you really can't miss out on it. Their Turkish delights, baklava and other desserts have become one of the most famous in the city. With crows of people hovering to see the sweets, make sure to walk past them and grab a table with one of the servers. We sat in the 3rd floor and kept it simple. I had seen a photo of their carrot baklava with their ala drizzle and Turkish vanilla ice cream in the middle and knew that was my go-to. I always make amateur versions of this at home so I was so excited to try this out (more on this later.) We also got the saffron tres leches which was so unique and a work of art. The service was alright, quick and to the point, the language barrier may have an effect but it was good. Going back to the delicious carrot baklava and ice cream extravaganza -- wow! I wish I could take 20 of them back home so people can see what I mean. To start, the amount of pistachio that's put into this dessert is no joke. An entire pistachio paste is spread out on top of the first few layers of phyllo dough then their vanilla ice cream topped with another layer of phyllo dough, then they added an extra layer of pistachio sprinkles a drizzle of this thing called ala.... Simply fabulous!! It's sweet but not overly sweet because the flavor of the pistachio kind of breaks that to balance it out. The Turkish ice cream is smooth and almost chewy in the most delicious way lol. Overall it was a work of art. I'd go back just for that! I highly recommend sharing or getting a few more desserts to try but that dessert truly steals the show! read more

Very historical establishment. Staff are very friendly. Has that super old school feel. Staff wears fez hats which is cool They have a great assortment of desserts. Ended up ordering a small box of different desserts. The original pistachio baklava was very tasty. As were the other desserts. Highly recommend read more

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Sublime baklava... which I think is the best pastry out of their selection of wares.. tea is pricey but pairs so well with the desserts and comes with a tidbit of Turkish delight.. this location has paris street cafe vibes when sitting outside...recommended read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

I've tried baklava at home in the US but never liked it much. To me it was always dry and not very tasty. During my trip to Istanbul I past by a shop and noticed how packed and busy it was. When I asked a local passing by on the street he encouraged me to go inside and sample some baklava. It was so busy and packed inside I just went straight to the cashier and asked questions. He was able to assign someone to help me try a few and it was delicious and definitely not dry. So I bought a few just to have something sweet back at my hotel room. I later went to the bazaars in the area and tried the baklava there and was unimpressed. I preferred to buy from the small businesses but none tasted as good. One shop lady explained to me that the difference was "Mustafa uses honey and sugar so its only good for about a week - ours is made to last about 6 months". Her explanation did not make me want to buy any of her baklava. Actually after listening to her I went back to Mustafa's the next day to by more to take home as gifts for myself and friends. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Baklava - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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The original location! This place is a must stop on your visit to Turkey. The baklava is unreal! I'm talking about next level. I was never the biggest fan of baklava, I thought it was ok, this place changed my mind and made me an addict. I brought multiple boxes home with me. They put them in a great red tin and package it for you. They also give you pieces if you ask, the addiction is real. I didn't have a single piece I didn't like. So amazing! read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Super delicious Great restaurant especially to drink Turkish tea with your beloved ones. Super delicious Great restaurant especially to drink Turkish tea with your beloved ones. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Delicious - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Biggest tourist trap. Do some research and look up actual authentic places. This place is crazy busy all the time and the baklava is average at best. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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The Pistachio with milk/cream pudding is straight up awesome! Had it over and over again. I prefer the pudding with rice/milk vs. chocolate. But its heaven. The 24-hour joint is ALWAYS packed so be prepared to stand in line, its all so well worth its weight in golden baklava, turkish coffee and pudding! read more

20/10 would recommend. We went in for a rice pudding and ended up coming in the next day for more must try while in Turkey. Very friendly staff, everyone speaks fluent English. read more

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This place is SO FUN! We went after the Whirling Dervish ceremony (which we highly recommend!), and this dessert/tea house was not too far away. Don't be put off by the crowds -- the seating moves surprisingly fast, though once you're seated you don't feel rushed. We ordered the burnt rice pudding, some Turkish ice cream, and some kind of firm sweet nougat treat. All enjoyed with cups of Turkish tea. VERY enjoyable and we highly recommend! The guys behind the baklava bar are jubilant and joyour, making for a lively, fun atmosphere! Good times! read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Burnt rice pudding, Turkish ice cream, some kind of firm sweet nougat dessert. - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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The service was NOT courteous or quick. The baklava, we were very much looking forward to, was a disappointment. The pistachio filling seemed like it was mixed pistachios with green lentils. Maybe just bad pistachios? It was hectic inside. The table we had outside, was where the air conditioning vented. Hot air was blowing was over us, while we ate. We wouldn't go back. read more

Hands down the best dessert spot ever! They offer a huge variety of fresh baklava and Turkish delights which include almond, walnut and pistaschio filled options. And they also have tea and drink options. The staff is really working hard to keep the lines running smoothly. We especially loved the Kanafeh with ice cream on top and highly recommend trying it along with the Kitmer (crepe filled with nuts). We also bought lots of baklava to take back home to the US and they vacum packed the tins for us so they would stay fresh longer which was a huge plus. Location is very central and walking distance to many shops, the mosque and train. It is always busy but you will eventually get a seat as others mentioned. Also they're open 24/7 which is crazy so endulge your sweet tooth. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Happened to walk by this place after watching the dance show at the cultural center, and was enticed by all the lovely sweets on display. Got sucked in to try the rice pudding, which turned out to be the MOST DELICIOUS THING ON EARTH. Light, sweet, creamy, and refreshing... we vowed to come back to try the other sweets. We ended up here 3 out of the 6 days we were in Istanbul. The chocolate and pistachio pudding was rich and great, chocolate baklava tasted like cocoa crispies, pistachio baklava was surprisingly not so sweet, Turkish tea was nice, and Turkish coffee was STRONG and bitter with coffee granules at the bottom. Definitely a must-try when you are in Istanbul. Too bad not enough time to eat everything in this wonderful place. My friends and I bought boxes of Turkish Delight to take home. Oh yeah... and free wi-fi!! :) read more

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This sweet desert shoppe is a devine inspiration! All sweets are made with the real authentic ingredients and loads of them! Baklava was rich with real honey and loads of walnuts. Plus they also had baklava types of pistachio and almond. The Turkish delight was out of this world and they had about 10 different varieties to select. I loved how they had metal tins and also shrink wrapped your sweets for travel keeping them fresh and no drips! They had candies, puddings and delectable cakes as well. Everything and anything from this shop is going to be a cut above the others as they've been there since 1864 making deserts for the Sultans! Fun sitting outside eating and enjoying the Istanbul surroundings! read more

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Awful! We waited and waited for service and kept trying to get help and they would walk away. I came from America and was very excited to try this place! I even went in to the front of a guy boxing items and asked for help and he just turned away! VERY RUDE. Would give no stars if I could. This was mid October 2022. (I just now was able to get into my Yelp account due to not having access to my email password) so the review is months later. We went to another location in another city and the service was amazing. Here-absolutely not. read more

Purchased a ton of fresh Turkish delights (the ones made with honey) and Baklava for gifts back home. It's a little overpriced, but the quality is good, they shrink wrap their product for extended travel, and it's a nice treat for gifts for people who know their Turkish treats. They even gave me a cup of tea while I waited for everything to be gift wrapped, which was a nice touch. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Turkish delights and Baklava - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

This was my very last stop on my trip in Istanbul. We walked by this shop almost every day for two weeks, and only went in the night before my early morning flight home. We poked our noses in a couple days before, and when I suggested we get some baklava and watch a movie to stay awake the last few hours, this is where we stopped. We chatted with a friendly employee before my SO decided we needed half a kilo of the stuff. The man behind the counter pulled a box and started throwing in random pieces, arranging them to squeeze in as many as he could. The box was full, and we weighed it and it was a bit over half, but we weren't complaining. Half a kilo is a little over 20TL here, we paid them and went back to the hotel. There were so many choices when we opened the box. Different shapes, different sizes, light pastry, green pastry, walnuts, pistachio... We sampled a couple and while they were good, we still had better in previous days. There were certainly no complaints, and I wrapped the bag up and stuck it in my carry-on. I figured it would be my luck the TSA would confiscate it at JFK thinking it's some kind of delicious edible explosive, but that wasn't the case. Even sitting sideways (thanks to the way my bag was in the overhead) they survived getting jostled around, though the syrup definitely leaked into the plastic bag. I had a sugar high almost daily for a week! Anyway... it was a pretty solid stop (at like midnight on a Saturday night) and would definitely stop by again if I was back in the area. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Half a kilo of assorted baklava :D - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

One of the best baklava and sweet store in Istanbul. But... they all so busy, unfriendly and not very communicative... read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Real good - also a nice gift We were looking for some good Baklava and other sweets / desserts. As you know choice is plenty in Istanbul and we tried other places before. But from all the places we tried this one was the best! Lots of choice and also nicely presented. Staff is pretty busy since the place is packed with customers. We bought two boxes (one kilo each) of assorted Baklava and other delicious sweets (forgot the names....sorry). Really good were also the figs, filled with a walnut. We chose the nice Metal Box.....a great souvenir for your loved ones....and yourself. We actually bought them a bit before Taskim Square on Istiklal Street....but the store not seems to be listed here (or on their website). A great place, not only eyecandy....but really tasty stuff! read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Baklava and more - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Go to Hafiz Mustafa if you want some good Turkish sweets! We stumbled upon this gem while traveling in Istanbul. Long times, tourist and locals alike we had to see what the rage was about. They have all your Turkish pastries, cakes, and everything you can think of. A convenient spot to walk to after a long day exploring the Sultanahmet area. This place has two floors of seating and it's always packed! Don't fret because you'll eventually get a seat to enjoy your sweets. We ended up buying loads of Turkish delights, chay, and coffee to share with friend and family back home in the states. I'll definitely come back here the next time I am in Istanbul. read more

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This famous place lives up to its name. The store is crowded with eager customers that they even have tables set up outside to accomadate the masses. You can smell a sweet scent of sugar and butter once uppit walk on. The lights add an extra shine to the already glistening delights (the sweets). We ordered the tres leche. I usually do not eat this dessert but it looked so good on display I had to order it. It was a perfect vanilla cake with the right amount of milk on the bottom. It was soft but not gross mushy. The caramel on top gave it a light burned taste which was perfect. The backlava both pistachio and peanut had a great sticky bite to them. Even the crust was the right consistency. The kunafah was the only thing I was not a fan of. My friends swallowed it down and were very content with it. To me the cheese had an after taste and the kunafah itself was hard. However the ice cream on top was wonderful. The best thing about this place is the sweets are not drenched in sugar. It's dessert done right. The coffee here goes great with the desserts and there is no need to add sugar. Mera's Tip: Enjoy your dessert with Ottoman Turkish coffee. read more

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Utterly scrumptious. Solid 5 - nay a 6 (impossible on Yelp, but a 6 in my hearts) for the food. It's a busy joint; the hype is well-earned, so service can be a tad rushed or curt. The inside is sumptuous, like some sort of Willy Wonka-esque dream. Just look at the photos... Basins of perfectly cubed and sugared lokum. Racks upon racks of baklava, laid out in immaculate mosaic-like patterns. Ziggurats of rolled phyllo cylinders, stuffed with spiced nuts. Bowls of layered puddings, festooned with berries and chocolate whorls. Bird's nests of pastry crisps, bearing a clutch of walnuts. There's a number of HM storefronts around IST, but the Sirkeci shoppe is the best for a sit-down cup of Turkish coffee and a round (or ten) of sweets. The cafe seating is upstairs in an ornate lounge, with windows gaping out upon the Bosphorous and seaside trolley routes. The bustle of the city is a great soundtrack for your afternoon tea. My friends visited this and many other HM storefronts almost daily during holiday and loved each bite. The experience can be overwhelming, so come at a low time (typically early morning) or peruse their menu ahead of time to get an idea of what sweets to snipe. The sütlü nuriye - minced hazelnut baklava bathed in milk syrup - was unlike anything I tasted before. Sadly, they must be consumed quickly due to the milk syrup, so it's difficult to save for later. Even scouring every other baklava shop, the sütlü nuriye were a rarity. I've tried without avail to find them in the States. :/ The chocolate baklava and traditional pistachio bak I cannot applaud enough. Heavenly. My friends brought back several kilos of these and I enjoyed them even days later. You can also order a piping-hot künefe - in either traditional or chocolate - which is an experience in itself. Think tendrils of phyllo baked with sweet cheese and bathed in a milky honey sauce. It's messy, but well worth it. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - My friends brought maybe 5 kilos of these back stateside - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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There are two locations near Taksim Square on İstiklal Caddesi, and I stopped by a couple of times to pick up some edible souvenirs to take home. You can't go wrong with a shop that's been in business since 1864, right? Gorgeous shop with lots of other desserts and a huge selection of baklava too. I brought back a ton of Turkish delight for friends and coworkers and was surprised how much they all loved it-- really great quality, each piece is chock full of walnuts or pistachios, and not too sweet. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

This sweets shop, located on a big square, just begs you to come in with their windows full of different kinds of baklava, Turkish delight, and puddings. Overall, I found the appearance of the sweets to be 5-stars but the taste to be just 3-stars. We ordered a sampler of three different kinds of baklava and a chocolate and pistachio pudding. The pudding had an excellent consistency, but could have done with more flavor. The baklava was tasty, but didn't really pop in the flavor department either. The service, decor, and location were good, but I'd prefer a dingy back-corner sweet shop with the best tasting baklava over this shop. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Baklava as far as the eye can see. - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34

While waiting for our ferry for the Princes' Islands, we decided to walk around Sirkeci terminal and found this place. They have the most delicious pastries and Turkish delights. We sat outside and enjoyed a cup of Turkish coffee. Picked a banana fruit tart covered with chocolate, a kiwi fruit tart and what looked like a miniature eclair. This was our first time to consume pastries while visiting Turkey. We tried to control our caloric intake because the food has been so good and we find ourselves gaining weight within a short amount of time. We were not disappointed. Their pastries are heavenly. This is where I'll be purchasing presents for home. After chatting with the locals about this place, we found out that Hafiz Mustafa is the number 1 patisserie in Istanbul and quite famous all over the country. I am posting more pics from their menu. What you see in their menu is how their pastries/baklava look like. Best of all, they taste even better than how they look! This shop is over 150 years old and has perfected their products. They also sell Turkish coffee and other traditional Turkish drinks in very attractive tin cans. This place should be on every tourist's list to see while visiting Istanbul. read more

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Baklava here is like no other. Could it be because we're tourist...perhaps! But the place is always crowded and that's always a good sign. Today I'm eating Sari Burma. Perfect! My husband tried the caramel cheesecake. Surprisingly enough it wasn't bad. I will stick to traditional desserts after all we in Turkey. Why a 4 star? Well because their service is below average. They stand around starring at you. A little too awkward. read more

Hafiz Mustafa - Cevizli Padişah is one of our favorite. Sultan w/Walnut - Desserts Near Me - Istanbul, 34