Though you can find baklava all over the world including in the US and the Middle East, I find that the best baklava is Turkish baklava. This should come as no surprise as you will find baklava shops on almost every street in Istanbul and probably all over Turkey. Since a main ingredient in baklava is pistachio, and the center of pistachio cultivation in Turkey is in the city of Gaziantep, some consider Gaziantep baklava to be the best. In 2013, Gaziantep baklava became the first Turkish product with a European protected designation of origin and geographical indication.
According to the Lonely Planet guide book on Istanbul, following are some of the best baklava shops there.
- Karaköy Güllüoğlu
Karaköy, Rıhtım Cad. Katlı Otopark Altı No: 3-4 Istanbul / Turkey T: +90 212 293 09 10 - Köşkeroğlu Restaurant
Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mahallesi, Mumhane Caddesi, No 2/D, Beyoğlu, Istanbul – Tel: 0212 245 35 14 - Kaşıbeyaz Baklava
Nispetiye Mahallesi, Aytar Caddesi, No 31/C, Beşiktaş, İstanbul – Tel: 0212 281 10 50 - Emiroğlu Baklavacısı
Murat Reis Mahallesi, Nuh Kuyusu Caddesi, No 289/A, Üsküdar, İstanbul – Tel: 0216 334 58 26 - Hacı Bozan Oğulları
Bahçelievler Mahallesi, İzzettin Çalışlar Caddesi, No 13, Bahçelievler, Istanbul – Tel: 0212 575 49 49 - Gaziantep Baklavacısı
Küçükyalı Merkez Merkez Mahallesi, Rüştü Sarp Caddesi, No 25/A, Maltepe, Istanbul – Tel: 0216 417 71 20 - Gaziantepli Altınoğlu Baklavaları
Kadirga Liman Cad. 17, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
I have personally tried Emiroğlu baklava and can confirm that it is one of the best. It’s got just the right amount of moisture unlike some other baklava which are too dry or wet.
One baklava shop you will most likely see in Istanbul is Hakkizade Hafiz Mustafa 1864. Their baklava is good but a bit too dry for my taste. Emiroglu is better.
Some particularly good types of baklava are:
Baklava with Pistachio
Ingredients: Flour, Butter, Sugar, Pistachio, Milk, Starch, Egg, Salt, Semolina, Water, Lemon juice.
Carrot Slice Baklava with Cream and Ice Cream
Ingredients: Flour, Butter, Sugar, Pistachio, Milk, Starch, Egg, Salt, Semolina, Water, Lemon juice.
Nuriye with Milk
Ingredients: Flour, Butter, Sugar, Hazelnut, Milk, Starch, Egg, Semolina, Salt, Water, Lemon juice
Şöbiyet
Ingredients: Flour, Butter, Sugar, Pistachio, Milk, Starch, Egg, Semolina, Salt, Water, Lemon juice,
Creamy Baklava
Ingredients: Flour, Butter, Sugar, Milk, Starch, Egg, Salt, Semolina, Water, Lemon juice
Baklava with Walnuts
Ingredients: Flour, Butter, Sugar, Walnut, Starch, Egg, Salt, Water, Lemon juice
