Karakoy Gulluoglu

NileGuide Expert tip:

As the shop is open late, keep it in mind before you pay too much for an underwhelming dessert after dinner.

Description:

• Karakoy Gulluoglu is known throughout Istanbul as being THE place for indulging in the sticky, flaky, nutty confection called baklava. Thanks to their success -and a very large family- the shop has expanded well past Istanbul's city walls and has a branch in Athens just behind Syntagma Square.
  
  There's a beguiling number of varieties: Do yourself a favor and have the salesperson just make up an assortment and put it in a small box to take away. It's priced according to weight and the smallest box runs you only twelveish euros giving you plenty to share.
  
  Don't miss the ice cream either. The kaimaki flavor is one that's found in every ice cream shop in Athens but it's done very well here. What is kaimaki? Difficult to describe and likewise difficult to find outside of the Eastern Mediterranean but it's light, creamy, and with a faint hint of liqueur. There are a few tables inside the shop so you don't have to rush off. They even offer espresso.
  
  The store is open from 7:30am to 10:30 pm with shorter hours on Sunday, 9:30am-9:30pm.
  Nearest metro: Syntagma Square.
  
  Go down Mitropolios and take a right on Nikis, or a left from Ermou street.
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