The smell of historical bakeries, the abundance of tradesmen restaurants, and sincere smiles... A nostalgic walk where you can experience old Istanbul with your family and eat safely.
When you get off the Marmaray or the ferry and leave the Üsküdar square behind, a narrow and lively street immediately welcomes you. This is the Uncular Bazaar (or Uncular Street), named after the flour merchants in the Ottoman period. As soon as you step into the street, the rush of the modern world suddenly gives way to the sincerity of the Akhism culture. Spice shops lined up side by side, the smells of freshly ground dry coffee, colorful Turkish delights carefully arranged on the counters, and pickle shops... The tradesmen greeting each other and their eyes smiling while saying 'welcome' to the customer make you feel not like a tourist, but like a local of that neighborhood.
For us conservative families, the biggest worry while traveling is the question 'What can we eat here with peace of mind?'. Uncular Bazaar is a paradise that completely eliminates this question. As you walk down the street, you see steaming pot dishes slowly cooked in copper pots behind glass windows. Tradesmen restaurants on this street, especially the famous Kanaat Lokantası, offer Ottoman flavors prepared with completely halal slaughtered meat, where pork or alcohol doesn't even come close. Baked beans, boiled lamb, hünkarbeğendi, and of course the baked rice pudding you will eat on top... The peace of feeding your children reliable and 'halal provision' with the taste of a mother's meal instead of fast food is priceless.
Another beautiful aspect of Uncular Bazaar is its proximity to worship areas. After eating your meal and shopping for some freshly ground coffee or Turkish delight for your family, you hear the sound of the adhan. Right next to the bazaar are Mimar Sinan's tremendous work Mihrimah Sultan Mosque and Yeni Valide Mosque. The crowd in the bazaar gently flows towards these mosques with the adhan. Taking your ablution, passing through the courtyard under the shade of century-old plane trees, and standing for prayer with the congregation is the most beautiful gratitude you can show after that delicious meal. In Üsküdar, the street and the mosque, the world and the hereafter are so beautifully intertwined that you return home from here not only with a full stomach but also with a satisfied heart.
Most people who come to Istanbul and go down to the Üsküdar coast only look at the Maiden's Tower and return. However, the real soul of Üsküdar beats just a street behind the sea, in that historical Uncular Bazaar where tradesmen open their shutters saying 'Bismillah'.
Instead of spending an exhausting day in huge, soulless, and crowded shopping malls; walking with your children in the history-smelling streets of Uncular Bazaar is teaching them 'our culture' by letting them live it. Smiling with a Turkish delight offered by a tradesman, eating a meal cooked in the halal circle as a family, and standing shoulder to shoulder in the mosque just around the corner... These are the values that make Istanbul what it is. To experience this beautiful spirituality to the fullest, you should also choose the place you will stay in accordance with this spirit. As HalalWorld.com, we are always with you with alcohol-free and family-friendly hotels in the heart of Istanbul that fully comply with your privacy. Do not forget to visit Uncular on your next Istanbul trip and drink your soup in those famous tradesmen restaurants!
