If you’re staying in Kadıköy or anywhere nearby on the Asian side of Istanbul, the Tuesday and Friday Bazaar is easily one of the best spots to shop for fresh produce, pantry staples, and even secondhand clothes and home goods. Set in a huge covered market space, it’s where locals stock up on everything from bursting pomegranates to socks to pickled artichoke hearts. It’s affordable, lively, and hyper-seasonal. We loved it—and especially recommend it if you’re self-catering or settling into a longer stay in the city.
When and where
The bazaar operates twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, in a large concrete structure in the Hasanpaşa neighborhood of Kadıköy. It's officially called the "Salı Pazarı," meaning Tuesday Market, even though it's held on Fridays as well.
Artichokes are a staple at the Kadıköy Bazaar, with vendors prepping fresh ones on the spot
This isn’t a pop-up on the street—it’s a semi-permanent market structure with rows and rows of metal tables under a large roof.
Produce galore
This is a true food-lover’s market. You'll find heaps of seasonal vegetables in large quantities and often dramatically arranged: cherry tomatoes in towers, bundles of wild herbs spilling out of crates, or just-cut zucchini blossoms still damp from the morning dew.
We especially loved the mulberries—fresh, sweet, and far cheaper than what you’d pay at a grocer.
In addition to typical fruits and veg, you’ll also spot things that might be unfamiliar: purslane, grape leaves, young almonds, or green plums. The sellers are usually happy to let you taste before you buy.
Seasonal abundance spills over every stall at the Kadıköy Bazaar
One of our favorite visuals from the market was the garlic, neatly tied and beautifully stacked.
From bundles of fresh garlic to juicy tomatoes good enough to bite into on the spot, the Kadıköy Bazaar is a paradise
In one stall, we also came across large, fresh oyster mushrooms laid out like floral arrangements—they looked almost too pretty to eat.
These kinds of details are what make the Kadıköy bazaar feel special: it’s not just about practical shopping; it’s a feast for the senses.
Olives, grains, and dried goods
Another standout section is the olive and dried goods vendors. Some sell as many as 20 types of olives in bulk—green, black, wrinkled, oil-cured, or spiced with chili. You'll also find tubs of dried mulberries, figs, apricots, and dates, as well as various nuts, grains, legumes, and spices.
Sun-dried peppers, mountain herbs, and buckets of briny olives in every imaginable shade
There are also sellers with tubs of pickled vegetables.
Clothing, home goods, and secondhand finds
Beyond food, the market also includes a wide array of non-food vendors. You’ll find underwear, towels, cheap sunglasses, socks, and headscarves stacked high. Some of it is new and sold wholesale-style; other stalls offer secondhand goods, like denim, blazers, or kids' shoes.
If you’re living in Istanbul longer-term or even just need to replace a broken umbrella or pick up a spare T-shirt, this market can be a useful stop.
A place to practice Turkish (or point + smile)
Vendors are used to non-Turkish speakers, but you won’t find much English signage. Expect to hear prices shouted out or scribbled in pencil on recycled cardboard. Most transactions are done in cash, though more stalls are starting to accept credit cards or QR code payments.
If you're cooking at home in Istanbul...
This is one of the best places to stock up affordably. Whether you're prepping a veggie-heavy meal in your apartment or just want some fruit to snack on, you can get it here for a fraction of supermarket prices.
A full-spectrum local market experience
It’s also a great place to shop plastic-free, since most produce is sold loose and many sellers will happily pile items into your own bags.
A local ritual
The Tuesday and Friday Bazaar in Kadıköy is more than a market—it’s a neighborhood ritual. Students, aunties, grandpas, toddlers, and expats all move through the aisles. It's where you begin to understand the rhythms of daily life in Istanbul beyond the monuments and mosques. If you’re staying nearby, don’t miss it.
