Grocery Shopping Near Your Bakirkoy Apartment, Istanbul

While you are staying in our apartments in Zeytinlik, you can do most of your everyday shopping on foot: the area around Bakırköy Freedom Square (Özgürlük Meydanı), where the district market is, is about a 6-minute walk, and Capacity shopping mall is about 9 minutes away. Small shops for bread and water are also easy to find in the side streets.

Below we explain where to go for what, and how to organise shopping when your apartment has its own kitchen.

Where to go for what

Walking times are measured at an adult walking pace; if you are carrying bags or have children with you, add a few minutes for the way back. All distances are on our location page.

A short list for arrival day

Every apartment has its own kitchen. On your first evening this is enough:

• Breakfast items, bread and drinking water
• Tea or coffee, sugar, salt, cooking oil
• Washing-up liquid, a sponge and bin bags
• Kitchen paper and napkins
• Snacks for the children and a few of their favourites

Finishing this list at the market on your arrival evening and leaving the main shop for the next day makes life easier when you are tired from travelling. If you need a particular piece of kitchen equipment, ask when you book; we have gathered what to pack in our kitchen equipment and checklist.

The weekly pattern: one big shop, a few small ones

What works on longer stays is simple: one big shop a week, small everyday ones in between.

1. Plan the menu: At the start of the week, sketch out what you will cook each evening.
2. Do the big shop in one go: Dry goods, cleaning supplies and anything that keeps well.
3. Buy fresh food daily: Top up bread, fruit and vegetables from the market or the local shops each day.
4. Make carrying easy: The building has a lift, so heavy bags are easy to get upstairs. A folding shopping bag or a trolley makes the walk back from the market easier.
5. Keep the last week light: Buy less in the week before you leave so food does not pile up in the kitchen.

Shopping by apartment type

In the Studio apartment (1+0) the bed and living space share one room; quick, simple recipes suit this layout well, and it is worth airing the room while you cook. You can compare the apartment types on our apartments page.

A suggested daily rhythm

• Morning: Breakfast at home; buy the bread the evening before or pick it up from a local bakery in the morning.
• Midday: If you are out for the day, the restaurants around the market are convenient.
• Late afternoon: On the way home, pick up whatever is missing for that evening's meal from the market.
• Weekend: After a walk on the seafront, take a coffee break in the market area; the seafront is about 14 minutes from the apartment.

Habits that make the kitchen easier

• Cook double portions: Making a little extra at dinner sorts out the next day's lunch.
• Keep a shared shopping list: If the family is staying together, a phone list everyone can add to stops the same thing being bought twice.
• Buy fresh food in small amounts: Especially in the Studio apartment (1+0), little and often keeps the kitchen feeling spacious.
• Take the rubbish out regularly: On a long stay, add this to your daily routine to keep the kitchen fresh; you can ask about the building's arrangements when you arrive.

Eating out and ordering in

For evenings when you would rather not cook, there are cafés and restaurants around Bakırköy Freedom Square (Özgürlük Meydanı) and İstanbul Caddesi. If you order groceries or food, give the address as Zeytinlik Mahallesi, Fazılpaşa Sokak No:4, Bakırköy and add your apartment details.

If you are looking for an apartment with its own kitchen for a longer stay, send us your dates and the number of guests and we will come straight back with the right apartment and the current price: +90 532 655 43 32. You can write to us on WhatsApp in English.

Common questions