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The Pudding Shop

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Re Carroll
Re Carroll
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3 out of 5
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3
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Editor Pick

The Pudding Shop - the start of the "hippy trail"

  • April 15, 2007
  • Rated 3 of 5 by actonsteve from London, United Kingdom
The Pudding Shop - the start of the "hippy trail"

Way back in the late 1960s and early '70s, Istanbul was the start of the "Hippy Trail"

From here, travelers would pass across Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan (imagine doing that today?) and ended up in Nepalese Kathmandu or on the Indian beaches of Goa. Those about to attempt this journey of at least two months, would gather at the Pudding Shop which acted as an unofficial travelers' centre for those about to take the plunge. Before the days of travel guides, they would seek advice from those who had already done it or a travelers' noticeboard. This small restaurant in the heart of Sultanhammet took the place of the internet or, dare I say it?, Igougo?

Of course in the 21st century, the hippies have long gone. The restaurant itself is a nice little canteen situated opposite Sultanhammet mosque and the Hippodrome. Instead of the hippy trail, it is on the tour party trail. They pile in here at lunchtime after Topkapi and taste the moderate Turkish food on sale. It is a place to say that you have "been too" rather then a great restaurant in itself. It also, rightly, trades on its past with newspaper cuttings and old pictures adorning the walls. If your restaurant becomes a travelers' legend then why not profit from it?

First of all, its setting is perfect at the start of Divan Yolu and within easy walking distance of the big sights of Sultanhammet. Its open to the street and has been renovated in brown wood. The restaurant has a light breezy air and the air of relaxation is helped by the canteen system where you pick out the food you wish. The menu is gentle Turkish with stuffed vine leaves or Russian salad for starters, vegetables with rice and lamb with potatoes/vegetables for main course, and chocolate pudding for desert. Along with a cold beer, it costs no more then 16 Turkish lira.

There are not too many seats downstairs but upstairs has about thirty more, although the stairs take some navigating carrying a heavy tray. I found a seat next to framed newspaper cuttings from 1969. There, the Daily Mirror was doing an article on the new phenomenon of hippies and their trek across Eurasia. The modern equivalent of the hippy, "the backpacker", is still in evidence in Istanbul. There are a number of travel agencies in Divan Yolu doing trips to the battlefields of Gallipoli, Ephesus, or the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia.

Istanbul does sometimes feel like a frontier town. The last semblance of Europe before heading off into the exotic east. The spirit of adventure lives on.

From journal Istanbul - "City of the World's Desire"

The Pudding Shop

You just can’t resist the guy who stands in front of the shop and invites you in. If you go there once, he’ll be grateful to you and you can always get a free table if you want to go there once again. Plus you can get a lower price -- always!!!

It's a nice place where you can eat Turkish specialties, Italian food, continental . . . almost all cuisines!!! It’s very clean and the food is fresh!!! If you go there in the morning or in the evening, try their best meal: bourek. It is a salty pie with cheese, spinach, or meet. The best combination with this meal is ayran (something like yoghurt). But as the name says, their best deserts are the puddings!!! There are dozens of kinds for everybody’s taste.

From journal Exciting Istanbul!!!!

Editor Pick

The Pudding Shop

  • October 28, 2000
  • Rated 2 of 5 by Re Carroll from Abbotsford, British Columbia
I found this place sort of dreary, but it's always packed (especially with tour groups). The novelty is that this is the place where the fellow from the movie 'Midnight Express' scored his drugs and was subsequently imprisoned. The food was fine - typical cafeteria style Turkish cuisine and prices are reasonable. I had a vegetarian cheese, spinach & tomato dish that was mostly spinach. I preferred the presentation and quality of other restaurants but they did have good pudding. I tried the nut pudding. It had an applesauce like base with chestnuts, grains, figs, apricots and raisins - different but very good. The location is excellent as it is right in the Sultanahmet area with lots of tourist attractions nearby - the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Undergound Cistern are only a few blocks (or less) away.

From journal A Taste of Istanbul

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