I had never heard of or seen Retro until my younger sister came to visit. Tucked away in a basement down an almost deserted passage it sure doesn’t scare anyone off by aggressive marketing. Three model figures dressed in true retro gear and a couple of the shop’s bags pose at the entrance in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district. That’s all the advertising the shop has and that’s why I didn’t take any notice for months.

This cave of hidden fashion treasures sits down well below street level without any windows and sports thousands of hangers tightly packed with fabulous dresses, skimpy t-shirts, well worn trousers, loads of shoes, feathers, pearls and glasses all kept in a myriad of small and large rooms. The costumers are a mixture of people who wants fancy clothing at a low price, others who want retro stuff to combine with their new designer ware and professionals looking for just the right dress for their play or movie. It’s all there, just waiting for someone to come and dig it out.

Retro is also happy to serve a cup of tea in one of their couches, well placed in the midst of it all.

RETRO, Istiklal Caddesi, Suriye Pasaji 166/c, Beyoglu, Istanbul. It’s between Odakule and Tünel Square, next to Sultanahmet Köftecisi.

There are lots of places to shop in Istanbul. Momondo has a preference for exploring the bazaars, where you can find stuff that is not available anywhere else – as opposed to the more western shops of the city.

In the neighborhoods Nisantasi and Tesvikiye, two of Istanbul’s most swanky shopping areas, there are only a few steps between the big luxury cars and the small lap dogs.

The exclusive brand stores offer the latest fashion from Gucci, Max Mara, Armani and Louis Vuitton. Boutiques and specialized shops stock everything from Turkish wines to leopard-spotted sneakers. In the interior design store Pasabahce, you can find both modern Turkish design and a collection of glasses inspired by the Ottoman tradition.

Two shops in Atiye Sokak carry the name of the designer Gönül Paksoys. She interprets Ottoman design in a new fashion for her clothes and jewelry collections. The result is unique. The assortment at Bashqua Concept Shop consists of furniture, arts and crafts, clothes, bags and jewelry.

In the pedestrian street Istiklal Caddesi you will find a lot of smaller shops and chain stores. One of them is Marni, the Turkish jeans, which since 1991 has grown into a huge exportation success. There are two stores in Istiklal Caddesi with a huge selection.

This is also where you will find the most wonderful shop selling Turkish delight: Inci Pastanesi in number 124/2.

Besides that, we recommend that you explore the many bazaars, like Grand Bazar.(SEE “WHAT TO DO”)

The Egyptian spice bazaar in the area Eminönü represents a true palette of colors, sounds, smells and taste experiences. The tables are abounding with cinnamon, saffron and ginger. You are walking under vines of clove seed, passing heaps of cheese, piles of caviar and booths full of strange cakes. In the pet department, chickens are peeping in chorus with yellow ducks and sultan birds. You can buy paprika plants, lawnmowers, dog food, belt buckles and tin buckets. Everything is for sale.

By Mette Lomholdt