Western-style breakfast in Istanbul: Dudu Bakery

Last visit: June 2026

My rating: 8/10

Price: €€€/€€€€€

Website: https://istanbul.dudufirin.com/

I really tried… I truly tried to embrace the famous Turkish breakfast recommended by every blog and every travel guide. I’m the kind of person who constantly attempts to push my comfort zone when it comes to tasting the cuisine of other cultures — even when that means eating a dish overflowing with coriander and entire chunks of chili pepper straight from the underworld. But perhaps in Istanbul I wasn’t in the right state of mind, or perhaps a breakfast of menemen, sucuk, börek and gözleme simply isn’t for me. Say what you like, but from the very first morning in Istanbul, while wandering near the Blue Mosque, my eye fell on Dudu’s window display, and the sight of those tempting viennoiseries arranged in a minimal pastel-toned interior utterly destroyed my self-control, sending me diving back into my comfort zone like a child burying his head in his mother’s chest.

As you turn into Üçler Sokak (Binbirdirek Mahallesi), Dudu’s façade feels almost discreet, even quiet, compared to the touristic chaos around it. The interior is tidy, modern without being sterile; the display cases beckon with brioches and cakes that make no attempt to appear local, openly declaring their European lineage. The aroma of freshly baked croissants mingles with the scent of a well-pulled coffee: a sign, for me, that this place aims to start your day well, not to take you on some grandiose culinary odyssey.

When you don’t feel like deciphering unfamiliar cheeses, neatly aligned jams, and the whole slow-brewing ritual of tea that only a Turkish kahvaltı can deliver, Dudu offers a poised and elegant alternative: a sweet or savory croissant, an espresso or flat white, and — if you feel bold — a pistachio cheesecake that wears its identity with no shame whatsoever.

The location is strategic: after contemplating the dome and mosaics of Hagia Sophia, or before diving into the crowds at the Blue Mosque, you can indulge in a small “private” moment — a fragment of contemporary colonial ritual that reconnects you with the part of yourself that, while traveling, still craves comfort and familiarity. It’s true that the prices are a bit higher than those of a standard Turkish breakfast on a local café terrace — but here the choice is simple: do you want an “authentic Turkish experience” or do you want to feel good and start the day lightly? I chose the latter. I know, shame on me.

Sitting inside — perhaps upstairs — means isolating yourself, even while being in the very heart of the city, from the laminated flow of mass tourism. When the line starts building, when multinational families take pictures holding pistachio croissants, it’s the perfect time to order something more indulgent: let yourself be guided toward a glass dessert — chocolate mousse, raspberry pavlova — and watch time stretch out across the table. It’s not the lost Anatolian tavern of your dreams, but it’s not yet another interchangeable chain either: it’s a place that respects what you want, and does so with style.

In conclusion: if you travel to Istanbul and Turkish breakfast is your thing… excellent, stay with it. But if, upon waking, you long for something more sober, more refined, without having to betray your allegiance to a croissant and a good coffee, then Dudu Bakery Coffee is — in my view — an excellent choice. It lets you feel good, prepares you for the day, and allows the historic city around you to breathe, without forcing you to swallow whatever the city “puts on the table.” Even when traveling, we get to choose how we begin the day — and often it’s better to do it seated, looking at the spires, eating a well-made croissant. Enjoy your breakfast — and enjoy Istanbul.

P.S.I’m not actually that cowardly: one morning I did try the full Turkish breakfast, but I paid for my bravery by panting my way through the steep streets of the imperial capital for the rest of the day. The following morning, I retreated into the comforting embrace of a pain au chocolat with cappuccino, and Dudu welcomed me like that pusher who, after not seeing his regular client for a few weeks, watches him return with a mix of smugness and pity while laying out before him the full arsenal of pistachio brioches, cinnamon rolls and cheesecakes.