Sufi’s Corner Turkish Handicrafts

Somedays you just want to retreat into a blur, in a dark corner where you are not trapped in the cosmopolitan city and so I’d say, go to the alley of Sufi’s corner. They have the al fresco facing the road but if you pop your head into the alley next to it, it’s also Sufi’s and here’s where you can get a Shisha, falafel with some hot mint tea and soak in the quiet.
It’s a hangout of friends and I when we have few words to exchange and not up for crowds or dressy friday nights. The prices are about $ 20/​pax for dinner and there are no rules there so be prepared for smoking zone only.

I love how the establishment has a restaurant and handicrafts store — I think that’s the way to go — have a vision and combine either food with furniture, or food with fashion. This is also a very cool feature of Arab street — where culture and passion is expressed via food, home décor & fashion, etc. If you look at the store from the outside — it looks really fab — the way the lamps are hung from the ceiling — and the way it just looks so organic and stylish — it’s very very cool. It really takes you away and you feel like you’re in Istanbul.
What I Love: The handicrafts are beautiful — imported right from Turkey, and they would look great in your garden, balcony, etc. Apart from hanging/​draping lamps, the store also has magnets, trinkets and other Turkish cultural memorabilia. You’ll find the traditional Turkish evil eye ward-​off symbol, postcards, etc. You also have Hookahs of different sizes, colors and it would look great in a Mediterranean style themed home.
What I Don’t Love: The prices. The handicrafts are pretty pricey. A lamp would set you back $ 80-​$ 149. There are some that go way up to $ 200. But they are really quite beautiful.