There has always been one place that has inspired me in Beyoğlu and that is the Markiz Patisserie that has lived behind closed doors for ages. Markiz was the symbol of Beyoğlu which was frequently visited by the elite ladies and gentlemen of old İstanbul up until 1960s. The history of this Patisserie goes back to 1838 when when Edouard Lebon left the French Embassy to establish a cafe in Istanbul. Avadis Ohanyan Cakir bought the cafe and renamed it Markiz in 1940.
The Patisserie is marked by beautiful tiles of Alphons Mucha showing the seasons on its walls. The interior is elegantly designed in an art nouveau style that takes one back in time.
Markiz was the meeting point for artists and intellectuals of the time such as Namık Kemal, Peyami Safa, Orhan Veli and Attila Ilhan.
Turkish poet Namık Kemal was one of the frequent visitors of Markiz
Markiz had briefly opened in 2003 after 36 years but unfortunately had to close down again in 2013 due to financial challenges. I have recently learnt that this elegant 19th century Patisserie is reopening in 2025.
There is a live performance of Pilevneli Gallery inside Markiz Patisserie till the 16th of March, 2025 titled ‘awfully beautiful’. Don’t miss it to experience this elegant 19th century Patisserie.
‘Artists Yasemin Baydar and Birol Demir of :mentalKLINIK stand inside Markiz Pastanesi, where their “Awfully Marvelous” project reinterprets nostalgia and social interaction. (Photo via Pilevneli)‘ (taken from Turkiyetoday)
Visit pilevneli.org for details.
