Galata Simit Shop — Restaurant in Beyoğlu

I want to say a few things about this place. There are franchise companies generally named "Simit Sarayı" in Istanbul. It's hard to find a local bakery. The simits of many of these franchise companies are not worth a dime and are sold for at least twice the price. The situation is much different at Galata Simitçisi. In my opinion, this local simit shop is one of the best simit shops in Istanbul. Firstly, the simit is crispy, the secondly, it is filling. You can't see this everywhere. While the current price of simit is 10 lira, it is sold here for 14 lira, but it is worth the price! Because there is no other place that does this. Which way? You get off at the Karaköy pier or take the Karaköy tram. Walk towards Galataport from the back street, not from the coastline. It is just across the side street called French Passage, there are already cafes in the back street of Galataport, so you can understand that you are on the right track from the crowd. If you want to eat a real and delicious simit, come here. If you are going to Beykoz, also visit the shop called "Historical Beykoz Bakery" at the bottom of Beykoz pier, it also makes a very nice but different simit. Bon appetit...

I visited this place after hearing many recommendations, but unfortunately, my experience didn’t live up to the hype.

For a bakery or simit shop, freshness is key—hot, crispy simit and the inviting aroma of freshly baked goods are what you expect. However, none of the simit we tried was warm or fresh, and the lack of that signature smell was disappointing.

We ordered a simit sandwich with cheese and tomato, but it seemed like it had been prepared hours earlier. The simit had lost its crispness, and the tomatoes were dry. We also tried the tahini simit, but sadly, it didn’t meet expectations in taste or freshness.

Lastly, the service could use improvement. One of the staff members was quite rude, which left a sour note on our visit.

I hope the management takes these points into consideration because the place has potential but falls short in delivering the quality and experience one...

One of the worst simitçi I went. I am a Turkish local. You can easily find better simits and bagels and it will be cheaper. Also service is really bad. Waitress need to be more disciplined day sit like lay down. It is self service and they do not give tea to your tavle or ask it. Really low quality service and foods its total disappointment for me. Location is very good and touristic and of course tourist also try this place but the experience they get its far low than average. I hope tourist and other people try other options cause this owen really need to increase its quality about food standard and service. I even watch their gourmoss documentary and it is total disaster for me there are billions of options you can find lots of owens I fo not recommend this place. And also they take payment only cash so probably there is a promlem about tax payment to so there are...