Bagdat Avenue (Bagdat Caddesi) is one of the most popular locations for Istanbul's lifestyle and cultural life. The street lies between Kadikoy and Bostanci (Asian part of Istanbul). This area is one of the most prosperous districts of Istanbul and also Turkey. The locals often call it "Cadde" (which means "street" or "avenue" in Turkish).

Besides hosting the most popular shops, there are also lots of popular restaurants, bars, cafes and cultural interest points all around the vicinity.

Today there are countless modern shopping malls all around the city, which are almost always tasteless and claustrophobic. But shopping and walking around Bagdat Caddesi, has always been and still is absolute enjoyment. I've been living around "Cadde" till 1983, and I always find another interesting detail each time I go out on the street.

Unfortunately, Bagdat Avenue is not a place that keeps the old values for a long time. There's a great amount of circulation in small businesses and shops on the street. It's very hard to find a shop older than 20 years because of the ridiculously high rental values.

One example of the traditional places on the street is Divan Pub. Divan Pub belongs to Koc Group, which also runs many businesses including automotive, electronics, and home appliances (such as Beko). So I think they can keep this location for a long time.

And there are some textile and fashion shops such as Desa, Misirli, Hayko, Erol. I hope they can survive the high rents and serve us for a long time.