A far cry from the bustling bazaars of Turkey, Lokum (literally ‘Turkish delight’) is Istanbul’s answer to Ladurée. Located on Chelsea’s Walton Street, it is first and foremost a destination for gifts, selling candles (‘Akide’ was our favourite), fragrances and Turkish silverware alongside the obligatory Turkish delight.
If your prior experience of the delicacy is gelatinous neon cubes, prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the taste of the lokum if not the price. The pastel morsels are presented in attractive monochrome boxes with prices ranging from £17-£50, while candles prices start at £27 and reach £106 for a silver fez-shaped number.
A lesson in luxury, Lokum is the perfect destination for people whose tastes are as decadent as their pockets are deep. However, those of a minimalist persuasion be warned - the walls of the shop are clad in their signature Ottoman-inspired Toile-de-Jouy and black pom-pom combination, as is everything else.