Akmerkez Shopping Mall:‌ My Shopping Experience And Visit

Akmerkez Shopping Mall in Beşiktaş, Istanbul introduced me to a new concept of shopping centers.
Unlike the typical malls in Istanbul, Akmerkez has successfully combined local brands with international ones. Additionally, its advanced facilities, such as a dedicated pet stroller, baby care area, triangular terrace, and a spectacular cinema, inspired me to create a detailed report about this shopping center for you.

A Brief Introduction to Akmerkez Shopping Mall

Akmerkez is located in the Kültür neighborhood of the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul and spans across eight floors, with four of them dedicated to shops and the rest to parking.

Upon arriving at Akmerkez, I was met with a massive crowd. It’s no surprise that this mall is always bustling with people, as many well-known brands have branches here. A list of some of these brands is included in the table below.

Akmerkez features a diverse collection of large stores, supermarkets, renowned brands, bookstores, and home decor stores. This variety ensures that visitors with any taste or need can find something suitable.

In my opinion, the standout feature of Akmerkez is its spacious food court, offering a wide range of cuisines and creating an enjoyable experience for visitors.

Stores in Akmerkez Shopping Mall, Istanbul

Since I didn’t have enough time to visit all 246 stores in the mall, I had to focus on some of the most famous ones. Below, I’ve provided a list of 30 popular brands I visited.

My Experience Shopping at Akmerkez

For a long time, I had been searching for a mustard-colored raincoat to use on Istanbul’s rainy days. Since this type of waterproof coat is typically found in sportswear stores, I went to the first floor and visited the SPX store. Fortunately, I found the raincoat I wanted for 2,899 TL. Although it was a bit expensive, its high quality made me feel it was worth the price. In my opinion, SPX is one of the most comprehensive sports stores in this shopping mall, and its staff were very helpful and professional.

As someone who loves buying shoes and almost always purchases a new pair whenever I visit a shopping mall, I needed a collapsible shoe bag to conveniently carry my shoes. After asking around, I finally found one at the TUMI store on the ground floor for $325. The quality of the products, the store’s white and red interior design, and the arrangement of the bags were very appealing. However, the staff’s somewhat cold and uninterested attitude slightly affected the shopping experience.

Overall, although many stores at Akmerkez offered discounts, the prices seemed a bit higher compared to other shopping centers I had visited before. If you are looking for a budget-friendly shopping destination, this might not be the ideal choice. However, if quality is your priority and you don’t have a strict budget, I highly recommend visiting Akmerkez.

Facilities at Akmerkez

Akmerkez is not just a shopping mall; it offers a variety of recreational and welfare amenities for its visitors. After a long shopping spree, you can relax at one of the luxurious cafes or restaurants in the complex and enjoy your favorite meal. Additionally, the mall features 7 cinema halls that screen the latest international movies. However, it’s worth noting that most of the movies are in Turkish, so keep this in mind if you’re planning to watch one.

According to information I gathered from one of the security team members, Akmerkez has 41 escalators, two glass elevators, and 30 standard elevators. Moreover, nearly 250 staff members are employed to handle cleaning, security, and other services. This ensures cleanliness throughout the mall, which I consider a big plus for this shopping center.

The mall also boasts a covered parking lot with a capacity of 1,500 vehicles, making it convenient for visitors to find parking without any hassle.

Other facilities offered at Akmerkez include:

1. Free Wi-Fi services
2. Pet strollers
3. IBB Complaint Desk
4. Prayer room
5. Electric vehicle charging stations
6. Wheelchairs for disabled individuals
7. Lost-and-found kiosk
8. Dedicated playground
9. Trolleys for carrying items
10. Baby care area
11. Triangular terrace

In addition to its indoor shopping and entertainment facilities, Akmerkez offers guests an outdoor experience with its newly renovated appearance. One of the most attractive features of this shopping mall is the Triangle Terrace, a tranquil space away from the hustle and bustle, designed specifically for the comfort and relaxation of visitors. After my shopping session, I spent a few minutes in this delightful area and thoroughly enjoyed its calm atmosphere.

Restaurants at Akmerkez

For me, one of the most important parts of a shopping mall is its cafes and restaurants, as I can’t really handle hunger and always need to grab a bite after shopping.

Choosing among the variety of restaurants at Akmerkez Istanbul was a challenging task because I had researched the food brands available there beforehand and knew most of them were of high quality. This made the decision even harder!

Here’s a list of the top restaurants in this shopping mall:

My Experience at Akmerkez

Since I initially wanted a drink, I decided to visit Moc Cafe. The atmosphere of this café was very pleasant, with tables and benches arranged around the shop for seating. I ordered a latte with lactose-free milk and a honey-walnut Marlenka. The coffee tasted good, and the Marlenka, which I tried for the first time, was truly delightful. However, the waiter’s behavior was far from professional; he showed little respect to me and others and acted indifferently. The prices were reasonable and didn’t seem too high.

The coffee lifted my mood, and since I love sweet treats, I strolled to Divan Patisserie. This shop had seating available, but I was only planning to shop and didn’t want to occupy a table. Various chocolate and pastry boxes were beautifully displayed in the windows, catching my attention. I purchased a Macaroon Box of 6 for 480 TL.

For the main meal, hunger was dominating my thoughts. A restaurant with an unusual pink statue caught my eye, and I randomly entered Little Buddha. To start, I ordered a bowl of noodles, which had an incredible flavor. Then, I chose chicken with a special sauce from the menu, priced at 700 TL, served in a hexagonal dish that was truly unique.

Around me, most tables were enjoying sushi, and it seemed like customers were highly satisfied. However, I didn’t try the sushi myself. The restaurant’s interior was deliberately decorated in red to stimulate appetite. Traditional chandeliers, paired with a combination of wooden tables, chairs, and red metal decorations, created an unusual but fascinating ambiance. My satisfaction with this restaurant was high, and I would definitely recommend dining here.

Getting to Akmerkez

Akmerkez, one of Istanbul’s best shopping malls, is located in the European side, in Beşiktaş, specifically in the Kültür neighborhood on Nisbetiye Street. Beşiktaş is known as one of the most luxurious and prominent areas of Istanbul, with easy accessibility.

If you plan to use public transportation, you can take the M6 metro line and get off at Nispetiye Station. From there, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to Akmerkez.

Alternatively, Istanbul taxis are another option to reach Akmerkez, though they generally cost more than the metro. For an economical trip, using the metro or bus is the best choice.

• Address: Kültür, Nisbetiye Cd No:56, 34340 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye
• Working Hours: The mall operates daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Summary

At Akmerkez, a wide variety of products are available, including jewelry, cosmetics, personal care items, watches, women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, sports and swimwear, perfumes, shoes, and toys. This shopping center houses not only local stores but also a collection of well-known global and international brands.

Elegant restaurants and cafes with excellent food are ready to serve visitors. Among these, famous brands such as Burger King and Starbucks stand out. In my opinion, after shopping and enjoying a delicious meal, experiencing the 7D cinema at Akmerkez can add the perfect finishing touch to your visit.

Do you think, based on this description, that visiting this shopping mall is worth it?

Finally, I recommend exploring the following articles to learn more about Istanbul’s shopping centers:

• Akbati Mall Istanbul
• Palladium Mall