If you pride yourself on being a real "bargain hunter" and if you love browsing or spending hours hunting for that perfect accessory, gift or antique then you won’t want to miss the best kept secrets in Ankara on our list of trendy and cool places to shop in 2003.
One of the most uncool things in the world is to find out that you spent too much for something and your friend got it for half the price you paid at another store! Well, our aim is to take you away from all that by introducing you to some places that you or your friends probably don’t know about. We hope that once you do, you’ll never worry about where to shop again.

The latest hot tips include some places that have been around for a while but that most people just never knew about or never even considered. Other hot spots include new places that perhaps you’ve wanted to get to, but just couldn’t make the time for. We urge you to make the time for the places we’re about to mention. I dare you not to rave about these spots once you’ve had a peek!

Nobody beats Paris for chic or trendy hair clips! Kudos to Agatha!
In case you are not up on the trendiest hair accessories, pop into the cool and trendy Agatha’s of Paris. Agatha’s trademark is their adorable doggie hairclips in smashing colors at reasonable prices if you compare it to what you’d pay in the States. Plus there’s trendy jewelry that you won’t find anywhere else and super leather bags that won’t bust your budget. If you’re lucky enough to get to Paris, check out their inexpensive doggie face watches in eye-catching colors.

So you want boots!
Now, if you’re looking for that perfect, handmade boot, you have got to get to Tony Mora. They have authentic, genuine leather boots for women and men that are handmade and tooled in Spain. Every boot is a work of art with perfect detail and made to last a lifetime. Since western boots never go out of style, you’ll be right in step with 2003 fashion trends.

Ever heard of Thor-Lo? Say What!
Well, you’re not cool on the slopes, hiking or in the water unless you’re wearing the latest and best sportswear money can buy. So trek on over to SporArt where you’ll find the best in European and American brands in sportswear and sports shoes. Just for the record, Thor-Lo is the brand to get when it comes to perfection and comfort in sports socks. It’s an American brand and no other shop in Ankara or Istanbul carries them so you’re lucky if you get a pair. The price is worth it as they last forever

Olive Oil is "in" – the rest are "out"!
If you’ve been keeping up with health trends and news, you know that every doctor from here to Timbuktu has touted the virtues of monosaturated oil, oil with one fat chain. That’s why it’s been all the rage for years to use only olive oil as it meets this requirement. Just to keep it from being boring though you’ve got to have different flavors right? That’s where Laleli comes in. Laleli is a gourmet olive oil store that sells their own original olive oil in flavors as exotic as bergamot, mandarin and lemon! Instead of wine tasting, try olive oil tasting, with different bread you get to sample each flavor before you buy. Not to mention the charming décor, natural soaps, fine tableware and wonderful smell. You really can’t leave there without buying at least one thing!

Set yourself up for a great table!
You can’t set any trends in 2003 without a great looking dinner table for those important guests. And where else to get everything you need than at Pasabahce the trendiest glass shop around! Check out the unique flower vases with giant roses or how about the latest in serving like the large, square white china platters. The best example of Pasabahce creativity are the large square glass platters that Budakalti serves its delectable tiramisu on. The word is you can only get those at Istanbul’s Maslak outlet. Talk about cool!

News Flash: Bees are sweet!
Using genuine natural sweeteners has been de rigueur for years so if you’re still downing the white stuff, dump it in favor of the best money can buy - honey from the bees. Honey is famous for its multi-mineral value, not to mention that bee pollen has been touted as a cure-all for everything from arthritis to impotence. So next time you’re "cruising" Tunali Hilmi Street, check out FER, the only place in Ankara, albeit in Turkey, that sells chestnut honey plus a range of other original honey products. The packaging is super and the trendiest thing is to shop and receive a chic bag to go along with your purchases and that’s exactly what you get here plus a friendly proprietor. To your health!

Go organic if you want to be trendy!
If you’ve been on the net lately you know the trend for 2003 is getting healthy and staying that way. Americans and Europeans discovered organic foodstuffs years ago and the benefits of ecologically grown veggies, fruit, meat and grains. This year Ankaraians are lucky because there are three places to choose from to satisfy your natural and organic needs. Daphne, a very "now" supermarket that carries organic products, even organic juices and olive paste made from green and black olives by Fora. MishMish, arabic for apricot, which sells super dried fruit and other unheard of products and Apricot Malatya with their huge selection of Arabic/Turkish spices and apricot foodstuff. Let’s hear it for health nuts! Hurray for health nuts!

Just rant and rave why don’t you!
Life wouldn’t be worth living for most women without their cosmetic bag! But hear this, Rant Cosmetics isn’t just for women - men can find their body creams, shampoo and conditioners here as well. This is THE store for your discount cosmetic needs, Arnaud, Roc, Nivea, Cottage, Kair, L’Oreal, Le Jeuneusse and Vital plus a bunch of international perfume brands at rock bottom prices if you shop around. Stop by and chat with Aynur Çetin at the counter. She’s friendly and fun plus you won’t get a better discount anywhere else in Ankara!

Antique freak? Search no more!
Samanpazari in Ulus, is the top spot for the hottest antiques and Ottoman style decorative items and furniture that you will ever find in Ankara. Granted, you probably would never consider that part of town in the old section as a shopping paradise. How wrong! The backstreets of Saraclar Sokak or Saraclar Çarsi (Market) are precisely the place to hunt down the "find of the century", as well as Pirinc Han on Pirinc Sokak. Pirinc Han is a charming, little square with shops that sell all sorts of Ottoman items, furniture, antiques, carpets and kilims.

With a name like Baki you can sell anything!
Baki Gallery is the place that most dignitaries, embassy officials and foreigners frequent for all their Turkish souvenir needs. Baki has been in business for over 30 years and he has the best prices around on Kütahya plates and any other type of Turkish trinkets you can think of. The owner loves people and is fluent in English. If you have to get a special traditional Turkish gift, this is the place to go.

Try a taste of Anatolia - It’s trendy to get ethnic!
A day of shopping wouldn’t be complete without a great place to relax and just kick back your heels. Search no more! The Anatolian style Cafe Dino, across from Pirinc Han is a spot where you can get that proverbial cup of Turkish tea or the traditional gozleme, a flaky pastry. Best of all, the people at the cafe and shops are friendly and more interested in chatting with you than in turning a big profit. Plus, this area is a historical slice of Turkey that shouldn’t be missed!

Shopping Information

Agatha
Armada Shopping Mall
Tel: (0312) 219 11 41/4

Apricot Malatya
Yesilyurt Sokak, No. 28/B Asagiayranci
Tel: (0312) 467 12 65

Baki Gallery
Farabi Sokak, No. 19 Çankaya
Tel: (0312) 468 18 82

Café Dino
Pirinc Sokak, No. 7 Koyunpazari
Samanpazari, Ulus
Tel: (0312) 309 47 26

Daphne
Ugur Mumcu Caddesi No. 83/5 Gaziosmanpasa
Tel: (0312) 436 50 05
www.daphne-daphne.com

Düven Antik Dekorasyon
Salman Sokak (Copper Alley)
No. 1/J Samanpazari, Ulus
Tel: (0312) 310 24 20/ 311 79 29

FER
Bülten Sokak No. 26/B Kavaklidere
Tel: (0312) 468 92 98

Furkan Antik Dekorasyon
Salman Sokak, 36/A
Samanpazari, Ulus
Tel: (0312) 311 24 37

Güven Oz Filiz
Saraclar Çarsisi, No. 1/A
Samanpazari, Ulus
Tel: (0312) 312 61 62

Kayalar (Handicrafts)
Salman Sokak No. 10/A
Çirikcilar Yokusu Samanpazari, Ulus
Tel: (0312) 311 11 06/309 29 88

Laleli Olive Oil
Ugur Mumcu Caddesi No. 60/B Gaziosmanpasa
Tel: (0312) 446 23 16

MishMish
Tunali Hilmi Caddesi No. 84/D
Kavaklidere
Tel: (0312) 426 73 42

Ozdemir Carpets/Kilims
Pirinc Sokak Pirinc Han No. 4/E
Samanpazari, Ulus
Tel: (0312) 312 12 40
www.pirinchan.com

Pasabahce
Tunali Hilmi Caddesi, No. 97
Kavalidere
Tel: (0312) 426 06 82

Rant Cosmetics
Tunali Hilmi Caddesi No. 88/8
Kavalidere
Tel: (0312) 427 22 77

SporART
Arjantin Caddesi No. 6/1
Kavaklidere
Tel: (0312) 426 22 23
Outlet - Yildilevler, 4 Caddesi,
No. 62 Çankaya
Tel: (0312) 442 02 00

Tony Mora
Ankuva Shopping Mall
Tel:(0312) 266 58 61
www.tonymora.com