Zorlu Center

Zorlu Center stands in the Beşiktaş district on the European side of Istanbul, at the junction where the approach road of the Bosphorus Bridge meets Büyükdere Avenue, close to the Zincirlikuyu transport hub.

The Zorlu Group bought the site at a public auction in 2007 with a winning bid of US$800 million and opened the complex in 2013. It was designed by Emre Arolat Architects together with Tabanlıoğlu Architects, with low buildings set around green roofs and terraces and taller towers holding offices and residences.

The shopping mall focuses on international fashion and luxury brands, along with department stores, home and design shops, and a wide range of restaurants and cafes. It opened Turkey's first Apple Store. A cinema complex and a Raffles hotel are also part of the site.

Zorlu PSM, the performing arts centre, is among the largest in Turkey. It hosts concerts, musicals, theatre and festivals across several stages, including the main Turkcell Stage, and brings international touring shows to the city. Outdoor terraces are used for events in summer.

The mall is open every day from morning until late evening and entry is free. The metrobus and the M2 metro at Gayrettepe and Zincirlikuyu are nearby.

How big is Zorlu Center? The complex has a total floor area of about 615,900 square metres. The mall holds more than 200 shops along with about 40 cafes and restaurants, set on levels that open onto landscaped terraces. Offices and residences occupy the towers above.

Zorlu PSM has two main venues: a concert hall with about 2,300 seats and a theatre with about 770. The programme ranges from Turkish pop and jazz concerts to West End and Broadway musicals on tour, and the outdoor stages host summer festivals.

The hotel and practical points. Raffles Istanbul opened in the complex in September 2014, with 136 rooms, 49 suites, three restaurants and a spa. The centre welcomes pets, and its Zorlu World app gives members offers and event news. Zincirlikuyu, a few minutes away on foot, is the main interchange for the metrobus across the Bosphorus Bridge to the Asian side, and the M2 metro at Gayrettepe connects with Taksim and Levent.