As we walk through the doors to the newly opened shopping center The Han in Kyrenia, it’s like we’ve entered an oriental dream world, filled from floor to ceiling with beautiful objects. The daylight shines through the tall windows and reflects its rays in the colorful lights hanging from the ceiling. Mehmet Yavuz welcomes us warmly and takes us on a tour of the store, which opened the doors just a few days ago.
Mehmet is the manager of The Han Shopping Center, previously used to run their sister stores in Turkey, but now it is time to expand their establishment to Cyprus. He first takes us to the part of the room where handmade ceramics and glass lamps are available. The Han is a shopping destination for tourists and others who want to decorate their homes with quality souvenirs influenced by Eastern art and culture. The Han is also a perfect gift shop for those who want to buy a unique and special go-away gift for a dinner party or birthday party.
The Han Shopping Center really has something for everyone. Here you will find everything from handmade soaps sold in price per kilo (and smells totally divine!), to oriental rugs, modern leather and trademarked hand bags, silver jewellery, crockery, water pipes, big wooden doors, scarfs and a thousand other things. Mehmet brings out a traditional hand-painted vase and holds it up in front of us. The brushes are so thin and detailed that it takes a minute before the eye can distinguish all the beautiful details of flowers and plants that adorn it. On the shelves there are big ceramic plates with painted motives that would fit on any painting. As we go around, Yavuz tells about us the different motives and patterns of traditional Ottoman objects, each thing has its own story to tell.
The Han Shopping Center is a large store on two floors. Each store department has its own character and unique style. The sections have names like Art Store, Flying Carpet, Mosaic Lamp, Organic Soaps & Hamam, and Fashion Bags. The professional sellers who work in the store speak several languages and offer everyone who comes in through the door a courteous and personal service. This is undoubtedly a new shopping concept for the island, in the bright premises with well-stocked shelves and straight lined items, one can distinguish an international forward thinking with the customer in focus at the same time as being careful to take on and convey the historical and cultural heritage of the items for sale.
The Han Shopping Center will also be a stop for the major tour operators in North Cyprus, with buses that stop every day. We continue to The Han’s own Ottoman restaurant, Efezade, where we can taste local delights such as freshly baked bread made by tahini and the local pizza called pide. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with colorful wooden furniture and traditional candlelight hanging from the ceiling. We also try to smoke water pipes with a taste of sweet fruits. The waiter shows us his skill when he blows a big soap bubble filled with smoke that rises to the sky and then bursts, an impressive talent!
The Han Shopping Center and the Efezade restaurant are an overall experience and a must visit in North Cyprus! Come here for inspirational shopping, a nice lunch, a dinner or a glass of wine. Feel at home and enjoy an enchanting Ottoman atmosphere!
Opening hours:
Every day between 10 am and 12 pm.
Telephone: 0533 853 44 14
The Han Shoppingcenter on Facebook and Instagram, and Efezade on Facebook and Instagram.
Homely Zephyr Café outskirts of Nicosia
