Make your own mosaic lamp in Balat.
Two hours in Istanbul's most photogenic neighbourhood. You choose the glass, set every piece yourself, and carry your lamp home, lit, when the workshop ends.
- Free cancellation
- No prepayment
- Eight seats per session
Real hands, real lamps.
Photos from our studio in Balat: the glass, the table, our guests and the lamps made here.
From loose glass to your own light.
No experience needed. Here's how the two hours go.
- 01
Arrive
Tea first. Then a tour of the glass, the tools in your hands, and a few minutes to plan your pattern with us.
- 02
Create
Cut the glass, shape it, and set each piece on the globe. We stay beside you the whole time.
- 03
Glow home
Your lamp is finished by the end of the workshop. We switch it on with you, then wrap it for the road.
A mother and daughter at your table.
Glow Balat is a small family studio in a 19th-century courtyard in Balat, run by Ravza and her mother, Melda.
There's no assembly line here: one table, eight seats, fresh tea, and two people who will help you cut your first piece of glass and switch on your finished lamp with you.
Ravza & Meldayour hosts in Balat
Wonderful mosaic workshop experience making my own traditional Turkish luminaire! Ravza and Melda, mother and daughter leading their own small studio in Balat are amazing teachers!
Loved by travellers.
Glow Balat was an incredibly beautiful space to spend a few hours. There were various lamps and patterns to guide us, and so many choices for shapes and glass. Ravza and her mom were warm, friendly, and helpful through the entire process. One of our favourite experiences in Istanbul.
This was really fun! I went with my mom and we had a great time, we came home with beautiful lamps, and the people there were really nice. I definitely recommend it!
Excellent! I loved the wonderful experience, I learned a very nice traditional technique! Mother and daughter teachers are a very friendly and professional charm.
The staff were very friendly and lovely, they took great care of us, and explained and taught us everything in detail. Definitely a workshop to come to for fun with friends, I recommend it to everyone.
It was an excellent experience for me and my family. I wish I came here sooner.
I came with my family. The workshop was an amazing experience and we are thankful for the hospitality.
The light of the Grand Bazaar, in your hands.
These are the lamps that fill the ceilings of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. Make one yourself in two hours and take it home, lit, when the workshop ends.
Brush through the lamps and watch them swing.
Every lamp is one of a kind.
A few colour ideas to start from. At the table you'll choose from 16 kinds of glass and 17 colours of beads.
Design your own lamp.
Pick a star, colour it ring by ring and switch it on. Your design comes with your reservation, and we make it together at the table.
Start from
Colour each part
Choose a part, then a glass.
Every lamp is made by hand, so yours will turn out a little different, and entirely yours.
Reserve a seat
Choose a day and a time. It takes a minute, and nothing is charged now.
- No prepayment. Pay at the studio, cash or card.
- Free cancellation, any time.
- We confirm on WhatsApp within 15 minutes, 10:00–21:00.
Find us in Balat.
Balat has been Istanbul's melting pot for centuries: Greek and Ottoman layers folded into steep cobblestone streets and candy-coloured houses. Our studio sits inside a 19th-century courtyard, a few minutes from the Fener Greek Patriarchate. Making something here, with your hands, is the real souvenir.
- Address
- Ayvansaray Mah. Leblebiciler Sok. No:9C
Tarihi Balat Çarşısı, Fatih/İstanbul - Sessions
- Every day at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00
- +90 555 085 92 93
Good questions.
What do I need to bring?
Nothing at all. Glass, tools, the lamp fittings and a glass of tea are included.
How long is the workshop?
Two hours. Sessions start every day at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00.
Can I take my lamp with me when the workshop ends?
Yes. Your lamp is finished by the end of the workshop: we switch it on with you, then wrap it carefully for your bag or suitcase. No shipping, no coming back the next day.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, from age 8. Children aged 8 to 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Message us on WhatsApp if you have any questions.
Do I need any experience?
None. We show you every step, from choosing glass to cutting and placing it.
How do I pay?
At the studio, by cash or card. Nothing is charged when you reserve.
What's your cancellation policy?
If you book directly with us, you can cancel free of charge at any time; just tell us on WhatsApp. Bookings made through Viator or other platforms follow that platform's cancellation policy.
Which languages do you teach in?
English and Turkish. Choose one when you reserve.
Where exactly are you?
In the historic Balat Bazaar (Balat Çarşısı), Leblebiciler Sokak No:9C, a few minutes from the Fener Greek Patriarchate.
Five sessions a day. Eight seats each.
Every day at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00
Reserve a seat