Güllüoğlu Baklava & Cafe

If you want to have legitimate Turkish baklava without leaving the country, go to the Brighton Beach outpost of Güllüoğlu, a brand so committed to bringing their national pastries stateside that they ship all of their products frozen from their central bakery in Istanbul. They have at least 10 different types of baklava at any given time, and the raspberry pistachio, chestnut, and walnut varieties are some of the best. If they have tel kadayif - a layered dessert made from shredded phyllo dough and pistachios soaked in a fragrant syrup - get that too. While the baklava is excellent, our favorite order here is the Turkish tea with sugar and lemon and a simit, a chewy twisted round of bread covered in toasted sesame seeds. Stop here in the morning and take your tea and pastry to the beach and you’ll feel like you've been teleported to a better dimension. Just be sure to protect your simit from the seagulls.

photo credit: Carina Finn