This gazebo is in the wall around the Gülhanı park, Alay Köşkü translates as “Parade Pavilion”, from there the Sultan could observe the comings and goings at the palace of his Grand Vezir, that was opposite behind the Süblime Porte. The current pavilion is rather recent, from 1819, but an observation point for the Sultan has been here much earlier. He would also review from here the processions and parades passing by.

A notice inside explains: "Sultan Mehmed ordered the Sur-I SUltani wall, to isolate the Topkapı Palace frtom the city. In the early 1800’s the Alay Kiosk was built on its bastion. It is an polygonal building, that started as a single huge hall, but several rooms were added. It’s reached by a wide ramp from the Gülhanı park. Sultans would watch parades from here. Later the kiosk was used for birth and wedding ceremonies. And later again it was used by the Telegraph Office, then remained unoccupied for years. In the 1930’s literary events were held here, recently it has been restored and now houses a library named afgter Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, one of the leading figures of Turkish literature."