Local Food & Drink Tastings
5 (71)

Eat like a local in Istanbul

3 hours English
5 (71)
100% Personalized

Baklava dripping in honey, flaky pastries and the best kebab in the city.

Mert
Mert
Feruza
Feruza

Match with one of our local hosts

Be matched with a host based on your interests and preferences, to tailor your perfect day.

Promo image 1
Promo image 2

100% Flexible: Adapt in real time

Your host will fine-tune the experience in real time to match your mood.

Experience Overview

Time:

3 hours

What to expect:

Fully tailored to your preferences

Language:

Hosted in English (Other languages may be requested)

Meeting point:

Your hotel/apartment or any other central location

Cancellation:

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

What to bring:

  • We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
  • Public transport may be used during the experience - please bring a travel card or small amount of cash for fares.

What’s Included:

A private and personalized experience
3 hours with your host
6-8 tastings of various local food specialities
A glass of wine, beer or soft drink
Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

What’s Excluded:

Food and drinks other than the ones included in the experience
Tickets to any attractions
Transportation costs
Gratuities (optional)

Key Highlights:

  • Discover Istanbul's vibrant food culture over 3-hours with your host
  • Get what you want out of your private and personalised experience - try the cafes, markets, bazaars and authentic local restaurants
  • Your experience, your pace - stroll through the neighbourhoods grabbing snacks on the go opt for a more indulgent approach, trying a few dishes at one or two restaurants
  • Get a unique insider’s point of view of the city's food scene and authentic local places to eat and drink on the rest of your trip

What travelers think of our Istanbul experiences

J
Jennifer 1 October 2025

Tugba was a very knowledgeable and engaging guide. Communication leading up to the tour was fantastic. We visited three locations, two for street food, the third for Baklava. More stops with smaller portions would have been preferred, but the overall experience was enjoyable.

Show more
D
Denise 1 September 2025

One gets a sample tasting of Turkish street food in a neighborhood where locals too eat. I didn’t feel like a tourist. It was fun.

Show more
M
Mary Kay 1 September 2025

Ipek provided an insider’s expertise on the secrets of finding the best culinary tidbits-in Itanbul..

Show more
A
Andrea 1 August 2025

We did a fabulous evening food tour with Burak. We went to places we would not have found on our own and tried food we wouldn't have known to try. He was very knowledgeable and had lots of fascinating information that made the tour amusing and interesting. It was just what we wanted

Show more
M
Maps 1 July 2025

Our private vegetarian tour with Ipek was the perfect day of digesting history and culture in Istanbul. She promptly picked us up from our hotel and immediately began sharing her knowledge on the unique and ancient area we were walking around. She answered all our questions along the way, and we were extremely impressed with the images and extra info she carried in her bag and iPad. She took us to many important landmarks and highlighted other significant locations casually found around town. Ipek also helped us with our (very broken) Turkish, and even got our fortunes read from our coffee grounds haha. It was awesome to eat like a local, with a local at all the local spots - and we were so full from all the food. 10/10 - would book again for the Asian side next trip :)

Show more
K
Kimberly 1 April 2025

Excellent food tour, such a lovely guide and great snacks. Highly recommend! I really enjoyed this experience, the best above the others.

Show more

What you’ll do

You’ll join one of our local Istanbul hosts to weave through this vibrant city together, embarking on a culinary adventure from Europe to Asia and back again - and this time we’re not just talking about your tastebuds flitting between continents.

You’ll feast your way around the city, enjoying dishes like lahmacun, a kind of Turkish pizza at a local cafe, Şiş Kebap, a skewered kebab which believe us, tastes even more incredible once you’ve seen it come out of the hot coals, as well as some street food favorites like crunchy fish sandwiches coated in sesame seeds.

There’s always room for a dessert (or two) like baklava dripping in honey or a more unusual rose-water soaked dough known as Güllaç. Explore markets to discover the kaleidoscope of spices on offer, try street food like flaky borek pastries, stop by traditional cafes in obscure places and the best kebab joints - only a local knows where to try the best version of each dish, and that’s exactly where they’ll take you. Word to the wise: skipping breakfast might not be the worst idea before this one.

Real Stories, Real Connections

Beautiful memory

Beautiful memory

Beautiful memory

Beautiful memory

Tugba_Kurti_Istanbul_BR-1267458343

Tugba_Kurti_Istanbul_BR-1267458343

Echoes of History: A Memorable Encounter

Echoes of History: A Memorable Encounter

Capturing Smiles and Adventures

Capturing Smiles and Adventures

Embracing Adventure in Istanbul's Heart

Embracing Adventure in Istanbul's Heart