Taste of Istanbul Home
Taste of Istanbul Food Tours
Experience the true vibe of Istanbul by joining us on a foodie walk in the city that spreads across the historical city center and through Istanbul’s vibrant neighboring districts. We will lead you to the best traditional Turkish restaurants, cafes and shops throughout the city that we have carefully selected for being run by locals whose passion is to serve authentic and delicious Turkish food, accompanied with the typical warm-hearted Turkish hospitality. With Taste of Istanbul Food Tours, you will have the chance to explore the captivating sights, have the opportunity to taste mouth-watering delicacies of the Turkish cuisine and hear the stories that lie behind the classic dishes.
Unique culinary tours in Istanbul
We provide a unique culinary experience by presenting our guests with only the real taste of authentic Turkish cooking that uses fresh, local produce.
Book your adventure today
With a great variety of specially designed food tasting tours, we are sure you will find the perfect tour to suit you!
Taste it all
Some of the delicious Turkish foods you will be tasting include; the famous Turkish kebab, mouth-watering baklavas, freshly baked boreks, tasty seafood, delicious Turkish coffee, home cooked meals such as sarma and fasulye. Many more delicious Turkish foodie treasures await you on each one of our Istanbul culinary tours!
View Our Tours
With a great variety of specially designed food tasting tours, we are sure you will find the perfect tour to suit you!
What do our guests think about us ?
Below are the reviews of Taste of Istanbul Food Tour on Airbnb Experiences and TripAdvisor.
700+ reviews
-
Food was excellent. Su was very knowledgeable and flexible (dietary needs). Enjoyed walking around and getting to know hidden (special) spots for food.
November 29, 2024Our hostess did a fantastic job of customizing our entire experience given we had people with many different dietary preferences. She took us to some hidden gems for pide, Turkish… read more delights, kebabs, and other Turkish food. She regaled us with the history and social context of food, and the places we were going to.
Highly recommended.
November 29, 2024Eine unserer ganz besonderen Reiseerfahrungen! Es war unsere 2. Reise nach Istanbul und wir wollten etwas abseits des typischen Sightseeing Programmes erleben. Die guten Bewertungen hatten uns überzeugt und wir… read more können uns 100% anschließen! Ozcan führte uns zu Orten, die wir nie selbst gefunden hätten. Seine entspannte, niemals aufdringliche Art, sein Wissen und die gut abgestimmte Auswahl an Spots macht diese Tour so besonders! Einige Spots haben uns so gut gefallen, dass wir am nächsten Tag zurückgekehrt sind. Also: nicht lange nachdenken, buchen 🙂
November 18, 2024 -
Didi was a FANTASTIC guide along with her assistant. The pacing of the food tour was perfect and we were full by the end. She shared with us a ton… read more of interesting facts about the food and the city. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone. Thank you!!
November 9, 2024Loved the experience 😍.. anyone who has doubts whether to book this experience or not, please don’t hesitate!! Go ahead and reserve the slots . It’s worth !!
Our guide… read more DD was amazing , she explained everything very well and took us to places which the local community would know (not social media hyped places ) . All the food we tried was delicious 🤤
Please do skip breakfast and join the tour (trust me you would need lot of appetite for this tour )
November 9, 2024Notre expérience avec Sude a été vraiment chouette.
Nous avons pu entrer dans des endroits où nous n’aurions pas osé aller seuls.
De belles découvertes tant de la ville que… read more gustatives.
Ce n’est pas exagéré de ne pas prendre de petit déjeuner avant de partir.
En bref je recommande cette expérience!
November 4, 2024 -
Oscan was a fantastic host and guide! We had a terrific experience, tried foods in unexpected, out of the way locations where we were the only tourists. He truly felt… read more like he sowed us his Istanbul, places he frequents as a local. I highly recommend this tour for a unique and wonderful window of Istanbul.
October 30, 2024This food trip was good, not great. We tried a lot of good food and we were really well fed by the end of it, but overall it was less… read more engaging than I expected.
October 28, 2024 -
Great overview of Istanbul food culture – shopping in and around the spice bazaar, watching the preparation of pida, coffee with a kilim vendor. Ozcan wanted us to feel a… read more slower pace of life where meals are opportunities to both savor the cuisine both and build personal relationships. This made the experience more local and authentic than tours where participants are rushed from one stop to the next.
October 22, 2024A lovely and very enjoyable day out in Istanbul with lot’s of delicious food, sights and company. Ozcan was a great guide and he might even read your fortune in… read more your coffee grounds if you ask him. Highly reccomended
October 19, 2024 -
Really enjoyed the tour with Didem. She was an excellent host, and the places we visited all had a unique special vibe to them – we learnt lots and… read more enjoyed the food – the pide stop was magical and the Turkish coffee so much better than anywhere else. At all the places Didem had a great relationship with the staff and we felt really welcome.
Highly recommended.
October 11, 2024Outstanding experience with Sudu. Excellent food choices, a great balance of savoury & sweet. All the food was so delicious & fresh. The locations truely amazing whether it was tucked… read more away in the busy streets surrounding the Spice Market or a little hidden gem in the Grand Bazaar. We have already returned to 2 of the locations we visited.
October 7, 2024This tour was overall a great experience that covers a lot of ground being able to wander the old bazaar and Eqyptian bazaar with lots of good food sprinkled throughout.… read more A bit more history of the markets would have been even better but overall the guide, food, and pace was wonderful!
October 7, 2024 -
Unser Guide an dem Tag war die Sudan und sie war so so toll! Neben dem leckeren Essen und den tollen Spots waren ihre Erzählungen noch das i-tüpfelchen. Wir haben… read more das Erlebnis sehr genossen und können es wärmstens empfehlen!
October 1, 2024Notre hôte, Didem était très gentille et informée sur la culture , ce qui agrémentait la visite par ses informations. Elle était très sympathique et à l’écoute de tous .… read more La nourriture découverte était bien et appréciée .
October 1, 2024What an unforgettable experience! Our food tour in Istanbul was nothing short of amazing, and Ozkun, our guide, made it feel as though a friend was showing us around the… read more city. He was personable, attentive, and considerate of everyone’s needs in our smaller group, which created such a comfortable and intimate atmosphere.
The day started at the Egyptian Market, where we picked up some delicious local breakfast items. We then made our way to a hidden gem of a Pide restaurant tucked away in a quiet courtyard. We ordered a meat and cheese Pide, cooked in a wood-fired oven, and enjoyed it alongside cheese, bagel, and pastrami from the market. Of course, Turkish tea accompanied breakfast, completing the authentic experience.
Next, we enjoyed Turkish coffee in another peaceful courtyard, offering a moment to relax and soak in the local vibe. Then we made our way to a small doner spot, which was truly unique. It was literally just a corner where the meat was being cooked, and the seating was
September 4, 2024 -
I’ve been on many guided foodie tours but a day with Ozcan is up there with the best! Not just a great guide, but a good friend by the time… read more we’d finished our last, delicious tasting.
August 5, 2024This tour was exceptional and was the perfect way to start our trip in Istanbul! Didem was such a wonderful guide and went above and beyond to provide the best… read more experience possible – she tailored the tour to fit our specific needs, and provided great recommendations for the rest of our stay in Istanbul. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in Turkish food and culture!
July 23, 2024 -
Food tour was top, we really liked the opportunity of walking around the city and trying local food icons.
Ozcan is a great guide, very friendly, talkative and kept us interested… read more throughout the qhole experience. definitely recommended.
June 20, 2024It’s an amazing experience, much better than expected. We went to amazing places we would have not known without Ozcan! We ate delicious local food and walk in amazing places.… read more Ozcan was incredibly patient with us and he takes into consideration our wants and needs. I would 100% recommend this experience and 100% recommend Ozcan as a guide!
June 19, 2024Ozkan was AMAZING! We ate the most delicious food and had a super personalized tour. Ozkan was very knowledgeable not only about food but about all of the history of… read more Istanbul. We had so much fun traveling from the European side to the Asian side as well. Highly highly recommend this tour!
June 13, 2024 -
Didem and Rabia were fantastic hosts! We tried delicious foods, learned a lot about local Turkish culture and history, and explored some places we definitely wouldn’t have found on our… read more own. The tour was the perfect amount of time and the perfect pace — just enough walking, and lots of delicious bites. Come hungry, leave full!
June 7, 2024 -
Didem was a fantastic host – warm, thoughtful and knowledgeable. We learnt not only about turkish food but also facts on turkey’s history and culture.
May 23, 2024A GREAT EXPERIENCE! Went to both the spice and grand bazaar, had a huge breakfast (turkish pizza, cheese, olives, tea), had a turkish coffee tasting and coffee grinds reading, sampled… read more the best baklava, had the best chicken skewers. Great quality of food and great history by Didum, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TOUR.
May 23, 2024We had such a wonderful time with Ozcan on this tour. We ended up being the only two on it and Ozcan really personalized it based on what we were… read more looking for – unique locations, delicious food, and great spice market shopping. Ozcan was easily able to cater to our needs as vegetarians and we tried food we wouldn’t have found otherwise. By the end of the tour, we felt like old friends.
May 22, 2024
-
5 star tour – Oskan is the ultimate food tour guide in Istanbul! His meticulous attention to detail and incredible dedication to discovering the city’s culinary gems is unparalleled. This guy has tried countless… read more restaurants to curate the best breakfast, candies, coffee and tea, kebab, kafta, and baklava experiences for his guests.
What’s truly impressive is Oskan’s commitment to excellence—he personally visits 4-5 new shops daily until he finds the perfect mix. During our tour, he went above and beyond, making two extra stops just to fulfill our specific cravings. His passion for food and knowledge of Istanbul’s culinary scene made my birthday unforgettable.
Oskan gets my highest recommendation. If you’re in Istanbul, do yourself a favor and book a tour with him. It’s a must-try experience that will leave you with a full heart and an even fuller stomach!
November 16, 2024Ozkan, you are amazing – 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
We had the absolute pleasure of experiencing Istanbul through the eyes of our incredible food tour guide, **Ozkan**. From the moment we met him, his charismatic personality made… read more the whole experience truly unforgettable. His knowledge of the city’s culinary gems is unmatched.
What stood out most was Ozkan’s genuine passion for the food and culture of Istanbul. He took us to the best hidden spots, each more delightful than the last. His recommendations were spot on every time. If you’re planning a food tour with Ozkan, my best advice is: **don’t be demanding, just trust him**. He knows exactly what he’s doing and will make sure you have the best experience possible.
Thank you so much, Ozkan, for giving us the best day of our lives. We’ll always cherish the wonderful memories and flavors you shared with us. If you’re considering a food tour in Istanbul, look no further—Ozkan is the guide you need!
November 16, 2024The sweet and savoury tastes of an evening walk in Istanbul – Sude was a knowledgeable and friendly guide, who made our tour a fabulous experience. She introduced us to the distinct flavours of Istanbul and to food shops and restaurants we… read more would never have found on our own. Totally delicious, from fish wraps, to mystical Turkish coffee, divine mussels and decadent desserts, the evening was a treat. And the perfect introduction to Turkish cuisine.
November 13, 2024 -
Great guide, great food, great neighbourhood – Sude is a highly knowledgeable, warm + enthusiastic guide to the authentic flavours of Istanbul in places you’d never find on your own. This tour is well worth the time + money!!
November 12, 2024Sude is a great food guide! – Our guide, Sude, was an excellent guide to the wonderful foods of Istanbul. From the first mouth-watering fish wraps to the fortune-telling Turkish coffee, to the delicious dessert ending of… read more our evening together, she was always an enthusiastic and knowledgeable food guide. Our group of three was provided with a private tour in Istanbul’s New Town, and the price included all food and drinks. The 3-hour walking tour was not strenuous, and we were also introduced to many sights and features of Istanbul. All in all it was a great experience, and a wonderful introduction to Istanbul and the food of Turkey
November 12, 2024 -
Had a lovely evening walk with the charming guide, Didem. Meeting point was easy to find. The food offered on the tour was freshly made, and smelled and tasted really… read more good. The walk was really nice, and provided a break in between all the stops, where the portions were just right that you get a good taste of what turkish cuisine is like, but not too big that you end up overstuffed at the end of the tour.
Make sure you read your fortune after your Turkish coffee. That made pretty lively and interesting conversations.
February 12, 2023A fantastic experience and delicious culinary offerings. – The evening food tour was an incredible experience. We sampled a wide variety of foods, all delicious, and got a great taste of local culture and history too. Our guide… read more Elif was lovely; welcoming, laid back, friendly, and gave us some great recommendations for dinner spots for our remaining time in Istanbul. As two foodies, we enjoyed every minute of the tour and the dinner recommendations made were also excellent. Highly recommend! A great way to get yourself oriented and acquainted with the city and the beginning of your trip.
February 7, 2023Unforgettably wonderful food (and city sights) tour!
The highlight was meeting not just quality people in the tour who really wanted to be there and emmerse themselves in… read more Turkish culture, but our local born and bred guide Ezgi. She has the most beautiful personality well suited to hosting visitors to her country and took the time to explain (in perfectly fluent English) customs and rituals as well as flowing with group dynamics and banter, reading the room and always being aware and accomodating of people’s needs and preferences. She took the experiance up several notches by this professionalism yet also gave a real genuineness in sharing parts of her own life as a local. After the tour she offered assistance with recommendations and advice for our remaining stay. If I lived here permanently, I would definitly make room for as quality a human being as her in my life.
December 4, 2022 -
Perfect balance of food tasting, gastronomy tips and local history. Very easygoing and relaxed guide who is ready to answer any questions you have. Definitely recommend – well spent 4… read more hours and well worth the money.
October 29, 2022One of the best tours we’ve ever done. What a fantastic experience and Didem was the most fabulous, enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide we’ve ever had! The tour was such a… read more joy and we ate soooo much and learnt so much about Turkish life
October 22, 2022We did the evening food tour with Elif. She was a wonderful host and we had so much fun trying new foods that we hadn’t tasted yeteven after traveling… read more in Turkey for 4 weeks. We learned lots of interesting tidbits of info that helped make Istanbul and Turkey come alive. Thanks Elif.
October 9, 2022 -
We had a brilliant morning with Didem showing us around the markets and to some of the old and unusual food outlets of the city. Each place we went to… read more had fascinating history and delivered amazing food. The walk through the markets was informative and we were given a whole variety of weird and wonderful things to try from the stalls. Would definitely recommend this as part of your visit to Istanbul.
October 7, 2022Ezgi was so nice and gave us so much information about Istanbul in so many ways. We felt we were talking to a friend instead to a guide. The food… read more was amazing
She is and open book
October 5, 2022Didem was amazing! My friends and I did the "Local Food and History Walk at Night, " which was a highlight of our trip to Istanbul.
We tried food… read more we would have never come across by ourselves, explored the Karakoy and Beyoglu area, and Didem even gave us recommendations for more restaurants to visit during our trip.
Highly recommended!
October 5, 2022 -
Out host, Ezgi was excellent! She took us to some secret spots and famous ones as well – overall, great food selection! She had a wealth of knowledge not just… read more about the food, but also about history, culture and the people of Istanbul and Turkey in general.
We appreciate how patient she was with our questions, and she had a very amiable personality which made the whole tour feel like we’re just hanging out with a friend.
October 4, 2022This tour was simply wonderful. Elif our guide was so kind and patient even though we were running late . She took us to the little places that… read more I would never have found myself . On the whole it was a great experience. Loved it .
October 4, 2022Our host was Didem who was wonderful, warm, friendly, professional and very knowledgeable. There was a wide variety of food to eat at lovely restaurants which we would never have… read more discovered if we had not been in this tour. The meetup was easy and Didem told great stories about Turkish culture that went with the food. Thanks for everything!
September 27, 2022 -
even as a Turkish that know the local food they manage to surprise me with amazing selection of great food and history information . ask for Didem. she… read more is AMAZING!!
Thank you
September 22, 2022We had such a great time on this food tour. We spent 3 hours eating and strolling through the new town Istanbul, going through a few passages along Istiklal St.… read more The food was so great and we were stuffed by the end, and Elif offered to take us to more places if we were still hungry! It was a great tour, highly recommend.
September 21, 2022My mother, sister, and I had a phenomenal time with Didem. She is truly a gem! She showed us all the highlights Istanbul has to offer and gave us amazing… read more recommendations for the rest of our trip. Her English is perfect, and she was able to articulate everything so clearly! Our tour was the highlight of our trip, and we will definitely be in touch when we come back! Although the trip required a lot of walking, she was very patient and even changed up our tour so that we could take optimal breaks and rest while still getting a full experience. Speaking of full! The value of the tour was so worth it. The three of us were struggling to make room in our bellies to try all the great dishes the tour includes!! Definitely make sure to pace yourself if eating food isn’t a great passion of yours. Our favorite was the mackerel Well done Didem, we love you!
September 21, 2022 -
Hands down the best walking food tour in Istanbul. The good is delicious, the guide is amazing and very knowledge and overall the atmosphere is great. Would definitely recommend!!
September 18, 2022We had a wonderful foodtour with Didem. Everything was flawless and we enjoyed every dishes and have learned a lot about Istanbul. Don’t hesitate to ask any recommendations !
… read more />
Thanks again
September 14, 2022Wow, what an afternoon! We had the most enjoyable time. From the choice of food and stops, coupled with stroll through the city & stories from the past – this… read more is a must do tour! Our guide Elif was do delightful & made the tour.
The value in this tour is amazing – you will not be sorry.
Thank you so much!
September 14, 2022 -
My favorite part of the tour was being with a local who knows the city, food and culture. Elif added even more being an architect and helping us understand the… read more buildings where we were enjoying the delicious, fresh and authentic cuisine.
I highly recommend this tour when visiting Istanbul.
September 13, 2022This was an exceptional tour and our highlight in İstanbul! We went to so many amazing food spots that we would never have been able to find by ourselves. Our… read more host also was incredibly knowledgeable and provided so many interesting history and cultural facts. Couldn’t recommend this tour enough!
September 4, 2022My husband and I had a wonderful tour with Elif. She brought us to places we would never have found on our own. We were fortunate to be the only… read more ones on the tour which allowed us to explore organically between stops. Elif took notes of our questions and sent us detailed info with a recap of all the places we visited. Super impressed. Highly recommend. This is much more than a food tour and a great way to learn about Istanbul.
August 29, 2022 -
This is a terrific tour. My wife, 20yo son and I all had a great time, even though we aren’t normally into any kind of group tour.
From an… read more almost hidden 100 year old Turkish pizza place to the birthplace of Turkish Delight, from a working class home-food restaurant that you’d never be able to go to without special knowledge to a hidden courtyard in the grand Bazaar with history, diamonds and cats, we spent 3-4 hours at 7-8 places we’d never find on our own. Not too fast, not too slow.
Didi was a generous, enjoyable and knowledgeable host, who is happy to answer questions and provide recommendations not only during your tour but during the rest of your stay in Turkey.
If any of this sounds good to you, sign up and enjoy. It’s well worth your time and the price.
June 3, 2022I joined the group by luck, after getting stuck in the restaurant and lovely Didem helped me out. After that she was kind enough to let me join her tour.… read more And tour was amazing her knowledge and trivia and of course food stops where amazing. Really opened my eyes about what this city can offer and how much you can miss without super guide.
Also another big plus was that after the tour ended she kept in touch and her recommendations were amazing, were do go , what to see etc. 110% improved my visit
May 30, 2022Wow! This was the best tour I’ve ever done. If you’re reading this you need to book this right now and on your first day would be best. Not only… read more does this tour offer AMAZING value for money, you basically get 6 meals, but you also learn a lot about the city and tips for what to do the rest of your trip.
Didem is THE BEST tour guide ever! She is a native to the area and has so many recommendations. I recommend doing the morning and night tour with her to maximize your trip!
The food at all the stops is included in the tour price. You get a ton of food and as much water as you can drink. See something you love along the way? didem was so kind and flexible letting us stop to shop as needed.
May 28, 2022