Flavors of Two Continents

"We had a really great day together with our guide Betul, exploring the cuisine of Turkey in both knowledge and through our tastebuds. This also involved lots of close contact with the Turkish people, sellers, traders, makers, cooks, chefs and waiters. It's a real insight to the culture and the way things are done in this part of the world" Read more on Tripadvisor.

Unforgettable Culinary Experiences Between Two Continents

This full-day culinary experience takes you to the finest specialty food shops and local restaurants of Istanbul’s two most exciting neighborhoods: Beyoğlu on the European side and Kadikoy (Kadıköy in Turkish) on the Asian side. While tasting some of the best examples of Istanbul’s delicacies, you will also listen to the inspiring stories behind these culinary delights, meet the people who make them and delve deep into the bustling Turkish street culture. If you like to eat your way through a city as much as I do, you will enjoy this unique culinary tour that I designed for you.

Part 1: European Side of Istanbul

You must have heard the worldwide fame of Turkish breakfast. This is your chance to taste it. Our journey begins in Beyoğlu with a traditional Turkish breakfast. Next we discover the eateries in Beyoğlu’s local market and learn about the meyhane (tavern) culture, including the proper way to drink your rakı along side matching mezes. We taste one of the best cups of Turkish coffee in town in a historical landmark; a 150-year old arcade. We continue along the back streets of Istiklal where we drink Turkish coffee in a traditional coffee house in a historical passage. We head down to Karaköy to catch a ferry to cross the majestic Bosphorus strait towards the Asian side. The ferry ride is an unforgettable experience in itself, where you get to feed simit (local bagel) to sea gulls with stunning views of the old city serving as a backdrop. 

Part 2: Asian Side of Istanbul

We will be spending the next half of the day between Kadikoy and Moda, the new ‘cool’ neighborhoods of Istanbul. The local market of Kadikoy is beyond compare. You can find most Turkish delicacies lined up one after another in seemingly unending narrow streets. The real challenge becomes in choosing which ones to taste. Do not worry, we have already sampled it all and chose the best list for you: visit to a pickle store and sampling pickle juice, lahmacun from the South East, meat balls from Marmara, dolmas from the Aegean region… The day ends exploring the fashionable Kadikoy district with its hip cafes and fine architecture. Our culinary walk adventure finalizes on a sweet note in a locally famous baklava shop.

Who is this tour for?

• Foodies who want to get beyond the Turkish restaurants and eat what the locals eat.
  
• Anyone who wants to sample the best Turkish food.
  
• People interested in learning about Turkish food culture and enjoying some delicious meals at the same time.
  

Why book with Istanbul Tour Studio?

• As enthusiastic Turkish foodies, we take pride in knowing all the best places to eat, and will also point out options for you to visit during the rest of your stay.
  
• Our Istanbul food tour was curated by Turkey’s Vogue Food Editor, who really cares about bringing you the best Turkey has to offer.
  
• Istanbul Tour Studio is rated "Excellent" on Tripadvisor. Click to read the latest reviews about us.
  
• We make you feel at home! Our tours give you the feeling that you are walking around Istanbul with local friends. 
  
• We have a team of knowledgeable personnel that are trustworthy, friendly and always on time.

How much is the private Flavours of Two Continents tour per person?

• Our private Flavours of Two Continents tour price is $120 USD/person for two people. ($240 USD/total for two adults)
• Our prices are quoted per person. We require minimum two participants to organise this private tour. Please contact us if you'd like to book a private tour for one person. The prices include English speaking professional guidance, all the food/drink consumed as part of the culinary tour and public ferry ride. We offer dynamic pricing which means as the number of people on your private group increase, our per person prices decrease. 
• This tour costs $120 USD/person for two people; $95 USD/person for three people; $80 USD/person for four people; $70 USD/person for five people and $65 USD/person for six people. You will automatically get the dynamic pricing at the booking phase once you select the total number of people.
• We give 50% discount for children between 7-12 years old; meanwhile our tours are free for kids under 7 years old.
• The prices quoted above are for the walking tour. If you are staying at Beşiktaş, Beyoğlu (Taksim) or Karaköy areas you can use public transportation such as tram or taxi. It would cost approx. $4 USD/person. Alternatively, we also offer private transportation with luxury Mercedes vans with professional drivers for $300 USD/day.
• Please contact us for custom pricing for groups over six people.
  

 Contact us for more information