Traditional Home Cooking with a Local in İstanbul City Center
50 reviews
Experience hosted at home by
Gülşah
4 Hours
English, Turkish
If you’re looking for things to do in Istanbul that let you experience the city like a local, this home cooking experience is the perfect way to connect with Turkish culture through food. We’ll start by exploring the colorful, historic markets of Kurtuluş, where you’ll see vibrant spice stalls, freshly baked simit at the local bakery, traditional cured meats at the charcuterie, and jars of pickled delicacies. These shops are full of flavors that have shaped Turkish cuisine for centuries, and as we shop together, I’ll share their history and the best ways to use these ingredients in home cooking. 🍲
Once we’ve gathered everything we need, we’ll head to my home kitchen, where we’ll cook side by side just as Turkish families do. We’ll prepare authentic dishes like dolma, börek, mezes, and traditional soups, learning the small details that make them truly special. As we cook, we’ll chat about Turkish food culture, daily life, and the personal stories behind each dish. 🍴
When everything is ready, we’ll sit down for a homemade feast, enjoying the rich flavors, warm hospitality, and good conversation that make meals in Turkey so special. More than just a class, this is an opportunity to connect, share, and create lasting memories. 💬
If you’re wondering what is best to do in Istanbul, this experience will leave you with a full belly, a full heart, and a deeper appreciation for the city’s flavors and traditions. 🧡
What do our guests say?
I am a traveler and travel writer who has visited 70 countries. From Mongolia to Vietnam, I have joined local cooking classes and shared meals in the homes of locals. Among all these experiences, cooking and eating Turkish food with Gülşah was truly exceptional and goes far beyond tasting local dishes. In one of Istanbul’s oldest neighborhoods, you observe how people of different religions and nationalities live side by side. By shopping directly from local stores, you learn about the key ingredients of Turkish cuisine, from spices and sweets to fruits, vegetables, and pickles. Gülşah shares stories of traditional home-cooked dishes and explains how ancient Turkish culture has influenced today’s cuisine. You then put this knowledge into practice by cooking recipes passed down from Gülşah’s grandmother in her beautifully designed home located in a historic Kurtuluş apartment building. Highly recommended for travelers who want an authentic and cultural food experience in Istanbul.
17.01.26
Sevil Mert
Best cooking class I have done! The market experience was such a unique part of it and definitely made the whole experience feel so authentic and local.
Would highly recommend for anyone wanting to learn more about Turkish culture
Anouk
I highly recommend this workshop to anyone looking for authenticity. It was so enjoyable to participate in the cooking, taste the food, and chat about various topics that I felt like I was with a long-time friend.
11.08.25
Murielle
We had a lovely evening with Gulsah. We started our evening exploring neighborhood markets for fruit, vegetables, prepared foods, spices, and baked goods, where she explained the various common foods and ingredients of Turkish cuisine. Gulsah then welcomed us to her home where she showed us how to prepare various food items including a wonderful cold yogurt-based soup, a tomato/cucumber salad, a delicious dish with zucchini and rice, and a meat dish with beef and garlic wrapped in a phyllo dough. She encouraged us all to participate in preparing the meal which made the experience even more fun. The meal itself was delicious but Gulsah's warm hospitality made the experience even more special.
22.08.25
Kristen_D