Private Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class with Local Moms
50 reviews
Experience hosted at home by
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3.5 Hours
English, Turkish
If you're searching for things to do in Istanbul that truly connect you with local culture, nothing compares to a cooking class in Istanbul inside a real home. Step into a warm and welcoming Turkish household, where a local mom will invite you into her kitchen to share the secrets of authentic home-cooked recipes passed down through generations. Whether it's rolling dolma, kneading dough for börek, or preparing a table full of mezes, every dish has a story—one that speaks of tradition, family, and the little details that make Turkish cuisine so special.
Before your visit, we’ll chat about your dietary preferences so we can tailor the menu just for you. When you arrive, you won’t just be learning how to cook—you’ll be immersed in Turkish home hospitality, where cooking is an experience shared with laughter, storytelling, and warmth. You'll discover how food differs across regions, the meaning behind traditional dishes, and the love that goes into every meal.
More than just a class, this is a chance to experience Turkish home life firsthand. As you cook together, you’ll feel like part of the family—learning, chatting, and soaking in the warmth of a real home. And when everything is ready, we’ll gather around the table to enjoy the homemade feast, sharing stories, flavors, and unforgettable moments.
You may arrive as a guest, but by the time we share a meal, you’ll be part of the family. In our home, food is more than just nourishment—it’s a way to connect, build friendships, and create memories that will stay with you long after you leave. 🧡
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What do our guests say?
A warm, wonderful evening with Noora. We made minty yellow-lentil soup, celery root and raw garlic in homemade yogurt, a rice dish where we fried the raw rice grains first, and the main course: ground beef mixed with onion, peppers and parsley over chunky slices of potato and under a topping of roasted peppers and a tomato-paste sauce. It looked xweşik (beautiful, pronounced “ho-wa-SHEEK”). A highlight for me was learning a few words in Kurdish and hearing stories of Noora’s family. Her cooking class has been featured in the newspaper! Her son runs the local experiences business, and he played us a soulful song on a round wooden instrument called the saz. Another highlight was seeing how Noora makes the yogurt from scratch by keeping cow milk in a warm, dark place. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the famous Istanbul spice bazaar to buy the ingredients we used, so I can make these recipes at home.Spas dikim (thank you) to our wonderful hosts.
02.02.25
etty_june
I had such a great time at this warm house! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed like family, making the whole experience feel warm and authentic. The host was so sweet and patient, guiding us through every step of the cooking process.We made some incredible dishes, including Perde Pilavı, and everything turned out delicious! It was so fun learning the little tricks and secrets behind traditional Turkish recipes. Plus, sitting down to enjoy the meal together at the end was the perfect way to wrap up the class.If you're looking for a unique, hands-on experience in Turkey and love good food, I highly recommend this class. It’s not just about cooking—it’s about connection, culture, and amazing flavors!
21.02.25
L7806QYdeniza
This was an amazing experience! We arrived at the apartment and were warmly welcomed by the local mom that made us feel comfortable and explained what we were going to cook on the day. We started by having a very pleasant chat in the living room and got to know the grandma as well. Afterwards we cooked together many different Turkish-Kurdish dishes for which explanation on ingredients and measurements were always provided. During the cooking process we had really nice conversations about life in Istanbul, the Kurdish background of the family, we felt very comfortable to make questions and bonded easily. This nice atmosphere continued by the time we were already sitting at the table enjoying our freshly made börek, home made yogurt with honey from the mom's hometown, a delicious potato salad, Turkish tea…to just name a few! In the end the mom even packed some leftovers for us to take for the day 🥲I highly recommend this experience, you will leave with a warm heart and a full stomach!
23.03.25
MariaaBE