Istanbul is best tasted piece by piece: a little here, a little there, and in the end you know what you would order again. That is exactly what a guided evening food tour promises.
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A guided evening food tour: taste several Turkish specialities and end the day on a rooftop with a view. What the offer includes and who it suits.
Why so many cuisines come together in Istanbul
Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The city's cuisine developed from Anatolian traditions and exchange with many regions of the empire. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism names the historical exchange between different cultures and the cuisines of the Seljuk and Ottoman palaces as important factors of today's Turkish cuisine.
Palace cuisine and everyday cuisine were not the same. Products and influences from Anatolia, the Balkans, the Black Sea region, the Aegean and the Mediterranean shaped the variety you find on your plate in Istanbul today.
What the offer includes
According to the offer description, you walk through several stops with a group in the evening and try Turkish specialities. The finale is a rooftop with a view. The provider states a duration of about three hours. The listing mentions more than ten dishes and a visit to a historic restaurant. Meeting point, route and included dishes are on the current offer page.
If an evening of food and views appeals to you, you can find current dates and availability here.
A few dishes you should know
Which dishes exactly are part of the tour is in the current offer. Three examples show how much history is in the food:
- Meze: small cold and warm starters that are shared. They stand for the shared, slow meal that has its own standing in Turkey.
- Dolma: stuffed leaves or vegetables. The technique of filling and rolling is regarded as part of palace and city cooking and appears in many variations across the region.
- Baklava: layers of pastry, nuts, syrup. The sweet is closely connected with palace cuisine. According to tradition, baklava from the kitchen of Topkapı Palace was ceremonially distributed to the Janissaries during Ramadan.
Food is social culture
Shared meals, hospitality and communal tables have a long tradition in the region. A food tour is therefore more than tasting: you sit with others, share plates and learn how closely food and sociability are connected. The rooftop finale then brings you back to today's city, with evening light over the roofs.
- Several tastings instead of one big menu
- A guide who explains the dishes
- Evening atmosphere and a view from above to finish
What guests highlight
Guest reviews often mention the variety of dishes, the relaxed group atmosphere and the rooftop finish. We only summarise this in our own words; several guests also say they met other travellers. See the current reviews directly with the provider.
Who is it for?
It suits you if you want an introduction to Turkish cuisine on your first evening or mid-trip, travel alone or as a couple and like sharing a table with others. Less suitable if you only want a restaurant with a fixed table. Tell the provider beforehand about intolerances or vegetarian needs.
In short
- When: evening, about 3 hours according to the provider
- Comfortable shoes: Istanbul is hilly
- Do not plan a second fixed appointment for that evening
If you would rather explore on your own: our honest guidance is in Eating in Istanbul, and Eating in Istanbul: avoiding tourist traps explains how to spot bad places. A neighbourhood with many good addresses is Kadıköy on the Asian side.
All experiences, tickets and tours are collected on our activities page.
– Amra
