Cosmopolitan Kurtuluş: Istanbul’s Neighborhood of Taste
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Our Kurtulus tour starts with an exclusive visit to a sports club belonging to that historic community, where we’ll have our first breakfast, followed by a stop for the heavenly dairy delights of Erzincan. We’ll walk off breakfast with visits to local artisans – artichoke peelers, cuckoo clock repairmen, Armenian book venders – as then begin grazing on our way to lunch. There will be stunning meze samples, including top-grade stuffed vine leaves and topik, a classic Armenian speciality. Down the street, kebabs at a real-deal grill house will arrive sizzling, fresh from the fire. Along the way, we’ll sample street food from the Mediterranean port city of Mersin and share a couple plates of the daily special in a cozy family-run lokanta. Depending on the season, there may be boza, a fermented millet drink with Ottoman roots, or Turkish-style ice cream at a beloved dairy bar run by the third generation of a local family.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Kurtulus
Far from the tourist trail, get a taste of one of the last bastions of classic Istanbul flavors, including bread fresh from the tandir oven, a mind-boggling assortment of meze, sizzling kebab, old school ice cream and much more. On this full-day food tour, we will dig deep into the culinary traditions of one of Istanbul’s most culturally diverse and food-centric neighborhoods.
Aya Dimitri Kilisesi
During the day in this unassuming historic residential neighborhood, a hive of small artisanal shops – charcuteries, meze counters, ice cream parlors, bakers, butchers, dairy specialists – uphold city traditions otherwise lost. After dark, a hopping scene of craft beer bars and kebab houses hold it down until the morning, when the weekly organic market attracts those serious about what they eat and cook with. To top it off, there’s a whole street lined with shops and restaurants devoted to the fabled breakfast spread of eastern Turkey’s Erzincan region. Not surprisingly, a visit to Kurtuluş can be an eye-popping and gut-busting experience. But step back from the table and you’ll notice a rich cultural diversity no longer present in most parts of the city, an open-minded attitude, a cosmopolitan air and laid back sophistication, particularly when it comes to food. That’s the Kurtuluş state of mind.
Options
Cosmopolitan Kurtuluş: Istanbul’s Neighborhood of Taste
What‘s Included
Lunch
Snacks
Breakfast
Private transportation
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
49 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Best experience Istanbul
paulvA3029AP,May 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great authentic food tour. Best experience I had in Istanbul, especially because of our guide Gonca, who was amazing!
Extraordinary tour with an amazing guide and fantastic food
X8445KOjaner,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An incredible food tour with Gonca exploring the underlying cultures and traditions that make up the melting pot that is Istanbul. Fantastic food and fascinating history all delivered seamlessly and with passion and enthusiasm
10/10 would recommend to all visiting Istanbul for a first or return trip!
Rachael J,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour, led by Gonca who was knowledgeable and engaging throughout. Lots of personal touches, catered for various dietary requirements. Would highly recommend!
Wonderful
W7204QNkirstyd,May 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fabulous day doing the Culinary Backstreets Kurtuluş tour with Gonca as our guide. She was warm, passionate and so knowledgeable- she wove history, culture and human stories in with the many many tastings and explanations of delicious food. We spent nearly 7 hours eating, talking and wandering the area meeting people from chefs to hairdressers. By the end I felt I had been given a glimpse of the soul of suburban Istanbul. A simply great day - do it!
Amazing tour in a neighborhood rich in food culture and off the beaten-path
MaryAliceMatlack,May 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We absolutely loved out tour with Anna Maria in Kurtuluş. From the moment she took us into the sports club for an intimate private experience, to the last bite of baklva and halva, the wole day was a delight. Her knowledge was exceptional and it was fun to watch her interact with the restaurant workers and owners. The neighborhood was as interesting as promised and more special than we could have imagined.
The highlight of the trip!
B1209JVjt,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the highlight of my trip! Our guide Esin was absolutely the best! What a treat to have met her. She was so friendly & knowledgeable. The food was so delicious! This was such a fun neighborhood to explore & the experience is elevated when you have a guide that lived in the neighborhood & has many connections with all the shop owners & locals. No matter where I go in the world I will definitely make sure I book a culinary backstreet adventure.
Absolutely PERFECT & LOCAL food tour
Samanta C,Apr 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had the perfect local tour. We met our tour guide, Ana Maria and everything since then was amazing for almost 5 hours. She took us to a local sports club to start with the brunch, and from there we walked through this typical foodie neighborhood off the beaten path. We ended up trying everything and so different to the touristic restaurants. Absolutely a must!
We are so happy we chose this tour!
michaelmZ4282WF,Apr 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This experience was so much more than a simple food tour, all because our guide, Esin, is a terrific ambassador for the entire neighborhood! She knows everyone along the route we walked and took us to so many amazing spots -- from small family run places and shops to a Michelin-recognized restaurant -- you certainly won't leave hungry. This was the best food tour we have ever taken and, it was a highlight of our visit to Istanbul.
Another perfect day!
Villaondina,Apr 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00As always, we had a wonderful day with Culinary Backstreets! We have been on about a dozen of their tours and they never disappoint. Our guide, Esin (I hope I'm spelling that correctly) was amazing. Her knowledge of and enthusiasm for the neighborhood was impressive. We would never have discovered the many treasures in Kurtuluş on our own and we ended the day thinking, "We could live here!" In addition to great food, we will treasure the memories of the remarkable people we met. A perfect day!
A touch of the real life
Warren G,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved walking the neighbourhood. Being greeted by friends of our guide, learning more about life in Istanbul away from the big tourist venues. And the guide was very accommodating our family including two small children.
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