Hidden Beyoğlu Tour: Timeless Culinary Adventure

Embark on a hidden Beyoğlu tour and discover the culinary delights of Istanbul’s most iconic neighborhood. From traditional specialties to artisanal crafts, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere and indulge in a variety of regional cuisines. Uncover hidden gems like an Armenian church and savor the best Turkish coffee in the city.

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Beyoglu Is Merkezi - Discover the lively Beyoğlu Fish Market and delve into one of Istanbul’s most atmospheric culinary centers. Start with a variety of traditional dishes in a classic neighborhood lokanta, then visit a popular pickle-maker and other local craftsmen.
    As the tour meanders through the district’s historic side streets, participants…
What's Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Snacks
  • Tea and coffee
  • Alcoholic beverages
Additional Information

Beginning with a selection of specialties in a timeless neighborhood Lokanta, we’ll visit a pickle-maker and other artisans. Winding our way through the district’s atmospheric side streets, there will be specialties from across the country, ranging from the far Northeast to the Black Sea to the distinct cuisine of Hatay in the Southeast. We’ll visit a…

Location
Kardeşler Kebap & Cafe Cihangir - Istanbul
Defterdar Yokuşu
The meeting point is outside the entrance of Kardesler Kebab in Cihangir. At the corner of Siraselviler Street and Akarsu Street right in the center of the Cihangir District, you will find a green Mosque called Firuzaga Camii with an outdoor tea garden; Kardesler Kebab is at the corner.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(121 Ratings)
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W146qvpeterd
Mar 5, 2026
! - Had a wonderful experience with Basak! She was personable, easy go get along with, and made everyone feel like old friends! She also brought us to great spots and gave great recommendations for the rest of our trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
592jennifers
Mar 3, 2026
Great fun even for a longtime resident! - Altho I actually have lived in Istanbul for more than 50 years, I went along to accompany my sister who was visiting. We went to great places all of which I had never been to. Our guide, Burcu was super! She was knowledgeable and very friendly and intelligent. I highly recommend these tours. It’s the second one I’ve been on in Istanbul . So much fun!!
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Davidsv8074qu
Mar 1, 2026
Great Evening - Terrific evening learning of the unique culture of the Beyoğlu area. Food was outstanding as usual on a Culinary Backstreets tour. In addition, Basak as our host made the entire evening wonderfully fun and enjoyable.
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Hollyme3340op
Feb 16, 2026
Great tour of a cool neighborhood - This was a wonderful tour - informative, well-balanced, delicious. It took us to places we certainly would not have found otherwise and give a broad overview of the neighborhood and traditional regional food. We're vegetarian and appreciated the abundance of vegetarian options. Our guide Defne could not have been better.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Annelisac2018
Jan 3, 2026
Wonderful way to see Beyoglu! - Truly the best of the best, Duygu was such a delightful leader/host, so knowledgeable and we thoroughly enjoyed learning about the neighborhood and Turkish culture and history
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952nicol_sm
Dec 28, 2025
Just perfect! - The tour was just wonderful. Did this with my partner for Xmas eve and we were joined by another lovely couple. Our tour guide, Esin, is the warmest and most knowledgeable person, passionate about the city, its people and its delicious food. Nice duration, speed and variety of dishes. Very friendly to vegetarians. So worth it and such a great way of trying out different dishes at local’s favourite spots. Couldn’t recommend it enough!
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Cally87
Dec 24, 2025
Book it in Ask for Esin! - We just returned from the best night out with the best guide ever Esin. There was only one other young couple with us and I think we all enjoyed the tour equally. From the start Esin was full of energy and positivity, telling us about the neighbourhood and its hipster vibe then leading us through the streets as they came to life, feeding us the most amazing food (and lots of it!) stopping at meyhane to enjoy some raki before venturing on to yet more food all the while keeping up a steady stream of conversation not just with ourselves but with all the shopkeepers ahead knew along the way! Even the hardware store guy wasn’t safe from an exuberant hello! We don’t want the night to and and will be telling any friends who come to Istanbul to book this one in! We enjoyed the fact it started at 5pm and wandered into dinner so you had a night out, dinner and good conversation ! Book this one in it will be a highlight of your visit to this awesome city!
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104freyae
Dec 19, 2025
10/10 - The highlight of our trip!! Dafne was an incredible tour guide, incredibly knowledgeable, interesting and fun. The food was amazing and we went to places we would not have gone to otherwise. Would recommend to anyone
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P1395yoalisons
Dec 12, 2025
Delicious Tour with an Incredible Guide (Defne)! - This was our 3rd Culinary Backstreets tour (after Istanbul in 2023 and Mexico City in 2024), and once again it was a highlight of our travels. Defne was an absolutely delightful guide! Warm, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. Her English is flawless, and she made a genuine effort to connect with every person on the tour, including our 7 and 10 year old kids, who absolutely adored her. Defne's vivacity and kindness were obvious from the start, as shop owners, waiters, chefs, etc all stop her to say hello as you are walking down the street. It made us feel like we were getting a behind the scenes look at the neighborhood. For first time visitors to Istanbul, I'd still recommend starting with the Culinary Secrets of the Old City tour simply because of its location. But this was a fabulous second tour, and we loved exploring the lively Beyoglu neighborhood at night. Every stop was excellent and we had trouble choosing a favorite food (tahini pastries, pickled vegetables, and kebab were high on the list). We would definitely recommend this tour and Defne in particular!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Knowsnyc
Dec 1, 2025
Our first tour but won’t be our last! - We met DAFNE at 5 pm in Cihangir and did not leave her company til 10 pm in Pera. We were very lucky that there were just two others who were lovely to meet. It felt like a progressive dinner party as we went to 7 places we would never have known about. Our generous tastes including mezze, alcohol if desired, tea if desired, desserts, main courses, and a 6 th floor (really, 7 th, to those of us from the US, view of the twinkling lights of Sultanahmet. That, alone, was unforgettable. Culinary Backstreets started in Istanbul and has since spread worldwide. I had resisted previously due to the $135 per person price and the 5-hour length of time. Honestly, the time flew by. We also tipped our guide the recommended-for-Istanbul 10%. We got more food than we needed for dinner and experienced places that would otherwise eat up a week of meals. DAFNE was just what I want in a guide. She knows food, culture and history. She welcomes questions on any aspect f life in Turkey. She is well-traveled and curious. It was a pleasure to be in her presence although I am more than twice her age. Do know that Culinary Backstreets has a fair cancellation policy, offers occasional 10% off coupons, and participated in cyber Monday with an even bigger discount. Your food preferences and allergies will be accommodated.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $145
up to 7 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).