Shore Excursions - Istanbul by Night: Turkish Food Tour
5.0
1 Rating
Karaköy
Experience the vibrant culinary scene of Istanbul on a 5-hour evening food tour. Discover hidden food hotspots, try traditional Turkish dishes, and enjoy live music at a meyhane.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Istanbul Strolls - Skip the tourist spots - instead, you’ll discover so much more! Join us as we guide you to the haunts of the locals, where they gather to feast in authentic Turkish style. Our adventure begins at a classic ‘Simit Bakery’, where you’ll taste the iconic simit, a circular bread encrusted with sesame seeds and sweetened with grape molasses. With our freshly baked simits in hand, we’ll drop by a neighborhood ‘kıraathane’ - ostensibly a reading room, but in actuality, a bustling coffee house where mustachioed men engage in games of cards or backgammon. Sipping on traditional Turkish tea served in its distinctive glassware, we’ll then make our way to an ‘Ocakbaşı’, a unique self-service grill where you can cook your own kebabs right by the fire, accompanied by a glass of the anise-flavored spirit, Turkish Raki. Our culinary odyssey continues as we meander past various Turkish eateries, taking in the aromatic scents. The evening culminates at a ‘Meyhane’, a classic tavern where you’ll sample ‘Meze’, savor ‘Rakı’, and enjoy the sounds of live Turkish music by Gipsy musicians. But the night doesn’t end there! We’ll treat you to a bowl of ‘İşkembe Çorbası’, a traditional tripe soup that’s a favorite post-Rakı indulgence. And no Turkish night would be complete without the rich taste of ‘Türk Kahvesi’ - Turkish Coffee. Tempting, isn’t it? Throughout this experience, you’ll be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will provide you with all the insights you need.
What's Included
- Local guide
- Beverages (two glasses of raki, Turkish coffee and tea)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located Istanbul hotels
- Dinner (kebab, meze, soup)
- Food tasting
- Live music
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Embark on a 5-hour nocturnal gastronomy adventure in Istanbul led by a knowledgeable local guide. This food tour will take you to hidden culinary gems around the city that remain a secret to many visitors. Explore a traditional bakery famous for ‘simit’, indulge in a hands-on experience of grilling your own kebabs at a barbeque eatery, and spend time at a ‘meyhane’ (a Turkish tapas bar) enjoying meze and live tunes!
- Minimum age for drinking alcoholic drinks is 18 years
- Please note that if your hotel is located on the Asian side hotel pick up can’t be provided
Location
Karaköy
Istanbul Cruise ship port where your cruise ship will be docked
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(1 Rating)
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1 star
Rillia_h
Sep 8, 2023
A night in Istanbul, what a memorable tour! - This was a private tour, so happened that it was just me & my husband. I booked this tour so that we can have a different experience while in Istanbul. My husband and I were on a Mediterranean cruise, Istanbul was one of the port of call.
Our guide Tuncer was very friendly, energetic with high energy levels
First he took us to a Turkish tea place that also sells bagels. This was a bonus, what a treat! We got to start the tour by “breaking the bread & drinking delicious tea together. It was the highlight of our tour, and a memorable one because it is not part of the itinerary. I suggest that Viator or the tour agencies to have this as part of the tour.
We’ve got to see part of Istanbul that we’ve never seen before. It was an evening to remember.
We highly recommend it!
Review provided by Viator
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