Istanbul Food Tours
Istanbul eats across two continents: Bosphorus fish sandwiches at Eminönü, the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar, the food stalls of Kadıköy on the Asian side, meze and rakı in Beyoğlu, and simit and çay on every corner. This is our Istanbul food hub. Below are the top-rated food tours, then our cooking-class and street-food pages.
Top-rated food experiences in Istanbul
Formats: market-and-tasting walks of the Spice Bazaar and Eminönü; two-continent tours that ferry you to Kadıköy on the Asian side; evening meze-and-rakı crawls in Beyoğlu; Bosphorus dinner cruises; plus cooking classes and street-food tours (own pages).
What to eat: balık ekmek, simit, döner and İskender kebab, lahmacun, midye dolma, a full Turkish breakfast, künefe and baklava, Turkish coffee and çay.
The markets and the two sides
Istanbul is the only city that straddles two continents, and its food does too. On the European side, the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) and the streets of Eminönü are where to start — Turkish delight, dried fruit and, from the boats on the water, balık ekmek, the grilled-fish sandwich. The Grand Bazaar hides tiny lokantas; Beyoğlu and the backstreets off İstiklal are the place for evening meze and rakı. Cross by ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side for the city’s best produce market and food stalls — which is why the classic Istanbul food tour is a two-continent one.
What to eat
Beyond the kebab you know, seek out İskender (döner over bread with tomato and yoghurt), lahmacun and pide, midye dolma (stuffed mussels sold from trays), kokoreç for the brave, and the long lazy Turkish breakfast. Finish with künefe (cheese-filled, syrup-soaked pastry), baklava, and a thick Turkish coffee or endless glasses of çay.
FAQ about Istanbul Food Tours
Frequently asked questions
Why Istanbul for food?
Because it spans two continents of eating — European-side bazaars and meze, the Kadıköy market on the Asian side — with world-class street food, an epic breakfast culture and excellent value.
What is the best food tour in Istanbul?
The classic is a two-continent tour that combines the Spice Bazaar and Eminönü with a ferry to Kadıköy for the market and stalls. Evening meze-and-rakı crawls in Beyoğlu are the other highlight.
What should I eat in Istanbul?
Balık ekmek by the Galata Bridge, simit from a cart, İskender and Adana kebab, lahmacun, midye dolma, a full Turkish breakfast, and künefe or baklava with Turkish coffee.