The 11 Best Cooking Classes in Istanbul

1.Private Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class with Local Moms

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $90Our pick

Meet a local host such as Nuran, Kevser, Rojda, or Özge in a real Istanbul home near Besiktas. Over about three hours, you’ll prepare dishes such as dolma, börek, meze, salads, or Turkish breakfast, then eat together and talk about family life and food traditions.

“My husband and I had an amazing time. Learned so much, felt so welcomed on arrival. This cooking class made a tremendous impact on our Istanbul adventure. We felt like a member of the family. We loved the homestyle cooking and felt like we experience the Kurdish experience like no other. We would highly recommend this to everyone.”

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2.Traditional Home Cooking with a Local in İstanbul City Center

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $80

Meet Gülşah near Şişli, walk through Kurtuluş markets, and cook a Turkish meal in her home. You may prepare soup, meze, pilaf, börek, vegetables, dessert, and coffee in a group of no more than five people, with recipes and local stories along the way.

“Gulsah was the most wonderful host and cook! She made me feel like family going around her neighborhood, and the little tips she shared for the dishes we made are ones I can't wait to try at home. Eggplant will never be the same again! Highly recommend, one of my highlights of my time in Istanbul.”

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3.Istanbul Home Cooking Course – Cook and Eat

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 52 reviews · from $102

Meet Gülşah near Osmanbey for a small-group food walk through Kurtuluş, then shop, cook, and eat in her home. You may prepare dishes such as börek, dolma, lentil soup, mezes, pilaf, or dessert while learning Turkish customs, family recipes, and kitchen tricks.

“Exploring the Turkish cuisine with the guidance of Gülseh was an unforgettable experience. At first we were looking at shops in her neighborhood and she explained about the traditions and which food ingredients are most common when cooking Turkish food. Later we arrived at her beautiful flat and with the help of all participants we prepared a three course meal. The dishes were new to us, but they were not hard to make and definitely something I will try at home. Gülseh was delightful to be around and the conversations within the group went smoothly. A true cultural experience in Instanbul.Read more”

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4.Cooking Class in Turkey From Istanbul

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $300

Meet your chef at Deraliye Restaurant in Sultanahmet, prepare Turkish mezes, pastries, and Kirde Kebabi, then eat a three-course lunch with wine tasting. The group is limited to six, hotel pickup is offered, and vegetarian meals are available by request.

“I really enjoy taking cooking lessons in countries that I visit and this lesson was fabulous. We prepared, cooked and ate three authentic Turkish dishes. Chef was fully prepared, efficient and patient with us. And the best of all, every dish was delicious.”

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5.Çiğ Köfte Cooking Class/Night with Traditional Music At Home

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Spend 2.5 hours in a Kadıköy home with Büşra, Burak, and Bawer, learning the spices, customs, and group ritual behind çiğ köfte. You will knead the dish together, test its flavor, and enjoy traditional music in an English-language group of no more than eight.

“One of the best, if not the best, experiences I’ve ever had. Bushra, Burak and Bawer were the sweetest people I’ve ever met before. There was never a dull moment, so many conversations you’d feel you’re sitting with friends you’ve known for a long time. Cooking class with traditional music is definitely something to have on your bucket list when you come to Istanbul. Highly recommended. ÇigKofte was so good.”

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6.Cook with a Local: Private Home Cooking Class In Istanbul

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $179

Meet Nuray and her mother-daughter team in Istanbul for a private English-language cooking class. Prepare seasonal salad, börek, eggplant, soup, and more, then eat your homemade Turkish meal with local wine.

“My mother and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon cooking and chatting with Nuray. She is an excellent cook and a very gracious hostess. We feel fortunate we had the chance to meet her, sample her delicious Turkish cuisine, learn from her and relax in her home. It was a wonderful and valuable experience as part of our time exploring Turkey. We would definitely recommend the Traveling Spoon Cooking Class with Nuray.”

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7.Istanbul Vegan/Vegeterian Cooking Class with Locals at Home

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $93

Join Rojda or Maral in a cosy Istanbul home for a three-hour, small-group vegan cooking class. Prepare Turkish favorites such as kısır, vegan kokoreç, dürüm, and mantı, then sit down for tea and a shared meal with your hosts.

“This was our first cooking class and it was an amazing experience. Rojda (our host) is a total super woman! We cooked 5+ dishes together - suitable for both beginners and advanced cooks - and felt so welcome and comfortable in Rojda’s home. Thank you for an unforgettable evening.”

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8.Vegan/Vegetarian Cooking Class with Locals at Home

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $106

Join Rojda at her home near Taksim for a small-group vegan and vegetarian cooking class. Over 2.5 hours, you will make Turkish dishes such as vegan kokoreç, dolma, and mantı, then sit down for a shared meal and conversation in English or Turkish.

“We had a wonderful day at Rojdas home and learned the art of making vegan manti. Many thanks! We can totally recommend!”

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9.Turkish Anatolian Cooking Class and Food Styling Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99

At Taste of Anatolia in Istanbul, a professional chef and food stylist guides you through a custom menu, knife work, cooking methods, plating, and Turkish food stories. You cook, eat at the chef’s table, enjoy drinks, and take home recipes. Groups are capped at 16.

“An excellent cooking workshop with many menu items, cooking tips and great recipes. The chef was a wonderful teacher and I enjoyed the opportunity to learn to prepare new dishes. Highly recommend this experience!”

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10.Authentic Turkish Breakfast Cooking at Home with Locals

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $59Best value

Join Aysu and Bawer in their Istanbul home for a 2.5-hour Turkish breakfast class. Learn to make menemen, prepare warm dishes, set a proper breakfast table, and share the meal with local family and friends in a group of up to six.

“Aysu is a great host. She is a very talented cook and a great instructor. I was so happy to join her and witness the local life at her home with a closer look. The community Aysu is in, LokalBond offers authentic home-hosted experiences. I suggest anyone who travels to Istanbul to join Aysu or try other LokalBond experiences to be a part of real, local life of Istanbul, to be a traveler instead of a tourist 🫶”

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11.Cooking Class in Istanbul – Home Cooking with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $65

Join Nuran in her Istanbul home for a three-hour, hands-on Turkish cooking class. Start with tea or coffee, prepare home-style dishes together, then share the meal. Vegetarian and vegan adjustments are possible with advance notice. A friendly cat and dog are part of the household.

“The cooking class was a wonderful experience of not only learning some simple yet wonderful home cooked meals that are made regularly in Istanbul, but also getting to spend time talking with our hostess, Nuran and share and learn about eRead more”

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