The 4 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 $80Best value

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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