Experience food tours in
Istanbul with Withlocals

"Emre is so much more than a food tour guide. He is passionate about his country, culture, and cuisine. The food selections were 10/10. We were so happy and soooo full. Emre just oozed information about what we were seeing and experiencing as we walked through Istanbul neighborhoods. Literally EVERYONE knew him. We couldn't turn a corner without someone acknowledging him. We talked about everything from food to architecture to history to politics. Best tour we have ever taken. "

"Lorena was an absolutely fantastic tour guide. She turned a rained day for eleven jet-lagged people into a fun and unique experience walking through the Kadiköy neighborhood. We sampled a lot of different foods and drinks in the this beautiful neighborhood. Highly recommend booking with Lorena for any tours during your stay in Istanbul. "

"Deniz was a WONDERFUL guide. Yes, we ate a lot of great food, but we also learned so much about the culture and spoke openly about issues impacting citizens. Deniz was welcoming, communicative, and so helpful. Dont' hesitate to book with her! "

"Emre went above and beyond to welcome us to Turkey, explain a bit of history, and share some incredible food! He even shared his local favorites in the area! Thanks for a great tour! "

"A massive city such as Istanbul with its centuries worth of culture can be daunting to explore for a first-time tourist. There are several points I would like to highlight on how Emre went out of his way to make this special for us. Firstly, he shared so many valuable tidbits beyond the scope of his tour to help us acclimatise with Istanbul. From tips on restaurants to find vegetarian food near our hotel to currency exchange, his suggestions were super helpful. Now, to the tour in itself, Emre was flexible and quick to accommodate a last minute time advancement and we could begin a few minutes earlier. Since the two of us are from India and strictly vegetarian, Emre could customise to meet our dietary requirements with ease. While the delectable food choices ranging from sweets, savories, beverages and snacks, may be the true hero of the tour, the choice of places to sample these delicacies have a legacy of their own with their own tales which Emre brings about in the most endearing fashion. The walk between the multiple places that we visited in Cihangir and Beyoglu was comfortable and the company of a guide such as Emre who keeps you light hearted makes the tour even more enjoyable. Emre's true value doesn't just lie in his deep knowledge of the food items, the best places to get them, what the ingredients are or where they are sourced from alone. He charms you with his warmth and makes you fall in love with his love and passion for Istanbul, its culture and most importantly, its food. Thank you, Emre for this core-memory for life!"

"Excellent tasting tour through parts of Cihangir, Taksim, Istiklal, Beyoğlu, and Karaköy. Varied selection of sweet and savory dishes, but all delicious. Emre is an excellent guide--very knowledgeable, easy to converse with, and able to make adjustments on the fly if needed. Highly recommended! "

"We had an incredible experience on this Turkish local food tour! Lorena was exceptionally knowledgable, not only about the delicious food we sampled but also about Turkish culture, history and traditions. She went above and beyond to answer all our questions even those that were outside the scope of the food tour, which made the experience even more enriching. Her passion and deep understanding of Turkish cuisine and culture truly shone through. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for an authentic insight to Istanbul! "

"The tour with Emre was great. 10 different delicious food stops. From cheese, over sweets and coffee to Adana and fish. Emre is very friendly and kind. You will have fun, get good food and get to know the city. Thank you, Emre!"

"Emre was fantastic. We’ve done lots of food tours and Esme was one of the best we’ve had, for sure. The day before he sent me a message with just general tips for Istanbul (transportation, money exchange, etc.) I was a little worried about Turkish food. But Emre made it all make sense and shared its history and our surroundings too. A good combination of standing at food stalls and sitting inside restaurants. And restrooms too. He took photos of us and posed the food well too. He provided us with SO many recommendations to try for the rest of our trip. And even checked back in with us the next day. He loves Istanbul and it shows. Emre is a great new friend to have in this city!"

"We really enjoyed our tour and our guide Lorena. She was very knowledgeable and we tried many fun things! She also helped us get safely home. You will enjoy her company!"