Culinary Backstreets

Tour Itinerary

This tour is for those who want to experience Istanbul not through its monuments but through its flavours, backstreets, and daily rhythms. From the ancient trading lanes behind the Grand Bazaar to a ferry crossing to Asia, from a legendary restaurant in Kadıköy to the bohemian streets of Beyoğlu — this is Istanbul as its residents live it.

Please bear in mind; we can always redesign this tour according to your interest and time.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel at 09:00. The day begins at Constantine’s Column, erected by the Emperor Constantine when he proclaimed Constantinople the new capital of the Roman Empire — a quietly monumental starting point for a day that moves through two thousand years of urban life.

Grand Bazaar and Tahtakale

From the column, you’ll wind through the narrow ancient streets of Tahtakale, past old Ottoman hans — the caravanserais of the Silk Road era — before stepping into the world-famous Grand Bazaar. One of the oldest and largest covered markets on earth, it is a labyrinth of light, colour, and craftsmanship that rewards those who stray off the main corridors. From there, the route continues through the vaulted galleries of the Spice Market and past the Rüstem Paşa Mosque, a hidden gem tucked above the street level and covered floor to ceiling in extraordinary 16th-century handmade Iznik tiles.

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Ferry Ride from Europe to Asia

At the Golden Horn, you’ll board a ferry for the crossing to the Asian side of Istanbul — one of the city’s great simple pleasures. As the European skyline recedes behind you, the pace of the city seems to change. The ferry ride itself is part of the experience: locals reading newspapers, tea glasses clinking, seagulls trailing the wake. On the Asian shore, you’ll explore the neighbourhood on foot, weaving through the local market streets and sampling the different tastes Istanbul has to offer along the way.

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Street Food and Lunch at Ciya Restaurant

The highlight of the Asian side is lunch at Ciya Restaurant in Kadıköy — one of the most celebrated restaurants in Turkey and a pilgrimage destination for food lovers from around the world. Chef Musa Dağdeviren has spent decades rescuing forgotten recipes from across Anatolia, and the daily menu reflects that extraordinary archive: dishes you won’t find anywhere else, made with ingredients sourced directly from the regions where they originate. Eating here is as much a cultural education as it is a meal.

“As you vanish into the bohemian streets of Istanbul, you will try delicious street food and forgotten recipes from across Anatolia.”

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Wandering at Beyoğlu and Galata

After lunch, a ferry brings you back to the European side, landing at Beşiktaş, from where a shared dolmuş taxi carries the group up to Taksim Square. From here the route follows the famous İstiklal Street — a long, handsome boulevard of 19th-century Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture, lined with bookshops, patisseries, music stores, and the occasional tram. The walk leads through the atmospheric neighbourhood of Asmalımescit, down through the old Tünel funicular district, and into the steep lanes of Galata, before arriving at the waterfront at Karaköy.

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Coffee Break at Pera Palace Hotel

Before the day ends, there is time for a stop at the legendary Pera Palace Hotel — built in 1892 to accommodate passengers arriving on the Orient Express, and still one of the grandest addresses in the city. Take a coffee in the ornate salon and absorb the atmosphere of a place that has hosted Agatha Christie, Mata Hari, and Atatürk himself. A fittingly civilised end to a day spent exploring the full breadth of Istanbul life.

The tour concludes at Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn. Your guide can accompany you back to your hotel, or you are welcome to continue exploring the city independently.