Home Cooking Class in Central Istanbul with a Local Chef

5.0
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18
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Recommended by 100% travellers
100% of guests rated this experience 4 stars or higher
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5.0  (18)
Recommended by 100% travellers
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5.0
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18
Reviews
Recommended by 100% travellers
100% of guests rated this experience 4 stars or higher
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5.0  (18)
Recommended by 100% travellers
Available TomorrowSpots available tomorrow. Book now to secure your place.
Free CancellationCancel for free up to 1 day before your experience
Food for HappinessFor every guest in your booking, we donate 10 meals to children around the world
Why book with byFood?
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Trusted by 50,000+ travelers worldwideCurated by food lovers, for food loversFeatured in CNN, Forbes & NYT
Location
Duration
3 hours
Group size
Max 8 guests
Language
English, Turkish
Location
Duration
3 hours
Group size
Max 8 guests
Language
English, Turkish

Why travelers loved this

5.0
•18 reviews
 US$111.44  per guest
Instant Confirmation
Select Options
Available TomorrowSpots available tomorrow. Book now to secure your place.
Free CancellationCancel for free up to 1 day before your experience
Food for HappinessFor every guest in your booking, we donate 10 meals to children around the world
Why book with byFood?
Japan's #1 food travel platform
Trusted by 50,000+ travelers worldwideCurated by food lovers, for food loversFeatured in CNN, Forbes & NYT
This isn’t a polished studio or a touristy demo, it’s a real IstThis isn't a studio or a demonstration kitchen. It's a home in Tesvikiye, with a real stove, real family recipes, and a host who used to cook professionally but now cooks for the love of it. Esra's background means you get both the technique and the warmth; someone who knows exactly why a dish works, and also why it matters. Small groups only, so every guest gets real attention and the table never feels crowded.
Dinner
Tea and coffee
Coffee and/or Tea
Meals
Tips and gratuities.
Film My Experience - A friend will casually film your experience.
Step into a real Istanbul home and cook a proper Turkish meal from scratch, hosted by a local chef who spent years in professional kitchens before deciding this is how she wants to cook: for people, around her own table. You'll start with Turkish coffee and easy conversation, then get hands-on with traditional dishes like zeytinyagli dolma (stuffed vine leaves), seasonal meze, and hearty mains. Each recipe comes with the story behind it: which region it comes from, who taught it, what it means. No cooking experience needed; Esra guides you through every step at a relaxed pace. As the food cooks, you'll set the table together, maybe pick up a few Turkish words, and by the time you sit down to eat, it genuinely feels like a meal with a friend rather than a class. Recipes are available on LokalBond Recipes, so you can make the dishes again at home.
MAIN
Yaprak Sarma & Biber Dolma
Stuffed Vine Leaves and Bell Peppers with Olive Oil
STARTER
Peynirli Sigara Böreği
Crispy cheese-filled pastry rolls (Turkish Pastry)
STARTER
Eggplant Meze
Roasted eggplant salad, which is a common meze
Meeting Point

Barış Apartmanı, Poyracik Sokak, Şişli İstanbul, Türkiye, TR, 34365

Open in Google Maps
Once you are in Poyracık Sk. ring the bell number 29.
End Point

This experience ends at the meeting point.

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 1 day before for a full refund.
No refund within 1 day of the experience or no-shows.
5.0
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18 reviews
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18 reviews
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Odyssey567686September 2026 • TripAdvisor
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Cooking with friends

Esra was a friendly host and competent chef. She took her time to show us the recepies and it was a delicious meal. The surroundings of her flat are modern and full of interesting Cafés to walk along, very nice!

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billyn880August 2026 • TripAdvisor
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Turkish family dinner

We had an amazing time with Esra. She made delicious food for us and shared some insights to her culture and life. Very nice/wholesome experience

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kirac430August 2026 • TripAdvisor
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Highly recommend

Had the best experience in Esra’s home, she was so hospitable and we ate incredible traditional food would highly recommend for an authentic Turkish food experience!

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oliviafC1059FZAugust 2026 • TripAdvisor
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Best Home Cooking Experience

Esra was the best host ever for this experience. We had the most amazing time and the food was incredible. Anyone who gets to go into her home should be so grateful.

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H2508HBpatrickwAugust 2026 • TripAdvisor
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Wonderful dinning experience

Very welcoming and loving definitely worth the price

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4.9 (47)

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