Born on the Bosphorus: Exploring Three Distinct Waterside Neighborhoods

Istanbul Food Tour

Born on the Bosphorus: Exploring Three Distinct Waterside Neighborhoods

Start your day on the Bosphorus with a crunchy simit in hand.

Meet Salim usta, a baker at this vintage firin in Besiktas.

Taste a rustic homemade baklava topped with a smear of kaymak, clotted cream

Savor a long moment on the waterfront with a Turkish coffee

Cross the Bosphorus by ferry and land in the laidback waterfront village of Kuzguncuk.

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From a workingman’s breakfast in a frenetic seaside market to a leisurely fish lunch in a waterside Bosphorus neighborhood, this full-day Istanbul food tour explores the diverse cultural and culinary range of Istanbul’s amazing waterside neighborhoods.

About

The shores of the Bosphorus, the iconic waterway which bisects Istanbul, are lined with opulent Ottoman palaces, quaint fishing villages, and vibrant marketplaces which each seem to speak to different eras and aspects of the city. This food tour, which focuses on these fascinating waterside neighborhoods, starts in the market of Beşiktaş. A hub of ferry traffic, covered with the flags of its famous soccer team and with its narrow streets filled with rollicking meyhanes and simple restaurants serving breakfast all day long, this neighborhood is a slice of real, contemporary Istanbul like no other. Among the beer bars and cheap clothing stores are a few traditional culinary mainstays for menemen, Turkish style scrambled eggs, and bal kaymak, clotted cream blanketed in honey – that’s the way we like to start a day. We’ll then visit an Ottoman-era bakery to get some freshly baked goods for the iconic boat ride across the Bosphorus to the market at Üsküdar, where a more traditional food culture is preserved. We’ll sample the best of this market with visits to a honey vendor from Eastern Turkey, an olive shop and a third-generation candymaker, before setting off for the fairytale neighborhood of Kuzguncuk. Here, we will explore the multicultural history of the area, tasting the nostalgia for that bygone era when Jews, Christians and Muslims shared these leafy streets, and the spirit of the Kuzguncuk of today by visiting its small restaurants, artisanal food shops and local food makers.

Details

Group Size: 2-7
6.5 hours
Everyday 9:30am
Beşiktaş - Kuzguncuk
Price: Adults x $135

Dietary

Can accommodate vegetarians, pescatarian and gluten-free diets but not vegan diets. No pork is served on the tour.

Mobility

Some hills and stairs, and sitting can be strenuous at times. Includes market visits, residential neighborhoods, and ferry rides across the Bosphorus. Children welcome.

Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How are you dealing with COVID-19 risk on your walks?

We have reinforced our commitment to safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our walks in terms of social distancing and hygiene while maintaining the quality of the experience. For more details on our precautions, read here. Our routes have been altered during this period of time to ensure the safety of our guests, guides and community. Our cancellation policy is extremely flexible to deal with changes in travel plan
What is included in the fee?

In addition to your Culinary Backstreets guide, all food consumed on the walk – almost a dozen different edible specialties – are included in the price. Alcoholic beverages are not included.
Why is the Culinary Backstreets tour more expensive than some other walking tours?

Our approach is different than most tour companies. Each of our culinary walks is the outcome of considerable research. We work with academics in the field and our own team of experienced professionals – both guides and local journalists. Our ongoing publishing of articles, from restaurant reviews to features about the intersection of food and culture, constantly feeds new material into the culinary walks, so they evolve and constantly improve. Though costly, we believe that this is how to create the quality experiences we strive for. We practice honest tourism and would never accept a free lunch or any sort of commission. On the contrary, we are proud to know that the money spent during the culinary walk goes to support businesses that we believe in, helping to preserve the social and cultural fabric of the cities we love so dearly.
How does the payment process work?

Once you have made a reservation, we require the full fee to be paid in order to complete the online booking. Our online booking system uses Stripe to process secure payments. Your card is only charged if the walk is confirmed.
What is your cancellation policy?

90% will be refunded if given 1 week notice prior to walk and 50% will be refunded if given 72 hours notice or more. Less than 72 hours is non-refundable.
Are your walks public or private? How many people are on them?

Our walks are 2-7 people and are open to the public. If you would like to do a private walk, you can book it for a supplement by selecting book entire excursion. If it is not available on booking, we may be able to arrange one for an additional fee. Please contact us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com for more information.
Can I get a discount if I join more than one walk?

Yes, we offer a 10% discount to those who join more than one walk. Please email us at walks@culinarybackstreets.comif you’d like to join multiple walks.
Are your walks suitable for people with food allergies?

This can vary based on a number of factors, including the food item in question. Please email us at walks@culinarybackstreets.com to discuss your situation before booking.
Are your walks suitable for vegetarians, pescetarians and vegans?

Our Born on the Bosphorus route can accommodate vegetarians and is very suitable for pescatarians.
Are your walks gluten-free?

Gluten free is difficult in Turkey as so much of the dishes are wheat based. Culinary Backstreets® and Istanbul Eats® can accommodate a gluten free diet on this walk but there are some stops that may need to opt out of
Is alcohol served on the walks?

We sometimes taste some local Turkish wine on this walk.
Is the food offered on the walks halal?

This is difficult to answer. In Turkey the halal certification process is relatively new, so though many butchers are halal they may not be certified and though many restaurants use halal products they may not advertise or even recognize it. Because of this, we cannot confidently say that all of the food is halal.
How physically demanding is the walk?

The walks are all about 2KM (1.25 miles) of fairly flat terrain. This walk does involved climbing hills and stairs and should be considered when making the reservation. The streets and sidewalks of Istanbul can be a bit unpredictable so we recommend good walking shoes. All our walks include numerous breaks along the way.
Can children join the walks?

Of course! We offer a 50% discount to children ages 12 and under, and we charge $25 for children 6 and younger.
Do you offer walks during Ramazan?

We do not offer this walk during Ramazan and many local holidays.
How will I return, once the tour is over?

Our tour prices don’t include transportation. If you book a tour, you’re responsible for arriving to the pre-arranged meeting spot on your own. Once the tour is over, we will help you get an authorized, safe taxi to your hotel, or provide directions on public transportation, if you’re interested in that.
How much food will I get to try?

This is really up to you. We generally make between 9 and 12 eating stops on our walk and try to include some breaks from eating along the way. The price includes as much food as you’re open to trying. We offer a suggested portion size at each stop and you can take our recommendation if you’d like. Our walks often involve street food and sharing food.

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