Culinary Backstreets of the Bazaar Quarter

Istanbul Food Tour

Culinary Backstreets of the Bazaar Quarter

Enter hidden workshops, where a cadre of masters carry on their craft.

Taste the kind of homestyle cooking that keep the district going

Taste the street food the fuels these bustling commercial streets

Meet Fatih and Dursun, the dueling pide bakers of the Bazaar quarter

Explore historic commercial districts that have remained almost unchanged for centuries

Indulge in a breakfast picnic in a most unusual location

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Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter is one of the world’s biggest open-air commercial centers and a historic hub of small craftsmen who still carry on their traditions in the district’s atmospheric and historic trading posts. On this 6-hour food tour, we will meet some of these masters and sit down to eat with them in some of the area’s most classic spots.

About

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is a sprawling, ancient covered marketplace home to every conceivable craft, and featuring a historic core where traditional craftsmen carry on their work in atmospheric hans – Ottoman-era trading posts. Yet people rarely open their eyes to the culinary treasures of this area, which are frequented and well-protected by the merchants and artisans who dine here every day. Starting in Sirkeci, the end point of the fabled Orient Express, we’ll explore the district’s historic hans, meet some traditional craftsmen in their tiny workshops and eat in those hidden-gem restaurants, which, like the merchants themselves, reflect the regional diversity of Turkey. On our Grand Bazaar food tour, we’ll start the day with a full breakfast celebrating the best of the dairy highlands in Eastern Anatolia, followed by a stop for exceptionally flaky borek and another for cag kebab, a specialty from Eastern Turkey roasted on a horizontal spit. Then we’ll make our way through the garment district to a cluster of Ottoman-era hans (traders’ inns), home to a guild of traditional craftsmen in their tiny workshops. There we will have an unforgettable, freshly baked pide before grazing our way in, out and around the Grand Bazaar, taking in a perfect kebab and a spread of seasonal, vegetarian mezes. We will drink tea and Turkish coffee in out-of-the-way places, while the sweet notes on this route begin with kadayıf, an Arabian-influenced love letter from the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep, and end with a delicious milk-soaked cake that made its way from Albania to the Istanbul. It’s Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter as it’s never been seen — or tasted — before.

Details

Group Size: 2-7
5.5 hours
No Sundays 9:30 am
Sirkeci - Grand Bazaar
Price: Adults x $135

Dietary

Meat-heavy tour, so not recommended for vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free diets. No pork or alcohol are served on the tour.

Mobility

Includes visits to the backstreets of the Old City, with some hills and stairs. Children welcome, though difficult with strollers.

Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

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. The Bazaar Quarter walk is the best route for participants who have an aversion to fish.
Are your walks suitable for vegetarians and pescetarians?

We do not generally recommend this walk for vegetarians; we would steer them towards the Hidden Beyoglu walk.
Are your walks gluten-free?

Gluten free is difficult in Turkey as so much of the dishes are wheat based. We can accommodate a gluten free diet on our Hidden Beyoglu walk but there are a few stops that may need to opt out of.
Is alcohol served on the walks?

No.
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.
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 plans.

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