Kurtuluş: Istanbul’s Neighborhood of Taste

Name: Kurtuluş: Istanbul’s Neighborhood of Taste
Brand: Culinary Backstreets
Price: 150.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (2173 reviews)

From$150

5 hours – 6 hours

Istanbul, Turkey

About this activity

Far from the tourist trail, get a taste of one of the last bastions of classic Istanbul flavors. On this full-day food tour, we will dig deep into the culinary traditions of one of Istanbul’s most culturally diverse and food-centric neighborhoods

Highlights

Explore a residential neighborhood
Explore Kurtuluş hidden culinary gems.
Authentic flavors of classic Istanbul.
Taste Armenian and Greek specialties.
Local artisans and neighborhood markets.

Full description

This full-day tour of the neighborhood, we’ll start with a tribute to the neighborhood’s Rum, or Greek, heritage with an exclusive visit to a sports club belonging to that historic community, where we’ll have our first breakfast, followed by a stop for the heavenly dairy delights of Erzincan. We’ll walk off breakfast with visits to local artisans – artichoke peelers, cuckoo clock repairmen, Armenian book venders – as then begin grazing on our way to lunch. There will be meze samples, including top-grade stuffed vine leaves and topik, a classic Armenian speciality. Down the street, kebabs at a real-deal grill house will arrive sizzling, fresh from the fire. We will sample street food from the Mediterranean port city of Mersin and share a couple plates of the daily special in a cozy family-run lokanta. Depending on the season, there may be boza, a fermented millet drink with Ottoman roots, or Turkish-style ice cream at a beloved dairy bar run by the third generation of a local family.

Lacking significant historic monuments, architectural treasures or Bosphorus views, there can be only one reason that Istanbulites love the buzzing Kurtuluş neighborhood so much: the stellar food. During the day in this unassuming historic residential neighborhood, a hive of small artisanal shops – charcuteries, meze counters, ice cream parlors, bakers, butchers, dairy specialists – uphold city traditions otherwise lost. After dark, a hopping scene of craft beer bars and kebab houses hold it down until the morning, when the weekly organic market attracts those serious about what they eat and cook with. To top it off, there’s a whole street lined with shops and restaurants devoted to the fabled breakfast spread of eastern Turkey’s Erzincan region. Not surprisingly, a visit to Kurtuluş can be an eye-popping and gut-busting experience. But step back from the table and you’ll notice a rich cultural diversity no longer present in most parts of the city, an open-minded attitude, a cosmopolitan air and laid back sophistication, particularly when it comes to food. That’s the Kurtuluş state of mind.

This full-day tour of the neighborhood – still home to important Greek and Armenian communities, as well as newcomers from Turkey’s east – will take in very best of the neighborhood’s bounty, honoring the people and places that keep local culinary life alive and well. We’ll start with a tribute to the neighborhood’s Rum, or Greek, heritage with an exclusive visit to a sports club belonging to that historic community, where we’ll have our first breakfast, followed by a stop for the heavenly dairy delights of Erzincan. We’ll walk off breakfast with visits to local artisans – artichoke peelers, cuckoo clock repairmen, Armenian book venders – as then begin grazing on our way to lunch. There will be stunning meze samples, including top-grade stuffed vine leaves and topik, a classic Armenian speciality. Down the street, kebabs at a real-deal grill house will arrive sizzling, fresh from the fire. Along the way, we’ll sample street food from the Mediterranean port city of Mersin and share a couple plates of the daily special in a cozy family-run lokanta. Depending on the season, there may be boza, a fermented millet drink with Ottoman roots, or Turkish-style ice cream at a beloved dairy bar run by the third generation of a local family.

When our movable feast in Kurtuluş has come to an end, you’ll see what we mean about what makes this neighborhood so unique, and, like many people, you may not want to leave. Not to worry: here in Istanbul’s most diverse streets, you are always welcome back.

Included / Excluded

Guided tour through Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhoods
Tastings of traditional Greek dishes and local specialties
Wine tasting featuring small Greek producers

Transportation to and from the meeting point

Meeting point

Start Location

Gülbahar, Son Durak, Gülbahar Caddesi, Şişli/İstanbul, Türkiye

Important information

Know before you book

The tour is conducted in English; proficiency is recommended.
Some stops may not be suitable for individuals with mobility impairments due to stairs and uneven terrain.
The tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

Know before you go

Wear comfortable walking shoes for the cobblestone streets.
Bring a light jacket or sweater as evenings can be cool.
Ensure you have a valid ID if you plan to participate in wine tasting.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts

More than one week before the beginning of the activity: 90% Refund Less than one week before the beginning of the activity: 50% Refund Less than 72 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: No Refund

Reviews

5.0(38 reviews)

Tony Egan

Sep 2026

5.0

We did the Yanesen tour with Michelle and had a wonderful time exploring corners of Tokyo we were unlikely to find ourselves. The food and venues were very well curated with cultural and historic locations well spaced between eating and drinking. Michelle provided excellent background and context at all times and the pacing was great. Finishing with a drink on a makeshift street bar was perfect. Thank you Michelle for one of the best experiences of our trip.

oliver sands

Sep 2026

5.0

We recently did the food tour of Kichijoji and had the best time. Our guide, Michelle, was incredible. She was the perfect blend of knowledge, fun and passion, and she introduced us to a diverse range of food offerings and venues. I would highly recommend jumping on one of Michelle's tours with Culinary Backstreets as it was the highlight of our 5 day stay in Tokyo. Cheers, Oliver & Ged

Erin McCaughey

Aug 2026

5.0

The tour was awesome and we highly recommend. We were expecting a larger group but were excited to show up to a private tour with Kasumi. She made the tour very personal and did an excellent job making the tour feel casual while teaching us lots of new things. She had the cultural knowledge and also mentioned that she continues to learn every time she takes a new group around. Some of the restaurants and shops we stopped at had lovely owners and workers, who were willing to teach us and share their knowledge happily. It was a good mix of foods and Kasumi made sure we were well hydrated and had plenty of time to rest on a hot day. We had a great day and we highly recommend it!