Culinary Backstreets -Tours

Culinary Backstreets -Tours

Culinary Backstreets -Tours
5
City Tours • Cultural Tours • Walking Tours • Private Tours • Food Tours
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About
When it comes to exploring a city’s authentic dining scene, while the stomach should ideally serve as the best compass, the truth of the matter is that it’s hard to find your way without good local advice. That’s where Culinary Backstreets’ Culinary Walks come in. In order to help you explore the world’s gastro-capitals and get off these cities’ eaten path, CB is offering (with selected partners) guided culinary walks in some of the cities we cover, starting with Istanbul, Athens, Barcelona, and Shanghai.Our culinary walks are designed to lead visitors on an eating binge through a city’s lesser-seen historic side streets and authentic markets, taking in countless hard-to-find culinary gems and, in between bites, a select number of untouristed monuments. You can view our updated safety measures at https://culinarybackstreets.com/our-commitment/
Istanbul, Türkiye

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2022

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Tours and Tickets by Culinary Backstreets -Tours
Walking Tours
5–6 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
from
$125.00
per adult
Full-day Tours
6–7 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
from
$125.00
per adult
Walking Tours
5–6 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
from
$125.00
per adult
Travelers talk about
(179 reviews)
(61 reviews)
(105 reviews)
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

5.0
2,036 reviews
Excellent
1,952
Very good
64
Average
16
Poor
3
Terrible
2

Helen S
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Couples
What a delight our tour was with Gonca! Gonca was extremely thorough in her explanation of the food, the history of food and how food evolved throughout the history of Turkey. She led us through the backstreets of Istanbul, through the Grand Bazaar and she showed us the different types of street foods with exceptional detail. We stopped at each place sampling a good portion of each kind of foods served throughout the day beginning with a traditional breakfast to multiple lunch stops sampling various lunch offerings, dessert, coffee and more desserts! It opened our eyes to the Turkish cuisine and we came away with a deeper appreciation for the multi-faceted culture. In addition, Gonca introduced us to several artisans making their products for sale in the market while explaining the history of food and culture that came to be Istanbul. A totally delightful and fascinating experience!
Written April 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CulinaryBackstreets
Thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback! 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. 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. Most importantly, of course, we take pride in working with people who are very knowledgeable about and extremely fond of the cities they live in. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities.
Written April 27, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Vacationer779834
2 contributions
Jun 2022
The Kurtuluş tour was exceptional, one of the best experiences I had during a two-week stay in Istanbul. I loved that we explored a single neighborhood from one end of the street to the other, weaving in and out of side streets. This was a great tour for learning about the cultural diversity of a great metropolis--many of our hosts hail from other parts of Turkey, bordering countries and beyond. Despite ongoing demographic shifts, Kurtuluş still has the feel of a real community, and we were warmly greeted by everyone. I experienced this same hospitality when I returned on my own a couple of days later. Our polyglot guide Benoit is passionate about the area he has called home for years, and he seems to know every other shop owner. Perhaps the most impressive part was our breakfast at a Greek sports club. Benoit shopped in advance, culling his favorite breakfast items from diverse neighborhood shops. We enjoyed a hearty feast in a lovely courtyard before setting out to discover more of the area. I highly recommend taking a culinary backstreets tour early in your visit. You will then make more informed choices about where and what to eat and just have an all around deeper awareness of your surroundings.
Written June 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CulinaryBackstreets
Thank you so much for the thoughtful review! We are so happy to see that you enjoyed out newest route, we are very proud to take out guests to lesser known neighborhoods while introducing them to the cultural and historical essence of the city. We do hope to see you again soon in another one of our cites! Please check you culinary backstreets passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected.
Written July 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

wer4navy
Blanco, TX6 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
We had a great time, and all the food was wonderful. Our guide did a GREAT job of selecting foods all day, and we even went back ourselves, two days later, to one of his restaurants.
The 6-1/2 hours was a bit too long. And it would be even a better tour if the guide talked more about the neighborhoods, the culture, and how the food got to be what it was. In other words, not just walking and eating, but also LEARNING. Last year our guide in Barcelona, on the Sants tour, did all this.
Written March 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CulinaryBackstreets
We are glad to hear you enjoyed the walk! Please reach out to us directly if you think we can do anything better as your feedback is very important to us and we take it very seriously. We look forward to hearing from you, and having you with us again soon.
Written March 28, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

GInny W
1 contribution
Oct 2022 • Friends
Six of us, aged 60-65, friends for 35 years, joined our guide Esin for the Two Markets and Two Continents tour on Friday 13th October. We had the most fabulous day and we all agreed that it was one of the highlights of our visit to Istanbul. Esin was the most charming guide, so courteous, so informative and with a great sense of humour. We learnt so much, not only about the food of Istanbul, but also about its history and customs. It was fascinating and we were so glad that we had signed up to the tour. We cannot recommend Esin highly enough - we felt we had made a good friend and were sorry when the day came to an end.
Written October 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your kind feedback and many thanks for the 5-star rating, it was our pleasure to have you! We are delighted to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Esin, she's amazing! Each of our walks is the outcome of considerable research, we work with academics on the field and our own team of experienced professionals to give our guests an experience that not only goes beyond food but also covers some history and culture. Hope that you will join us again soon in one of our cities. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. All the best!
Written November 16, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ellen P
8 contributions
May 2021 • Solo
I did the "Two Markets, Two Continents" tour with Senem. Hands down the best experience during my trip. Senem shared so much knowledge and many personal stories and connections to the food, took me to only places I could have never found on my own, and put a lot of thoughtful planning into the tour to make it special. I came away having a much deeper understanding of Turkish history, food, and culture. Highly recommend at the beginning of your trip; you will be so happy you invested the time and money into this tour.
Written May 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for this positive feedback! This is exactly what we are trying to achieve with all of our walks, having you take experience away with you and memories that will last forever. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities.
Written June 15, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Laura W
1 contribution
Sep 2022 • Friends
The Hidden Beyoglu Tour was the highlight of our trip to Istanbul! Our guide, Remziye, provided the perfect combination of information on the culture, history and food of Turkey. All of the locations we went to (and there were A LOT) offered something unique that I wouldn’t have discovered on my own. Highly recommend taking the tour early in your trip so that you carry the knowledge as you continue to explore.
Written September 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CulinaryBackstreets
Thank you! We are so happy to see that you enjoyed the time spent with Remziye! She is a wonderful guide, we take pride in working with her. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities.
Written October 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Debbie
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania2 contributions
Aug 2021
If you are reading this review and debating whether or not to book one of the Culinary Backstreet tours - book it now. You will not regret it!! We did the Two Markets, Two Continents tour with Benoit. From the minute we met him, Benoit made us feel like we were having a tour with an old friend. He is so passionate about Istanbul and Turkish culture, as well as food history more generally. He is also very kind, warm and welcoming. As for our tour, we started with traditional breakfast at an Ottoman caravanserai. It was delicious. We thought - ok, now we will walk around and snack until lunch, but that is such an understatement. Benoit took us to several stops as we walked along Karakoy, ordering us various snacks and dishes that we would never have thought to order on our own. It was clear that all of the places he took us to were not only excellent, but were very local and also welcoming to us! Next, we took a short ferry to Kadikoy on the Asian Side. Right away, we went to a small shop that I know I would never in a million years have been able to find out about on my own. We continued to eat amazing dishes all afternoon as Benoit told us the history of the neighborhood, its various cultures and cuisines, and the art and architecture of its buildings. It would take me too much time to type out all of the places we stopped and things we ate, so just take my word for how wonderful it all was! Plus, the tour is very "flexible" in that Benoit clearly knew of countless dishes and places for us to stop at, but would stop at certain locations or take the time to elaborate more depending on our group's interests and preferences. He was so patient and informative the whole time. Throughout all of this, though, we ate the entire time yet never felt too full to continue. He did an amazing job and I will refer all of my friends to take this tour in the future!
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AdmiralQ
Milwaukee, WI102 contributions
Mar 2021
Wow! What an experience. We try to do a food tour in every city we visit, and this was at the top of any we have done. Salim, our guide, was incredibly personable, knowledgeable, and a wonderful guide to the culinary scene of Istanbul. He even brought various items that he made at home, or had bought from various friends or restaurants not on the tour. This was much appreciated and I have never had a guide do such a thoughtful thing. While Culinary Backstreets may be more expensive than other food tours, the quality and quantity more than make up for it. I have never felt so full in my life at the end of the tour - there must have been 10 or 12 different stops with a vast variety of food. Every single stop had amazing food and Salim provided background and historical info on what we were eating. I can't recommend Culinary Backstreets enough - this was a tour that was a highlight of our trip to Turkey.
Written March 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your feedback! That is exactly what we are going for. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the walks, and hope that you will join us again soon in one of our cities. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected.
Written June 15, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

PDX_travel
Portland, OR54 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Wow! One of our favorite nights in Turkey! This was our second time visiting Istanbul, our first was just 11 months ago. We had done a food tour last time with a different company but wanted to do another one with my Mom on this trip. We did the Hidden Beyoglu tour. The Culinary Backstreet tours seemed a little pricey but we decided to go for it anyways. And we quickly realized why the price was higher. This food tour blew our prior tour (while still enjoyable) out of the water! It was incredible! I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises but do yourself a favor and book this tour! It will likely be your favorite part of your time in Istanbul. It was one of our top travel experiences we’ve ever had after traveling to almost 50 countries. Even if you’ve been to Istanbul a dozen times, I think you will love this experience! Every place we stopped would likely never been on our radar and that’s exactly what we wanted. Esin was amazing and made us feel like good friends of hers. She gave us so many recommendations for where to go on our subsequent days in Istanbul and they were all incredible! Book this tour and do it as early as you can during your time in Istanbul so you can get all the amazing recs for where to go next! Money well spent! We can’t wait to do Culinary Backstreets on future travels.
Written April 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CulinaryBackstreets
Thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback! 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. 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. Most importantly, of course, we take pride in working with people who are very knowledgeable about and extremely fond of the cities they live in. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities.
Written April 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

mme8771
New York City, NY170 contributions
Sep 2020
An amazing tour with Culinary Backstreets as always. Nuket was a wonderful ambassador for her city and showed us places and things we would have never found on our own. She did a wonderful job of explaining the history behind a lot of the food and diversifying between things you know you'll like and things that are a bit unusual for the Western palate. She seemed to know everyone in the city. A real treat to walk around with her for the day!

One note - if you're trying to be COVID responsible, note that this tour spends a lot of time in the market of the city which is crowded and where most people aren't wearing masks. This was the only regrettable part of the tour but of course was no fault of Culinary Backstreets.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback! As travel resumes, Culinary Backstreets is restarting our work with a new set of safety guidelines designed for the physical well-being of our guests, guides and members of the local community that we encounter. With these procedures in place, our guests — led by our team of professional guides, who are trained accordingly — can explore with peace of mind. We try our best to avoid visiting establishments during peak times so that they are less crowded and in order to not displace hungry locals as much as possible. In restaurants and shops, our guide will make sure that our guests adhere to the establishments’ social distancing rules and will always ascertain whether the rules are being followed by other diners. 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. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities.
Written October 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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