Top Istanbul Private and Luxury - page 89

Şule was a fantastic tour guide who proudly shared with us her love of Istanbul and its food (and its cats!). She provided a great first introduction to the city, sharing its history and culinary delights. Once the tour was finished, she made sure we had countless recommendations for where to eat next. Şule made my fiancee and I feel very welcome, so we would highly recommend taking a food tour with her anytime!

I can’t recommend this experience enough! If you’re trying to decide whether it’s worth it, the answer is absolutely yes. The tour begins by meeting in front of the Central Post Office, where our guide, Zeynep, first introduced us to a famous local specialty. She called it a Turkish “meatball,” although it isn’t a meatball at all! It’s a huge mound of a delicious mixture that the owner scoops onto a lettuce leaf and finishes with a squeeze of fresh lemon. The owner has become something of a TikTok celebrity, and I was told he’s known for making people cry if they don’t grab their food quickly enough—kind of like the famous “Soup Nazi” from Seinfeld! Thankfully, I got mine in time, and it was absolutely delicious. Just around the corner, we stopped at a Turkish delight shop. I’m so glad we did because I had no idea there were so many varieties beyond the little jelly cubes most of us know. We sampled two completely different kinds, and both were fantastic. From there, it was only a short walk to the Whirling Dervish ceremony. The ceremony lasted about an hour and was a beautiful, peaceful cultural experience. There’s also a small museum in the reception area where you can learn more afterward. I’ll admit that after a full day of sightseeing, the calm atmosphere made it a little difficult to keep my eyes open—but it was still something I’m very glad I experienced. After the ceremony, we returned to the meeting point, where a van took us to a neighborhood restaurant that I never would have found on my own. This dinner was, without question, the highlight of my entire trip to Istanbul. We were served an incredible spread of mezes, kebabs, a refreshing purple basil drink, and so many dishes I never would have known to order as a solo traveler. The restaurant was filled with locals rather than tourists, and the owner personally served our meal, making the experience feel incredibly authentic. One of the best parts of the evening was sharing dinner with other travelers. In just three days in Istanbul, there is no way I could have sampled so many different foods by myself. Even better, at the end of the night the van dropped everyone off near their accommodations, making the experience completely stress-free. Zeynep was absolutely wonderful. Throughout dinner she answered every question we had about Istanbul, shared recommendations for her favorite local spots, and afterward even provided us with a list of places to visit during the rest of our stay. But what I’ll remember most wasn’t just the food or the ceremony—it was watching Zeynep herself. Every time someone loved a dish she introduced us to, her face lit up with genuine happiness and humble pride. It was obvious that she wasn’t simply leading a tour; she sincerely wanted us to experience and appreciate her culture. Her excitement over our enjoyment was so genuine, joyful, and heartfelt that it made this one of the most memorable experiences of my trip. My only regret is that I booked this tour on my last day in Istanbul. If I could do it again, I would book it on my very first day. It would have given me an incredible introduction to Turkish food, culture, and local recommendations that I could have enjoyed throughout the rest of my visit. Do yourself a favor and book this tour with Zeynep!

Our group of 4 were fortunate to have “OJ” as our private tour guide seeing the highlights of Istanbul. She was attentive to our needs and wishes. Took us to the Cistern which was not on our itinerary but something we wanted to see. Knowledgable, articulate, pleasant and fun best describe this guide and experience.