Private Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class with Local Moms
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Istanbul, Turkey
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
The best way to learn to cook is with hands-on instruction, but most visitors to Istanbul don’t know residents who can help them learn how to prepare everything from dolma to börek. This small-group experience gives you first-hand experience with Turkish cuisine and takes place in a local home for maximum cultural immersion.
- Enjoy the chance to spend time in a local home
- Choose between breakfast and dinner options to suit your schedule
- Feast on your creations at the end of class
- Small group sizes ensure personal attention from your instructor
Sample Menu
Main
Dolma
Vegetables and leaves stuffed with rice and special spices
Starter
Börek
Pastry that is made of a thin dough such as with a variety of fillings
Main
Vegeterian Turkish Dishes
Variety of Western Turkish Dishes cooked with vegetables and olive oil
Starter
Meze
Variety of Turkish small dishes served as a starter
Starter
Carrot Salad
Special Turkish Carrot Salad with yogurt
What's Included
- DinnerIf the experience is booked for 5pm, it will be held as a dinner!
- BreakfastIf the experience is booked for 10am, it will be held as a breakfast, where you will learn how to cook Turkish breakfast dishes and prepare a proper Turkish breakfast.
- Private transportation
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Sinanpaşa, Selamlık Cd. No:21, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye
Please notify any dietary restrictions after booking.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Besiktas
2
Dolmabahce Palace
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- We’re happy that you’re considering joining us for a LokalBond experience! Our goal is to create unforgettable memories by connecting you with the real locals of the city to introduce the culture and vibrant local life of Turkiye. To ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience, we ask that all guests review our participation waiver. By completing your booking, you acknowledge that you’ve read and accepted the terms of the waiver below. We’ve kept it straightforward and easy to understand, so you can focus on what really matters—getting ready for a special time with us! LokalBond Experiences Waiver and Release of Liability 1. Acknowledgment of Risks: I, acknowledge that participating in this experience offered by LokalBond involves certain inherent risks, including but not limited to physical activity, travel, potential hazards, and interaction with individuals and environments that may carry unknown risks. I understand that these risks may result in personal injury, illness, or damage to personal property. 2. Voluntary Participation: I affirm that my participation in this experience is entirely voluntary and that I have been informed about the nature of the experience. I understand that I am under no obligation to participate and that I may withdraw from the experience at any time without penalty. 3. Health and Fitness: I certify that I am in good health and physical condition to participate in this experience. I do not have any medical conditions, disabilities, or other concerns that would limit my ability to safely participate. I agree to inform LokalBond of any changes in my health status prior to the experience. 4. Assumption of Risk: I hereby assume all risks associated with my participation in the experience, including but not limited to those mentioned above. I acknowledge that LokalBond and its representatives have made no warranties regarding the safety of the experience or the environments involved. 5. Release of Liability: In consideration of being allowed to participate in the experience, I hereby release, waive, discharge, and hold harmless LokalBond, its owners, employees, agents, hosts, and other participants from any and all claims, actions, damages, or liabilities arising out of or related to my participation in the experience, including, but not limited to, any claims of negligence on the part of LokalBond or its representatives. 6. Indemnification: I agree to indemnify and hold harmless LokalBond from any and all claims, actions, or damages, including attorney fees, arising out of or related to my participation in the experience, whether caused by the negligence of LokalBond or otherwise. 7. Governing Law: This waiver and release shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Turkish law, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. 8. Acknowledgment of Understanding: I have read this waiver and release of liability, fully understand its terms, and approve it freely and voluntarily without any inducement. I understand that by confirming this document, I am giving up certain legal rights, including the right to sue LokalBond or its representatives.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos





Featured review
XiaoMiao_Z
This cooking class in Istanbul was an amazing experience. We learned to make some of our favorite Turkish dishes and really appreciated how authentic the whole experience was.
Having Nouran’s friends and family join us for dinner made it feel warm, communal, and truly local. The welcoming culture and hospitality stood out.
I would 100% recommend this experience to anyone visiting Istanbul.
Reviews
5.0
based on 122 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
JamesEdward_t, Jun 2026
Cooking as it should be! Hosts that make you feel part of their family, sharing dishes and cooking secrets that should be in a cookbook! We made five dishes along with several dips, and it was over the top in a very good way. What a wonderful way to share learning about Turkish and Kurdish cooking!
Steven_H, May 2026
Wonderful traditional Turkish breakfast that we helped prepare. Didn’t know there was such a variety of food. My favorite was honeycomb with homemade yogurt on bread, delicious! Hosts even made sure my wife had her needed gluten bread.😄 Our host Nuran and her some Baver were the best. Even had her other son and his wife join us for a truly Turkish family breakfast. Baver offered great suggestions on sights in the city. It is well worth it👍
Inna_B, Feb 2026
I can't possibly say enough good things about our experience doing the cooking class with Rojda. It was be awkward entering a new person's home for the first time, but Rojda made it feel anything but. From the moment we stepped inside, we were greeted with the infamous Turkish hospitality by both Rojda and her sweet little daughter. Water, tea, coffee, slippers, snacks-- everything was shared before we even started cooking.
The food was incredible! We made an amazing feast and cooked so many amazing dishes- enough to feed a small army! Rojda kindly offered to have us take a lot of the food home, but unfortunately we were flying back the next day. The table was full and it was so hard to believe we cooked so much in such a short time-- soup, a main dish, and 4? 5? different mezze. And a salad. Incredible!
The only thing more wonderful than the food was the conversation. Rojda shared with us about her life- what an amazing and inspiring woman she is! She shared with so much openness and honesty and warmth. It's amazing how even come from such different backgrounds, we have so many things in common and points of connection.
My whole family- 2 adults and 2 kids- had the most wonderful time. It is an experience none of us will ever forget, and we are so grateful we got to take part in. Thank you Rojda!
XiaoMiao_Z, Jan 2026
This cooking class in Istanbul was an amazing experience. We learned to make some of our favorite Turkish dishes and really appreciated how authentic the whole experience was.
Having Nouran’s friends and family join us for dinner made it feel warm, communal, and truly local. The welcoming culture and hospitality stood out.
I would 100% recommend this experience to anyone visiting Istanbul.
Jennifer_O, Jan 2026
Delicious breakfast with warm, gracious hosts! We enjoyed learning to cook this meal, as well as getting to know our hosts.
Arrianna_S, Jan 2026
I arrived at the cozy apartment where the friendly host Nuran invited me to a lovely cup of Turkish tea together with her mother who was there as well.
We started chatting, and I felt home immediately.
We prepared dinner, which was a soup, main dish with lamb and potatoes, a broccoli and yogurt salad with bread on the side and my very favorite Turkish butter rice. Some pickles were served as well and Nuran explained how all is prepared patiently.
Apart from the food being absolutely delicious, I was welcomed into this family atmosphere and just had the best time. It was the first time for me in Istanbul and I can recommend this cooking experience to anyone who just wants to feel home away from home. Even if you’re not into cooking, you will have a lovely time with Nuran and her wonderful family. I can highly recommend this class, packed with insights that will widen your horizon culturally too!
Damien_F, Dec 2025
Authentic atmosphere and delicious food shared with our host and her whole family, it was a culinary but also a great human experience. I would recommend it for anyone. Thank you!
Enzo_B, Dec 2025
Nuran is an amazing host, so welcoming and kind. We made traditional Kurdish recipes and learned about her culture and family. This is a must do if you are in Istanbul!
Kane_M, Aug 2025
This was a wonderful experience hosted in a locals home! Özge was very warm and welcoming to us and it felt like we were catching up with a friend, not a stranger! We learnt not just about Turkish food and cooking, but also about Özge’s life and her travels which we also shared our story over a lovely meal which we all cooked together. Özge gave us insight with small changes and additions to the meal depending on what we liked and told us about local ingredients and how they make the meal we made so special! We also had a dessert along with some Turkish coffee, which was lovely. We were lucky enough to meet the Özge’s pets who were adorable! Please if you’re interested in learning Turkish style cooking, book a breakfast OR dinner cooking class with Özge or with this company! This is an experience we won’t forget.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear Kane, You’ve just made my day with this beautiful review! 🧡 Thank you so much for your kind words — I’m so happy it felt like cooking with a friend and the feeling is mutual. Theo & Penny enjoyed spending time with you & Taylor a lot :)) Hope our paths cross again someday! ✨
Clinton_H, Jun 2025
Such an amazing cultural experience. We had traditional Kurdish foods, in a private home. Note that we are gay, so I reached out to the service beforehand, and was informed that she welcomes everyone, and that there would be zero problems, and that she couldn't wait to welcome us into her home. That was exactly right. We learned so many great techniques and had a delightful conversation with her & her husband and adult son. Her mother was visiting as was her sister. It was wonderful.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
This warmed our hearts. Everyone is welcome at our table — always. Thank you for bringing your full selves and sharing your story. 🌈🧡
ringenbergsj, May 2025
We purchased two tickets for the cooking class and had a great time. The food was good and the host was awesome!
Chris_O, May 2025
Hostess is charming and involved us in all aspects of the food preparation. It’s an at home experienced, which involved us somewhat in the family story , not part of a cooking school as has been our experience in the past. 4 separate dishes were prepared, cooked and consumed - all very efficiently; and all delicious. We provided the hostess with a new word “yummy” which was the instantaneous response to each dish!
Only minor criticism is that the class occurs inside an apartment in a building whose address you have, but you do not have the apartment number to buzz.
Cecilia_T, Apr 2025
My husband and I had an amazing time. Learned so much, felt so welcomed on arrival. This cooking class made a tremendous impact on our Istanbul adventure. We felt like a member of the family. We loved the homestyle cooking and felt like we experience the Kurdish experience like no other. We would highly recommend this to everyone.
Linda_P, Apr 2025
The highlight of my visit to Istanbul. Nuran was welcoming and friendly. This was a low key 'informal' home cooking experience and I was surprised at how many really authentic dishes we were able to make together in her tiny kitchen. Travelling alone, I was able to join in with a group of others. I loved her style of cooking - no 'set' recipes to slavishly follow! She was great at getting us all involved. Getting there in the rush hour was a challenge, as was the steep flight of stairs to her apartment, but it was worth it and good value. Thank you Nuran.
Elizabeth_N, Mar 2025
The experience was really great. Our host welcomed us into her home as guests and proceeded to walk us through how to make 4 dishes - dolmas with lamb and rice, carrots with homemade yoghurt, and salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and sumac, as well lentil soup. So, so good. The menus change depending on the season, market produce, etc, but all are traditional dishes. After making everything, we ate together at her table. Truly an amazing, one-of-a-kind experience. Thank you again to our host!!!!
Jim_M, Jan 2025
Thank you Nuran and family. We really enjoyed the cooking, the eating and the conversation. Thank you sooooo much!!!
Melissa_C, Dec 2024
Such a unique experience. We felt so welcome into the home. Wonderful conversation and amazing food! Would definitely recommend!
Doug_B, Oct 2024
Our host Kevser was great. She welcomed us into her home and we soon felt like old friends. It was one of our favorite Istanbul experiences. I highly recommend cooking and talking with her, petting her puppy and learning more about her beautiful country.
Kyle_R, Sep 2024
Kevser, our generous host, made us feel right at home in her home! The food was delicious, and the small group we had, had plenty of great conversation into the evening. One of my favourite things I got to experience in Istanbul for sure.
Timothe_G, Sep 2024
We had a superbe moment! We cooked, ate and laughed! The host and the food were very good! We enjoyed a lot!
Sidrah_H, Sep 2024
Rojda is a super host. From the moment I arrived at her place I felt welcomed. Food we cooked was absolutely delicious and we also had turkish tea and coffee. I learned alot about the turkish cuisine in just few hours.It started to rain and Rojda was kind enough for us to stay a bit longer until the rain stopped! I will remember this experience for a lifetime. I highly recommend to try this experience and you won't be disappointed:).
Anton_L, Aug 2024
Nura (the Turkish Mom) is such a sweetheart - she welcomed me into their home with warmth and even waited from the 2nd floor of the apartment complex to make sure I would arrive safely.
I don’t have much experience in cooking, but Nura was very patient with me as she helped me refined my knife skills a little. While Nura had some trouble in communicating in English, we were able to have a decent conversation while preparing a hefty dinner for 10 - very similar to how a mother and child might prepare for a party. :)
I did feel a sense of accomplishment after having cooked everything, and even received praise from the guests from the dolma that we prepared. It felt festive at night without feeling forced - and I really did feel that I was part of the family, even for a short while.
I appreciated that Bayer provided many options in helping me get to the house since it is a little difficult to find.
Belinda_W, Aug 2024
I learned so much about Turkey and Turkey cuisine. I am glad I choose this experience. I would recommend this experience to anyone.
Chloe_B, Jun 2024
Me and my partner had a fantastic evening at this cooking class! The host, Nuran, was so welcoming and friendly and taught us how to cook the most delicious food! On top of that, we met her incredibly warm and friendly family and shared stories about our lives over the many courses of food we cooked. I would 100% recommend this class to anyone and would book through lokalbond in the future. Thank you 🇹🇷❤️🇹🇷❤️🇹🇷
MaryEllen_D, Jun 2024
Two grandparents and a 13 year old grandson had a wonderful time learning to cook a Turkish breakfast in Nuran‘s home. She was so friendly and made sure our grandson was engaged in all the activities! He LOVED it….as did his grandparents! A great way to ‘see into’ traditional Turkish life after 2 day of visiting Grand Mosques and Palaces!
Rebecca_P, May 2024
Nuran was such a lovely host and we found the class fun and insightful! It was such a unique and wonderful experience to share the moreish food that we made with her family who were very friendly! Definitely recommend if you’re looking for something unique to do whilst in Istanbul.
Marcus_E, May 2024
This was the highlight of our trip to Istanbul. What a charming family, heavenly food and lively atmosphere trading cultural stories. Absolutely loved this and would highly recommend to anyone wanting a different angle on their holiday itinerary. Thank you Nura and your family for opening up your home and welcoming us like so warmly :)
Mgane_B, Apr 2024
I spent a wonderful time with Nura and her family. It was such a nice experience I’d recommend to anyone who is interested in meeting local people and learn from their culture.
Kaaren_N, Apr 2024
Our kids loved this! (We did as well)
So amazing to be welcomed into a home and learn about life in Istanbul and greater Turkey.
Caroline_T, Apr 2024
This was so much fun, and the best thing I did in Istanbul. Nora and her family were so kind and accommodating, and spending time with them was an absolute pleasure! -Caroline, United States
From $97.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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