Istanbul Dinner Experience Turkish Cuisine and Rakı Tasting

2 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

This isn’t a restaurant meal or a touristy tasting — it’s an invitation into a real Istanbul home. Guests experience Turkish hospitality as it’s meant to be: slow, generous, and full of stories. The rakı tasting is guided with cultural context, pairing it with each course the traditional way. Your host shares personal food memories, explains rituals around rakı, and invites you to connect over conversation — not just cuisine.

This experience is perfect for travelers looking to feel the warmth of a Turkish home, enjoy authentic dishes, and discover rakı not just as a drink, but as a social ritual.

Example Menu

Main

Stuffed Grape Leaves with Ground Meat

Starter

Two types of Meze

Light meze like haydari (herbed yogurt), spicy ezme, or eggplant salad — chosen based on fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Dessert

Güllaç

A light dessert made with milk-soaked pastry and walnuts — served chilled.

Starter

Double Rakı

A traditional Turkish anise-flavored spirit, served cold and sipped slowly throughout the meal.

What's Included

Dinner
One Double Rakı
Tips & Gratuities

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Once you are in Poyracık Sk. Look for number 29. You can call me when you arrive and I will open the door.

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What to expect

Step into a real Istanbul home for a cozy, small-group dinner experience centered around traditional Turkish cuisine — and the rituals of rakı. You’ll be welcomed like an old friend, with a table already set for a feast. As the courses begin to arrive — think meze spreads, rich main dishes, and seasonal sides — your host will guide you through the stories behind each one.

The highlight of the evening is a guided rakı tasting, where you’ll learn how this iconic anise-flavored drink is traditionally served, sipped, and paired with food. You’ll raise a glass the Turkish way — slowly, with conversation, laughter, and plenty of toasts.

Your host shares: “Rakı is never rushed. It’s a drink of stories, of slowing down and sharing the night.” By the end of the evening, you’ll leave not just with a full belly, but with a real taste of Istanbul hospitality — and maybe a few Turkish phrases in your pocket.

Come as a guest, leave as a friend.

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Lokal Bond

Tags

Dining Experiences
Restaurants
Dinner
Small Group
Food & Drink
New Product
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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