• Barış Apartmanı - Participate in an intimate cooking class held in a genuine Istanbul home, led by a local chef with extensive experience in professional kitchens who now focuses on cooking, sharing, and connecting. Guests are greeted with Turkish coffee and warm conversation before engaging in a hands-on session to prepare traditional dishes such as sarma (stuffed grape leaves), seasonal meze, and robust Turkish main courses.

Each dish is presented with its story, and ingredients are displayed on the table. The host demonstrates, and then participants get the chance to wrap, mix, and stir — no previous cooking experience is required. While the food is cooking, guests assist in setting the table and might even learn a few Turkish words. Once the meal is ready, everyone gathers to enjoy it together, exchanging stories and capturing memories with photos. At the conclusion, recipes are sent via email, along with personalized tips for exploring Istanbul.

The host remarks, “Cooking together fosters connection — it’s always about more than just the food.”

• Tea and coffee

• Tips and gratuities.

• Zeytinyağlı Dolma - Sarma - Stuffed Vine Leaves and Bell Peppers with Olive Oil
• Turkish Pastry
• Eggplant Meze

This is not a polished studio or a touristy demonstration — it’s an authentic Istanbul kitchen, in a home brimming with stories, spices, and laughter. The host is a former restaurant chef who now cooks for the love of it, welcoming guests to gather around her table and learn recipes that have been handed down through generations. “Cooking should feel like chatting with an old friend,” she says — and that’s precisely how this experience feels. Visitors will come for the food, but stay for the warmth, the traditions, and the unexpected moments of connection that arise over simmering pots and shared plates.

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