LokalBond, take the mission of creating bridges between people and cultures, through what we call, at-home experiences. We believe that we become our true selves when we are at home or when we are made feel at home. Sharing, creating, learning and teaching at home form a unique bond, when we are our true selves.
This is not just a cooking class—it’s a journey into the flavors, history, and daily life of Istanbul. Our experience begins in the colorful markets of Kurtuluş, a lively district with century-old specialty shops. We’ll visit spice store, charcuterie, and bakery, tasting and learning about the ingredients that give Turkish cuisine its rich and diverse flavors.Then at home, we’ll cook together just like family, using the fresh ingredients we’ve gathered. But this is more than following a recipe—it’s about sharing stories, learning traditions, and experiencing true Turkish home hospitality. We’ll talk about the origins of each dish, how cooking changes across different regions of Turkey, and the special meaning food holds in our culture.By the time we sit at the table, it won’t feel like a class at all—it will feel like a meal shared with old friends. And when you leave, you won’t just take recipes with you—you’ll take memories, friendships, and a piece of Istanbul in your heart.
This experience is all about warmth, connection, and home-cooked goodness. You won’t be in a fancy kitchen or a cooking school—you’ll be in a real Turkish home, where a local mom from Southeast Turkey will welcome you like family. Together, you’ll cook home-style Turkish-Kurdish dishes, the kind that have been passed down through generations and made with love.But this isn’t just about food—it’s about sharing stories, laughter, and traditions. As you roll dolma or prepare fresh mezes, you’ll hear about the little secrets that make each dish special and how food brings people together in Turkey. More than a class, it’s a chance to experience true Turkish home hospitality—sitting around the table, enjoying a homemade feast, and feeling like you truly belong. From the moment you walk in, you won’t feel like a guest—you’ll feel like an old friend.
It is not easy to find a good Vegan or Vegetarian restaurant to eat in Istanbul. That is why, we, I want to invite you to our home to cook, eat and experience Vegan culture in Istanbul with us as well as the famous Turkish Hospitality.Although any Vegan class in Istanbul is unique, cooking with me at a home athmosphere will let you experience the city and the culture in a different perspective. Visit us at our home, cook and eat with us, just like family and friends.
We can all go to the best breakfast places in Istanbul, which offer amazing menus with various delicious dishes. But we want to introduce something new; we want to show how we, the local people of Turkey, live.Just like families, friends in Turkey would invite each other for breakfast and spend a morning together, we want to have you over at our home as our friends. We want to show you Turkish hospitality. But we want to do this by teaching how to make a typical Turkish breakfast. That way, you will be able to bring this culture wherever you want.We want to learn your culture and teach ours. That makes us different.
This might be one of the most interesting experiences that you can book in Istanbul. I will show you the "Kahvehane (Cafe)" traditions, where people gather to drink tea and have talks. Kahvehane is a traditional setup of cafes that exists in small towns and villages. We want to do this at home, by also introducing you with people that has similar interests as yours. I will invite my friends, (I have a big network of people) who has similar interests as you. As we sip Turkish teas, we will talk about things that we are all interested. We will play interactive games to grow the connection even bigger. If you want to experience real Turkish culture by tasting some teas, and do some network in Istanbul, come join us for this tea session.
Trying Turkish desserts is a must when visiting Istanbul, but tasting them freshly made in a local home is something truly special. This experience is all about warmth, connection, and sharing the joy of food together.From the moment you arrive, you’ll be welcomed like an old friend, with Turkish coffee and friendly conversation. Making desserts together isn’t just about following a recipe—it’s about learning traditions, laughing in the kitchen, and feeling at home.And when we finally sit down to enjoy what we’ve made, it won’t just be about the delicious flavors—it will be about the memories we’ve created together. So, if you’re looking for something authentic, fun, and unforgettable, this is the perfect way to experience the sweet side of Turkish culture.
What truly sets this experience apart is the rare opportunity to step into the everyday life of a local Istanbul resident. This isn’t just any tour; it’s an invitation into my home, where you can relax and feel part of the neighborhood. As we engage in the shared hobby of painting, you’ll learn about Turkish culture and traditions firsthand. The use of traditional Turkish fabrics in our art workshop adds a touch of historical authenticity, making your creation not just a piece of art but a piece of cultural heritage. It's an intimate, enriching experience that combines creativity, culture, and connection in a way that no conventional tour can offer.
Imagine you are travelling in a city to discover graffiti works of great local artist. How bout you actually meet the local graffiti artists and paint with them? Best part is, you do this at a genuine athmosphere as the home of these artists. This makes this experience one of the most unique, authentic experience that you can find in Istanbul.Peep and Shimo, couple graffiti artists, are inviting you to the garden of their home, to both push your creativity limits through Graffiti Art and let you experience Turkish home culture. Come to their home, have a tea, coffee, talk about Turkish culture, learn your culture and then create together.
Learning to make anything with new people creates a unique bond between people. Instead of only the feeling of just travelling in a city, you get to feel to be a part of the city and culture at its highest.We try to make people have these feelings through creative at-home experiences. Because we believe that feeling at home and being made feel at home creates a very genuine bond.Çiğ köfte, a very traditional Southeastern Turkish dish, fits to what we try at LokalBond. Çiğ köfte got popular as being a Turkish vegeterian street food. However, in reality, it is a home food where a lot of people gathers and watches it being prepared. At this experience, you will be a part of the cooking team and knead Çiğ Köfte with locals. Then throw it to the ceilings to see if it sticks to see its stiffness. This is also a part of the tradition, but of course we won't do it due to hygiene reasons.Come, join us at our home for an original Çiğ Köfte session. Come as a guest, leave as a friend!
Spend time with the funniest and cutest Grandma. She will mock you, she will make fun of you. But her full body laughs and her card game skills will make you have so much fun with a Turkish tea session. PS. Come hungry for laughing.
Discover the joy of transforming cherished but unworn t-shirts into fashionable tote bags with our "T-Shirt to Tote Bag Upcycling Workshop." Ideal for travelers, this workshop invites you to breathe new life into shirts that have grown too small, are slightly damaged, or simply hold sentimental value. Engage in a fun and creative process, where you'll personalize your tote with paints, accessories, and unique design ideas. This experience not only offers a sustainable way to repurpose old garments but also lets you create a one-of-a-kind accessory that enriches your style and carries memories. Don't miss this chance to add a personal touch to your wardrobe while embracing eco-friendly fashion. Book now and turn your beloved tees into functional art that celebrates your travels and stories.
Explore the unique world of Dengbej, a traditional Kurdish music style. A professional Dengbej singer, and we'll take you on a journey through this special art form. Learn how Dengbej compares to other unique styles like Pakistan's Qawwali and Morocco's Gnawa. Discover the captivating stories behind Dengbej songs and the skill of singing them without instruments. This is a rare opportunity to experience authentic Kurdish culture and music in its purest form.
When we travel, all of us can search for the best restaurant in town to have a great dish. But, again, all of us ask the question "I want to discover real, local Istanbul. I want to find something that not everyone can find". Here, we are bringing something authentic to the table.Local life that we, travellers want to see is mostly at local's home. That's why, we are inviting you to a family home, to discover Turkish culture and hospitality while you eat a great homemade meal. We want to share, teach and learn. That's why, we also need you. Come join us for a time, that gives you a comfort similar to what you would have at your own home with your closest friends, but also gives you a curiosity to discover new people and cultures.
This is one of the most unique tours you can ever find in anywhere in the world. It's more like an experience of being a local in a neighborhood of Istanbul for some days. - If you have already been in Istanbul and did all the touristy stuff, you are reading the correct spot.- Even if it's your 1st time in Istanbul and if you are the kind of traveler who searches "Visit Istanbul like a local", "Local things to do in Istanbul" on google, stop searching you found the right thing here. Basically what happens is that, you will stay at an apartment, completely private for you. But, you will keep visiting nearby locals at their homes for culinary, art and cultural experiences (listed on days' tour details). But the idea is that you visit the locals at their homes to form a local bond with them. After visiting a group of friends, you will pretty much feel like you are a part of them and you will finish the school of being a local in Istanbul .Come as a guest, leave as a friend.
We, two sisters, want to show the real local life of Istanbul. Just as friends, we will cook and eat Turkish dishes from Antakya region, one of the the culinary capitals of Turkey.So, come cook some nice food with us at a warm home in Istanbul, not as spectators but as participants in a hands-on experience. You'll learn cooking techniques and the stories behind each dishes. You will be able to learn our culture through shared moments, gaining insights into traditions that we learned from our grandmother and mother. Most of Turkish dishes can be cooked in a lot of ways, including vegans; just let us know about dietary preferences in advance. So, come as a guest, leave as a friend!
Welcome to an authentic Turkish home cooking experience in the heart of Istanbul. Join our Turkish Meze Cooking Class, led by a local cook, where you'll dive into the art of making traditional Turkish mezes.You'll get a hands-on training from a local cook who is experienced in cooking Turkish mezes.You will be learning how to make your own Turkish mezes such as Carrot tarator, haydari, imam bayıldı and zucchini tarator from our local cook. Our mezes are vegetarian so feel free to join this event without having to worry about vegetarian options! Sign up today and get ready to cook, taste, and enjoy the true essence of Istanbul’s culinary delights!
My experience sets itself apart by offering a unique blend of physical wellness and cultural exchange, right from the comfort of my home. As a certified yoga instructor, I guide guests through a rejuvenating morning yoga session that promises to refresh both body and mind. But the wellness journey doesn't end there. Following our practice, I'll prepare an authentic, healthy Turkish breakfast, creating a moment of culinary delight that's as nourishing as it is delicious. This intimate setting not only allows for a genuine experience of Turkish hospitality but also serves as a platform for rich cultural exchange. Guests leave not just with a sense of physical well-being, but with meaningful connections and a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity. Join us for an unforgettable morning where wellness meets cultural exploration.
Our family's living room, filled with heartfelt decorations and heirlooms, provides the perfect backdrop for a cozy, intimate gathering. It's a genuine home experience, far removed from the typical tourist destinations. Our home wine tasting isn't just about the wines; it's about the people, stories, and genuine connections. By choosing to join us, you're opting for an authentic, immersive journey into Turkish culture, hospitality, and flavors.We can't wait to welcome you to our home, where the genuine family atmosphere, rich history, and unforgettable flavors await. Join us for a unique and heartwarming wine tasting experience in Istanbul.Come as a guest, leave as a friend!
Join in a creative blend where graffiti art and cocktails come together. Hosted by us, locals who happen to be graffiti artists and bartenders, our home is more than a venue; it's a space where genuine connections happen.Be an active part of the experience—design your graffiti tag and paint it on our garden wall. Beyond the art, it's about shared moments, making connections, and crafting something special in Istanbul.Experience the heart of Istanbul's culture in the warmth of our home. This isn't the typical tourist scene; it's a chance to live like a local.Leave with more than art—leave with new friends, memories, and a taste of Istanbul's artistic vibe.Choose an authentic adventure where art, cocktails, and Istanbul's essence blend naturally. Book our graffiti and cocktail session for a genuine exploration of the city, beyond just an activity.
What makes Turkish coffee special? It is the culture of it. Just like British have their tea sessions, we have our Turkish coffee session.Although there are a lot to be said about Turkish coffee, we want to keep it for the experience, no spoilers..We will welcome you at our home to teach your Turkish coffee, from its history and culture to its variety and how it is an everyday thing in our culture. We will teach you how to cook Turkish coffee, just like our mothers cooked for their guests for years. We will be cooking and tasting at least 3 Turkish Coffee types. Menengiç, Dibek, Mırra, Sütlü Türk kahvesi are some of the Turkish Coffee types. During the experience, you will also learn about crazy interesting Turkish coffee customes in our history. These stories will make you feel like you are a part of the culture as well, and that will be our biggest goal for the experience.So, come, join us at our home for a Turkish Coffee session. But come as a guest, leave as a friend!
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