Highlights in Istanbul Workshops — Attraction in Beyoğlu

Foreign guests visiting from overseas? Here’s something different for them to do away from the maddening crowd! Great souvenir and experience that they will remember fondly. This place is closer to Tophane than Sirkeci metro where I decided to walk from. It was a pleasant downhill walk where i discovered lots of hidden stores. I feel i could’ve gotten here quicker had i just taken the metro to Tophane and then a short walk from the Burdock hotel. Very artistic place even the door knob was a conversation piece! Highlights in Istanbul Workshop has various activities from traditional mosaic lamp making, mosaic candle holder, perfume making to Turkish coffee and tea making. I find that they are a bit understaffed. Though our instructor was a lovely girl (Dilnaz) I found that she handled the mosaic lamp and perfume making simultaneously and there were i stances when the guest was just sittin waiting for he to be available while ahe tendes to other guests soing a different activity. Their website indicated a step by step guidance as part of thir serice description but found that part lacking as I felt Dilnaz was juggling too many balls in the air- through no fault of her own. She was very accommodating and did the best she could. Overall my guests loved the experience - abit pricier than the others we dound online but they are very responsive to whatsapp inquiries in English, open until 11pm and dont put pressure on you to finish at a certain time- because art IS a proess! It would have been great if they just had th refreshments out so we could just help ouselvws instead of having to ask for it 2hours into the activity because it wasnt offered. Safe packaging i felt was not enough- a generous amount of bubble wrap would have been good. My american guests were able to use their lamps in the US after hooking it up to an adaptor though fyi, other places with the same kind of workshop offer to change the cable according to the US...

We booked the Ebru art class through the Highlights in Istanbul website and chose it because it seemed like a truly unique cultural experience. It was run by the Ozza art team. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip—and a fantastic activity for the entire family. Feyza, our instructor, guided us through the mesmerizing process of creating traditional Turkish marbling art. Her explanations were clear and incredibly informative, and she took the time to give personalized attention to each of us, ensuring we all felt confident and inspired. Armen, her assistant and translator, was equally wonderful—patient, kind, and ready to help at every step. We left not only with beautiful art pieces but also with a deeper understanding of this centuries-old craft. If you find yourself in Istanbul, I would strongly recommend making this stop a priority. It’s an experience you won’t forget!

Update:

As if our tour wasn’t memorable enough, we also had the opportunity to attend Ülkü’s perfume workshop—a delightful experience that engaged everyone in our family, from our 8-year-old daughter to the adults. Ülkü and her team were once again fantastic: patient, knowledgeable, and eager to help each of us create a one-of-a-kind fragrance. By the end, we had truly unique scents that reflected our individual personalities, ready to share with friends and family back home. It was the perfect, hands-on compliment to our Istanbul adventure—another reason we can’t recommend Ülkü and her team...

The best mosaic Turkish lamp workshop in Istanbul (and maybe the world😁) This wasn't just about creating lamps. It was genuine therapy through laughter and light. We never thought that assembling small pieces of glass could be so engaging and interesting. The instructors speak several languages, take a personalized approach with every guest, provide all the necessary materials and treat you to tea and delicious snacks. Our instructor was Abdullah. He taught us everything, demonstrated the techniques, gave valuable advice (like how not to glue your neighbor or yourself), kept our spirits up, joked and simply exuded incredible positivity. Another instructor Riad also assisted us, assembling and connecting the lamps. It was a fun and fascinating process from the very first glass piece to the final “let there be light!” moment. The atmosphere was wonderful and everyone worked at their own pace. We didn't just leave with amazing, unique Turkish lamps that now illuminate our home we also left with a boost of energy and fantastic memories. Guys, you are absolutely brilliant! This is a must-do in Istanbul if you're looking for an original souvenir and a fun art-therapy session. Everything was super - we recommend it wholeheartedly. The studio also offers other workshops such as stained glass painting, perfumery, tea/coffee brewing, creating your own jewelry or phone cases and many other interesting...