I've seen some videos here and there, and it seems that guided foodie tours in Europe have grown in popularity.
Are they worth it in your experience? Are there different types? Why spend the money instead of just going to restaurants/markets/etc on your own?
Thanks!
Hi Hank, my husband & I love food tours! We were in Spain a few weeks ago and did another excellent one in Sevilla. Last June was an excellent one in London’s East End. If I suggest adding one to our itinerary while I’m planning, my husband always says an enthusiastic “yes”! Even the time we were in NYC, I had reserved one for us. We liked it so well that we signed up for another one with the same company for the next day. The company had a variety of choices for neighborhoods they covered.
What we like is first, that we have the chance to try several local foods in one “meal”. And when we’re traveling, we want local foods, not Americanized local foods, etc. Also, the stories and info the guide shares are very interesting! Since the info is stored in my brain with an associated food (using multiple senses), it is much easier to remember! Most of them have been a fun group experience with people interacting and an interesting or entertaining guide.
When I am traveling solo, they’re even a better activity for me because it gives me the chance to try more food than I could as one person ordering a meal. For the cost, I think of it as an activity+dinner, so it’s usually worth it for me/us.
While researching, there are a lot of so-so ones out there. I try to find out what foods are included in the tour and whether it’s minor stuff I could just purchase myself from bakeries, etc. I don’t choose ones that center on a market; I prefer ones that go to several small restaurants /bars and we have some food at each location.
Where are you thinking about doing one?
I absolutely found them worth it.We have done food tours in Lisbon, Porto, and Vienna and the value was worth it, along with their guidance of where to eat while in town.
We love them! We try and do them on the first day or so of a trip so that we can return to a restaurant if we want. I found my absolutely favorite restaurant in Reykjavik from a food tour, and we have returned on every trip. I like that you get a real variety of food as well as learn about the local food scene/ city/culture.
If you really want to experience the local specialties with a local guide and meet the small producers who, often for many generations, proudly carry on their traditions. We have done food tours in Bologna/Parma/Moderna, Iceland, Paris, and Copenhagen. We enjoyed meeting and learning the history from locals, and really felt more connected to where we were visiting. We have done both walking tours and small van tours and enjoyed both. Taking a food tour shows you are really interested in their products and may help many small producers from going "industriale".
Such enthusiasm! Nice to hear it :)
We took Secret Food Tour in Paris and Walks of Italy Tour in Florence and both were well worth the money. Our then-college-age daughter said the Food Tour was her favorite thing in Paris.
I've done nearly a dozen, and there were only one or 2 that were just ok, the rest were a really fun time with a local who knows the best places, and shares lots of local non-food info.
I like to do a food tour for my first dinner in a new city. Instead of going to one restaurant, I get to sample the best choices at 5 or 6.
Hank, one of the biggest benefits in taking food tours (several in Italy and France, plus Morocco) has been to learn which restaurants/markets/etc., instead of just going on our own. Guides have always provided their additional personal recommendations, besides the places on the tour, and all have been exceptionally good. Compared with planning and organizing an on-your-own tour, including making reservations, getting the timing right, potentially dealing with language issues, and figuring transportation (especially in rural Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna) make the price of an organized tour very reasonable.
My experience is similar to others, since I travel solo a food tour is a great way to get out and try a variety of local foods without getting a full sit down meal. Definitely ask for opinions about companies (here or in other forums) as quality varies.
I usually eyeball what is offered in terms of food and geographic area to see if it ticks the boxes for my travel style and budget. For example in Iceland, reviews noted that the tour oriented you to sites in the historic center of Reykjavik which was helpful because I did the tour my first day there. The food included interesting Icelandic items that I wouldn't go to a restaurant to eat (e.g. fermented shark) but I still wanted to try. And though fairly expensive, it penciled out for me because food prices in Reykjavik are high and I didn't have time to eat a lot of meals on a short visit. In Istanbul the street food tour covered an area of the city I wasn't going to visit with my RS tour and included a ferry ride across the Bosphorus, and though not advertised ended up being a cultural/historical tour as well.
You asked about the types of tours - there are plenty. There are street food tours that you are walking to a number of different places to sample food but not eat a full meal (usually you're stuffed at the end, so it's like a full meal equivalent). There are also food tours that settle in one place and do a similar tasting scheme but you don't move around. You can also go to a local person's home and have a home cooked meal either privately or with a group (see EatWith, for example). I've also done tours that took you shopping in markets and then you participate in cooking a variety of dishes or watch a chef cook/explain dishes. Those are some of my favorites because you can replicate the food when you get home.
I did a food tour in Reykjavík and absolutely enjoyed it, and I'd scheduled it for the evening of the day I arrived in Iceland. I figured it would be a great way to get a feel for the layout of the city and to get an introduction to the food from someone who knows. Also got out of my introverted comfort zone with a small group of people.
As many times as I've been to London, I'd like to do a food tour there. I just haven't found the right one yet. And thinking of doing one in Manchester.
We are also highly in favor of food tours. Have done them in Porto (as part of a RS tour), Athens, Sorrento and New Orleans. You get local dishes (usually enough for a meal), food history and local history all rolled into one tour. Some include wine/beer, some just give you an option to buy your own beverage. We are now making a food tour a regular part of our travel experiences.
We did Eating Europe in both Lisbon and the Trastevere in Rome. Only you know what’s “worth it” for you but we thoroughly enjoyed both tours. Besides being introduced to the local foods, we got a history of the neighborhoods we visited. In Rome, our group sat and ate delicious fried artichokes served by the owner while people were lined up in order to eat at this popular restaurant that didn’t take reservations.
I love food tours. I have done four with Eating Europe so far: Rome 1, London 1, Paris 2. And will be doing three this year: Venice, Florence and Rome. As a solo traveler, food tours are a great way to share a meal, eat local food, meet people and see a neighborhood I may not visit otherwise.
@VAP, my husband & I participated in The London East End Food Tour with Eating Europe. We both highly recommend it! It was a feast, beginning in the Spitalfield Market - our new favorite open market! Our guide, David, was very knowledgeable with a dry sense of humor, and he shared so much history & ethnic culture along with sharing six tasty restaurants with us over 3 1/2 hours. My husband & I both felt it went fast, which is always a sign of a great food tour!
It depends on where you come from. You come from the USA, so obviously
you aren't used to good food.
Oh boy .... categorically untrue, but let's just leave it be. Suffice to say true enough USA has some enduring anti-aesthetic aspects to food culture. Max Weber observed this in 1904 in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. But we also have various, large, and robust diasporas, many of which imported fantastic food traditions and benefitted from greater wealth and better ingredients. USA is a huge country with on the whole deep and varied and remarkable good culinary culture and tradition.
As many have mentioned, the food tour in Reykjavik is excellent. We have done it twice.
A family member owns a big food tour company in Puerto Vallarta, so that was fun being able to do the tour and with them as our guide. I especially liked that they knew what street foods were safe to eat, where I wouldn't venture that on my own.
We have done several others in various cities, and they have all been so good.
I also heartily recommend food tours for all the stated reasons. You do have to be a person that enjoys food and trying different things and doesn’t just eat for fuel. (I’m told those people do exist but can’t quite imagine it.)
You learn more about where you are visiting than a restaurant meal can tell you. I travel solo so it’s really fun for me to have a bit of a break from solitary experiences sometimes.
Well, we probably wouldn’t have eaten a spleen sandwich in Palermo if not for our food tour. As long as we didn’t think about its origins, it was rather tasty and supposedly part of the local food culture. It seems like you can book high end food, street food, full meals or tapas/cicchetti, depending on what you’re looking for. We’ve enjoyed the fun and energy of all the guides we’ve had, so we routinely book them now as part of our travels.
Where's the best place to vet and book food tours? I assume there's a lot of guides with hats in the ring, some probably great, some probably not so great ....
Lyndash food tours sound like an especially great fit for solo travel - next time I'm traveling alone I'll think about doing one :)
Where's the best place to vet and book food tours? I assume there's a
lot of guides with hats in the ring, some probably great, some
probably not so great ....
I would always book directly with the company, as changes and cancellations do happen. Especially when solo, they may not be willing to take only you if you're the only tour participant, but that decision doesn't get made until pretty close to the tour date. For vetting it will depend of course on where you're going, but a few places I would check:
We generally just read a few reviews (Trip Advisor, Google, etc) and find one that gets decent reviews, is a walking tour, and had the meet-up point nearby.
We used Culinary Backstreets in New Orleans, and they cover other cities internationally as well. Secret Food Tours is another company that does food tours all over and gets good reviews although I have not done one with them (yet).
I believe the food tour we did in Porto was Taste Porto (it was included in the RS tour).
In Athens, we used Athens Walks Gourmet Food Tour.
In Sorrento, Sorrento Food Tours.
Where's the best place to vet and book food tours? I assume there's a
lot of guides with hats in the ring, some probably great, some
probably not so great ....
They are an extension of the culture, so what culture interests you?
I just did my first one in Lisbon and will say outright "What a waste of money". It was not this particular Food Tour, but I think all in general. What makes me angry is all these 100% 5 star reviews. Yes I wanted to learn about Lisbon, get some insight, but also I expected value. We did a free walking tour the first day (yes tipped well) and actually did get a Pasties da Nata free there.
I added up the food we got on the tour & generously I'll say it was <$20 euros/person (and I'm being generous) and paid over $80 euros for the tour (+ of couse they expect a tip on top of it). Not sure where all these effusive great reviews come from.
Was expecting "happy hour" pricing to some extent as these tours are during "off hours" where places are empty and hopefully they can get you back to buy their Port Wines, more Pasties Da Nata or have dinner later.
Am I missing something?
It depends on the cost and where you go.
I usually read reviews and go from there. I will say the Beer/Brewery tours in Munich were a big hit. Going to different restaurants and beer halls to try the beer and traditional hot and cold Bavarian food. Lacker, locker. And folks are usually in a better mood than other tours because you are eating and drinking.
I’ll add to the chorus of “we love food tours too!” including our teenage daughter. If it has not been mentioned yet, food tours are often history / cultural / architectural / places of interest tours as well. And I live in one of the best “food cities” in the US: Portland, Oregon.
While in France last month, we enjoyed a ParisByMouth food-and-wine tour within the Upper Marais (3rd arr). The company leads tours throughout several different neighborhoods, and ours was an enjoyable 3-1/2 hours spent noshing and learning about the area's history (including an underground prison, circa 1700's, outside a district government building... where you can still spot its' remnants by bumps protruding thru the street's asphalt). To gain this perspective while nibbling on a baguette and cheese appealed to all of our wandering-traveler senses.
Love, love, LOVE food tours! We've taken so many! All of our food tours have been with either Eating Europe or Secret Food Tours (except in Seattle where we did a Savor Seattle food tour.) And, I will say, we haven't limited ourselves to only international food tours. For anyone visiting the US, I'd HIGHLY recommend a food tour to get a flavor of the area you are visiting. As someone mentioned, the US food culture is vast and completely different from one region to another. It is a wonderful--and delicious--way to explore a region.
I will add to the chorus that we love them too. It's a great way to get a feel for a city and learn your way around a bit, so we try to schedule them early in our trip. We've done them in London (twice), Rome, Athens, Reykjavik, Paris, and I think I'm missing a couple. In Athens we loved one of the restaurants so much we ate there twice more during our stay, and in Rome we had the best food I have ever, ever had. Ever. Some of my favorite travel memories are from food tours!
Why spend the money instead of just going to restaurants/markets/etc on your own?
On the Eat Polska tour that I took in Warsaw, with each stop, we learned a little about the history of the place we were eating and the relationship between that food and the culture. Sure, I could research that, and it becomes part of the discussion of whether one thinks a good guide is worth the expense.
I agree with the above comment about timing, that I like to take a food tour early during my stay in a city, as it allows me to sample a variety of food and restaurants, and keep some in mind for later visits or full meals. It can also avoid duplication, if I've already tried something on the tour, maybe I'll try something else on my own.
It can also serve as a nice walking tour, taking us to different neighborhoods and venues, and talking about their historical context.
Did one in Iceland last Aug. and thought it was well worth the money. Got to try foods in restaurants that I would have never gone too. With the price of everything, especially food, in Iceland, it was a bargain. Could have never afforded to go dine in these places.
Plus, learned some history and my way around downtown.
Some food tours are good, others aren't.
I added up the food we got on the tour & generously I'll say it was <$20 euros/person (and I'm being generous) and paid over $80 euros for the tour (+ of couse they expect a tip on top of it).
I've seen similar criticism of food tours. That there is a belief that the cost of the food should nearly equal the cost of the tour. Which is completely unrealistic and an unreasonable expectation. One is just not paying for the food but also the guidance, knowledge and insight of the tour guide plus the administrative end of the tour. The tour stops are often contracted with a minimum spend/number of participants.
My expectation is that each stop is a tasting or a sampling and that as a whole the food is sufficient for a reasonable regular meal, not a full meal at each stop.
When I did the food tour in Iceland, at the time it was $113. The first stop was a fish restaurant to sample the fish, then a restaurant for a local beer and bowl of lamb stew. The next stop was the iconic hotdog stand for a lamb hotdog, another restaurant to sample the rye bread and then finally another for dessert. It was all a nice pleasant walk and selection of food with reasonable portions and not obnoxiously glutinous and all topped off with an excellent guide.
I see a couple of people recommending secret food tours. I have not been impressed with them
We took a tour with them last March in Paris. It was by far the worst food tour, or any type of tour, I think I’ve had in the long time. The guide knew less about Paris or food than I did. I took it because I had been given a discount for booking a group tour in Chicago, a private group tour. The day before that tour, they called to tell me that the only tour guide they had in Chicago had broken their leg and cannot lead the tour. OK i understand. but by the way if I could postpone it till 24 hours later and join a group tour their only guide would be able to lead it. Does anyone else see a problem with this story? oh and I wasn’t going to get any kind of discount for changing my private tour to a group tour with other people. (I just took a refund. They didn’t seem happy but they did give me one.)
my last trip to Paris. I took a food tour with Paris by mouth. highly recommend them over secret food tours. So much better it’s hard to imagine.
VAP—we have done that same food tour in Iceland twice. The first time it was me and my husband, and the next time was with our daughter. They do such a good job with it, and that is how we found our favorite restaurant in town. We return to it on every trip.
Again after the one we did in Lisbon, I say no. Yes I admit I look for value, but too realized I am paying for the information too. May be it is the North American sensibilities and the fact they are done off hours, that I expected more as I thought "Happy Hour" pricing at establishments that are getting seats filled when traditionally empty. All these cities offer walking tours, many are free (only a tip) and we did one that was very good when we arrived. Our tour per person cost more then a good dinner at highly rated restaurants cost for two (including a full bottle of wine) and then we tipped the guide too at the end.
I did a generous calculation and the food offered on the tour was <25% of the total cost we paid. How people think that is fair value, I don't know.
It's okay to not like something that some other people like.
The experience I get on a food tour is difficult to find any other way traveling solo in a new city.
Well I sat at the Paris by Mouth tour and tried to figure out how they actually made any money LOL! But of course I am also willing to compensate for good tours and have NEVER had a "free tour" that was worth anything.. I did tip the 'free" tour because most of the tours were basically "begging for tips" But after a couple of those sad experiences I moved to professional organizations.
There are good food tours and poor ones. Check Trip Advisor or Viator and see what people say about them. Am looking for one in Krakau right now, and most of them say you get to try 10-13 different items. Knowing nothing about Polish food, this sounds like a good deal. It was the same thing in Iceland, I would have never gone to any of those restaurants on the tour as they were all quite expensive, so it did feel like I got my moneys' worth and more.
Have yet to go on a "free" tour that was worth my time, let alone a tip. Not sure why people go on them and spend the same amount for a tip that it would have cost them with a good, professional guide.
I have not done a free food tour myself, but when we were in Amsterdam a few months ago we met two couples who had done that. They said it was so good, and that is why they booked the free walking tour that we were on together. They were raving about the food tour, FWIW.
I think it is like anything, there are good ones and not so good ones, and everyones take is different.
Again I was offering a different perspective. I chose what I thought was an expensive tour and they had a glossy site, had Forbes & Other professional reviewers "thumbs up" and all 5 star on Tripadvisor (not a negative post). How anyone can say <$20 Euros (and yes I am being generous adding up the costs) in food and paid over $80 Euros + tip is fair is really beyond me. We left hungry, thirsty and less then impressed.
As for free Walking Tours, it was our arrival day, not sure how tired as flew overnight and the thought was if we didn't like it could leave. Frankly it was very good, informative and there were about 22 people who all stayed through the end. And we got a free Pasteis da Nata.
Reading others and high end and multiple samples tell me it could be luck of the draw.
We Americans can really shovel in the food and booze! Mary and I did a food and pub tour in Dublin and Belfast, and believe me, my friends, we got out money's worth and more. I gained 8 pounds on that trip lol.
The one thing I didn't eat was lamb because that just seems wrong. They're so cute!
I will add one more reason to joining food tours. Deciphering the menu items in a foreign language is always a challenge for me. Google Translate cannot deal with the items' local (and fancy) terms. A food tour guide can be a great help in this regard.
Having said that, I seldom join food tours. As a solo traveler, I enjoy seeking out tiny eateries frequented by the locals. Food tour groups (even limited to half a dozen) simply cannot fit in such places.
When I did the food tour in Iceland, at the time it was $113. The first stop was a fish restaurant to sample the fish, then a restaurant for a local beer and bowl of lamb stew. The next stop was the iconic hotdog stand for a lamb hotdog, another restaurant to sample the rye bread and then finally another for dessert.
A food tour is included in my upcoming Iceland guided group tour. As a light eater on my own, I would not have joined a food tour. Instead, I would dine at one of these places for one dish with a drink. If my food tour is similar to yours, I would just sample a few bites at each place. IOW, food tours like this are way overkill for me.
I get what you're saying. I'm not sauntering up to the feeding trough to shovel the food and booze, like I said my expectation is each stop is a tasting and the food across the whole of the tour is sufficient for a reasonable regular meal.
As a light eater on my own, I would not have joined a food tour. Instead, I would dine at one of these places for one dish with a drink.
The benefit of the Iceland food tour was that as a visitor to Iceland I was confronted with foods I do not like (fish and lamb) and did not eat at home plus I knew very little about the food culture. It gave me the ability to try and sample foods out of my comfort zone, and I could decline something or merely try a bite without it being rude. I could decline the mashed cod & root vegetables and yet get brave and take a couple forks of the Arctic char. I found my dislike of lamb was unfounded and that having a bowl of stew with buttered rye bread was a perfect supper.
VAP--Oh the plokkfiskur is my favorite! We found that restaurant from the food tour and go on every trip now. The chef even shared his recipe with me, and I make it at home. Same with the arctic char dish.
What happens on a food tour if you don't want what is being offered? I guess I would need to sign up for a vegetarian or pescatarian food tour? I have never done one because it seems like it could be awkward or you wouldn't end up eating very much in some circumstances.
I think every food tour I've been on has offered vegetarian when you sign up. Not a problem.
LIZinPA--Oh great to know! Thanks!
If you're an adventurous eater and enjoy history, food tours are worth it. Some tours offer samples, while others provide full meals. What's great is some tours are founded by locals so you get to explore niche neighborhoods and discover hidden gems you might otherwise miss. I recently went on a walking food tour in Dallas, Texas called Incloodie and the experience was fun! The food was tasty -- stuff I wouldn't have ordered, which I've come to expect from food tours. Plus, it's more economical to sample multiple restaurants at once than to visit each individually. I've also enjoyed the Secret Food Tours in France. Majority of the tours are fun, tasty, and informative and that's why they're worth it.
Oh boy .... categorically untrue, but let's just leave it be
Hank, You handled that much better than I would have.
Hi everyone,
I recently had the chance to try a food tour in Spain, and I wanted to share my experience with you all. Thought the website SAZON THE FOLK COOK, and it was a memorable experience.
I had a meal in the home of a local, which made it feel so much more authentic. From the start, I was welcomed like family. I learned about Spanish cuisine and traditions while enjoying delicious homemade dishes.
The best part for me was the genuine connection and understanding of the local culture. It wasn’t just about the food, but about the stories and the warmth of the people. My host, Mariana, was wonderful. She has always dedicated herself to hosting and treated us exceptionally well.
As for the cost, I found it very reasonable. For around 60 euros, I enjoyed a full menu that included tapas for starters, salmorejo as the first course, paella as the main dish, and cheesecake for dessert. All drinks were included too.
If you’re considering a food tour in Europe, I’d definitely recommend looking for experiences like this. It’s a great way to truly immerse yourself in the local culture. I did in Madrid but I saw that they have for more cities of Spain.
Thanks to read me :) !
Someone earlier said that the food tours they’ve seen always let you tell them if you are not a meat eater, etc. I’ve seen several where they just explicitly say things like if you don’t eat meat, this is not a good tour for you- so you need to read carefully.
If you are an incredibly picky eater these are probably a bad idea. I have a friend who eats basically the same thing she ate when she was four I would never take her on a food tour.
But as someone who travels solo a lot, it’s a good way to try a lot of food because no, I’m not going to have 4 different dishes to pass around and try
Hi everyone,
I recently had the chance to try a food tour in Spain, and I wanted to
share my experience with you all. Thought the website SAZON THE FOLK
COOK, and it was a memorable experience.I had a meal in the home of a local, which made it feel so much more
authentic. From the start, I was welcomed like family. I learned about
Spanish cuisine and traditions while enjoying delicious homemade
dishes.The best part for me was the genuine connection and understanding of
the local culture and rt-bet . It wasn’t just about the food, but about the
stories and the warmth of the people. My host, Mariana, was wonderful.
She has always dedicated herself to hosting and treated us
exceptionally well.As for the cost, I found it very reasonable. For around 60 euros, I
enjoyed a full menu that included tapas for starters, salmorejo as the
first course, paella as the main dish, and cheesecake for dessert. All
drinks were included too.If you’re considering a food tour in Europe, I’d definitely recommend
looking for experiences like this. It’s a great way to truly immerse
yourself in the local culture. I did in Madrid but I saw that they
have for more cities of Spain.Thanks to read me :) !
My family and I have been to several. I loved it. Especially how many interesting stories and facts you can learn in the process
Most food I am interested in as representative of a country is often street food. To that end, the markets are the best. If you want to try a spleen sandwich in Palermo, go to the market. Don’t go to a restaurant where the same thing will cost much more and you may not like it. Before doing such a thing it is best to read up and see pictures or videos of such food as sometimes you need to recognize it by sight since maybe the there is a language barrier.
Food tours to me should alway be focused on those types of regular historic food, not on having a nitrogen infused halibut foam served on a bed of forest greens sautéed in a lake sauce from above tree line.
treemoss-I too like the food tours that you describe, not the high end stuff. All of the tours we have done have been low key and the foods that the regular people eat often.
