Florence and Rome Food Tours

I hate tours. Following the flag of some tour leader with a group of people just leaves me cold. Been there, done that and it's just not for me. However, last summer, we took the Taste of Trastevere Twilight tour while in Rome. I think it was one of Eating Europe's. We were staying in Trastevere and it seemed like a fun splurge on one of our last nights. It was highly recommended and we went for it.

I can honestly say that this is one of the only tours I would ever do again. Our guide was a native English speaker from Australia who had Italian parents. It was a small group and the guide did a good job of having us interact and BE a group. We went to a number of different places each featuring wine and a small portion of food. The guide gave us a history lesson of the area and the food as we toured. Much wine was imbibed. We walked a lot, talked a lot and laughed a lot. It was a ton of fun and we were very tired by the time we walked back to our hotel. I can't tell you if every guide was as good as this one but I wouldn't hesitate to book it again.

I’ve gone on Eating European tours in both Florence and Rome, Twilight Trastavere and Testaccio. I would recommend them all. They do a great job and I think they are value for the money. There’s some general overlap in discussing/explaining Italian cuisine, but not a ton. I’d try to do these early in your trip, as they come with great food tips like how to spot the legit gelato stand.

Of the three, Twilight Trastavere was the best hands-down. Trastavere had the best and most food, and they seemed to have really good relationships with the places we stopped at.

Testaccio was maybe a little less great on the food side, but it was an awesome tour of the neighborhood. Testaccio has a lot of history and is a real Roman blue collar community. If you’re interested in the neighborhood, this is the way to see it.

Florence (Oltrano) was fine. It was maybe lacking in some “neighborhood insights” the other tours had. There was also a long stop to teach us how to make Negronis. Which, if you’ve never had one would maybe be cool, but otherwise… It ended with Bistec Fiorentina, which was actually a good way to try it without ordering and eating a huge steak yourself. Again, good tour but suffers a bit in comparison to the others. I think visiting Mercanto Centrale (lower level) a few times will satisfy all your foodie desires in Florence.

Thank you for helpful ideas and feedback on the Eating Europe tours!

Hello! I wanted to let you know that my friend and I booked the Twilight Trastevere tour, and we're looking forward to it. Thanks again for the recommendation!

I also hate tours in general. In Florence, Mercato Sant Ambroglio is much more authentic & a little off the tourist track, so it depends on your purpose. I actually shop for food at Sant Ambroglio, but run into Mercato Centrale for a quick bite.
My favorite market in Rome is Mercato Testaccio. I shop there regularly when in Rome. One of the local famous coffee shops, Linari, is very nearby. Their maritozzi are spectacular!