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3 hours 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
Carmel-by-the-Sea's original and only locally owned food tour, rooted in this community since 2012. Discover the village's best-kept culinary secrets on this 3-hour guided walking tour featuring five tastings — including wine or a cocktail — at beloved local restaurants, tasting rooms, and specialty shops. Your local guide — someone who lives in this community — shares the history, architecture, and insider stories that make Carmel unlike anywhere else on the California coast, with stops built on relationships we've cultivated with local businesses over more than a decade. You may visit a Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning restaurant, a honey company started by a local fifth grader, a celebrated bistro known for its chilaquiles and champagne cocktail, a local producer of confections made from century-old recipes, and more. The tastings add up to a generous lunch. Over 850 five-star reviews. Limited to 16 guests for a more personal, intimate experience.
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Comfortable shoes recommended
Please advise of any specific dietary requirements at time of booking; we are unable to provide substitutions without advance notice
Minimum age is 21 years for alcohol consumption.
Adult pricing applies to all travelers age 3 and up; tour is geared towards adults but well behaved children are welcome
Children under the age of 3 should be discussed with tour operator as to the appropriateness of attending.
** We can accommodate vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten- and lactose-free diets with advance notice ONLY. Please inform us of any food allergies at time of booking. We are unable to provide substitutions without advance notice, so please note any special restrictions on your reservation.
Not recommended for travelers who are unable to walk without difficulty or pain
Sunset Cultural Center
This is the meeting place for Carmel Food Tours. Look for the tall, Gothic-style arch and huge windows. It looks a little like a church, but it's not. When you descend into the courtyard, which is located EXACTLY at the intersection of 9th & San Carlos, you'll be greeted by your tour guide.
Discover Carmel-by-the-Sea one bite at a time on this 3-hour guided walking tour through one of California's most beloved coastal villages. Locally owned and operated, Carmel Food Tours was built by people who know and love this town — and it shows. Wander hidden passageways and sun-dappled courtyards as your expert guide shares the stories, secrets, and lore woven into every corner of this iconic seaside community. Along the way, you'll taste your way through 5 hand-picked restaurants and specialty shops — from a honey company founded by a fifth-grader to Carmel's only restaurant offering tableside preparation. It's a leisurely afternoon that's equal parts delicious, charming, and completely one-of-a-kind.
Duration: 3 hours Includes all tastings
All beverages
All food samplings (enough for lunch)
Professional foodie guide
3-hour food and wine tasting tour
Gratuities
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
406 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Andrew L,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
Fabulous food tour. Rusti was incredible - knowledgeable, friendly, professional. The food stops that she chose were all excellent. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and educational tour.
anitat672,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
The food tour was excellent! Every stop provided wonderful taste treats. Some with interesting back stories and always fun facts. Our guide (Rusty) was friendly yet professional and always helpful and interesting. One tip - go hungry! A LOT of food to eat - but oh so yummy!!
732ernieg,May 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Our Carmel food tour was very enjoyable! Bonnie was very informative and kept us organized and moving along. We loved the foods and drinks we were served at each of our 5 stops. They were all top notch and delicious! Thanks for a great afternoon Bonnie!

ingridvargas26,May 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
We stopped at 3 restaurants and 2 specialty shops. Food quality was mixed. I can’t recommend the tour because we could have walked around on our own stopping in at random spots to try whatever looked good and we would have gotten a bigger bang for our buck. The tour doesn’t offer enough insights to justify the cost. Should include more historical or cultural info to add value to the tour.
Haoyan K,May 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
This is awesome, our guide Benny is local and clearly love the town she was born and raised in. The town is very chill and relaxed, perfect for walking around, I love those small alley ways where you cannot imagine what’s inside before you really dived into them. Has one of the best strawberry mimosa and sake, the onion soup is crisp, Lukas chocolate caramel is wonderful. Definitely recommended.
O5618WKjohnk,May 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Great experience definitely the best way to understand the amazing town and community of Carmel. Thank you so much.
Anonymous,May 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
Our guide was awesome and very knowledgeable about the food, history and culture of Carmel. Loved all the stops! Highly recommend!
Virginia H,Apr 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Rusty was an excellent guide. The places we went to were all delicious, as well as being so well organized. Keep in mind it is a walking tour, and we did walk! Thank you for a wonderful day.
ltmckettrick,Apr 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Our girls trips each year always include a food tour. Bonnie, our guide this year was amazing! She not only guided us through all the fabulous facts about Carmel, but introduced us to five delicious food options as well. Each one had the most amazing entrées and drinks. I highly recommend Bonnie and her company when you’re visiting Carmel.
joanrV9694CI,Apr 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Carmel-by-the-Sea is already a special place, but experiencing it through Carmel By The Sea Classic Food Tour takes that charm to another level. What I expected to be a pleasant afternoon of tasting turned into one of the most memorable travel experiences and the best food tour we have ever taken. What really stood out was the variety and quality of food and drinks. Beyond the food, our tour guide, Bonnie, gave us a deeper appreciation for Carmel itself. We were fortunate to be the only four on the tour so we loved the extra attention. It’s easy to wander through and admire its beauty, but being a local, she connected us to the people and town. By the end, we felt like we had a new friend. If you’re visiting Carmel-by-the-Sea, this tour isn’t just something to consider—it’s something to prioritize. It’s the perfect blend of flavor, culture, and atmosphere, and it transforms a beautiful destination into an unforgettable one.
Operated by Carmel Food Tours