Downtown Charleston Food Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

This Downtown Culinary Tour is provided by CHARLESTON CULINARY TOURS, the longest-running food tour company in Charleston. Visit four food establishments on this 2.5-hour tour that combines elements of a historical tour with a culinary adventure! Learn about Charleston's history as you enjoy tastings of traditional favorites and contemporary innovations, all of which highlight the cuisine of locally-owned restaurants. Insight into Lowcountry cuisine accompanies the broad range of samples on your food tour. This is our original tour around the French Quarter and City Market and focuses on the traditional flavors of the region.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS must be communicated directly to Charleston Culinary Tours (843-259-2966) at least *36 hours* before your scheduled tour in order to be accommodated.

Vegan, dairy/lactose, & soy restrictions cannot be adequately accommodated. Guests with multiple allergies should contact Charleston Culinary Tours prior to booking to confirm accommodation.

We cannot assume responsibility for those with severe allergies.

We make every effort to provide a full meal for all guests, however, substitutions for dietary restrictions may not be 1-for-1 with regular tour offerings.

We recommend weather-appropriate attire and comfortable walking shoes.

Tours operate rain or shine, hot or cold. In the rare cases of EXTREME weather (e.g. Hurricane!), we will notify all guests as soon as a decision to cancel has been made.

Not recommended for those under 8 years of age.

Not recommended for travelers with severe dietary needs

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS must be communicated in advance directly to Charleston Culinary Tours (843.259.2966 or [email protected])

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS cannot be accommodated without advance notice (at least 36 hours prior to tour time)

We cannot accommodate vegan, dairy/lactose, or soy restrictions

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

All pre-selected food tastings at 4 Charleston restaurants (meal for most)

Engaging narrative from local professional guide

2.5-Hour Downtown Charleston Culinary Walking Food Tour

Gratuities

(available for individual purchase at most locations)

What To Expect

Charleston

After meeting your foodie guide at the provided meeting location in downtown Charleston, you will begin your walking tour. Sample dishes at 4 restaurants, finishing with dessert. Each stop lasts ~30 minutes, and you'll be seated to rest your legs. For most people, the amount of food served overal is enough for a meal. As you enjoy walking through this historical section of the city, listen to stories about Charleston's culture and cuisine from your guide, who points out landmarks along your route. This wonderful experience will end within walking distance of your starting point. *Food restrictions must be separately communicated to Charleston Culinary Tours at least 24 hours in advance to be accommodated. *We cannot accommodate Vegan, Dairy/Lactose-Free, or Soy-Free diets.

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Downtown Culinary Tour

Reviews

4.73

1,353 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

1132

121

Great Food and a good time
Debbie S,
Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Simon did a wonderful job. We really enjoyed the restaurants he chose in the pairings that he did and the order that he did them in his knowledge of the city spectacular. We had such a good time and would recommend this to anyone.
Ronnie was an excellent...
Julie H,
Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Ronnie was an excellent host, providing us with interesting historical information along with delicious meals. I highly recommend this tour for a great overview of Charleston cuisine.
We are still full ….
juliannecward,
Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Simon was amazing, personable, knowledgeable and a pleasure to be with. The restaurants and food was so good, my son and I decided we would eat as any or all of them. We had 8 people in our group and all loved it as much as we did. It was a wonderful tour, I would recommend to anyone.
Great guide and tour
Mandy L,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area history which made the tour more interesting. Great stops for food as well!!
delicious and historical
janefN5673HJ,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
It was a delightful experience. John took our small group to 4 different restaurants in the historic district of Charleston. Each dish, along with John's whimsical historical references, was a delicious and insightful experience. My husband and I not only learned a lot about Charleston's culinary roots but also discovered some great restaurants. We revisited one of John's tour restaurants and had a lovely lunch on our own later in our trip! I would highly recommend this tour and ask for John!
Fantastic food tour, highlight of our trip!
763margotl,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was most definitely the highlight of our trip to Charleston! John, our guide, was outstanding. He was incredibly knowledgeable about everything from history to architecture to food, and was more than happy to give advice about what to do and eat in the area. He was charming, a consummate teacher and tour leader. We enjoyed four stops, with delicious plates of an assortment of classic Charleston food at each one, ending with the famous (and scrumptious!) Tom Cruise coconut cake. We learned about the backgrounds of everything we ate and the restaurants themselves. Highly, highly recommended!
Informative and delicious
klc2019x,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Thoroughly enjoyed this walking food tour! John was an excellent guide. Learned so much Charleston history alongside sampling great food!
The restaurants visited...
Al L,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The restaurants visited were excellent. The tour guide was knowledgeable and professional. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
A Taste of Charleston’s Food Scene
Goli M,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A nice combination of food samples representing Southern cuisine combined with atmosphere of restaurants/pubs to give the vibe of food scene in Charleston. We started the tour with a taste of fried chicken spruced up in sliders with fancier sides. The tour continued to give a taste of Southern classics like She Crab Soup, grits, hush puppies and pulled pork with side of collard greens. Our guide Mike was gregarious and added ample history to bring together the vibrant food culture and scene of Charleston. Great introduction for start of a trip with more in depth food adventures added by making your own list of must-places to dine.
Alice was fabulous . So...
Joanne S,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Alice was fabulous . So knowledgeable and restaurants we visited were great. Had a wonderful time !!!