Don't Miss These 5 East Coast Food Tours

Who doesn’t love to eat when they travel to a new city? Over the years, we have had the opportunity to try numerous food tours around the country.  Since the last blog I wrote on the subject in 2017,  the tours we have been on have upped their game. It’s not an understatement when they warn you to come hungry! So pack your bags and head out for a culinary adventure in one of these cities up and down the East Coast of the USA. Find additional details about these 5 food tours  in each linked blog.   

Boston, Massachusetts. Boston tops the list for me for my favorite food tour. Maybe it is due to the happy memories of visiting my great uncle and watching him create a feast in his narrow kitchen in the North End after shopping at the local market. While the Italian population of the North End of today has decreased since the early 1900’s, it’s still a hot spot to find authentic Italian dishes, corner bakeries, and coffee shops. And there is no better way to catch a glimpse of this than to spend a few hours with local tour guide Bobby, on a North End Boston Food Tour. 

We met around 11 on Hanover Street, where you can find a sampling of some of the more well-known places in the North End, including Mike’s Pastry. I should have known when at the first stop we were served a healthy portion of Rigatoni Alla Boscaiola along with a delicious pizza that we would not walk away hungry! Other stops included a coffee shop opened in 1932, and two bakeries for two full-sized desserts, including a delicious sfogliatella from Bricco Panetteria, hidden down an alley. (next time I’m going back here to buy a loaf of fresh bread!) If I hadn’t been on the food tour, I would have never learned that Bova's Bakery is open 24/7 for their popular steak and cheese arancini! 

Read: 8 Things to Know About Taking a Guided Tour

New York City. It’s been a few years since our tour, but the positive reviews are still coming for A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour.  We have taken plenty of walking tours, but I loved that this tour offers a convenient pick-up in Manhattan and then heads over to Brooklyn on a comfortable bus. It’s a great way to view more of the city without driving or taking a cab. 

Not only do you get to sample Neapolitan-style and Sicilian-style pizza at two popular spots in Brooklyn, but the tour guides also entertain you with local history and famous Hollywood tidbits as you pass by filming locations. As a bonus, the tour makes a stop at iconic Coney Island before heading back into the city.  They offer other tours, including the Brooklyn Chocolate Tour and the popular Original Christmas Lights Tour of Dyker Heights.  

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Did you know Gettysburg National Military Park Museum regularly attracts over a million visitors annually? In addition to all the history and stories that make Gettysburg a popular destination, visitors will want to explore the downtown food scene. With growing farm-to-table options, plus a dash of history, the Savor Gettysburg Food Tour is a great way to top off a visit to this historic place. 

One aspect of food tours I enjoy supporting is the connections between tour guides and local restaurants. Tacos Monarca, a small restaurant just across from the Lincoln Diner, is a perfect example of a place I probably would not have found on my own, but was introduced to on our tour. The tour gave us a sample of a wide variety of flavors that ranged from pizza and Shepherd’s Pie, to local hard cider, peach crepes, and fresh ice cream. I can’t wait to return during the summer for the Farmer’s Market Tour & Cooking Class.

Richmond, Virginia. Head to Richmond, Virginia, just two hours from DC, to get a taste of what the city has to offer. A few years back we had the opportunity to take the Carytown Tour with Discover Richmond Tours as part of a day trip to Richmond. It’s a fun way to spend the afternoon getting to know the Carytown neighborhood through the lens of food. If the Chicken & Waffles at the first stop were any indication, we would be stuffed by the end. My favorite was grilled cheese from Home Sweet Home, with homemade mac and cheese on top of smoked pork barbecue, served alongside delicious tomato soup. The Arts District Food Tour is on my list for the next visit to Richmond. 

With recent accolades for its arts and culture, plus the diverse food offerings, visitors will also find plenty of options for outdoor activities to help you walk off all that food. You can stroll through the Italian or Japanese Gardens at nearby Maymont or find an urban trail for a walk. In addition, the Richmond Beer Trail offers 30+ options in the region. And you won’t want to miss all the street art. The creativity and ability to paint a beautiful mural on the side of a building is fascinating. Read more about the Richmond street art scene. 

Charleston, South Carolina. Many would say that Charleston is the place to go if you enjoy good food, and I strongly agree. A Downtown Charleston Culinary Tour combined with a few meals at top restaurants like 82 Queen and Magnolias Uptown Down South is a wonderful way to sample the flavors of the South, like BBQ, shrimp and grits, and she-crab soup. Charleston is the perfect getaway for foodies and is busy all year round, so make reservations ahead of time. 

As with most tours, joining a group tour is perfect for solo travelers who enjoy meeting new people and sharing meals. In Charleston, I joined a group of 11 travelers. By the end of the tour, we were sharing travel stories over Pork BBQ sliders, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and a massive slice of the famous Ultimate Coconut Cake™ at Benne’s by Peninsula Grill. 

Over the years, we have also tried food tours in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia with DC Metro Food Tours, and a tour of Seattle’s Pike Place Market with Savor Seattle Food Tours. For other food-related travel ideas, how about a delicious road trip in coastal Connecticut or lunch and a cooking demonstration at the New Orleans School of Cooking? 

Let us know if you have a favorite city for a food tour.