Downtown Charleston Food Tour
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Charleston, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Bring your appetite for this tasty walking tour of downtown Charleston. You’ll spend a few hours of mouthwatering fun touring the culinary side of the Holy City, learning about the history of the city as you dine at four local restaurants. Explore the French Quarter and the Market while tasting traditional and contemporary Lowcountry cuisine.
- Taste Lowcoutry cuisine at four local restaurants
- Learn about the history of Charleston through traditional dishes
- Explore one of the oldest and largest historical districts in the US
- A small group means a more intimate experience
What's Included
- 2.5-Hour Downtown Charleston Culinary Walking Food Tour
- All pre-selected food tastings at 4 Charleston restaurants (meal for most)
- Engaging narrative from local professional guide
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic Beverages(available for individual purchase at most locations)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 184 E Bay St suite 103, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Find *Charleston Culinary Tours* in the back of the courtyard behind the iron gate.
End point
- Charleston, SC, USA
End points vary depending on route. All tours finish within 3-4 blocks of the starting location.
Itinerary
1
Charleston
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- 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 info@charlestonculinarytours.com)
- 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
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 1,477 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Guide was Jessie and she was well informed and provided lots of tastings. We so enjoyed the East Bay meeting house that we returned the next day. Was not disappointed!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Going back the next day is just about the highest compliment a restaurant can receive, and it speaks to what Steve and his team have built at East Bay Meeting House. Jessi has a way of making every stop feel worth returning to. Thank you for joining us on the Downtown Charleston Food Tour, Kathy!
5 stars
Simon was our tour host and he is the best! Our group of 4 had an exceptional time learning about Charleston history and eating amazing food throughout our tour. We are repeat customers and will return for more fun!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Repeat guests are the best kind of compliment, and Simon is exactly the kind of guide who earns that loyalty. Lowcountry cuisine and Charleston history give us a lot to work with, but it takes someone special to make a group of four feel like they are the only people in the city. See you next time, Pam!
We’ve been on a lot of food tours all over the world and never came away hungry from any of them until now. Portions were all sampler sized what there were of them and no drinks of any sort other than water were included. Can’t remember that happening on any of our previous tours. For the cost, about $100 pp, was definitely overpriced. The food, what there was of it wasn’t bad.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Mr. Joseph did not attend this tour. His wife arrived approximately ten minutes before departure and let our guide know that he would not be joining due to an injury. We were sorry to hear it and did our best to make sure he was not left out entirely. Three of our four restaurant partners graciously boxed up his portions to go. The fourth stop was served family-style, and his portion was not collected before his wife departed.
His wife was offered iced tea or a soda as part of the meal at every stop and chose water each time. She verbally complimented the food throughout the tour and did not indicate to our guide that anything was lacking.
A guest from this exact tour left the following review on Google: "Our guide was fantastic...I almost forgot we all of the food stops were exquisite. Come hungry so much food."
We genuinely wish Mr. Joseph a full and speedy recovery. We also wish he had joined us, because by every account, it was a wonderful afternoon.
Amelia was an awesome tour guide. We learned so much and she was so knowledgeable! Would definitely come back!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Mimi packs so much into a tour without it ever feeling like too much, and the fact that you are already thinking about coming back says everything. We would love to have you again! Thank you for joining us on the Downtown Charleston Food Tour!
Our experience with the guide was exceptional. Linda was lighthearted, fun, professional and energetic! Very accommodating of our questions and joined in the fun we were having with the e food. She was so knowledgeable about the history of and architecture of the area! One of the best tours, it’s a must do! There were four restaurants on our tour, one was a dessert place! A perfect variety and the staff of each restaurant was happy to see us and Linda!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Linda brings that mix of lightness and real depth that makes the Downtown Charleston Food Tour memorable long after the last bite. Four stops with a dedicated dessert course is our winning format to experience the beautifully diverse range of Lowcountry cuisine.
The warmth from each restaurant's staff is something we take real pride in. Those are relationships built over time, and it shows in moments exactly like this one.
Thank you for sharing this, Shara!
John was an excellent guide on history and everything Charleston. Having taken other tours in the past Charleston culinary is always the best
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thomas, "always the best" from someone who has taken other tours is something we do not take lightly! John's depth of knowledge about Charleston history and culture is a big part of why guests keep coming back to us. Thank you for the loyalty and for joining us again!
Don’t eat before ! Or after !
Great history information. Delicious choices of low country cuisine.
Nice pace. Wasn’t rushed.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Sue, skipping both meals ahead of time is a level of commitment we fully respect and the Downtown Charleston Food Tour absolutely rewards it! Delicious Lowcountry cuisine at a pace that lets you actually enjoy it is exactly what we set out to deliver every time. Thank you for joining us!
Delicious opportunity to sample key dishes of Charleston with a charming guide who is knowledgeable about the history and the food scene of the area
Response from Host, Sep 2026
David, a charming guide who connects the food to Charleston's history and culinary scene is exactly the experience we pour everything into delivering. So glad it hit the mark, and thank you for the recommendation!
Come with an Empty Stomach. Plenty of food samples are served. Includes informative education about history of Charleston
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Vanessa, an empty stomach and an open mind are the best things you can bring to the Downtown Charleston Food Tour, and we love that the food and the history both delivered. Thank you for joining us!
Great tour for the whole family. We had a great guide named Summer who didn’t just talk food, she also knew so much about the city’s history. Kind of like two tours in one. Great variety of Southern food from BBQ to seafood and other good stuff in between.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Christopher, "two tours in one" is a perfect way to describe what we set out to deliver on every Downtown Charleston Food Tour! Sommer's knowledge about the city's history and culinary traditions makes every stop feel like so much more than a meal. So glad the whole family enjoyed the variety from start to finish. Thank you for joining us!
Jessi was very knowledgeable and brought us to great restaurants. She told great stories and made recommendations based upon our questions
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Yvette, a guide who listens to the group and tailors recommendations in real time, is something we take real pride in. Jessi's knowledge of Charleston's food scene and history goes well beyond the tour stops themselves, and we love that it came through so fully. Thank you for joining the Downtown Charleston Food Tour!
Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable about the city, restaurants, and of course the food we sampled. There was plenty of food - you will NOT be hungry at the end of tour. Would do this tour again.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Andrew, "you will NOT be hungry at the end" is a promise we are very proud to keep! A knowledgeable guide, great restaurants, and a full stomach by the last stop is exactly what the Downtown Charleston Food Tour delivers every time. Thank you for joining us and we hope to welcome you back on a fresh route soon!
Summer did a great job! Her knowledge of Charleston, connection to local people was great addition to just food
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Phil, a guide whose connections to Charleston's people and community add a whole extra dimension to the food and history is something truly special. So glad Sommer made the experience feel so alive and personal. Thank you for joining us!
We had the best time, such a wide variety of food to sample. The guide was wonderful! We also were told a lot of information
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Eric, a wonderful guide, a wide variety of Charleston's best flavors, and stories woven through every stop is exactly the Downtown Charleston Food Tour experience we set out to create. So glad it made for such a great time and thank you for joining us!
So glad that we did this tour. Our tour guide Amelia (meme) was fantastic. She is a wealth of information. The other participants that also attended the tour were so much fun. Great restaurant options with delicious food.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
So glad it all came together so beautifully! Mimi has such a wonderful ability to bring Charleston's culinary story to life while making everyone around the table feel right at home, and it sounds like your group made that energy even better. Thank you for joining the Downtown Charleston Food Tour!
Great tour guide and we were lucky to have a good group of people that made it fun. We tried several restaurants where the pulled pork and collard greens were amazing as well as the shrimp and chicken. If you’re not a fan of coconut cake the dessert will be a miss but definitely worth the time to get a history lesson and a full stomach.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for joining us! A great guide, a great group, and some of Charleston's most celebrated Lowcountry flavors all in one afternoon is exactly what the Downtown Charleston Food Tour is built around. And for anyone reading who shares the coconut cake hesitation, we will just say, this iconic cake has a way of converting even the skeptics!
It is fabulous. Friendly people along with the guides who were friendly and knowledgeable. Glad that we did this
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Jody, friendly faces, knowledgeable guides, and great food in Charleston is a combination that never gets old! We're so glad you took the chance on the Downtown Charleston Food Tour and hope to welcome you back again someday!
Mimi was very knowledgeable and friendly. Loved her choices and she was great at recommending future places to try.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Stephanie, leaving with a list of places to return to is one of our favorite outcomes of the Downtown Charleston Food Tour! Mimi's knowledge of Charleston's food scene goes well beyond the stops on any given route and we love that her recommendations sent you off with more to explore. Thank you for joining us!
Simon was a wonderful tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and gave us plenty of time at each location to eat and have drinks. The food at the first two locations were excellent, the second two were ok but the drinks we bought at the last stop Carmella's made up for it; they were delicious. All in all I would definitely take this tour again or even another tour with Simon!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Aislinn, thank you for this! Simon's depth of knowledge and easy pacing make every stop feel genuinely unhurried, and we're glad the overall experience left you wanting more. The feedback on the food selections is noted and appreciated. Our menus rotate regularly so a return visit is always a fresh experience, and if you let us know you've been before we'll do our best to route you somewhere new. We'd love to have you and Simon together again!
This was an amazing experience! The food we tasted was fabulous, and there was SO much of it!! Our guide "Simon" was full of very interesting information! Would highly recommend this as a way to see some highlights of Charleston!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Barbara, Simon has an extraordinary depth of knowledge about Charleston's culinary scene and history, and we love that the food matched that energy at every single stop. Thank you for the enthusiastic recommendation, and we hope Charleston calls you back again soon!
Great restaurants. Dana was awesome! Food was very good. Lots of good history and information. Definitely recommend
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Gina, thank you! Dana brings such a great mix of history and food knowledge to every stop, and we're so glad the restaurant lineup hit the mark for you. We appreciate the recommendation!
The food was delicious at each of the 4 stops. The combined amount of food we received during the tour was definitely equivalent to a full meal. We were stuffed when the tour ended.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Terri, four stops worth of delicious Lowcountry cuisine adds up fast, and leaving full is exactly the goal of our Downtown Charleston food tour. Thanks so much for joining us!
Informative fun and delicious
Lace up your sneakers and come with an empty belly to soak it all up!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Stacy, "Charlestoning" with an empty belly and comfortable shoes is honestly the perfect game plan and we love that you arrived ready! Thank you for joining the Downtown Charleston Food Tour and for sharing the experience so enthusiastically!
Great storytelling and the food was amazing!
Highly recommend and look forward to doing this again!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
3:00 PM
Freddie, we look forward to hosting you again! Great storytelling and amazing food in Charleston is exactly what we set out to deliver every single time. Thank you for joining us!
Dana was very informative and gave history about restaurants, the area and low country cuisine. A good variety of foods were provided. All were delicious and filling.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Ann, informative, delicious, and filling is a trifecta we are very happy to stand behind! Dana's knowledge of Charleston's culinary heritage and the stories behind every stop makes the whole experience come alive in a way that goes well beyond the food itself. Thank you for joining us!
Please take this food tour. So much history and delicious food. A must do in Charleston. Simon was amazing.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Kathleen, we could not have said it better ourselves! Simon and the flavors and stories of Charleston make for a combination that is pretty hard to top. Thank you for the enthusiastic endorsement and for joining us!
I brought my mother to Charleston for a girl’s Birthday trip in which my sister came along. This walking food tour was fun and the restaurant stops had some of the most flavorful food I have ever had. Simon made the tours with his stories and history commentary of Charleston. He was a wonderland and personable guide. Fun personality. I recommend! Thank you, Simon!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Amie, a birthday girls trip to Charleston sounds like an absolutely perfect way to celebrate. The fact that the food left that kind of impression says everything about the restaurants and the care that goes into every stop. Thank you for bringing your family to us, and happy birthday!
Great new food places! Lots of history along the way, Simon is a wealth of knowledge about Charleston and its history!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Tana, thank you! Simon has an extraordinary breadth of knowledge about Charleston and a real gift for making history feel relevant and alive at every single stop. We are so glad the food and the stories made for such a great experience!
Four great restaurants each offering Charleston specialties. Our guide was very knowledgeable and a delight!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Lisa, this made us smile! There is nothing better than hearing that every single stop delivered. Thank you for joining us and for taking the time to share your experience!
Jessie was great, food was amazing, company was interesting. Be willing to try everything and you will enjoy it even more.
Response from Host, May 2026
Kim, "be willing to try everything" is some of the best advice for enjoying a food tour! The Downtown Charleston Food Tour is at its best when guests arrive with an open mind and an empty stomach. Jessi and the food clearly delivered. Thank you for joining us!
Member Pricing
From
$104.50
per personWas $110.00(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Downtown Charleston Food Tour
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