Downtown Charleston Food Tour
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Charleston, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
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
Supplied by
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 1,398 reviews
Karyn_G, Apr 2026
Our guide was phenomenal, she was very informational and her story telling was cool to learn, the food portions were too small
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Karyn, thank you! So glad the storytelling and the experience left such a strong impression. We welcome feedback on the food and will take note. We hope the rest of your time in Charleston was wonderful!
Donna_B, Apr 2026
What a lovely walking tour. Alice, our tour guide, was a wealth of information and made sure our experience was everything we expected and more. The food selection was top notch.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Donna, thank you for this! Alice has a wonderful way of making sure every guest feels genuinely taken care of from start to finish, and top notch food selections are something we take real pride in curating. We hope your time in Charleston was everything you hoped for and more!
Lisa_D, Apr 2026
I took my 9 year old son on this tour with some other friends and their kids and we had a GREAT time. Our tour guide was knowledgable and so friendly. I loved how she gave deep history and information of the food, restaurants, and the city/low country. We went to 4 different restaurants and there was plenty of food at each location (so much that during our last stop which was dessert, we had to take most of it to go). Overall, I would give this tour the highest rating possible due to the food, tour guide and overall experience! Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a 2-ish hour food tour in Charleston!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Lisa, what a wonderful way to experience Charleston with family and friends! Knowing that a 9-year-old had a GREAT time alongside the adults says everything about the kind of welcoming, engaging experience our city-licensed guides bring to every tour. The deep roots of Lowcountry cuisine and Charleston's culinary story have a way of captivating guests of all ages, and we love that the food was so plentiful you had to take dessert to go. That is a very good problem to have! We hope to welcome your whole crew back to the Downtown Charleston Food Tour again soon.
Tami_W, Mar 2026
Plenty of food to eat! Not too much walking involved. Lots of history included in tour! Worth your time….
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Tami, thank you for joining us on the Downtown Charleston Food Tour! Delicious food, Charleston history, and a comfortable pace through the city is exactly the experience we aim to deliver every time. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Melody_L, Mar 2026
Our tour guide, Georgia, was amazing. So much fun history and food facts shared! She kept things moving but we never felt rushed and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Food sample portions were much more than we expected. We did the early afternoon tour and it took care of lunch AND dinner for us. Definitely a highlight of our time spent in Charleston.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Melody, that is the highest compliment! When the Downtown Charleston Food Tour takes care of lunch AND dinner, we consider that a mission accomplished 😄 Georgia has such a wonderful ability to keep the energy and the stories flowing while making sure every guest feels completely at ease, and the generous portions at each stop are very much a reflection of how much we want guests to leave fully satisfied. So glad it was a highlight of your Charleston visit. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
nic2579, Mar 2026
Mike was all about the facts and a nice tour guide for the afternoon. The restaurants were a good selection
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Nic, thank you for joining us for the Downtown Charleston Food Tour! We are glad the afternoon hit the mark and that the restaurant selections gave you a solid taste of what Charleston's food scene has to offer. We appreciate the feedback and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Katharan_C, Mar 2026
We had a great time tasting the local foods and hearing about the history of the city. I would do this again!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Katharan, thank you! Local food and local history together is the perfect recipe for a Charleston afternoon, and we are so glad it left you wanting more. "I would do this again" is music to our ears! We hope to welcome you back on the Downtown Charleston Food Tour very soon.
Denise_c, Mar 2026
Simon was a fantastic guide. Very knowledgeable about the history of Charleston and the food scene in Charleston. Lots of food!!!!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Denise, thank you! Simon has a genuine passion for Charleston's history and food scene that comes through in every single tour, and "lots of food!!!!" is honestly the energy we strive for every time 😄 The Downtown Charleston Food Tour is such a great way to experience the depth and deliciousness of this city all in one outing. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Brigett_H, Feb 2026
Wonderful food…extremely full by the end - Dana was a fantastic guide! I highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
“Extremely full” is music to our ears! Dana will love the shoutout; she brings such great energy to the Downtown tour. Thank you for the enthusiastic recommendation, and we hope to see you again the next time you’re in Charleston.
patricia_b, Jan 2026
Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us the history of the area, the food and more. She also recommended restaurants and sights to see. The stops are not too far apart so don’t worry about extended walking. Alcohol is not included but you can order it on your own. One stop was on a second floor of a restaurant-no elevators. Overall a good experience. I would recommend this if you like to eat and learn about Charleston!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for joining us, Patricia! We’re glad the tour pacing and walkability worked well for you. It’s wonderful to hear that your guide’s knowledge and recommendations added to the day, and that you left with both tasty bites and useful tips for exploring Charleston. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you back on another tour soon!
Christine_S, Jan 2026
Great tour and food. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and very informative. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Christine, we’re so glad you thoroughly enjoyed the tour! Our guides love sharing Charleston’s history and culinary culture in a way that’s both fun and informative. Thank you for joining Charleston Culinary Tours, and we’d be excited to have you back for another adventure!
Lakendra_B, Jan 2026
Simon was a lovely tour guide and very knowledgeable about the local fare. I wish that there had been a bit more variety in the food choices, but I enjoyed 3/4 of the stops.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for joining us, Lakendra! We’re so glad Simon made a positive impression; his knowledge and friendliness really help bring Charleston’s culinary scene to life. We appreciate your feedback about food variety and will use it to keep fine-tuning the stops. It’s great to hear that most of the dishes hit the mark, and we hope to welcome you back for an even fuller taste of the city next time!
pmjoib, Jan 2026
It was a lot if fun, a great guide and great food. Simon was very knowledgeable about Charleston as a whole.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Simon will be thrilled to hear this! It’s great that the food hit the mark and that you enjoyed his knowledge of Charleston’s history and culture. That mix of tasty bites and storytelling is exactly what makes our Downtown Food Tour such a standout experience. Thanks for coming out, and we’d love to see you on another tour soon!
Erin_F, Dec 2025
Delicious food, more than enough to fill you up. We were stuffed by the end. Our guide was great to both speak about the food, the restaurants, and the history of the area. Lot of fun.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
So glad you joined us, Erin! “Lunch and learn” is exactly the sweet spot we aim for on this tour.
It’s great to hear the food delivered and that your guide brought the restaurants and the neighborhood to life along the way. Thanks for spending part of your day with Charleston Culinary Tours. We loved having you along.
Gregory_P, Dec 2025
Come hungry. Only 4 stops but plenty to eat. Great little history lesson about Southern cuisine, culture and Charleston from our great guide Georgia.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Gregory, thank you for coming out with us! “Come hungry” is always good advice. Those four stops are intentionally generous, and we’re glad the balance worked for you.
Georgia does a wonderful job tying Southern cuisine, culture, and Charleston’s history together in a way that feels approachable and engaging. We appreciate you choosing Charleston Culinary Tours and hope to have you join us again if you’re back in town.
donna_m, Dec 2025
Nice sample from 3 restaurants plus a dessert stop! Excellent food and entertaining, informative information from Amelia
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Donna, thank you for coming out on the Downtown Charleston Food Tour! We’re glad you enjoyed the mix of restaurants and the dessert stop; that balance is very intentional.
Mimi has a great way of keeping things informative while still light and entertaining, and we’re happy that it stood out for you. We appreciate you choosing Charleston Culinary Tours and hope to see you again if you’re back in town.
danielle_f, Dec 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly Recommended!
I had the absolute best experience on my Charleston food tour, thanks to our guide, Dana. She was amazing from start to finish—warm, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable about the city’s history, culture, and food scene. Dana didn’t just lead a tour… she brought Charleston to life!
Her passion for the city is contagious, and she made every stop feel special. The food was incredible, but Dana is truly what made the experience unforgettable. If you’re visiting Charleston, do yourself a favor and ask for Dana—you won’t regret it!
Highly, highly recommended!
Sincerely,
Stephanie J
Old Saybrook, CT
Response from Host, Dec 2025
We’re so glad you had such an amazing time! Dana is a gem, and it’s great to hear her knowledge, warmth, and love for Charleston made the tour special. We’re thrilled you enjoyed the food, the history, and the stories along the way. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we’d love to welcome you back on another Charleston adventure!
Joseph_B, Dec 2025
The guide is very knowledgeable and the tour was easy for walking (even in the rain). It was a great time.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled you enjoyed your tour despite the rain and found the walking easy. We would love to welcome you back anytime for another Charleston culinary adventure (and hopefully better weather than this weekend!)
Andrea_C, Nov 2025
This was a great tour. The food was fantastic and plentiful, as well as locally significant. Simon spent his time with us and incorporated a lot of interesting history. The food was sufficient for a meal and we were even offered to take some home. Simon offered suggestions for dinner and activities later. My 9 year old daughter accompanied us, and she had a fun time as well. It's a great way to have a meal, meet other travelers, and even teach children history in an innovative way. We travel and do food Tours in several cities. I would say this is top notch. Thank you Simon!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Andrea, what a wonderful review. Thank you for sharing your experience with us! I’m so glad you and your daughter had such a memorable time with Simon. He has a gift for blending Charleston’s history with truly meaningful bites, and it’s lovely to hear that both the stories and the food landed so well for your family. Thank you again for joining us, and we’d be honored to welcome you back the next time you’re in Charleston.
Chris_R, Nov 2025
John did a great job. He mixed history with the food and the result was very interesting. You will not be disappointed and in fact will be very pleased you took this tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Chris, we’re thrilled you enjoyed the mix of Charleston history and cuisine! John loves sharing both the stories and the flavors that make the city so unique. Thank you for your kind words and recommendation.
Kathryn_G, Nov 2025
I go on a walking food tour in every city I visit and this one ranks as TOP NOTCH. Our guide, John, was beyond amazing. His knowledge of Charleston was amazing, his sense of humor was extraordinary, and the food choices were outstanding! I am returning to Charleston next summer with my husband and we will do this tour! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Kathryn, we are thrilled to hear your Charleston food tour ranked as a top-notch experience! John loves sharing the city’s history, humor, and cuisine, and it’s fantastic that it made such an impression. We can’t wait to welcome you and your husband back next summer!
Melissa_C, Nov 2025
Schedule early in your trip so you can get all the recommendations on restaurants and places to visit. The guides are all registered historians so you learn more than you expect. Great information, great restaurants, great guide!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Absolutely! Planning the tour early in your trip is a smart move; you get insider tips and recommendations to shape the rest of your visit. We’re glad you enjoyed the food, history, and your guide!
Debbie_S, Nov 2025
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.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Debbie, so glad you had a fantastic time on the tour with Simon! He really knows how to pair great history with great food to make the experience memorable. Thank you for recommending us, and we’d love to have you back for another delicious adventure!
Julie_H, Nov 2025
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.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Julie, I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour with Ronnie! He has a knack for weaving Charleston’s history and culinary culture together, making every stop feel special. So glad the food and stories hit the mark. Thank you for recommending us, and we’d love to welcome you back anytime!
Mandy_L, Nov 2025
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area history which made the tour more interesting. Great stops for food as well!!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Mandy, thanks for joining us. I’m glad your tour felt enriched by the history behind the food; that’s a crucial part of understanding Charleston’s flavor. Happy to hear the restaurant stops hit the mark, too. We’d love to have you back the next time you’re in town.
Al_L, Nov 2025
The restaurants visited were excellent. The tour guide was knowledgeable and professional. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We’re thrilled you and your wife enjoyed the tour! It’s always a pleasure to showcase Charleston’s diverse culinary spots while sharing the stories behind them. Your kind words about our guide mean a lot, and we hope you’ll join us again for another flavorful Charleston adventure.
Joanne_S, Oct 2025
Alice was fabulous . So knowledgeable and restaurants we visited were great. Had a wonderful time !!!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for joining us on the Downtown Charleston Food Tour! We’re thrilled Alice made your experience so enjoyable and that you loved the restaurants we visited. We’re glad you had a wonderful time and hope to welcome you back for another culinary adventure soon!
AnnMarie_H, Oct 2025
Our food tour was fabulous. Our tour director, Dana was knowledgeable and entertaining. The amount and variety of food great and enough for dinner. Her stories about the food and history of Charleston kept us engaged for the entire tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for joining us on the Downtown Charleston Food Tour! We are so glad Dana kept you engaged with her stories about Charleston’s history and culinary traditions. It’s great to hear you enjoyed the variety and portions of the food, and that it was enough to satisfy dinner. We loved having you on the tour and hope to welcome you back for another delicious Charleston adventure soon!
Carin_B, Oct 2025
Such a fun tour!! Simon, our tour guide was awesome! SO knowledgeable. I live here and still learned so much! We went to four restaurants.
Lots of food! Go hungry. We had bar b q. Corn bread, collard greens, low country boil, fried chicken, Brussels sprouts and the list goes on. Enjoy!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thanks so much, Carin! We’re thrilled you had a blast on the tour with Simon. Even locals discover something new, and it sounds like you got a full taste of Charleston classics. We love that you went hungry because that’s exactly how you get the FULL experience!
Kathleen_M, Oct 2025
This tour is in a very tight distance radius. We visited 4 restaurants and had sliders twice. More low country imagination needed here. The 3rd stop served good food, but it was either lukewarm or cool which made it unappetizing. Unfortunately, two out of 4 eateries were disorganized and service was borderline poor.
Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable.
Emphasize that parking in the parking garage is the way to go.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Kathleen, thank you for sharing your feedback and for your kind words about your guide — we’re so glad you enjoyed their knowledge and hospitality. We’re sorry to hear that some of the restaurant experiences didn’t measure up. While we work hard to feature a thoughtful mix of dishes that represent Charleston’s culinary range, we agree that execution and timing matter just as much, and we’ll be following up with those partners.
Because our tours take place in a compact, walkable area to keep the focus on food and storytelling rather than long stretches of walking, we always recommend using the nearby parking garage for convenience — it makes for a much smoother start to the experience. We appreciate your perspective and hope you’ll consider joining us again to see how the tour evolves with new partners and offerings.
From $110.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Downtown Charleston Food Tour
1,398
2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$110.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
Attractions in Charleston, USA
- Drayton Hall Tours & Tickets
- Charleston Museum Tours & Tickets
- St. Michael's Church Tours & Tickets
- Charleston City Market Tours & Tickets
- Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon Tours & Tickets
- Edmondston-Alston House Tours & Tickets
- Aiken-Rhett House Tours & Tickets
- Circular Congregational Church Tours & Tickets
- Aiken-Rhett House Tours & Tickets
- Rainbow Row Tours & Tickets
- St. Philips Church Tours & Tickets
- Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (Cooper River Bridge) Tours & Tickets
- Nathaniel Russell House Tours & Tickets
- Gibbes Museum of Art Tours & Tickets
- Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center Tours & Tickets
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum Tours & Tickets
- Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Tours & Tickets
- Middleton Place Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Charleston, USA
- Fort Sumter National Monument Tours & Tickets
- Charleston City Market Tours & Tickets
- The Battery and White Point Garden Tours & Tickets
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum Tours & Tickets
- Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (Cooper River Bridge) Tours & Tickets
- Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon Tours & Tickets
- Rainbow Row Tours & Tickets