Charleston's Authentic Cuisine & True History Cultural Experience
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Charleston, USA
- 2 to 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
Charleston is the home of Lowcountry cooking, shaped by West African, French, and Caribbean influences, and this tour works through four courses across three restaurants in the Historic District. Eat signature Charleston dishes while a local guide explains how the city's cultures shaped its cuisine. Walk between stops past the City Market, St. Philip's Church, and Philadelphia Alley.
- Tick off some of Charleston’s favorite food stops without the wait for seating
- Spend most of the tour indoors, out of Charleston's heat and humidity
- Travel as your own private party with the undivided attention of your guide
- Get restaurant recommendations to make the most of your trip
What's Included
- Food! Taste the area's unique food & drink offerings while learning the history behind every bite!
- History! Learn how a blend of cultures & some shocking circumstances created a thriving port city.
- Alcohol or specialty beverages (But you're welcome to order alcohol for a separate charge).
- Transportation or Parking Fees
- Tour guide gratuity (not mandatory but most appreciated)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 164 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Your guide will greet you under the alcove (between 164 Church Street, The Black Fedora and 168 Church Street, House of Jerkey). Your guide will arrive approximately five minutes prior to the start of the tour.
End point
- 49 S Market St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Itinerary
Historic Downtown Charleston (Pass By)
Charleston City Market (Pass By)
St. Philip's Church (Pass By)
Philadelphia Alley (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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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
4.8
based on 171 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Absolutely perfect little tour of Charleston. Page, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and made history so interesting. The food was literally to die for - I loved every bite, and plan to return to every restaurant she took us to the next time I visit. All of the staff at the restaurants were so gracious and welcoming - it was really beautiful honestly. This tour was a little slice of heaven and I’d recommend it to anyone.
We got a chance to sample many different delicious foods on this tour. Page was great and very informative and knowledgeable. This is not only a food tour, but more a history and culture tour through food, which we loved. She gave us a very good understanding of the roots of Charleston, its people and cultural melting point. We left with a better understanding of the troubles the city went through and what lays ahead of it. Food is a reflection of history and we had the opportunity and pleasure to eat and learn.
Tour was fun and extremely informational about the history of Charleston and the Low Country. Food was amazing! Paige was a great tour guide.
A very unique history lesson paired with delicious food choices. The guide was so informed and so passionate about the subject matter. I would highly recommend this tour if you’re looking for a unique and honest experience in Charleston.
Tour guide Page was knowledgeable and very good. Gave great overview of history of food and area. Restaurants great.
This was a fantastic tour. We couldn’t have had a better tour and guide. Page was authentic, very knowledgeable and she did a perfect job organizing the food tour.
Very informative history to go with great selections of tasty local foods. You will want to book this tour first day of your visit so to utilize the knowledge gained to plan the rest of your trip. Page is a delightful guide with a pleasant friendly personality.
Page was fabulous! We had a group of 6 friends traveling together, and needed to make some special accommodations which Page was able to seamlessly incorporate. She provided a wonderful tour and we learned a lot, along with enjoying great food. Highly recommend doing this tour on your first day in Charleston to get your bearings and try out some delicious local options.
Page was an excellent guide. She was fun to spend the evening with and a wealth of information which she so skillfully conveyed. We learned so much about the Gullah culture and Charleston’s history. The food served was excellent. Everyone in the group had something they liked. I highly recommend this be your first activity when visiting town.
Paige was very informative and knew her Charleston history. We stopped at three great local restaurants. While the food selections were delicious, it would have been nice if we had the opportunity to taste an oyster at the O-Bar and something more authentic to the TBonz Gill and Grill. The last stop really wasn’t authentic to Charleston, but since it was a wine bar, a taste of wine would have added to the experience. Thank you for the cookie desserts.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We enjoyed having you on the tour and thank you for mentioning the depth of the history because relaying the area's history and culture as it relates to the cuisine is the heart of this tour. Just to clarify, we do not mention the restaurants in our description because we rotate between 6 different restaurants in the area based on availability. For instance the tour today is not going to the wine bar. Also, food tours that include alcohol are difficult to find in our city due to the liquor license laws. Most companies do not offer them. As mentioned on the tour, guests actually have the opportunity to order raw oysters at the Oyster House, and they frequently do so. Unfortunately, oysters are not a good option for a food tour as more guests don't enjoy them than do. We had the most authentic food to Charleston and to the Lowcountry at TBonz than we had anywhere else. As explained, though steak is TBonzs' specialty, the foods we enjoyed on the food tour are specific to this area of the country. We are so proud to offer a historic dessert only found in our area, as opposed to the typical little plastic cup of sorbet most of the other food tours finish with. Even better, in addition to the classic Lowcountry sweet flavors the guests can sample at the table, each guest receives a beautiful souvenir bag to take home. We're so glad you liked them! Your journey up the coast sounded like a wonderful time and we do hope you have fun. Safe travels!
We did the tour as a family of 4 with a 14 and 12 year old. The 12 year old got a little bored but the rest of us enjoyed listening to Page tell us about the history of Charleston. We thought the restaurants and food selections were very good. Not too much walking, which was good because the weather wasn't great in the beginning of the tour (it cleared up towards the end). Page talks throughout the whole tour, but it was also nice to meet the other family on the tour. My only suggestion might be to add one more restaurant and break-up the history story into smaller 'chapters' with the natural break at the restaurant. I think that might have made it more digestible for my 12 year old too. All that said, I would recommend the tour!
Beat the heat is truly the best part of the tour. It was nice to be able to sit down inside a restaurant. The items were varied and truly represented some Charleston staples. While a completely family friendly activity, our tour guide seemed very hesitant to have children on the tour. The fellow guests and restaurants we visited were very friendly and accommodating. We have taken our kids to many places, tours, and even fine dining restaurants and are very conscientious of others around us. Overall it did not diminish from the tour, but beware of the tour guide you might get and just know that in advance. As far as value for experience, it is moderate. The price does not include the most extensive options for food tasting out there, but the overall opportunity for a seat in an air conditioned restaurant as well as the historical storytelling make up for it. Minimal walking distance between restaurants is involved, which is also nice for those with mobility issues.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello. I am glad your group enjoyed the majority of the tour and most of all were able to stay cool in this horrible heat! In reference to your comments about accommodating children, I want to clarify that you are referencing infants, children under 2 years old. Please note that out of the other major food tour companies in Charleston, the oldest company does not allow children under 14 at all, and our second biggest competitor does not allow children under 8 years of age. We are the ONLY food tour company in Charleston that even allows infants on a food tour. Your group was extremely considerate and understanding of the needs of the rest of the group, but unfortunately, you are a minority and most are not, which is why we send a polite, passive disclaimer ahead of time listing some basic reminders and rules. It is past experiences that have food tour companies moving toward not allowing children at all. Our guides are actually very good at handling young children and we like to be as inclusive as possible with our groups. I happened to be your guide and I really did my best to make sure you did not take any offense to the disclaimer or take it personally. I also complimented you on the behavior of your children and thanked you for your cooperation in allowing the other guests to fully enjoy the tour. I found your group delightful and I do hope you all enjoyed the rest of your time in Charleston, especially Savannah and Ashley!
This was the best food tour we could've imagined. Page is an outstanding guide with so much knowledge and passion for her town. Each food tasting was relevant to the history and culture of Charleston, and Page gave us great information as we sampled each dish. I was especially grateful to hear all about the Gullah Geechee history and deep influence on the region's cuisine and culture. It was also nice that each spot included a sit-down sampling in an air conditioned restaurant rather than the street food walking tours we are used to. You'll be thankful for that in the Charleston humidity! If you love history and you love food, this is the tour for you.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
This is exactly what we love to hear! We hit the mark for our goal is all of the above. Thank you so much for letting us know!
Paige was fabulous and so informative with historical references. We enjoyed the food and appreciated doing this tour at the beginning of our trip. It helped us to make more food and history connections throughout our stay in Charleston.
Nice activity great way to beat the heat and try some of Charleston’s great dishes. Fun way to spend the morning.
Page was very knowledgeable about the history of Charleston! Food was great. I would do this tour again.
This was a tour of the origins regarding the unique dishes created in Charleston. Paige was very informative and passionate regarding the food and people behind the culinary flavors. Food was very good!
What a great way to learn some history of Charleston and how the food was apart of that history. Paige is awesome enthusiastic and passionate about Charleston.
We really enjoyed this tour! Page did a great job connecting the history of Charleston with the foods we were trying. It was so informative and interesting to learn why the food represented Charleston and how that representation has changed over the years. Well worth the time!
Great, friendly guide with wonderful knowledge of Charleston history! Paige worked with us when we had booking issues. Wonderful day with delicious food.
Page was excellent, very personable, very knowledgeable about history. Food was great! Worthwhile!!!
Paige was awesome. She made it fun for all. I have never been on a tour like this and learned so much about a city. Paige could teach Charleston history.
The food was awesome also. Keep up the great work Paige.
This was my first time in Charleston and I very much enjoyed this tour! Page gave so much insight to the history and being able to sample some food at three different restaurants was such a nice addition. You could tell Page really loves what she does- she spoke with such love for the area and it could be felt by the group. I was traveling solo and everyone was friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting or having a stay-cation. Thank you Page!
Our tour leader, Paige, was very enthusiastic, and we had a lot of fun on the tour. She knew her history and brought us to 3 different locations for some great food. There were only 9 of us and she said she’d like to keep her groups small and made a point to have us all introduce ourselves to each other. This made it more intimate and the pace was relaxed.
Walking tour, ample food at each food stop…nice blend of history and food connected to the Lowcountry.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for being such gracious guests. I thoroughly enjoyed hosting you and your family group!
Would highly recommend this tour. Page was an excellent guide giving us so much historical information about the origination of lowcountry cuisine. Tour was well-paced with more than enough food to sample at our three spots.
Paige was a great host who shared a great deal of history about the food of the area. The food was amazing. I would highly recommend.
Awesome time. Page was very knowledgeable about the culture of the food and how it came to South Carolina.
Perry was extremely knowledgeable and thorough with explaining the history and food. We would book another tour with him.
Page is the absolute best. The way she ties history into the story of the food makes this one of the best tours. The food was also amazing! I learned a lot and did NOT leave hungry.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for compliment! I'm just so glad you were pleased with the tour and the food. I do hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Charleston and will come back soon!
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up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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