BEAT THE HEAT & Tour in Comfort! Charleston's Food & History Tour
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Charleston, USA
- 2 to 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
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
Supplied by
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 158 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Cortney_S, Jul 2026
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!
Lisa_N, Jun 2026
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!
Lisa_C, Jun 2026
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.
JohnR_F, Jun 2026
Nice activity great way to beat the heat and try some of Charleston’s great dishes. Fun way to spend the morning.
Maryann_H, Jun 2026
Page was very knowledgeable about the history of Charleston! Food was great. I would do this tour again.
Pat_F, Jun 2026
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!
Ginger_W, May 2026
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.
Jamie_H, May 2026
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!
Misti_L, May 2026
Great, friendly guide with wonderful knowledge of Charleston history! Paige worked with us when we had booking issues. Wonderful day with delicious food.
Anonymous, May 2026
Page was excellent, very personable, very knowledgeable about history. Food was great! Worthwhile!!!
Ken_M, May 2026
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.
Kara_S, Apr 2026
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!
Chris_J, Apr 2026
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.
Kaye_M, Apr 2026
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!
Nancy_W, Apr 2026
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.
Daniel_H, Apr 2026
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.
kygysg9sbv, Apr 2026
Awesome time. Page was very knowledgeable about the culture of the food and how it came to South Carolina.
Susan_D, Apr 2026
Perry was extremely knowledgeable and thorough with explaining the history and food. We would book another tour with him.
Darlene_M, Apr 2026
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!
Robert_R, Mar 2026
The picture on Viator is not accurate. The food received on the tour was in small tasting portions. I received 1 shrimp on half a cup of grits, 4 ounces of she crab soup rather than the large bowl shown on Viator. I don’t feel that I got my money’s worth in the food department (On the two other food tours that I have been on in Charleston, I was really full or full afterwards and on this one I was hungry. Everything else was great, just hungry afterwards.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Oh no, Robert, we're so sorry to hear that you were disappointed! I usually hear quite the opposite from guests. They always assure us that they are very full, too full for dessert, and they leave with it in hand, as I believe you did. As an independent contractor I work for several different food tour companies downtown, and we all go to the same restaurants (because there are only so many that accommodate food tours in the historic district), and receive the same portions. There are other longer, three to four hour food tours downtown that I'm sure would have more food but those are in a different price range. Currently, our tour is the most affordable on the market. We would be very interested to know what companies and/or specific tours you took before that you are comparing this tour with. Please feel free to write us directly at info@bestofcharlestontours.com. Thank you for your input and we enjoyed having you on the tour!
Amy_T, Mar 2026
Very interesting information how African culture shaped like country food. Paige was very fun and had lots of knowledge
Kiley_N, Mar 2026
It was really fun, Paige is very knowledgeable and made the experience so amazing! It was really cool to learn the history of Charleston and where the food came from.
Joanna_P, Mar 2026
Enjoyed the tour from start to finish and every bite along the way. Page's historical knowledge was interesting and her presence was pleasant. The length of the tour was just right, along with the portion sizes. An easy and enjoyable outing!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour in it's entirety! All the best and come back soon!
Julia_S, Mar 2026
The historical context and stories were great, very informative. But the food/restaurant selections were not good. For a city with so many amazing restaurants, I recommend changing the ones they stop at
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Julia. Thank you so much for the compliments about the history and stories. Our restaurant stops have all been fixtures in the historic district for more than 30 years. These are top quality classic Charleston restaurants serving signature Lowcountry dishes with expertise, and as evidenced by our numerous five-star reviews, we're proud to say that the majority of guests very much enjoy the restaurants on our tour. There are only about six restaurants in the entire downtown area that accommodate food tours at all. There are indeed many fabulous and amazing restaurants in our area, but they are not an option for any of the food tour companies. A restaurant has to have the proper atmosphere and set up to accommodate four or five, 12+ guest food tours, all at once. They have to have large kitchens, and a large staff with the right ambiance to accommodate the tours. And I'm not sure if you noticed, but there were other food tours in the same exact restaurants we were in because we all go to the same places due limited availability. Our tour is the only tour however that offers an extensive amount of history that equivalates to a walking history tour along with the wonderful food, and the guests leave with a treat in hand to take home as well. We always welcome recommendations and hope you enjoyed your stay in Charleston!
Mckenna_C, Mar 2026
Great nuggets of history and local Charleston knowledge. I really enjoyed learning about the Gullah Geechee culture. Bbq was great!
Jeannette_M, Mar 2026
By far the best tour in Charleston! Not only do you get fabulous food you get a thorough explanation of the deep and rich history of Charleston & the low country.
PHYLLIS_F, Mar 2026
Our guide, Page, was so knowledgeable about Charleston's food and history. The food tastings were very good, and it was fun trying different regional foods.
Lynn_T, Feb 2026
Loved the food and learning about the history. This was an awesome tour! They kindly accommodated my food allergies. Highly recommend.
Manjusha_S, Feb 2026
We selected this tpur because my 13 year old son has a strong passion for the culinary arts....and we are a foodie family!
Our tour with Paige actually began the night before as she gave us our meeting point and confirmed some dietary restrictions we had so she could plan for our low country culinary experience.
The next day she arrived on time for our tour and confirmed our group. The only odd thing was she referenced us by our dietary restriction, while everyone else was asked their name.
Aside from that, the restaurants she selected were great and her prior work with the Gullah community had her well immersed in the African influence of Charleston. She had some great historical stories to add context to the foods she had selected for us.
We left the tour very well fed and my 13 year old son even two thumbs upped the experience. He is going to try making a few of the dishes we experienced.
Jo_C, Feb 2026
An incredible blend of history and food. As a tour guide, Page knocked it out of the park. Her knowledge and presentation skills were greatly appreciated. We are still talking about the nuggets of information she shared with us. Highly recommend!!
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BEAT THE HEAT & Tour in Comfort! Charleston's Food & History Tour
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