Old Port Culinary Walking Tour from Portland
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Portland, USA
- 2 to 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Food lovers can explore Portland's historic Old Port independently, but to uncover the best places serving traditional local fare, you really need a guide to lead the way. Taste the best that Portland has to offer on this guided foodie walking tour, complete with stops at up to seven different eateries—and enough tastings to replace a meal. Along the way, your guide offers some stories about Portland's food scene, so you can get familiar with the local culinary stalwarts.
- Tour the Old Port in Portland, Maine on this guided culinary walking tour
- Visit five to six local eateries, to sample Maine-inspired cuisine
- Enjoy a more intimate tour experience, with no more than 14 travelers
- Meet on centrally-located Commercial Street, in the heart of the Old Port
What's Included
- Lunch
- Gratuity to the tour guide
- Parking - Please use garage or lot parking as metered parking doesn't last long enough
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 94 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Tours start inside the hidden door at 94 Commercial Street at Andy's Old Port Pub. Look for your guide who will be wearing a Maine Foodie Tour lanyard!
End point
- Two Portland Square, 475 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101, USA
This tour ends at one of two locations: Either a nearby ice creamery OR Dean's Sweets, 475 Fore Street.
Itinerary
Find your guide, wearing an easy-to-spot lanyard, at the convenient meeting point on Commercial Street. Once your small group of no more than 14 fellow food enthusiasts has gathered, follow your guide through the hidden door at Andy's Old Port Pub.
Start walking through Old Port to discover traditional and local fare at around half a dozen eateries. Immerse yourself in the stories and secrets behind Portland's culinary stalwarts, gaining an intimate understanding of this dynamic food culture.
After getting your steps in throughout your foodie experience and tasting a variety of different dishes, conclude your tour at a nearby ice creamery or Dean's Sweets on Fore Street.
Start walking through Old Port to discover traditional and local fare at around half a dozen eateries. Immerse yourself in the stories and secrets behind Portland's culinary stalwarts, gaining an intimate understanding of this dynamic food culture.
After getting your steps in throughout your foodie experience and tasting a variety of different dishes, conclude your tour at a nearby ice creamery or Dean's Sweets on Fore Street.
1
Old Port
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not recommended for travelers with celiac or dairy allergies
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 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
Featured review
Daria_P
Our guide, Timothy, is extremely knowledgeable about the history of Portland as well as the food. He is personable and shares funny experiences. The food served is abundant and delicious. No skimping! My husband & I had a fabulous time. You won't be disappointed.
Reviews
4.8
based on 421 reviews
Mitch_B, Mar 2026
We came to Maine very VERY early season (March 20th-24th) and were looking for something to do. Most of the area is still in full 'pre season' mode, with many restaurants and services closed, especially during the week.
We found the walking Food tour on Viator and jumped at it - and boy were we glad that we did! Because of the time of year, my wife and I were alone on the tour and as such got to spend around 3 hours with our guide, Ray Sapirstein. Putting aside Ray's obvious love for Portland and food in general, he was a charming guy - keeping us engaged and entertained with stories about the area for the entire duration of the tour. Ray is a PHD trained historian and, as such, was able to fill in a lot of color about the area, going beyond the 'food' aspects of the tour, describing the 'hilly roads' which were sand dunes were covered up to build out the city. Add to that the fact that he took us to several places that we NEVER would have found via googling for 'best ofs' and would have been a HUGE failure to miss!
Andy's Old Port Pub - a neighborhood bar (don't call it a dive, though in my mind it qualifies). Spend some time chatting with Thomas, the owner, and Steve the bartender - and had what I can only describe as the single best haddock taco I've ever had in my life. Do not judge a book by it's cover: this place is AWESOME. Great craft beer tap list, and a warm and friendly environment. If I lived in the area, this would be my regular.
From there we went to Gilbert's Chowder house right next door - Ray was again right: don't sleep on the seafood chili - it was RIDICULOUSLY amazing.
After that we paid a visit to the Harbor Fish Market where we got to see the recent catches, and as Ray pointed out the 'transparency' of the thing: fish are cleaned and prepped for sale right where the customer can watch, and all fish are labeled as 'fresh' (with VERY few pre-frozen exceptions). This is also the place to go if you want to buy Maine swag.
From there we proceeded to Rigby House, an unassuming 'coffee shop and workspace' that Ray promised us had nothing short of the best lobster roll in Maine: I've had some good lobster rolls so I can't quite commit to that, but the bread it was built on was FANTASTIC, baked locally from one of the bakeries rated tops in the nation right in Portland. This stop came with either 2 samplers or 1 full pour from their 20+ menu. Don't miss the blueberry ale. It's a rare treat and again, came from Ray's love of his city.
From there, we visited Dean's Sweet shop for a couple of truffles and terrible jokes, and then Fiasco's Gelato to round up our day - try the lobster gelato, it's weird and not something I'd necessarily do again...but glad to have had the experience. The whoopie pie gelato was top notch and the blueberry was one of the best gelatos I've ever had.
For a 3 hour tour, with all food included, we were certainly full and happy. The walk was short - I don't think we wandered more than a mile in total - and when we were showing signs of being "Help me I'm not from Maine cold", Ray took us into Grittys, another neighborhood bar just for a warm up.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for this incredibly thoughtful and detailed review—we’re absolutely thrilled you joined us, especially during the quieter early-season window!
It sounds like you truly experienced Portland the way we love to share it—through its stories, its people, and its amazing food. Ray will be so happy to hear your kind words. His passion for history (and food!) really brings the city to life, and we’re glad you enjoyed not just the tastings, but the deeper context and storytelling along the way.
We also love that you embraced some of Portland’s hidden gems—those are often the places that leave the biggest impression. And yes…never judge a book by its cover 😊
Braving Maine in March is no small feat, so we’re especially glad the tour kept you warm, well-fed, and entertained. It means a lot to hear it became such a highlight of your trip during a time when many spots are still in pre-season mode.
We hope to welcome you back again—perhaps in the summer or fall for a completely different experience!
Nancy_B, Feb 2026
Do not eat breakfast before starting this tour.
We all would have preferred a little later start time since we were drinking beer at 11;00 in the morning.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks so much for the 5-star review! We love that you came hungry — that’s honestly the pro move for this tour 😄
And fair point about the start time… beer at 11:00 AM can feel early unless you’re fully in vacation mode! We’ll definitely take that feedback to heart as we look at offering later start options when possible.
Hope to have you back for another round soon! 🍻
Lisa_S, Feb 2026
Ray was really nice and informative. We stopped at 3 food establishments and two dessert places. All were large portions. We walked on cleared sidewalks even after a large snowfall, so winter is a good time to go without the crowds.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Ray—he truly is both knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with. We’re also glad you appreciated the generous tastings and the mix of savory stops and desserts along the way.
Winter really does offer a special, crowd-free way to experience the city, and we’re happy the cleared sidewalks and snowy backdrop made for a great outing. We hope to welcome you back again in another season!
Kimberly_G, Nov 2025
Ray was outstanding! He went out of his way to find the best culinary spots to share with us and enlighten us with Portland history along the way. The food and drinks were simply yum and he made sure we had a pleasant day. We would definitely recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We are so happy to hear you enjoyed your time with Ray! Thank you for the recommendation - we welcome you back anytime!
Kathy_L, Nov 2025
Great tour. Got to taste lots of different specialities of Portland. Our guide also told us a lot of history of the area and the culinary scene. Loved the tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thanks so much for the 5-star review! We really appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts with us! We hope to see you again!
Christine_S, Oct 2025
Very delicious 😋. Friendly, informative guide. High quality food, yum, with large portions. You will be fat and happy.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your fun and enthusiastic review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the high-quality, generous portions and that your guide made the tour both informative and enjoyable. “Fat and happy” is exactly what we aim for! We hope to welcome you back for another Maine Day Ventures adventure soon!
Teresa_M, Oct 2025
Started with a fish taco, really enjoyed the pickled red cabbage on it but corn tortilla tasted stale and cold, chowder stop was awesome with seceral choices. I got the seafood chili which was so filling I couldn’t finish half of it! Lobster roll was the highlight. Super tender lobster. Truffles and ice cream rounded out the tour. I would highly recommend tour guides check with guests before taking them down a very long cobblestone street, as my knee hurt for several days. There was a way to get to the restaurant on mostly flat walkways.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for joining us and for sharing your thoughtful feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the variety of stops—especially that delicious lobster roll and seafood chili. We also appreciate your note about the cobblestone section of the walk. We always want our tours to be enjoyable and accessible for everyone, and your comment is very helpful as we review our routes and make adjustments. We hope to welcome you back on another tour soon—perhaps one with a little less cobblestone and just as much great food!
Tammy_P, Oct 2025
We love a food tour as an introduction to a new town, and this one certainly lived up to expectations! Ray, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the town and the food scene and very enthusiastic about choosing locally sourced foods and locally owned businesses. Every place we went was definitely worthy of a return visit. Great atmosphere and amazing food! The lobster roll was the best I ever had!!! And all of the portions were generous. Arrive hungry!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that Ray’s knowledge and enthusiasm made your introduction to Portland so memorable. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the locally sourced foods, generous portions, and especially that lobster roll! We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back on another Maine Day Ventures tour soon—come hungry next time too!
Laurie_R, Oct 2025
This was a fun tour. Timothy was very knowledgeable about the history of Portland and the food was great.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and that Timothy’s knowledge of Portland’s history added to your experience. It’s great to know the food was a hit as well. We hope to welcome you on another Maine Day Ventures tour soon!
Bryan_V, Oct 2025
This was a perfect blend of food, facts and friend. AJ, our guide, was awesome by adding her personal touch to the day.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that AJ made the tour special with her personal touch and that you enjoyed the perfect mix of food, history, and fun. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another Maine Day Ventures adventure soon!
Shelby_P, Sep 2025
Having just done a food tour in Boston a few days prior, I was excited to hear about the Portland food scene! While the history and background of the wharf area was interesting, our guide (Timothy) seemed more interested in pushing his personal art business than providing quality food options. The first stop, fish tacos, were underwhelming with a terrible tortilla shell. The second stop, chowder, was just ok and having just had chowder from Boston, we weren’t impressed with this stop. The lobster roll was great! But the last few dessert stops (chocolate truffles and ice cream) felt rushed and out of place. Unfortunately this is one food tour I would do with another company as this one was a disappointment.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re truly sorry to hear that your tour did not live up to your expectations. Our goal is always to provide a memorable balance of Portland’s unique food scene and history, and it’s clear that we fell short during your visit.
We regret that some of the food selections and pacing felt underwhelming, and that the experience did not compare favorably with other tours you’ve taken. We also apologize if any part of the presentation came across as distracting from what should have been a focus on Portland’s culinary highlights. Your feedback is invaluable and we will be reviewing it carefully with our team to make improvements.
We sincerely appreciate you giving us a try, and while we know we can’t change this experience, we hope you might consider giving us another chance in the future to provide the kind of tour we’re known for and that you were expecting.
Kody_B, Sep 2025
We had such an incredible experience, and our guide AJ was absolutely phenomenal! We got to sample a variety of dishes Portland is famous for, and every stop was a treat. AJ shared so much knowledge—not only about lobster fishing and Maine’s seafood and agriculture, but also fascinating history of the Old Port and piers. On top of that, she was hilarious—my partner and I laughed the entire time. She seemed to know everyone in town, offered fantastic recommendations for other places to eat and visit, and was simply a joy to spend time with. Her energy, humor, and expertise made the whole tour unforgettable. We left with full bellies, great memories, and a list of new spots to try.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Wow—thank you for such a glowing review! We’re thrilled to hear that your time with AJ was unforgettable. She truly has a gift for combining humor, history, and hospitality, and it’s wonderful to know she made you feel connected to Portland while keeping you laughing along the way. We’re so glad you enjoyed the variety of tastings and left with both full bellies and new recommendations to explore. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to AJ—she’ll be delighted!
Laura_W, Sep 2025
Timothy was amazing great love a local! Food amazing and fresh! Learned a lot about the fishing life
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour with Timothy and loved the fresh, delicious food. It’s wonderful that you got a real taste of the local fishing life—Timothy is always excited to share his knowledge. We hope to see you back in Portland for another great experience soon!
Claudia_L, Sep 2025
Our guide was friendly knowledgeable and very in love with Portland! He was a pleasure, as were our fellow foodies. I terrific tour all around.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for joining us and for sharing such a kind review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your guide’s passion for Portland—it’s wonderful to hear that his love for the city came through. We’re also happy you had a great group of fellow foodies to share the experience with. Delighted you had a terrific tour all around, and we hope to see you again on another adventure!
Katie_A, Sep 2025
What a wonderful experience! The tour guide, Ray, had endless knowledge of the inner workings of the fishing industry, harbor, and overall history of Portland. There was never a lull in our experience- he kept pumping us full of fun facts! The food was DELICIOUS. We got to experience the freshest fish taco with beer pairing, our choice from 5 different chowders (I chose the traditional clam chowder), smoked scallops and mussels from the local fish market (which I’ll be returning to buy), a wonderfully simple yet exquisite lobster roll, decadent chocolate truffles, and divine gelato to end the tour. I went solo on this tour and met so many kind people. I highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Wow—thank you for such a fantastic review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed Ray’s knowledge, the fresh local flavors, and the chance to connect with fellow foodies. It sounds like you truly experienced the best of Portland, and we so appreciate your high recommendation!
Don_L, Sep 2025
Our tour guide AJ was super friendly and outgoing, really well versed with the area, the history, etc…filled up our stomachs with excellent food!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you! We’re so glad AJ’s friendliness and knowledge made the tour memorable, and that you enjoyed all the delicious food along the way. Sounds like a full—and tasty—day in Portland!
Bruce_F, Aug 2025
While our guide was knowledgeable, we anticipated more restaurant stops, and samples based on the price and description of the tour. We did not visit as many stops as was advertised and in some instances the portions were too small to justify the cost of the tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. While we’re glad to hear your guide was knowledgeable, we’re truly sorry the tour did not meet your expectations in terms of stops and portions. We always want our guests to feel the value of their experience, and your comments are important as we continually review both our descriptions and what we deliver on tour. We’ll be sharing this with our team so we can ensure consistency moving forward. We appreciate you joining us and hope you’ll give us another opportunity in the future.
Douglas_M, Aug 2025
Ray was our guide, a truly multifaceted person, he brought Portland to life from both a historical and contemporary perspective. His passion to research and relate his discoveries of food as it relates to the development of Portland was fascinating and ultimately resulted in really cool places to explore and eat. Great way to spend a few hours. Thanks.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you, Douglas! We’re so glad you enjoyed your Old Port Culinary Walking Tour with Ray. His passion for both history and food really does bring Portland to life, and we’re thrilled he made the experience so engaging. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Cathy_M, Aug 2025
Wonderful tour! Tim, our guide, was one of the absolute best—so authentic and knowledgeable, which was so refreshing. Great (and varied) selections with plenty of food (and drink). Go…and enjoy iconic food spots in Portland, Maine!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the tour with Tim and appreciated his authentic knowledge, as well as the generous and varied food and drink selections. We love sharing Portland’s iconic culinary spots and hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience!
Glen_M, Aug 2025
AJ was a terrific tour guide. Fun, smart and friendly. I'd never been to Portland before, and certainly enjoyed this vibrant foodie city. Learned a lot, ate a lot, drank a bit as well.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks so much for joining us! AJ will be thrilled to know you left Portland both wiser and… well-fed with just the right amount of “hydration.” We like to think of it as our three-part guarantee: learn lots, eat lots, and maybe wobble a little on the way back. Glad your first visit to Portland was tasty and memorable!
Jenna_H, Aug 2025
This tour is a great way to learn the city and try some good local food along the water. We got great recommendations for the remainder of our trip as well. AJ was an excellent tour guide, both very knowledgeable and entertaining. She took good care of the group and made this tour a must-do in Portland!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We’re thrilled you enjoyed your time with AJ—she’s basically Portland’s unofficial mayor of food and fun. Glad she sent you off with a full stomach, a head full of local tips, and maybe a slightly longer restaurant list than your trip allows. Guess you’ll just have to come back for round two!
Daria_P, Aug 2025
Our guide, Timothy, is extremely knowledgeable about the history of Portland as well as the food. He is personable and shares funny experiences. The food served is abundant and delicious. No skimping! My husband & I had a fabulous time. You won't be disappointed.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We’re so glad you had a fabulous time with Timothy—he’s a master at mixing history, humor, and heaping portions. “No skimping” is basically our love language here in Portland. Thanks for joining us and eating your way through the city with a smile!
Kenny_P, Jul 2025
A++ Fantastic food journey through Portland. AJ was phenomenal. Great seafood tasting along with Portland’s seafood history. A wonderful 3 hour culinary experience. DONT eat breakfast…leave room for this😃
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the A++ review! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the fantastic food journey with AJ and appreciated both the delicious seafood and Portland’s rich seafood history. Your tip about skipping breakfast is spot on! We hope to see you again for another memorable culinary adventure soon. 😃
Penny_P, Jul 2025
AJ was the best tour guide. Great food at each stop and lots of history. Started with a Haddock Taco which was excellent. Clam and seafood chowder at Gilberts Chowder House. Then moved on to more stops. All was great! Thanks AJ for a great experience!!!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that AJ made your Old Port Culinary Walking Tour so memorable with delicious food and engaging history. From haddock tacos to chowder, it sounds like you enjoyed every stop! We’ll be sure to pass along your thanks to AJ and hope to see you again soon for another great experience.
John_M, Jul 2025
Terrific tour. AJ was amazing! Many personal touches & super helpful for first time visitors. She even added stops!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that AJ made your tour terrific with her personal touches and helpful guidance, especially as first-time visitors. Adding extra stops is just one of the ways she goes above and beyond. We hope to welcome you back for another great experience soon!
andrew_l, Jul 2025
Timothy was great. Lots of information and energy. Learned and ate a lot. he kept us on time and laughing.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad you enjoyed your time with Timothy—his energy, knowledge, and sense of humor really do make for a memorable tour. Sounds like you learned, laughed, and ate well—just how we like it! We hope to welcome you back for another fun experience soon.
Renee_H, Jul 2025
Timothy is excellent - he knows so much history and is an excellent resource for all things contemporary Portland
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the kind words! We’re so glad you enjoyed your time with Timothy—he’s a fantastic guide with a deep knowledge of Portland’s history and a great pulse on the city’s current scene. We’re lucky to have him on our team and hope to see you again on a future tour!
Elizabeth_S, Jun 2025
Tour guide (AJ) made it fun and interactive. Recommend taking the tour early in your stay so you can take advantage of what you learn.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for your great feedback! We’re happy to hear AJ made the tour fun and interactive. That’s a fantastic tip—to take the tour early in your stay so you can fully enjoy all the spots you discover. Hope to see you again soon!
Dave_M, Jun 2025
Ray was amazing, he had such knowledge of the area and food scene. Couldn’t have had a better guide, we enjoyed all the places we stopped to taste and sip!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Ray really is one of a kind—so glad you enjoyed his expert knowledge and all the tasty stops! From bites to sips, it sounds like you got the full flavor of the area. Thanks for joining us, and we can’t wait to have you back for another delicious adventure!
Chelsea_S, Jun 2025
AJ was so kind, informative and such fun vibes! She was such a wealth of food information for the rest of our trip
Response from Host, Jul 2025
AJ’s kindness and fun vibes are basically contagious — glad she left you stocked up with all the foodie knowledge for your trip! 🦞🍩 Thanks for joining us, and we hope your taste buds kept the party going long after the tour!
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