3 h

Instant confirmation

About this activity

Meet in the Jackson Square neighborhood – a 10-minute walk from Downtown San Francisco – in the late afternoon to start your walking tour. Come hungry, as you’ll be getting lots of food on this 3-hour tour, which follows a flat, easy route.

Following your expert local guide, delve behind the scenes of Little Italy’s food and restaurant scene, hearing fascinating historical facts and stories along the way, like how this neighborhood was once part of the Barbary Coast – San Francisco’s red-light district in the 1800s during the California Gold Rush. You'll also visit hidden Prohibition-era tunnels where booze was smuggled into the city.

Though you’ll learn a lot of interesting history, this tour is about the food. Enjoy a wine and cheese pairing at a trendy wine bar – your glass will be poured directly from the barrel. Then, indulge in an Italian wood-fired pizza made in the oldest pizza oven on the West Coast; built in 1935, this treasured tool was copied by Wolfgang Puck at Spago and Alice Waters at Chez Panisse. Pair your slice with a glass of private-label Syrah.

Pop into a gourmet boutique shop for a sweet-and-savory treat such as artisan agave caramel drizzled over popcorn -- yum! Top your culinary journey off with a visit to a historic Italian bookshop-turned-café, where you'll fill your own delicate cannoli with an Italian cannoli maker.

You’ll find that all the tastings add up to a satisfying meal. Your tour ends in the evening a few blocks from your original departure point, where you’re free to continue exploring this fabulous San Francisco neighborhood bustling with vibrant nightlife.

Please note: Places visited and tastings are subject to change based on availability.

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Included

Guide
Live commentary
Food tastings
Three beverage pairings (if alcohol pairing is selected)
Entry/Admission - North Beach

Not included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Alcohol pairing (if Food only option is selected)

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Must be 21 years or older to drink alcohol
Vegetarian options available
Locations visited are subject to change
Tours run rain or shine; please dress appropriately
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Features

Food

75%

Tourism

70%

Cultural

65%

Original

35%

Reviews

4.9

23

s

stanley c

5 | 2019-07-03

This was a wonderful tour with great foods and a delightfully fun, charismatic and knowledgeable guide named Ben. The foods? Had we been staying in the city longer, we'd have eaten again at every stop, such was the quality of the samplings. Ben will also point out other restaurants with stellar, long-time reputations while also regaling your group with fascinating information on one the country's great cities. No, not the old, "San Francisco was first settled in blah blah blah..." His stories feel more like little secrets you won't find in any Chamber of Commerce literature. Because Ben comes to the tour with a strong background in food and nutrition, his expertise make the whole experience that much richer. Another plus was that you don't leave the tour feeling like some ancient Roman glutton. You'll be sated for sure, but you won't be plied with an over-abundance of food, as sometimes happens on these tours. My advice? Eat up at every stop. The portions are perfect. Our only regret is not taking this tour early in our last trip to San Francisco, for we surely would have tried these places and many of the others Ben raved about. We came in just for the day for this tour. Do yourself a favor and take this tour soon after you arrive. If you're lucky, you'll get Ben as your guide.

K

Katomike

5 | 2018-06-30

This was a delightful tour. The guide was excellent and very knowledgeable and the food was great.

V

Victor L

5 | 2017-01-30

This was a top 5 experience for my wife and I on our week long San Francisco Vacation. The terrain of which we walked was relatively flat so steep inclines were not an issue. Tollen, our tour guide did a wonderful job, we love her. The only regret is that we didn't give Tollen a bigger tip.

D

Donald L

5 | 2016-09-06

We had a very pleasant experience! Food was great and the knowledge of the City was a bonus! Highly recommend!

J

Judith S

3 | 2016-08-01

This tour was interesting, the food was good, but the alcohol pairings were a bit scarce. I don't really think it was worth the cost, although I did enjoy the area we walked around in and the food that we did taste.

T

Thea W

5 | 2015-11-09

This was so much fun! The tour guide was very knowledgeable. The food was fantastic! What a great way to start our visit to SF!

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