Boston Food Tours
Fun for foodies? We’ve got that! History lessons while you eat? We’ve got that too! Many, but not all, of Boston’s food tours are located in the North End. As the home of Boston’s Little Italy, the North End boasts about 80 restaurants, densely packed into a single square mile upon Boston’s iconic waterfront. There are myriad guided tours offering visits to many of these most celebrated eateries: a hidden-alley Italian bakery, an authentic salumeria (Italian deli), pastry shops, cafes, pizzerias, and more. It’s for you to decide which path to take.
Good to know:
Some tour providers will accommodate larger or smaller groups; some may cancel if the tour isn’t full. Most cannot add “just one more person.” Visitors find that booking a private tour allows for a greater degree of certainty in planning; also recommended for families and those traveling as a group. Private tours are available from most of the following operators.
Due to the nature of food tours, guests with allergies or dietary restrictions should inquire before booking.
Generally, food tours run 2-3 hours, usually on foot. Bring your appetite, stretchy pants, and comfy shoes…you’ll need them!
Gastronomic delights and local libations, thoughtfully curated and served up with Boston’s warm hospitality
Lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, and fried clams: quintessential New England food coming in hot on the Boston Seafood Tour or the Seafood Lover’s Tour. No visit to New England is complete without these local flavors.
Off the Eaten Path offers a food tour styled like a North End progressive lunch. Little Italy awaits you like a cornucopia bearing the signature flavors of Sicily, Sardinia, Naples, Sorrentino, and Modena. Add some history and a lesson on olive oil as part of a healthy mediterranean diet and it’s a wonderful day.
Personalize your trip to Little Italy
Perhaps you prefer to captain your own ship…if so, may we suggest the Self-guided food tour of Little Italy?
Stops on the self-guided tour include Bricco Salumeria & Panetteria: deli sandwiches, hot entrees, freshly baked loaves, panini, platters, and freshly-made ravioli. Modern Pastry famously rivals another landmark bakery, Mike’s Pastry–you can decide whose cannoli is best. Polcari's Coffee features not only coffee but tea, spices, legumes, and baking ingredients; all the yummy things to be found in an Italian grocery. Antico Forno’s southern Italian specialties are authentic and affordable. Neptune Oyster offers a raw bar, North End Cioppino, and Nantucket scallops, among other things.
Sweet-tooth? Try a dessert tour! Pasticceria, confetteria, pasticcino, Little Italy has it all!
Get in on the Secret Chocolate Tour in Back Bay: Chocolates, pastry, dessert. A little bit of history and a nice walk. What more could we ask for? Ah, cappuccino…
Boston Donut Tour: Did you know Boston is the birthplace of not only the American Revolution, but of Dunkin’ Donuts? It’s true! Visit some of the best donut shops and enjoy the local flavor.
From North End to South End
A culinary tour of Boston’s South End brings a whole other menu experience. Enjoy a wide variety of international flavors on the Sweet and Savory tour: this excursion brings visitors to 5-6 different dining establishments. Indulge in a diverse gastronomic selection with Creole and Cajun, regional Eastern Mediterranean, Venezuelan-inspired Latin American, plant-based frozen confections, and Cambodian-French fusion.
Boston’s AirBnB Experiences, hosted by locals:
Lobster Roll and Mobster Stroll: Mobsters, mayhem, and murder (stories) await visitors who arrive hungry for great food and fascinating stories. Not recommended for kids under 12.
Politically Incorrect Food Tour: Enjoy the authenticity this born and raised guide brings to his Little Italy tour. May include adult humor.
Book A Room - Just Steps to the North End
Add some magic to your culinary excursion, by booking a room at Battery Wharf Hotel Boston Waterfront. You can get a room with a view of Boston Harbor while being just a few steps to the North End.
