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Taking food tours in Charleston, the culinary capital of the South, is an experience not to be missed by food lovers.
Also known as the Holy City, Charleston has been ranked multiple times as one of the top foodie cities in the United States.
While exploring Charleston’s local food specialties, we were struck by the diverse cuisines and rich history that has influenced the recipes and dishes.
A trip to Charleston, SC will undoubtedly include eating great food. Why not consider diving into the history and culture of the cuisine with a local guide?
To help guide your culinary adventures in Charleston, here are 10 of the best food tours in Charleston to take.
Comparison Table of The Food Tours in Charleston SC
| Charleston Food Tours | Price ($USD) | Group Size | Start Time | Duration (hours) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Walking Food Tour | $95 | Max 12 | 10:00 am | 2.5h | Historic District |
| Tasting tour with Secret Food Tours | $110.10 | Max 10 | 1:00 pm | 3.5h | French Quarter |
| Upper King Street Walking Food Tour | $95 | Max 12 | 3:00 pm | 2.5h | Upper King Street |
| Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class | $250 | Max 12 | 9:00 am | 4h | Historic District |
| Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour | $95 | Max 8 | 3:00 pm | 2.5h | Upper King Street |
| Downtown Charleston Food Tour | $95 | Max 12 | 2:00 pm | 2.5h | Downtown Charleston |
| Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour | $99 | Max 12 | 11:00 am | 3.5h | Historic District |
| Charleston History and Hops Tour | $32 | Max 10 | 1:00 pm | 2h | Historic District |
| Charleston Brewery Tour | $89 | Max 12 | 1:30 pm | 4h | Downtown Charleston |
| The Wadmalaw Food & Drink Adventure | $135 | Max 10 | 12:30 pm | 4.5h | Wadmalaw Island |
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: It is worth considering additional Charleston tours to dive into the city’s 300-year varied history. Here are a couple tours we recommend:
Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour: this is a one-hour narrated journey through the historic district of Charleston on a horse-drawn carriage. See beautiful historic homes, churches, gardens, and other landmarks of Charleston’s past.
Charleston’s Hidden Alleyways & Historic Sites Small-Group Walking Tour: this guided walking tour in Charleston takes you off the beaten path to explore overlooked Charleston alleys and hidden passages.
Top Food Tours in Charleston Sc
1. Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour
This Charleston walking food tour takes you on an exclusive culinary adventure through the city.
With a focus on Lowcountry cuisine, you’ll spend 2.5 hours with a local guide learning about the city’s intriguing history and food culture.
This Savor the Flavors of Charleston walking food tour, starts at the oldest public market, the Charleston City Market.
On your culinary adventure, you’ll savor local Charleston flavors like stone ground grits, South Carolina barbecue, fried green tomatoes, collard greens, and more.
You will explore the French Quarter, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Charleston, with its historic churches, old homes, and famous restaurants.
As you walk and taste the unique flavors of Charleston, you’ll also discover many delicious local restaurants, bakeries, and eateries.
For a comprehensive gastronomic experience in one of the most renowned food cities in the United States, consider this Savor the Flavors of Charleston tour..
Cost: $95 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 2.5 hours. Tours start at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm
Group Style: Group tour of a maximum of 12 people
2. Charleston Walking Tasting Tour with Secret Food Tours
This Charleston walking tasting tour with Secret Food Tours takes you behind the scenes to taste the true flavors of Southern cuisine.
Along with the food, you’ll also learn about Charleston’s rich heritage and the communities that have shaped the cuisine.
For about 3.5 hours with a local guide, you’ll go on a culinary walking tour through the historic French Quarter.
You’ll make stops at the historic Charleston market and at several local eateries, each with its own history and specialties.
Iconic southern foods like the Carolina-style barbecue, collard greens, fried green tomatoes, and other delectable bites will surprise you.
As with all Secret Food Tours, a special dish is offered to end the tour in a memorable way.
Secret Food Tours also offers a private tour option. This way, you will enjoy your Charleston walking food tour at your own pace with your group and the full attention of your guide.
Learning about and tasting the southern foods is one of the many reasons not to miss this tour.
Cost: $110.09 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 3.5 hours. Tours start at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm
Group Style: Private tour or small group tour with a maximum of 10 people
3. Charleston’s Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour
Charleston’s Upper King Street is a dynamic part of the city just north of the historic district.
This energetic and dynamic neighborhood is known for having some of the best restaurants and bars in the area. Locally, it is referred to as one of the best food neighborhoods.
Explore the flavors of Upper King Street on this 2.5-hour walking food tour with a professional local guide.
As you soak in the culinary culture and local vibe, you’ll learn about Charleston cuisine through delicious food stops all over King Street.
Food tastings of Lowcountry cuisine will surprise you. And, innovative preparations and fusions from top local chefs will showcase the potential of southern cooking and Lowcountry cuisine.
Beyond food, this fully narrated tour also includes history and stories that have shaped the city and the local flavors.
Experience another side of Charleston when you savor the flavors of Upper King Street on a walking food tour.
Cost: $95 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 2.5 hours. Tour starts at 3:00 pm
Group Style: Group tour of a maximum of 12 people
4. Undiscovered Charleston: Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class
If you want a guided walking tour and cooking demonstration with a top Charleston chef, this is the tour for you.
Chef Forrest Parker, whom we have met, takes you on a chef exclusive walking tour focused on the influences of Lowcountry food in Charleston.
Together, you’ll get off the beaten path, visiting lesser-known places and people that have influenced Charleston history and food.
At the end of the walking food tour, you’ll stop at local bistro where Chef Forrest will prepare your delicious lunch along with wine pairings.
While cooking, you’ll be introduced to different local recipes as well as preparation tips to recreate the dishes at home.
Unlike other Charleston food tours, you’ll leave this culinary adventure with your own copy of recipes as a gift to take home.
There are no other chef-led tours in Charleston. This is one of the most unique tours that combines food history, cooking, and wine.
Cost: $250 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 4 hours. Tour starts at 9:00 am
Group Style: Group tour of a maximum of 12 people
5. Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour
Charleston, has a surprising street food scene. And, King Street, one of the prettiest and most historic streets has many street food culinary delights.
This Charleston Upper King street food tour takes you on a delicious street food hunt for 2.5 hours with a local guide.
As you eat iconic street food at celebrated restaurants across King Street, you’ll learn about their history from your knowledgeable guide.
You’ll savor a wide variety of dishes, like mussels, barbecue, fried oysters, as well as authentic drinks like ginger beer.
You’ll also discover the unique mix of Polynesian and Asian-inspired dishes, that have made their way into the local culinary scene.
As you walk from one restaurant to another, your passionate tour guide will make sure you fully experience the melting pot of South Carolina tastes.
This is one of the best Charleston culinary tours for street food lovers.
Cost: $95 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 2.5 hours. Tour starts at 3:00 pm
Group Style: Small group tour of a maximum of 8 people
RELATED: 74 Street Food Quotes To Inspire The Adventurous Eater in You
6. Downtown Charleston Food Tour
While Downtown Charleston is steeped in history, it is also a vibrant and dynamic area that seamlessly blends the old with the new.
This mouthwatering 2.5 hours Downtown Charleston food tour dives deep into this old historic district.
You will visit iconic places like the City Market and the French Quarter as you savor the flavors of the Lowcountry.
While strolling on some of the oldest streets in America, you’ll learn the history of the region and traditional Lowcountry cuisine.
In total, you’ll visit four renowned local restaurants for absolutely delicious traditional dishes. And, at each stop discuss Charleston’s history, past and present.
This Downtown Charleston food tour explores the city’s gastronomic scene in a friendly and fun way.
Cost: $95 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 2.5 hours. Tours start at 10:00 am, 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Group Style: Group tour of a maximum of 12 people
7. Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour and Chef’s Challenge
This gastronomic journey is one of the most unique Charleston culinary tours.
This Charleston Farm-to-Table food tour and chef’s challenge combines a market visit, city tour, and chef-made meal all in one.
This farm-to-table experience starts out at a neighborhood farmers market with a local chef. Together, you’ll select seasonal Lowcountry ingredients for a multi-course lunch.
While the chef heads back to the kitchen to prepare your amazing lunch with the farm fresh produce, your walking tour begins.
Along with a knowledgeable local guide, you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the Cannonborough Elliotborough neighborhood.
This neighborhood, the “gateway to the Peninsula,” is a unique part of the city with a burgeoning food scene.
When the walking tour ends and after “walking up” an appetite, you’ll reunite with the chef for a farm-to-table lunch.
This absolutely fantastic multi-course lunch with the fresh ingredients you picked up earlier, will be the highlight of the experience.
For a unique farm-to-table experience, this is one of the best food tours in Charleston SC to take.
Cost: $99 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 3.5 hours. Tour starts at 11:00 am
Group Style: Group tour of a maximum of 12 people
8. Charleston History and Hops Tour: Bar and History Walk
If you enjoy sipping your way through a city, this Charleston food tour combines history with drinks in the French Quarter district.
Spend 2-hours on this Charleston History and Hops tour, exploring Charleston’s cobblestone streets, historic homes, and several cultural landmarks.
The first stop on your walking tour will be at a local bar where you’ll enjoy appetizers and purchase beers or mixed drinks.
At a second bar, you’ll sip some more drinks accompanied by stories about the Prohibition era and its influence in Charleston.
Charleston’s rich history will captivate you, as your tour guide regales you with stories about ghosts at a dungeon stop.
It will feel like you are out with a friend due to your guide’s knowledge and passion for Charleston.
Even though the cost of drinks is not included in your tour price, the fun experience with your guide makes it worthwhile.
Cost: About $32 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 2 hours. Tour starts at 1:00 pm
Group Style: Small group tour of a maximum of 10 people
9. Charleston Brewery Tour
Charleston’s craft beer scene is thriving and one fun thing to do in Charleston is to take a brewery.
This 4-hour Charleston brewery tour will have you sip from some of the best craft beers in the city.
You’ll visit three popular beer producers in Charleston. And, at each brewery stop savor four distinctive beer flavors.
Over the course of your brewery tour, you’ll learn about the history of beer, the brewing process, and the booming craft beer scene in Charleston.
This brewery tour provides bottled water and snacks throughout the entire experience, along with a lot of fun.
Discover a different side of Charleston on an exciting brewery-tasting tour.
Cost: About $89 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 4 hours. Tour starts at 12:30 pm
Group Style: Group tour of a maximum of 12 people
10. Wine Sippin’, Tea Drinkin’ & Tree Huggin’ Tour: The Wadmalaw Adventure
Spend an incredible day in nature on Wadmalaw Island in rural Charleston.
This unique Wine Sippin’, Tea Drinkin’ & Tree Huggin’ 4.5-hour tour focuses on three unique culinary experiences on the gorgeous Wadmalaw Island.
Transportation is provided, and once you arrive on the Island, you will begin your journey at the Angel Oak Park.
Here you will see the Angel Oak tree, one of the oldest trees East of Mississippi, more than 500 years old.
Next, you’ll visit the only tea garden in North America and learn about tea production in Charleston. Also included is a trolley tour of the tea and a tasting of hot or cold tea.
The last stop on this culinary adventure is dedicated to wine lovers. You’ll visit Deep Water Vineyard for wine tastings.
There is also a food truck available where you can purchase delicious local food to have with your fine wine.
This Wadmalaw adventure tour is perfect for nature lovers who want to spend in picturesque scenery outside of historic Charleston.
Cost: About $135 per person
Time and Length of Tour: Approximately 4.5 hours. Tours start from 11:00 am and 12:00 pm
Group Style: Small group tour of a maximum of 10 people
What to Consider When Choosing a Food Tour in Charleston SC?
Food tours in Charleston may seem pretty similar, but the experiences they offer are all unique.
Before booking any Charleston culinary tours, here are some considerations you may want to think about.
What Kind of Charleston Food Tour Experience Do You Want
Before booking your food tour take a note of your preferences and desired experience you would like to have.
Do you want to visit a specific neighborhood or enjoy a general overview of Charleston?
Do you prefer a morning or an afternoon walking tours?
Are you more interested in a culinary tour focused on Lowcountry cuisine or do you want to explore the bars and beer scene?
Would you prefer a private Charleston food tour? Or, meeting new people in a group tour experience?
Once you’ve noted your preferences simply select the tour that best Charleston culinary tour.
That meets your need.
What Is Your Budget for Your Charleston Food Tour
Another important aspect in your Charleston food tours planning process is the budget.
The best food tours in Charleston range in price from $32 to $250 per person.
Depending on your group size, you may be able to negotiate discounted rates.
On a positive note, all these tours have a free cancellation policy up to 24 to 72 hours before the event.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Make your culinary travels worry-free! With the right travel insurance, you’ll enjoy a delicious experience. From medical emergencies, flight cancelations, car rental protection, or tour cancelations, a good travel insurance has got you covered. Check out our travel insurance review for food lovers to get started.
Have you taken food tours in Charleston SC before? Please let us know in the comments below.
Savor the Adventure!
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Rosemary is the editor-in-chief and strategist at Authentic Food Quest.
Traveling slow since 2015 with her partner, Claire, she has explored the cuisine in 45 countries and more than 240+ culinary cities.
Her writing about local food specialties has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post.
As a food and travel writer, Rosemary has co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
Rosemary is an avid runner when she’s not eating and exploring new destinations. She has run ten marathons and counting.
Before Authentic Food Quest, Rosemary held senior-level strategy positions in advertising.
Find out more about Authentic Food Quest