If you’re after sunshine, laidback vibes, and a city on the sea, San Diego is hard to beat.
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Sure, Florida has a similar vibe, along with other Californian beach towns—but San Diego has a balance of metropolitan flair, historic haunts, and a shockingly small-town vibe for its size. In other words, you can wander more than a few surprising trails when you visit. (Don’t forget about its world-class zoo!)
And while most visitors are focused on exploring the city by water, you don’t need to leave land behind to take on some of San Diego’s more memorable pursuits. For example, did you know that the city is one of the country’s microbrewery capitals? And also one of its top Mexican and Tex-Mex food scenes?
In short, if you visit San Diego, you should make sure to come hungry. Not only can you gorge yourself on delicious tacos and enchiladas, but you can wash it all down with some of the crispiest small-batch brewed beers in the country. Don’t worry—that’s just the start. San Diego is also home to a Little Italy and, outside the city, sprawling vineyards serviced by motorcycles with sidecars.
Here’s how to take a bite out of local culture on the best brewery and food tours in San Diego, California.
Food tours in San Diego’s Gaslamp District
- Gaslamp Quarter Food & Drink Tour: Head out on a 2.5-hour walking tour that introduces you to San Diego’s former red light district and its best eats. This tour includes a blend of history and food stops, letting you take on one of San Diego’s most colorful neighborhoods while filling your stomach.
- Gaslamp Quarter + Downtown Food Tour: This three-hour tour is similar ot the last. You’ll enjoy a blend of historic tales and factoids as you crisscross the Gaslamp District to sample its most popular eats. Expect to eat a lot and walk a lot, so wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
- Gaslamp Food Tour with 6 Modern Tastings: Want a more fine dining take on the Gaslamp District? This 3.5-hour tour includes six tastings at six different venues. Consider it a guided, curated food journey more than a simple food tour. Foodies, welcome!
Food tours in San Diego’s Little Italy
- Little Italy Wine Tasting Tour: If you enjoy wine tastings, this three-hour tour gives you a lay of the land when it comes to Little Italy’s best blends. You’ll visit three locations where you can sample wines from California and Italy. Small bites are also included, from pizza to meatballs.
- Little Italy Food & Drink Walking Tour: This carb-forward tour runs for 2.5 hours, introducing you to Little Italy’s most beloved restaurants. Expect to learn about history along the way, as your guide will break down the neighborhood’s layered history as you venture to four distinct eateries. Two of those visits come with wine or beer.
- Pizza & Gelato Walking Tour in Little Italy: Here’s a two-hour tour that showcases Little Italy’s best pizza and its top gelato spot. You’ll enjoy multiple pizza tastings as you cut into the heart of Little Italy, then top things off with a sweet treat. Along the way, you’ll hear about local legends and other neighborhood stories.
- Taste of Little Italy San Diego: Here’s a heavy-hitting 3.5-hour tour that takes you to San Diego’s most hidden Italian specialty restaurants. Aside from introducing you to the best food in Little Italy, you’ll also hear about its history and even its architecture.
5 other food tours in San Diego
- Downtown Food & Drink Tour: Take on San Diego’s foody and drinking scene with this three-hour tour that visits four to five local eateries and bars in the burgeoning East Side. You’ll sample a bit of everything on this tour, from cocktails to small brewery beers and other homegrown projects that have begun to occupy the East End’s once-empty warehouses.
- Old Town San Diego Walking Food Tour: Eat your way through Old Town San Diego on this 2.5-hour tour. As you pass attractions like El Campo Santo Cemetery and Whaley House, you’ll hear about the area’s history… and its ghosts. That’s right—this is a history-forward walking tour that also includes taco and tequila tastings.
- Sweet Treats of San Diego Tour: Bring your sweet tooth to this two-hour tour. You’ll need it as you explore San Diego and Little Italy’s best donut, pastry, and coffee shops. Every stop offers a unique experience and ambiance. But it’s the sweet treats that will blow you away—they’re made by San Diego’s top confectionary experts.
- Private San Diego Food Tour: This 3.5-hour Secret Food Tours adventure gives you a well-balanced taste of the city. You’ll try out local favorites like fish tacos, the famous Melt Burger, and a super-secret dish. With each bite, you’ll learn about San Diego’s culture and history.
- Taco Tuesday Hop to Tijuana: San Diego is close to the border with Mexico—and Tijuana is waiting just across it. You can actually book food tours in San Diego that take you south of the border into Tijuana and beyond. Here’s a six-hour tour that takes you to Tijuana where you’ll sample its best street tacos—and still be back at your hotel for a nightcap later on.
Beer tours in San Diego
- North Park Beerucation Tour: Head to North Park, one of San Diego’s trendiest neighborhoods. There, you’ll embark on a three-hour tour headed by a local beer expert. Your guide will break down different styles of beer, how to pair them with bites, and plenty more. You’ll visit between three and four craft breweries, each of which offers samples.
- Private Beer Tasting Tour: This is a private, small-group tour that runs up to four hours, depending on your needs. You’ve got a designated driver, who will help put together an itinerary that suits your group’s brewing interests. Usually, the tour visits between three and five breweries and runs for about four hours. Again, you’ve got plenty of flexibility to ask for specific experiences.
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