food tours tucson

Book our Tucson Foodie Insider Private Tour here!

Tucson Food Tours

Come along with us for a taste of tucson, let’s have an adventure.

Visiting tourists and locals agree that our Tucson food tours are an exciting way to learn about this trendy and vibrant downtown area. On our tour, you sample food from at least six local restaurants. Guides point out architectural highlights, cultural sites, and great local shops along the way. This tasty tour is a great introduction to Tucson!

Tucson Foodie Insider Private Tour

Experience the ultimate culinary journey as Tucson Foodie teams up with Tucson Food Tours to offer a unique private food tour for the Tucson Insider’s.

• Now Booking
• Hour Glass 4 Hours

Downtown Tucson Tour

Learn about this trendy and vibrant downtown area! Eat, drink, and explore Tucson.

Main Gate/4th Ave Tour

Enjoy entertaining stories about Main Gate Square & 4th Ave’s rich history & culture and savor samples from eclectic restaurants.

• Hour Glass Custom

Private Events

We love to cater to groups who are looking for a more intimate food tour experience.

• Hour Glass 3.5 Hours

Brewery Tour

We will explore some of the best breweries in Tucson, and try some of the beers and spirits they produce. The tour starts with a small snack as well.

The Original Food Tour Since 2012

Rated Tucson’s #1 tour activity and a great way to get a taste of Tucson. We are Tucson’s original walking food tour where you not only get a combination of delicious foods and beverages, but a little history of Tucson along the way. This tour is one of the top things to do in Tucson and was designed to allow visitors, locals, and foodies to sample some of the hottest local foods and drinks in the area. Even people local to Tucson learn and taste new things that are unique to this wonderful city.

#1 Food & Drink Tour in Tucson

"The tour guide, Chris, is a real foodie and shares interesting stories of the City. A wonderful way to spend some time with friends in Tucson. Chris really made the experience. He is very welcoming and makes an effort to ensure everyone is enjoying themselves."

"Our guide, Chris, provided an excellent slice of Local History, as well as a diverse choice of food experiences. The establishments that we visited were locally owned. The owners greeted our group and personally allotted time to interact. Each offered a unique taste of Tucson."

"Our guide, Mike, was friendly, knowledgeable, and charismatic. He offered a plethora of information about the history of the area and the restaurants we visited, the foods they served, and he was on a first name basis with the owners. Each restaurant served a sample of their best, unique or favorite dish for us to sample. We enjoyed the experience."

"A great way to spend an afternoon in Tucson. Our guide, Firefighter Mike, was knowledgeable, friendly and an all-around terrific guide. The food was delicious - his knowledge of the neighborhood was greatly appreciated and served to increase our enjoyment of the food."

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Food & Drink Tours

Have more fun, more food, and make new foodie friends on a culinary, brewery, or winery tour. 

Tucson's culinary tours combine experiences at independent restaurants, local farms, wineries, breweries, and artisanal food and drink establishments. This is your opportunity to discover the flavors, cultures, and diverse neighborhoods that make Tucson a remarkable culinary destination.

In addition to being a UNESCO City of Gastronomy , Tucson has earned a reputation as one of the fastest-growing craft beer destinations in the country. Uncover hidden gems across the city, where bars and tapooms showcase innovative brews infused with local flavors and native ingredients.

Embark on a journey to Southern Arizona's renowned wine-growing regions—Sonoita-Elgin-Patagonia in Santa Cruz County and Willcox in Cochise County.  The first vineyards in Arizona (and among the first in the country) were planted in the 17th century by Franciscan missionaries. During Prohibition in 1914, they were forced to stop production. Today, local winemakers benefit from optimal climate and soil conditions, creating the perfect environment for grape cultivation. Take a tasting tour and witness firsthand the legacy of Arizona's first vineyards, surrounded by picturesque landscapes.

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Book A Tour

Join us for our welcome back tour.

We offer three Historic Downtown tours a week: every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Tours will kick off at 1pm and include a 2.5 hr historic walking tour, tastings at 3 restaurants, and a ride on the modern streetcar.

To celebrate our 10th Anniversary together, book a tour in the month of March, and get 10% off your purchase.

And Gift Boxes!

We Offer Gift Cards

(520) 904 2119 |

[email protected] |

Join us for our Historic Downtown Tour!

Tucson's Historic Downtown Food Tour combines architectural commentary, history, local culture, including murals, a ride on the modern streetcar, 3 pre-selected small plate meals and dessert, as part of this culinary insight on this experience. The food served will be plenty for lunch. Learn about the past, present and future of this beautiful American Southwest city known for its 360 days of sunshine.

This tour begins at The Mercado where we board the streetcar and ride it downtown. At the end of the tour, we ride the streetcar back to The Mercado.

*Gratuity not included but greatly appreciated.

*If a date does not appear on the calendar it has been SOLD OUT.

We welcome a maximum of 12 guests on this tour. Tours with less than 4 guests will be rescheduled or refunded.

Contact Us for Information about Private Group Tours.

Want to purchase a gift card? Purchase Here

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Tucson Food Tour - Secret Food Tours

Tucson is well known for its hot weather and tourist attractions. Not everyone realizes it also has a rich and diverse food culture that you can explore through these amazing food tours.

Tucson is a paradise for food lovers who crave the flavors of the Southwest. Whether you want to dine al fresco at a lively Mercado, or taste the creations of a local legend, Tucson has something for every palate. On Tucson’s Secret Food Tour, you’ll discover the dishes made with fresh ingredients grown in the region and visit hidden gems that only the locals know. Don’t miss this chance to explore Tucson’s culinary scene and savor every bite.

Join Secret Food Tours on a food tour through downtown Tucson. You'll dine in a number of locally owned restaurants, trying some of their signature dishes.

Our Secret Tours Tucson, you’ll discover the dishes made with fresh ingredients grown in the region and visit hidden gems that only the locals know. Don’t miss this chance to explore Tucson’s culinary scene and savor every bite.

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• Group & Private Tours
• South Korea
• Rio De Janerio
• Czech Republic
• Stockholm New
• Belfast NEW
• Copenhagen NEW
• Palermo NEW
• Netherlands
• San Sebastián NEW
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Los Angeles
• Philadelphia
• Portland, Oregon
• Washington D.C.
• San Francisco
• Houston NEW
• Mexico City

Tucson is well known for its hot weather and tourist attractions. Not everyone realizes it also has a rich and diverse food culture that you can explore through these amazing food tours.

Tucson is a paradise for food lovers who crave the flavors of the Southwest. Whether you want to dine al fresco at a lively Mercado, or taste the creations of a local legend, Tucson has something for every palate. On Tucson’s Secret Food Tour, you’ll discover the dishes made with fresh ingredients grown in the region and visit hidden gems that only the locals know. Don’t miss this chance to explore Tucson’s culinary scene and savor every bite.

Explore our Tucson Food Tours

Secret Food Tours: Tucson

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• New York City
• Rio de Janerio

Tucson Food Tours

Category: Event Calendar

Date and Time for this Past Event

• Saturday, Nov 7, 2020    11am - 3pm

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Tucson Food Tours- Featured in the book "100 Things You Must Do In Tucson Before You Die" Come see what makes Tucson a gastronomic capital of North America with the number one tour in Tucson! Enjoy local restaurants and history, as your guide takes you on a 2 mile walking excursion through some of the most interesting places to dine in Downtown and 4th Avenue.

Visitors and locals alike have been enjoying these tours for over 8 years. It's a great way to spend the day with out of town guests, a birthday, anniversary, date, or team building event. Gift certificates are available too! Visit tucsonfoodtours.com to sign up for a tour

We are currently featuring a hybrid of our downtown and 4th avenue tours, highlighting restaurants that have reopened and history from both areas.

Food Tour of Tucson Highlights Include: * Insider’s look at 5 locally owned businesses * Entertaining stories of Downtown and 4th Ave’s rich history and culture * Visit restaurants featured on Food Network * Learn how Tucson became the first city in the US to be recognized as a UNESCO World City of Gastronomy. * All tastings (enough for lunch), water, and a personal guide. Location: Exact meeting spot will be emailed to you upon reservation confirmation What to Bring: Please wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen Note: Tours with less than four people will be rescheduled or refunded.

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Dine local and save, subscribe to our newsletter, tucson food tours celebrates 12 years of promoting local businesses, january 26, 2024.

By Matt Sterner

In a culinary celebration of a dozen years, Tucson Food Tours , owned by the dynamic local couple Brad and Maria Lawrence , is celebrating its 12th season of guiding locals and visitors through the vibrant gastronomic scene of Tucson.

Tucson Food Tours has gone above and beyond to showcase the best local places to eat, drink, and savor the culture of the city. Featured in the book “100 Things You Must Do In Tucson Before You Die,” Tucson Food Tours invites folks to discover what Tucson has to offer in the culinary world — there are different tours to choose from.

Check out Rita Connelly’s experience with Tucson Food Tours.

Brad and Maria Lawrence founded Tucson Food Tours out of their passion for the city, the outdoors, and great food, of course. Both of them even have more than 18 years of combined experience in the food and beverage industry.

“At Tucson Food Tours, we take great pride in our association with the top-notch restaurants in the downtown and Fourth Avenue/Main Gate Square areas of Tucson,” said Brad. “The extraordinary relationships cultivated with our restaurant partners over the past 12 years are the driving force behind the vibrant and exhilarating atmosphere that sets our tours apart as the finest in their category.”

Current Tour Options

• Downtown Tucson Tour
• Fourth Avenue/Main Gate Square Tour
• Brewery Tour

Private Events and Custom Tours

For those seeking a more personalized experience, Tucson Food Tours offers private events and custom tours. Whether it’s a brewery tour, an art and shopping excursion, a wine, beer, and spirits tour, or a progressive dinner tour, Tucson Food Tours can tailor an experience to suit your interests and needs.

For more information and to sign up for a tour, visit  tucsonfoodtours.com .

Tucson Foodie is a locally owned and operated community. Thanks to our partners and members , we are able to offer paywall-free guides and articles. We value your support and invite you to become a Tucson Foodie Insider today.

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Matt Sterner

At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a...

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An Essential Guide to Tucson, Arizona’s Burgeoning Arts and Culture Hub

By Chadner Navarro

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Tucson, Arizona is one of our Best Places to Go in the North America for 2024 , part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2024 —find more travel inspiration here .

The vast state of Arizona is a traveler’s paradise. Whether relaxing into a resort vacation in Scottsdale and Phoenix , soaking up the energy vortex of Sedona, or slipping through the swirling crevices of Antelope Canyon is what you seek, the Grand Canyon State (did you realize that most of the famed canyon is in AZ?) has plenty to thrill the modern jet set. But if you’re craving a city that will also fill you up with fantastic food and drink after wearing you out with thrilling outdoor pursuits, then you have to add Tucson to your Arizona itinerary. About 70 miles north of the Mexican border, Tucson’s tourism cache is growing rapidly thanks to its enchanting combination of experiences that can be savored year-round in the 350-plus days of annual sunshine. Did we mention that some of the country’s top wellness retreats and golf courses are located just on the outskirts of town, too? Tucson has something for everyone.

Saguaro National Park surrounds Tucson and is a great place to get a feel for the region's topography, whether you're hiking or biking.

What to do in Tucson: Golf, wine tasting, art

Located 70 miles from the Mexico border, the Tucson area is home to over 40 golf courses and features a mix of public, private, and municipal (often the most affordable) turfs. Tee enthusiasts have been coming to Tucson since the 1940s thanks to this variety of courses and the favorable weather. Every March since 2015, Tucson hosts the Cologuard Classic, a PGA TOUR Champions Tour event played on a Jack Nicklaus-designed course in the Santa Catalina Mountains. But the most picturesque course might be 18-hole Stone Canyon Club north of Tucson, which was ruggedly designed by architect Jay Morrish. You’ll appreciate the drama provided by the Catalina Mountains and the Sonoran desert. Think about it: lush fairway surrounded by towering saguaro cacti. But to get a real feel for Tucson’s unique desert topography, Saguaro National Park surrounds the city; you can ramp up the lever on the activity meter with either a hike or an adrenaline-pushing mountain-biking excursion. If you only have time for one day out, head northeast of central Tucson for Sabino Canyon, where over a dozen trails, verdant desert foliage, and various dams and creeks make it a beloved hiking destination.

Mountain biking is becoming more popular here, and the southwest’s stunning landscape. If you’re just starting out, scope out the terrain at the Sweetwater Preserve Trailhead in the eastern foothills of Tucson Mountains and Honeybee Canyon in the Oro Valley. Both feature relatively milder pitches that usually appeal to novices. More advanced riding awaits on Mount Lemmon. Expertise aside, you should hire a guide anyway to ensure a seamless and safe adventure. The folks at Homegrown are some of the most dedicated. Its owner Art is a founding member of the Tucson Off-Road Cyclists and Activists, a non-profit that advocates for the thoughtful development of Tucson’s trails. Speaking of terroir, southern Arizona has an exciting wine scene developing thanks to farmlands fertile enough to yield high-quality grapes. You’ll find many restaurants in town serving local bottles in their drink lists. To get up-close and personal with the vineyards and winemakers, however, take a day trip to Sonoita , a burgeoning wine country just 50 miles south of town. Tap Arizona Winery Tours to lead a customized private visit, but you definitely don’t want to miss Los Milics , a newly launched winery from Pavle Milic, co-owner and wine expert at FnB , one of the best restaurants in Arizona. For more cultural exploits, you’ll want to explore Barrio Viejo, the largest barrio in the country. It was first established when Tucson was still part of Mexico, and it was the long-standing heart of life in the city. Today, Barrio Viejo, where you’ll find the largest collection of Sonoran adobe structures in the country, is going through some pretty significant changes as new projects (from bars and restaurants to hotels and galleries) open in these historic buildings. Tucson Presidio Museum leads a 90-minute walking tour ($30) of the neighborhood, during which you’ll learn not only of its history but also about the various businesses that call it home. For an extra $10, you can share a snack and a margarita with your guide following the tour to continue the conversation. Another landmark worth adding to your list of must-dos is the Mission San Xavier del Bac , which is located about 10 miles southwest of the city. It was founded in 1692 and the current building has been around since 1797 making it the oldest (and to many, the best-looking) colonial relic in the US. There are many world-class museums in Tucson (the Tucson Museum of Art turns 100 this year), but The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is a more unusual choice: It's hosting a whimsical exhibit on mini pencils until May 15, 2024.

Sand Reckoner’s Tucson tasting room is a great place to try local Arizona wines.

El Guero Canelo is famous for its Sonoran hot dog, where the dog is wrapped in bacon and loaded with beans, onions, tomatoes, and jalapeño sauce.

Where to eat and drink Tucson

El Charro Cafe , originally founded in 1922, is the country’s oldest family-owned Mexican restaurant, and it’s still among the most popular in Tucson. All three locations serve a robust menu of classics, from queso-stuffed rellenos to a variety of soft-shell tacos, but the must-order here is the Carne Seca platter. El Charro’s trademark dish, perfected over a hundred years now, orbits around angus beef that’s been marinated, sun-dried, shredded, and grilled before it’s plated with the works.

A James Beard American Classic, El Guero Canelo is famous for its Sonoran hot dog, which features a bacon-wrapped dog stuffed into a Mexico-made bun before it’s all loaded with beans, onions, tomatoes, and jalapeño sauce. Every week, James Beard winner Don Guerra’s Barrio Bread makes nearly 4,000 loaves all featuring local or heritage grains from the southwest. In their Tucson cafe, you can have your pick from countless styles, from a simple baguette to cinnamon-raisin and mesquite-flavored. You can also find a pan-Latin vegetarian and gluten-free meal at Tumerico , where the menu changes daily. One day you may get to try enchilada calabacita (stuffed with zucchini, squash, and other veggies); another day might feature a jackfruit taco.

Jessica Puckett

Alex Erdekian

Elsewhere, try Scott Girod’s wood-fired pizzas at Anello , largely considered by many to be the best pie purveyor in town. Girod was a protege of Chris Bianco, one of the country’s most celebrated pizza makers, and here, his Neapolitan-style creations are flavored with very Italian ingredients like guanciale and pistachio. There are a couple of other contenders for the people’s affections, including the newer operations at Penelope , where pizzas are unexpectedly drizzled with a tasty sauce: ranch, balsamic glaze, hot sauce, etc.

Foodies should also stop at Fat Boy sandos for Japanese-style sandwiches, Monsoon Chocolates ’ newly opened cafe and market for addictive bon-bons (the cocoa nib horchata is ace), and Houlden's , which supplies lots of local eateries with their cult-favored vegan pastries, but their new bakery gathers the greatest hits into one easy-to-binge location.

Wash everything down at Sand Reckoner’s Tucson tasting room , where you can try more Arizona wines. (The small vineyard is just outside Wilcox.) The crisp Malvasia is great for warm Tucson afternoons. For coffee, there are plenty to choose from in this city, but pop into EXO Roast Co. for their southwest-inspired beverages, the best of which is the eye-opening mesquite cold brew, which comes with a seriously drinkable savory-sweet profile.

The Leo Kent Hotel, Tucson, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is one of a couple new boutique hotels in the city, this one boasting glamorous interiors in a downtown setting.

Where to stay in Tucson

The city recently welcomed a couple of fantastic boutique hotels. At the foothills of the Catalina Mountain, The Eddy Hotel Tucson, Tapestry Collection by Hilton has 106 minimally decorated rooms whose colors mimic the stark hues of the surrounding desert. The small outdoor pool, where you’ll want to cool off when it gets too hot out, has become the social hub of the property. Just as new is The Leo Kent Hotel, Tucson, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel , where more glamorous interiors suit its downtown location. A soaring lobby crowned with a crystal chandelier, lots of dark wood surfaces, and southwest-inspired textiles (clock the carpet in the 145 rooms and suites) create a more city-slicker visual experience here. If you’d prefer a resort stay, you’ll be spoiled for choice in Tucson. But wellness enthusiasts shouldn’t forget that Canyon Ranch , a pioneer in the all-inclusive wellness travel space, founded its brand with a property here. This desert oasis may be known for its vast collection of results-oriented spiritual, health, and fitness programs designed by leaders in their fields, but you can also come to just relax by pool, indulge in some spa treatments, and tuck into some good-for-you meals.

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