There’s simply no city in the world like New Orleans: packed full of vibrant culture, interesting history, and an incomparable culinary scene that I was frankly surprised by!
If you’re going to choose one way to try and understand it, going on a food tour is your best bet. From the iconic gumbo bubbling about in legendary Creole kitchens to the mouthwatering beignets dusted with powdered sugar at the local cafes, there’s something for everyone here.
As you can imagine, there are a ton of different tours out there, but I’m here to bring you the absolute top New Orleans food tours out there today. Let’s jump right in!
Be sure to see our reviews of Swamp Tours, Plantation Tours and River Boat Dinner Cruises.
Best Food Tours in New Orleans
| New Orleans Combo Cocktail and Food History Tour | New Orleans Private Food Tour - Historic Culinary & Kitchen Adventure | New Orleans Food and History Walking Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Food & Cocktails Tour | Best Private Tour | Best Food & History Tour | |
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| Departure: | 115 Bourbon Street, New Orleans | 455 N Cityfront Plaza Dr, Chicago | 316 Chartres St, New Orleans |
| Start: | 2:00 PM | 12:30 PM | 1:00 PM |
| Duration: | 4 hours | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Includes: | Local guide, 4 cocktails, 8 samples, water, server/bar staff tips | Private guided tour, food tastings | Lunch, gratuities |
Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated New Orleans Walking Food Tours
- New Orleans Combo Cocktail and Food History Tour
- Private Food Tour – New Orleans Historic Culinary, Cocktail & Kitchen Adventure
- New Orleans Food and History Walking Tour
- New Orleans Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter with Small-Group Option
- Small-Group French Quarter Cocktail and Foodie Crawl
- New Orleans French Quarter Food Tour
- New Orleans Original Seafood Walking Tour of the French Quarter
New Orleans Food Tour Reviews
1. New Orleans Combo Cocktail and Food History Tour
- Duration: 4 hours
- Departure: Red Fish Grill, 115 Bourbon Street, New Orleans
- Departure Time: 2:00 PM
- Includes: Local guide, 4 cocktails, 8 samples, water, server/bar staff tips
Let’s start things off on the right foot, with one of the most exciting and educational tours of its kind. If you are the kind of person who really appreciates good cocktails and how they are paired with food, then this is the perfect tour for you.
The New Orleans: Combo Cocktail and Food History Tour is sure to ignite your taste buds and immerse you in the culinary treasures of past and present in this legendary city.
You’ll start out by meeting your guide and the rest of your group at Red Fish Grill, located in the popular French Quarter neighborhood. Take a seat and brace yourself for some alligator sausage (it’s surprisingly good and chicken-y) and the classic seafood gumbo the area is known for.
As you savor each bite, your guide will tell you all about the city’s rich colonial history that shaped the state’s gastronomic heritage.
I hope you like spicy, because you’re going to head over to Pepper Palace and learn about the fiery depths of Cajun influence in Louisiana. Sample an array of different hot sauces, BBQ sauces, and dry rubs that will open your eyes to new flavors.
If you find one that you particularly like, they even gift you a bottle of authentic sauce which is a pretty cool souvenir.
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Next up, it’s time to satisfy your sweet tooth at Leah’s Pralines: a family-owned candy store where you’ll get to try traditional pralines, and their incredible bacon pecan brittle! Perfectly combining sweet and salty, I highly recommend grabbing some to take with you.
Next up is the Napoleon House restaurant, where you’ll get to try the muffuletta sandwich, a side of Creole jambalaya, and wash it down with a Pimm’s Cup!
Then, head on over to Dicki Brennan’s Tableau where you’ll get to try the famous French 75 (perfect if you usually like mimosas). These are made with champagne (alternatively, gin or brandy), fresh lemon, and simple syrup.
Then, take a relaxing stroll to digest everything and end up at the James Beard-nominated Cane and Table for some curry pork skins, fried plantains, and a classic daiquiri.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. New Orleans Private Food Tour – Historic Culinary, Cocktail & Kitchen Adventure
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: 621 St Louis St, New Orleans
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM
- Includes: Guided tour, food tastings
If it’s your first time in New Orleans, this is one of the best ways to get the lay of the land. With the Private Food Tour – New Orleans Historic Culinary, Cocktail & Kitchen Adventure, you’ll get thrown into not only the most well-known, but the most authentic parts of the city.
If you’re looking for a fun environment with a unique experience, this has to be on your list! I loved that this was a very small group tour, meaning that we had full access to ask our guide any questions we may have had.
Not only that, but it felt like more of a genuine friend group that we could just have fun and enjoy everything with.
Start out by arriving at Omni Royal Orleans to meet your guide, who is incredibly personable and grew up in the French Quarter hospitality business with connections to various owners of these restaurants.
While the exact restaurants may not be the same every single time, this tour consistently offers a great way for newbies to learn about the best New Orleans has to offer. You’ll start out on a rooftop bar where you’ll get to try some local cocktails and enjoy a lively view of the city.
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After this, you’ll get to try all kinds of historic drinks and iconic plates of food that you may not have tried otherwise.
I love that our guide offered fascinating stories and relevant background info on each dish and drink, only enriching the experience to make it more special. He also had plenty of great recommendations for the rest of our time there, ensuring we only went to eateries that were worth it.
Throw in the behind-the-scenes tour of one of the restaurant kitchen, and it felt like we were in the company of longtime friends!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. New Orleans Food and History Walking Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: 316 Chartres St, New Orleans
- Departure Time: 1:00 PM
- Includes: Lunch, gratuities
Sure, you could do it yourself and just look up the best restaurants in New Orleans on Yelp or something. However, in my experience, if you really want to venture through the city’s vibrant culinary scene and history, you have to go on one of these tours.
The New Orleans Food and History Walking Tour seamlessly encapsulates both, allowing you to learn about the special culture and events which brings us to the iconic cuisine it boasts today.
If you’re planning on going out to lunch, why not instead take this lunchtime tour that will leave you much more satisfied and excited to be there? Start out in the French Quarter where you’ll meet your guide and set off over to the exciting Vieux Carre (Old Square).
The first stop of the day is at the 3rd Block Depot/SoBou, which is known for being one of the Commander’s Palace family restaurants.
As you chow down on some Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo, your guide will tell you and your group all about the varied history of the state’s local cuisine.
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Learn about how everyone from the Native American tribes to the West Africans and Europeans were required for its Creole cuisine to emerge, as well as the unique geography of the state that lends many of the ingredients to the dishes.
Next up, is Pepper Palace and Leah’s Pralines for plenty of spicy and sugary treats, respectively. If you’re looking for a top-notch souvenir, I suggest grabbing a bottle of hot sauce or some pralines for your loved ones!
Then, head on over to the lively Royal Street and the famous Bourbon Street before arriving at NOLA Poboys. Try both their renowned muffulettas and the po-boy sandwich before making your way to the Creole Cookery for Red Beans & Rice and Banana Foster Bread Pudding!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. New Orleans Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter with Small-Group Option
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: 600 Royal St, New Orleans
- Departure Time: 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM
- Includes: Food tastings from various French Quarter restaurants, fun and knowledegable guides, option to upgrade to small-group tour with no more than 12 guests
Perhaps you’re loving what you’ve been seeing from the other tours so far, but you’d like the ability to select an upgrade. If you’d like to upgrade to a small-group tour where you have a more personalized experience, this next tour is for you.
The New Orleans Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter with Small-Group Option is a 3-hour excursion that you can opt to have a personalized itinerary to venture through today!
Much like with the others, you’ll meet your guide in the very center of the legendary French Quarter and get ready to set off on a walking tour of some of the most renowned restaurants in the world, along with some hidden gems you may not otherwise have heard of.
When you start out, simply let your guide know any bits of history or dishes you’re particularly interested in and they’ll design your itinerary based around them!
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Of course, your tour will likely involve heading to a classic gumbo spot so you can learn about the background behind the dish and try it the way its best made.
Boudin Beignets are not one to miss, especially if you love sweets and baked goods! If you’re not a drinker it’s not a problem, though the popular local Pimms Cup cocktail is still fun to learn about either way.
I have to admit I was pretty full after I then tried the Creole brisket which was savory and sent my tastebuds straight to heaven.
Luckily, the walking portion of the tour kept me comfortable rather than bloated, and the thrilling historical accounts made it that much more entertaining!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Small-Group French Quarter Cocktail and Foodie Crawl
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: 12 French Market Pl, New Orleans
- Departure Time: 5:00 PM
- Includes: 4 food tastings, 4 cocktail tastings, 4 stops
Next up, we have the perfect small-group tour for those who really appreciate good food and good drinks.
There’s plenty of both with the Small-Group French Quarter Cocktail and Foodie Crawl, which will take you through centuries of architectural and culinary history in one of the most exciting ways possible.
Better yet, you get to create a customized itinerary with the help of your local, knowledgeable guide to ensure the perfect tour each time!
Meet your guide in the French Quarter and get ready to embark on a whirlwind adventure filled with cocktails and food that offer a crash course in the vibrant history of this legendary city.
Your guide will ask you and your private group questions to ensure everyone gets to experience a tour designed around them, before setting off through some hotspots and hidden gems that have only cemented New Orleans’ reputation as one of the most impressive foodie cities in the country.
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Throughout the tour, you’ll be sipping on some of New Orleans’ most celebrated cocktails – from Pimm’s Cup at the old Napoleon House to the intriguing concoctions of Cane and Table’s Havana-style eatery.
As this is a customized tour, not every stop is going to be the same, though each one will include 7 tantalizing food samples with authentic Cajuna and Creole flavors.
As you cruise through each location, your guide will offer up insider stories, famous historical events, and much more about each place as you pass by. I loved how our guide even helped us create a list of “favorites” to come back and explore more spots on our own!
I can’t recommend this tour enough, and it was a huge highlight of my New Orleans trip.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
6. New Orleans French Quarter Food Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Felix’s Oyster House at 739 Iberville Street
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM
- Includes: All food tastings
Whether you consider yourself a foodie or the nerdiest history buff out there, you’re sure to love the next tour we have for you.
The New Orleans French Quarter Food Tour will take you on a journey through the charming streets of the city for a culinary expedition you and the rest of your group are sure to love. A true homage to the foods that have made New Orleans come alive, you’ll feel like a local in no time!
Start off by meeting with your guide at Felix’s Oyster House where you’ll venture through the postcard-perfect Vieux Carre neighborhood, sure to captivate you by varied the aromas and flavors that define the city’s culinary scene.
Today, we’re going to be exploring 6 different New Orleans-style food establishments which I felt were very representative of its rich past and food scene unlike any other in the world.
Between each of these 6 stops, your local guide will regale you with tales of this neighborhood’s background, along with plenty of personal anecdotes that kept me laughing and captivated the entire time.
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If you’re an architectural nerd like I am, you’ll surely appreciate the beautiful 18th-century Spanish-style structures complete with bright colors, ornate iron balconies, and other intricate details that may come to mind when you think of New Orleans.
Enjoy 4 different restaurants for delicious food tastings spanning chargrilled oysters, a classic Nola PoBoy, and plenty of rich and soulful Cajun and Creole dishes that has left people with happy stomachs for centuries.
Two of the food tastings will take place on the sidewalk, which offers more of a “local” feel where you’ll munch on snacks as you soak in the bustling street’s ambiance.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
7. New Orleans Original Seafood Walking Tour of the French Quarter
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: 816 Decatur St, New Orleans
- Departure Time: 2:00 PM
- Includes: Visit 4 food eateries – serving the best Seafood in NOLA, Visit NOLA Poboy one of the first restaurants opened after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, Visit New Orleans’ oldest candy Shop with hand-dipped chocolates dating back to the 18th century, Lead by a professional tour guide
I know that not everyone likes seafood, but that just means that there’s more for the rest of us! If you’re a seafood lover, look no further because you have to go on this next adventure.
The New Orleans Original Seafood Walking Tour of the French Quarter takes advantage of Louisiana’s proximity to the water, offering you an incredible experience that hits some of the most famous restaurants and some local gems that most visitors don’t get to see.
This is yet another small-group tour which I think is almost essential if you are going on an intimate food tour through a neighborhood.
Start off by meeting your guide in the French Quarter, where you’ll make your first stop at The Court of Two Sisters.
This place is the only one in the entire city that offers daily jazz brunch, and is known for its absolutely gorgeous southern-style courtyard complete with beautiful fountain, Wisteria trees, and an interesting history of its own.
After enjoying a rich Creole seafood gumbo in the local tavern (as well as some local beers, if you wish), you’ll stroll over to the well-known NOLA Poboys.
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Try a delicious Shrimp Po-Boy with all the classic toppings and revel in this masterpiece between the bread. Next up is the exciting Bourbon Street not only known for its Mardi Gras madness, but for its Cornet Restaurant.
Home of the biggest balcony on Bourbon Street, it serves up genuine Cajun and Creole dishes with the spirit of jazz in each bite.
New Orleans Creole Cookery is a must for any visitor, and perfectly combines the past of the city with some new generation spirit! Char-grilled oysters and Shrimp Remoulade are absoluetly incredible here, and I recommend washing it down with the Voodoo cocktail!
No culinary journey is complete without a trip to Laura’s Candies, where you’ll try freshly-made Creole pralines and hand-dipped chocolates with a recipe that dates back hundreds of years!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
FAQs About New Orleans Food Tours
What foods will I sample on a food tour?
Gumbo: This hearty stew is made with a dark roux, stock, meat or seafood and vegetables like okra, celery, onion and bell peppers. When you think of New Orleans food, gumbo probably is the first food that comes to mind. Gumbo is a combination of French, African, Native American and Spanish cuisines.
Jambalaya: Probably the second food that comes to mind when thinking about New Orleans food. This rice dish is made with sausage, seafood and vegetables in a broth. Jambalaya is somewhat similar to paella and is a combination of Spanish and French cuisines. There are two main types of jambalaya to try: Creole, made with tomatoes and Cajun, that doesn’t.
Po’boy: The famous New Orleans sandwich is made with crusty French bread filled with fried seafood or meat, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise. Po’boys are a popular street food in New Orleans and have a history dating back to the early 1920s.
Muffuletta: The sandwich made with round Italian bread with layered sliced meats, cheeses and olive salad. Muffuletta is a specialty of the Central Grocery in the French Quarter and was created by Sicilian immigrants in the early 1900s.
Beignets: Deep-fried dough squares dusted with powdered sugar. Beignets are a French pastry that are served for breakfast or dessert. If you want to try one, the Cafe du Monde is famous for them.
Pralines: Candies made with sugar, cream, butter and pecans. Pralines are a great souvenir to bring back from New Orleans.
Are alcoholic beverages included in the tour price?
Some tours include drinks with the tour price but you should check the tour description before booking to see what drinks are included.
How much walking will there be on food tour?
You will be walking on all of the food tours between 0.5 to 1.5 miles with frequent stops along the way. The tours are usually leisurely, but you should wear comfortable shoes and dress according to the weather.
What if it rains?
Tours run rain or shine, unless there are severe weather conditions makes for a safety risk. It rains frequently in the summer so even if it’s sunny when you start, there is a good chance of getting rained on.
How long are the food tours?
Most of the food tours run from 3 to 4 hours, depending on how many restaurants you go to. A few of the food tours also combine other activities like a swamp boat tour or a plantation tour.
Foods Tasted
Tour Guides
Value
The New Orleans Combo Cocktail and Food History Tour is our Editors Choice for the best New Orleans food tour
