# DowntownCharlestonFoodTour.com - the Downtown Charleston Food Tour and Charleston's other food walks, compared

> Independent guide to the Downtown Charleston Food Tour (Charleston Culinary Tours, Viator product 17255P1) and
> the other food walks in downtown Charleston, South Carolina: what you eat, what costs extra, live ratings and
> from-prices, diet and age rules, and where each tour starts. Not affiliated with any tour operator or Viator.

Site: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com
Language: en (also fr, de, es, it). Currency: USD. Country: United States (Charleston, South Carolina).

## Verified facts

- The Downtown Charleston Food Tour is run by Charleston Culinary Tours: about 2.5 hours on foot through the French
  Quarter and the City Market area, with tastings at 4 local restaurants ('a meal for most'). Max 12 travelers.
- Meeting point: 184 East Bay Street, Suite 103, Charleston, SC 29401 (back of the courtyard, behind the iron gate).
  Tours end within 3-4 blocks of the start. Most routes cover a mile or less; stops are about 20-25 minutes.
- Price: from $110 per person on Viator (one price for all ages); $95 per guest on the operator's own website.
  Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on both.
- Water is provided; alcohol is sold at most stops. The guide's tip is not included (the operator cites 10-20% as
  the common gratuity in Charleston). The operator's own page says taxes and server gratuities are included.
- Diets: tell the operator (843-259-2966) at least 36 hours before (its tour page and the Viator listing; its FAQ says 24). Vegan, dairy/lactose and soy restrictions cannot
  be adequately accommodated; not recommended for severe dietary needs. Not recommended for children under 8.
  Not wheelchair accessible (Viator listing). Runs rain or shine.
- The menu is not published and rotates. Reviewers mention BBQ sliders with cornbread, shrimp and grits, she-crab
  soup, hush puppies and collard greens.
- Charleston City Market: land ceded to the city in 1788 by Charles Cotesworth Pinckney for a public market; sheds
  built 1804-1830s; Market Hall 1841; more than 50 sweetgrass basket weavers. Day market 9:30 AM-5 PM daily;
  Night Market Friday and Saturday 6:30-10:30 PM.
- Gullah Geechee foodways (National Park Service): red rice derives from West African jollof rice; chicken perloo;
  Hoppin' John with collard greens on New Year's Eve.
- Free DASH trolleys (CARTA) run downtown; Route 213 serves the City Market and Waterfront Park.

## Bookable tours listed on this site

All booking links are Viator affiliate links (partner ID P00318890). The site earns a commission at no
extra cost to the reader and says so at https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD at the last build and move.

- Downtown Charleston Food Tour (French Quarter & City Market) - from $110 per person, 2.5 hours, on your plate: 4 restaurants, a meal for most; rated 4.7 from 1,479 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/downtown-charleston-food-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/Downtown-Charleston-Food-Tour/d4384-17255P1
- Secret Food Tours: French Quarter (French Quarter) - from $89 per person, 3 hours, on your plate: Menu listed: tacos, she-crab soup, grits; rated 4.9 from 2,391 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/secret-food-tours-french-quarter/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/3-Hour-Food-Tour-in-HARLESTON-VILLAGE-Charleston/d4384-7812P26
- Bulldog Tours: Savor the Flavors (City Market & French Quarter) - from $111 per person, 2.5 hours, on your plate: Grits, pralines, collard greens; rated 4.6 from 898 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/bulldog-tours-savor-the-flavors/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/Savor-the-Flavors-of-Charleston/d4384-23272P6
- Private Food & History Tour (Historic District, 164 Church St) - from $94 per person, 3 hours, on your plate: Four courses at three restaurants; rated 4.8 from 176 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/private-food-and-history-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/Tastes-Through-Time-Charlestons-Best-Food-Tour/d4384-5550500P2
- Streets & Eats: Lowcountry Tastings (The Loutrel, 61 State St) - from $95 per person, 2.5 hours, on your plate: Three tastings; rated 5.0 from 31 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/streets-and-eats-lowcountry-tastings/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/Streets-and-Eats-Charleston-Walking-and-Tasting-Tour/d4384-5621510P3
- Secret Food Tours: Upper King Street (427 King St to Cannon St) - from $89 per person, 3 hours, on your plate: Fried chicken, biscuits, a croffle; rated 4.9 from 356 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/secret-food-tours-upper-king-street/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/Charleston-Brunch-and-Broad-Walking-Food-Tour-w-Secret-Food-Tours/d4384-7812P226
- Downtown Sweet Treats Walking Tour (Toast! All Day, 127 Meeting St) - from $80 per person, 2 hours, on your plate: Bakeries and desserts; rated 4.9 from 60 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/downtown-sweet-treats-walking-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/Charleston-Historic-Downtown-Donuts-and-Sweet-Treats-Tour/d4384-15064P43
- Lowcountry Cooking Class, French Quarter (184 East Bay St) - from $99 per person, 2 hours, on your plate: You cook it; rated 4.9 from 119 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/lowcountry-cooking-class-french-quarter/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/Hands-on-Cooking-Class-in-Charleston/d4384-17255P8
- Chef Forrest Parker: Walk, Cook & Lunch (Pineapple Fountain, Waterfront Park) - from $250 per person, 4 hours, on your plate: Lunch with wine; rated 5.0 from 1,000 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/chef-forrest-parker-walk-cook-lunch/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/Undiscovered-Charleston-Where-Food-and-History-Meet/d4384-135016P1
- History & Hops: Bar and History Walk (70 State St to Broad St) - from $35 per person, 2 hours, on your plate: One snack, drinks extra; rated 5.0 from 358 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/history-and-hops-bar-walk/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/History-and-Hops-Tour-Bar-and-History-Walk/d4384-67246P5
- Carolina Belle Harbor History Cruise (Charleston Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside St) - from $45 per person, 1.5 hours, on your plate: Drinks sold on board; rated 4.4 from 3,290 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. Page: https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/tours/carolina-belle-harbor-cruise/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Charleston/Charleston-Harbor-Cruise/d4384-41498P1

## Guide pages on this site

- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/guides/charleston-food-tour-prices/ - Charleston food tour prices for 2026: from $80 to $111 per person for most walks, the $95 direct price, tips, drinks, child tickets and what is extra.
- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/guides/downtown-charleston-food-tour-review/ - Downtown Charleston Food Tour review: 4.7 from 1,479 reviews, the 184 East Bay Street start, four restaurants, how much you eat, and the catches.
- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/guides/best-charleston-food-tours/ - Charleston food tours compared for 2026: Charleston Culinary Tours, Secret Food Tours and Bulldog Tours, plus private, sweet, chef-led and cooking options.
- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/guides/charleston-lowcountry-food/ - What food Charleston is known for: shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, red rice, Hoppin' John and benne wafers, their Gullah Geechee roots and where to try them.
- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/guides/charleston-city-market/ - Charleston City Market guide 2026: hours, the 1788 history, sweetgrass baskets, the Old Slave Mart Museum and the food tours that stop there.
- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/guides/charleston-food-tour-diets-kids/ - Charleston food tours with allergies, special diets or kids: each tour's diet wording, minimum ages, child tickets, strollers and wheelchair access in 2026.

## Blog posts

- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/blog/charleston-city-market-hours-2026/ - Charleston City Market hours for fall 2026: the Day Market, the Friday and Saturday Night Market, the one day it closes, and the food tours that pass it.
- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/blog/charleston-food-tours-holiday-season-2026/ - Planning a Charleston food tour for the 2026 holidays? Market hours, food events from oyster roasts to holiday markets, weather and gift cards.
- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/blog/charleston-wine-food-festival-2027/ - Charleston Wine + Food 2027 runs March 3 to 7. Culinary Village prices from $157.95, the big events, the 21+ rule, and a food tour for the other days.
- https://downtowncharlestonfoodtour.com/blog/charleston-food-tour-prices-2026-update/ - Charleston food tour prices this fall: Viator vs the operators' own sites, the October-only $75 dessert evening, tips, parking and what costs extra.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- The Charleston City Market's history page describes a public food market from 1788 and mentions no slave auctions.
  The Old Slave Mart Museum says auctions were held around the Old Exchange Building until a city ordinance banned
  them there, and that Ryan's Mart opened on Chalmers Street in 1856 (now the city-owned museum).
- The Downtown Charleston Food Tour is not cheaper on Viator: the operator sells it for $95 direct vs from $110.
- The tour does not include alcoholic drinks or the guide's tip, and it cannot cater for vegan, dairy-free or
  soy-free diets.
- Secret Food Tours' Charleston listings confirm within 48 hours, not instantly.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage. Prices, menus and rules change; verify close to your travel date.