St. Lawrence Market food tour Toronto: 90 min with the founder

Seven Canadian tastes in 90 minutes, guided by the person who knows where to find them

A 90-minute walking food tour of Toronto led by Jusep Sim, founder of the award-winning Chopsticks+Forks, covering St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District with seven tastings at four stops — peameal bacon sandwich, Nanaimo bar, poutine with Montreal smoked meat, iced London Fog, and butter tart — with priority entry at each shop and no gratuities expected. The pace is flat and unhurried, built for families with children from age 3 and grandparents; vegetarian and pescatarian versions are available at booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Toronto food market and Distillery tour

• Begin walk at Sweetie Pie Bakery
• Taste two savory bites and alcohol-free cocktail
• Hear Distillery District history and stories
• Photograph cobblestone lanes and architecture
• Visit St. Lawrence Market stalls
• Taste peameal bacon sandwich and fresh seafood
• Enjoy a sweet treat at the market
• Tour ends in the middle of St. Lawrence Market

The Experience

St. Lawrence Market sits first on National Geographic's list of the world's top 10 food markets, ahead of London's Borough Market, and the walk begins here. Two hundred years of feeding Toronto means 120+ vendors under one roof, and Jusep moves stall to stall the way regulars shop — not as a tourist attraction that sells food, but as a working market that became an attraction by being excellent. You'll taste the market's signature peameal bacon sandwich with maple syrup at Carousel Bakery, a Nanaimo bar at Eve's Temptations, and a second sweet treat to finish. The hour here ends on purpose in the middle of the market, so guests who want to stay and shop — armed with a shortlist of what to carry home — can do that without the group waiting.

The walk then moves to the Distillery District, a pedestrian-only village of cobblestone lanes built on the bones of the Victorian-era Gooderham & Worts distillery, now called the largest collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America. Over the second hour, recent tastings have included poutine topped with Montreal smoked meat and an iced London Fog at Sweetie Pie Bakery, and a scotch butter tart at Tartistry — a flavour you'll find only in the Distillery. Between tastings, Jusep tells the story the buildings can't: how whisky built this corner of the city, why it fell silent, and how food brought it back to life. The cobblestone lanes photograph beautifully in every season, and the pace stays easy throughout.

You walk into each shop without waiting in line — Jusep knows the families behind the counters, which is the difference between eating at a market and being introduced to it. No money changes hands at the counters, and he doesn't accept gratuity; if you loved it, the suggestion is to spend it there, on the shops themselves. The whole walk covers just over a kilometre over 90 minutes, flat ground and an unhurried pace built for families with children and grandparents.

What’s included

• 90-minute guided walking tour with a Chopsticks+Forks Culinary Storyteller.
• seven tastings across four stops — peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery, Nanaimo bar at Eve's Temptations, poutine with Montreal smoked meat and iced London Fog at Sweetie Pie, and scotch butter tart at Tartistry.
• priority entry at every stop with no queues.
• all gratuities included.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Chopsticks and Forks

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling with children, grandparents, or anyone who prefers a slow pace and flat ground — the 90 minutes and easy walk make it work for families and mixed-age groups, and Jusep's connection to each shop means you're tasting food, not just eating it.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery?

The peameal bacon sandwich is St. Lawrence Market's signature dish — a Canadian classic that Anthony Bourdain and Emeril Lagasse both loved — served at Carousel Bakery with maple syrup.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour covers just over one kilometre across 90 minutes, split between St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District, with flat ground and an easy pace throughout.

Can I bring my children on this tour?

Children are welcome from age 3, and the tour is built for families — flat ground, an unhurried pace, and a menu picky eaters love. Children aged 2–12 book at a reduced rate.

What is the Distillery District?

The Distillery District is a pedestrian-only historic site and one of Toronto's largest collections of Victorian industrial architecture, built on the grounds of the former Gooderham & Worts distillery. Today it is home to galleries, artisan kitchens, and cobblestone lanes that photograph beautifully in every season.

Are vegetarian or pescatarian options available?

Vegetarian and pescatarian versions are available — just tell the operator when you book. The shops cook family recipes as they always have, so gluten, dairy, and nut allergies cannot be accommodated, and a vegan option is not offered.

Do I need to tip the guide?

Gratuities are not accepted — Jusep doesn't take tips. If you loved the tour, the suggestion is to spend it at the shops you visited.