Toronto Food Tour: St. Lawrence & Distillery District

What do you eat first in a city you've never seen before?

You walk through St. Lawrence Market tasting peameal bacon, poutine, and pasta, then move to the Distillery District's cobblestone streets for galleries and boutiques, finishing with a Nanaimo bar and butter tart. The private format means flexible start times and dietary accommodation if arranged in advance, all wrapped in just over three hours of walking through Toronto's food neighborhoods.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore St. Lawrence and Distillery District

• Visit St. Lawrence Market
• Taste local culinary offerings
• Walk cobblestone streets in Distillery District
• Explore galleries and artisan shops
• Sample Toronto's local delicacies

The experience

That's the question that lands you in St. Lawrence Market on a Toronto food tour, where the answer changes depending on who you ask. The market's been standing since 1803, and it still smells like fish, fresh bread, and the kind of place where locals actually shop instead of tourists just passing through. Your guide takes you past the stalls and into the rhythm of it: stopping for a peameal bacon sandwich, which is a thing Toronto does that nowhere else quite does the same way, then moving through tastings that build on each other. Poutine comes next, then pasta with proper sauce, and by the time you're holding a Nanaimo bar (the famous Canadian dessert that tastes like it was invented specifically to end a food tour), you're three hours in and the city has started to make sense through what it eats.

After St. Lawrence, the tour shifts to the Distillery District, a pedestrian-only neighborhood with cobblestone streets and Victorian-era brick buildings that somehow feel both preserved and lived-in. It's quieter than the market, more gallery and boutique than bustle, and the walking gives you space to actually taste what you've eaten instead of rushing to the next stop. You'll pass local shops and artisan spaces: the kind of places that exist because someone decided Toronto needed them, not because a chain expanded here. The tour wraps with a butter tart, which is another Canadian thing that tastes simple until you actually have a good one, and then you understand why people have opinions about it.

This is a private tour, which means the schedule bends to you instead of the other way around. Start times are flexible, dates open up when you need them to, and if you have dietary requirements, you contact ahead and they work it out. The whole thing runs a little over three hours, and you'll want comfortable walking shoes because some of it is outdoors and Toronto's weather doesn't apologize. Public transit is nearby if you need it, and the itinerary can shift based on what's actually available that day, which is how you end up with the real version of the tour instead of the one that was planned two months ago.

What’s included

• Peameal bacon sandwich.
• traditional poutine.
• pasta with Alfredo, pesto, or tomato sauce.
• Nanaimo bar (Canadian dessert).
• butter tart.
• the tour's signature Secret Dish.
• access to St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District's galleries and boutique shops.
• a private guide for the full 3+ hours.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday5 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 15:00

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “We'll meet at St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Across from Berczy Park, 27 Front St. E., Toronto. ON M5E 1B4”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Secret Food Tours

Is this one for you?Right for someone landing in Toronto with a free afternoon who wants to eat the city instead of just seeing it. The private format means you're not waiting for a group to gather, and the guide handles the stops so you're tasting instead of navigating.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the Toronto food tour?

A little over 3 hours of walking and tasting through both neighborhoods.

What's included in the food tour?

Peameal bacon sandwich, poutine, pasta with sauce, Nanaimo bar, butter tart, and a signature Secret Dish, plus entry to both St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District.

Can I book a specific time for the private tour?

Yes, start times are flexible and dates can open up based on your schedule. Contact ahead to arrange.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Contact the tour operator before booking to discuss your needs. Some restrictions can be accommodated, but it's best to confirm in advance since the food experience is central to the tour.

Is the Distillery District part of the same tour?

Yes, you explore both St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District on the same private tour, moving between them during the 3+ hours.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour involves walking over cobblestone streets and some outdoor sections, so comfortable walking shoes are essential. Wear layers appropriate to Toronto's weather.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes, public transit options are available near both neighborhoods if you need them.

Can the itinerary change?

Yes, the itinerary and menu may shift based on restaurant availability, weather, and other circumstances on the day.