Kuwait Food Tour in Kuwait City: Taste Local Dishes with a Guide

Camel meat is a staple in Kuwait, served at one of the country's best restaurants in Ardiya.

A six-hour food tour of Kuwait City led by a guide fluent in English and Arabic, visiting the Old Market (Souk Al-Mubarakiya) and specialty restaurants to taste traditional Kuwaiti dishes, regional sweets and camel meat. Pickup from your hotel is included, along with lunch, dinner, snacks and an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour suits all fitness levels and works for families with infants.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kuwaiti food and culture

• Visit Old Market (Souk Al-Mubarakiya)
• Try traditional Kuwaiti dishes like Machboos and Harees
• Eat Shawarma with various toppings
• Walk around Old Market to experience culture and history
• Visit sweet shop for traditional Kuwaiti desserts
• Enjoy camel meat dishes in Ardiya

The experience

Six hours takes you through Kuwait City's food culture starting with the Old Market, a historic souk dating back to the late 19th century. Your guide leads you past traditional restaurants and cafes, where the aroma of spices fills the air. You'll taste shawarma (meat marinated and cooked on a spit, shaved into pita with tomatoes, cucumbers and tahini), and machboos, a spicy rice dish with meat or chicken. The walk itself is the entry point: you move through the market on foot, stopping where the guide points out the stories behind what you're eating and the customs that shape how Kuwaitis eat.

The tour moves into sweets next, visiting a shop serving traditional Kuwaiti desserts like konafa, luqaimat (small dough dumplings in syrup), qatayef (pastry filled with cheese or nuts), and ghuraiba (saffron or cardamom shortbread). These are foods served on special occasions, and your guide explains when and why. Later you'll head to Ardiya to one of Kuwait's best restaurants serving camel meat: leaner than beef, higher in iron and zinc, and a delicacy in the region. The meal structure builds: snacks and coffee or tea during the market walk, then lunch and dinner at sit-down restaurants, so you're tasting rather than rushing.

Hotel pickup is included, and the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout. Your guide speaks English and Arabic, so cultural context comes in real time. Infants can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap. Service animals are welcome. The tour is designed for all fitness levels, though you'll be walking through the market and standing while tasting at various stops.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a live guide in English or Arabic.
• lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
• snacks, coffee and tea during the market walk.
• visits to the Old Market, a traditional sweet shop, and a camel meat restaurant in Ardiya.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 to 92 years) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kuwait Tour Guide

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or navigation to reach the Old Market and the restaurants beyond it. The guide handles the route and timing, so you can focus on the food and the stories behind it.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is machboos and where do I try it on this tour?

Machboos is a spicy rice dish with meat or chicken, a traditional Kuwaiti staple. You'll taste it at one of the restaurants in the Old Market during the early part of the tour.

Does the tour include meals or just tastings?

The tour includes both. You get snacks and coffee or tea during the market walk, then sit-down lunch and dinner at restaurants, so you're eating full meals alongside the guide's explanations of the food and culture.

What is Souk Al-Mubarakiya and why is it the starting point?

Souk Al-Mubarakiya, also called the Old Market, is one of Kuwait's oldest markets, dating back to the late 19th century and located in the heart of Kuwait City. It's where traditional Kuwaiti food culture is still alive: dozens of restaurants and cafes serve regional dishes, and the market itself (the sights, sounds and smells) is part of what you're experiencing.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in Kuwait City?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour price. The guide will collect you from your accommodation and return you there at the end of the six hours.