Asheville Food Tours: Downtown tastings with local guides

Taste your way through Asheville's restaurant scene with guides who know every chef in town

Asheville Food Tours is a guided tasting tour through Downtown Asheville Arts District with 6 to 8 stops at local restaurants, lasting 3 to 3.5 hours. The guides (Paddy, Stu Helm and Sarah Ray) have deep ties to the restaurant community and lead the same tours year after year, which means the tastings stay consistent and the relationships with chefs stay strong. Alcohol is included at no extra cost, and the portions across all stops add up to a full meal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided food tasting tour in Asheville

• Walk through Downtown Asheville Arts District
• Listen to stories about Asheville's history
• Visit multiple restaurants and meet chefs
• Taste various local foods

The experience

The tour moves through the Downtown Asheville Arts District on foot, stopping at restaurants between walks where the guide tells the building history and stories of the city. You'll taste at 6 to 8 stops (enough food across them to make a meal for most people), and the guide handles introductions to the chefs because they know them. Paddy has been leading tours for 12 years and built those relationships; Stu Helm, a food writer, chose to lead here after 10 years; Sarah Ray is an Asheville native and trained baker. That continuity matters: guides stay, chefs know what to expect, and the tastings don't shift with new staff.

Alcohol is included at no extra cost, and non-alcoholic options are available if you prefer them. The walking distance is roughly 2 miles broken into segments between stops, so you're moving but not hiking. The tour runs 3 to 3.5 hours, which leaves the rest of your day open, and because the guides know the restaurant owners, they can also point you toward where to eat on other nights of your trip.

What’s included

• The tour includes 6 to 8 food tastings at local restaurants.
• alcohol at each stop where it's served.
• non-alcoholic beverages.
• and a live English-speaking guide leading you through the Downtown Asheville Arts District.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Asheville Food Tours

Is this one for you?The 3 to 3.5 hour window means you can fit the tour into a morning or early afternoon and still have time to explore the rest of Asheville or plan dinners elsewhere, and the guides' connections to restaurant owners give you insider recommendations for the rest of your trip.

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Top questions

How much walking is involved in the Asheville Food Tours?

The tour covers roughly 2 miles on foot through Downtown Asheville Arts District, but the distance breaks into segments between restaurant stops, so you're not walking it all at once.

What kind of food will I taste at each stop?

Asheville Food Tours visits 6 to 8 local restaurants where each chef prepares a tasting. The portions across all stops add up to a full meal, so you won't need to eat separately that day.

Is alcohol included in the tour price?

Yes, alcohol is included at no extra cost at the stops that serve it. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available if you prefer them.

Who are the guides on Asheville Food Tours?

The lead guide is Paddy, who has been leading tours for 12 years and has close relationships with restaurant owners and chefs. Other guides include Stu Helm, a food writer who has been with the company for 10 years, and Sarah Ray, an Asheville native and trained baker.

How long does the tour take?

Asheville Food Tours runs 3 to 3.5 hours, which includes the walking between stops and the tastings at each restaurant.

Can I bring a stroller or infant on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants can sit on an adult's lap. The tour is not recommended for travelers who cannot walk 2 miles even with breaks along the way.