Catalina Island: Avalon Food Tour with Tastings & Historic Bars

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/6

Duration2h 30m

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Walk Avalon’s streets tasting local favorites and stories

You’ll walk Avalon’s colorful streets with a local guide, tasting everything from fresh seafood to nostalgic sweets and cocktails in historic bars. Meet chefs and bartenders who shape Catalina’s food scene as ocean breezes follow you from spot to spot. If you love real stories mixed with good bites and a few laughs, this tour leaves you feeling like you belong here—at least for an afternoon.

2h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Catalina Island food and culture tour

Meet guide at Old Ben Park
Introduction to Avalon and Catalina Island
Enjoy harbor views with first tastes and cocktails
Learn about art deco movie palace near bay
See Catalina Chamber of Commerce location
More savory tastes and cocktail on beach front
Try old school sweet downtown treat
Sample savory tastes and cocktail at local favorite
Grab beverage and sweet treat at Metropole Market
Enter oldest dive bar for final tastes

The Experience

We started by stepping under the palms at Old Ben Park — you can hear the gulls and that salty, almost sweet breeze right away. Our guide, Jamie, waved us over with a grin and a story about how Catalina Island got its name (I totally blanked on the answer). Right off the bat, I realized this wasn’t going to be one of those stiff tours where you just nod along. We set out through Avalon’s little lanes, passing pastel houses and golf carts zipping by, heading for our first food stop. The smell of grilled fish hit me before I saw the plates — I was hungrier than I thought.

At each spot, Jamie seemed to know everyone — she’d chat in Spanish with one chef, then wave at someone setting up tables outside. We tried these crispy tacos with some kind of local salsa (I should’ve written down the name), plus a cocktail that tasted like summer if that makes sense. There was this moment near the old art deco theater where we stood in the sun, sipping something fizzy while Jamie pointed out old movie posters and told us about big bands playing here back in the day. The light bounced off the bay and honestly, I could’ve stayed right there for an hour.

Somewhere along the beachfront, we stopped for another round of savory bites — shrimp maybe? — and another drink. It was just enough to keep you curious but not stuffed. There was this tiny candy shop downtown where we tried something sweet and old-school; I think my teeth are still recovering but it was worth it. The last place was this dive bar that looked like it hadn’t changed since forever — sticky floors, regulars laughing at something on TV. We had our final taste there and lingered longer than planned. Walking back through Avalon after that felt different somehow — more familiar.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes all food and drink tastings across five or more unique locations in Avalon—think savory bites by the harbor, cocktails near historic landmarks, sweet treats downtown—and gratuities for servers and bartenders are already covered. You’ll also have a friendly local guide leading you between stops by foot along Catalina’s oceanfront streets.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearby

Operated by Catalina Food Tours