Catalina Island: Avalon Food Tour with Tastings & Historic Bars

Summary

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.

What’s the experience like?

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.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — 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

Top questions

How long is the Catalina Island food tour?

The tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours from start to finish.

Is food included on the Catalina food tour?

Yes, all food and drink tastings are included in your booking.

Where does the Avalon food tour start?

The meeting point is Old Ben Park in Avalon on Catalina Island.

Are drinks or cocktails part of the tasting?

Yes, several stops include cocktails or other beverages as part of the experience.

Is this Catalina food tour suitable for vegetarians or people with allergies?

You can advise dietary requirements when booking; however, it may not be recommended for significant allergies.

How many people are on each tour group?

The maximum group size is 10 people per booking for a personalized experience.

Is transportation provided to Catalina Island?

No ferry or cross-channel transport is included; you'll need to arrange your own way to Avalon.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces visited during the tour are wheelchair accessible.

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.