Philadelphia Italian Market: Chef-Led Food Tour & Tastings

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration2h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · IT +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Philly’s Italian Market flavors with a local chef leading the way

You’ll wander Philly’s iconic Italian Market alongside a chef who grew up here, sampling everything from bakery-fresh cannoli to legendary roast pork sandwiches and sharp cheeses at Di Bruno Bros. Meet local vendors, sip real espresso, and get swept up in South Philly stories that linger long after you leave.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Philadelphia's Italian Market

Visit first Roman Catholic Church
Taste cannoli and buy pastries
Enjoy cheese pairings and shop
Stroll and savor food at market
Shop kitchenware and drink espresso

The Experience

We ducked under the striped awning just as a delivery guy zipped by on his bike, shouting something in Italian that made our guide — Chef Jacquie — laugh. She grew up around here, she said, and you could tell by the way every shop owner waved or called her name. The smell of roasting peppers and espresso drifted out from somewhere (I never did figure out which shop), mixing with the wet pavement after last night’s rain. First stop was this bakery that apparently almost snagged a James Beard Award — I tried to pronounce “sfogliatella” but the baker just grinned and handed me a cannoli instead. Powdered sugar everywhere, but worth it.

Walking through the Italian Market is kind of like time travel. You get these flashes of old Philly — produce stands with handwritten signs, grandmas arguing about tomatoes, kids darting between crates. At Di Bruno Bros., we sampled cheeses I can’t even spell (one was so sharp it made my eyes water), and Jacquie had us try pairing them with little hunks of bread. She pointed out where her dad used to buy sausage for Sunday gravy. It’s not a fancy tour — more like tagging along with someone who knows all the shortcuts and stories.

I didn’t expect to love the roast pork sandwich at Paesano’s as much as I did (the chef there beat Bobby Flay once? No big deal). We ended up lingering over tiny cups of espresso in this kitchenware shop — I guess that’s how locals do it, standing at the counter, talking about food and family. My hands still smelled like garlic when we left. There was this moment where everything went quiet except for the clatter of pans and someone singing softly in Italian behind us. Kind of stuck with me.

What’s included

Your day includes guided tastings led by a professional chef who grew up in South Philly, plenty of food samples from legendary vendors (like nonna-style pizza, artisan cheeses at Di Bruno Bros., cannoli from an award-nominated bakery), lunch featuring an iconic roast pork sandwich, plus exclusive shopping discounts at select market shops along your stroll.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by StrEATS of Philly Food Tours