Old Town San Diego Walking Food Tour: Tequila, Tacos & Tombstones

El Campo Santo Cemetery sits in the middle of a walking food tour, and the graves stay while you eat around them.

The Tequila, Tacos and Tombstones tour is a 2.5-hour walking food tour through Old Town San Diego, the site of California's first European settlers, where you stop at 3–4 Mexican restaurants to sample cuisine and tequila while a live English-speaking guide shares the district's history. The tour visits the Whaley House Museum and El Campo Santo Cemetery between tastings, and requires a minimum of 4 passengers to operate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Old Town San Diego and Taste Food

• Start at hacienda-style cantina
• Sample handmade tortillas and drinks
• Visit Old Town Trading Company
• See Casa de Estudillo
• Walk through El Campo Santo Cemetery
• Explore Whaley House Museum

The experience

Old Town San Diego is where the tour begins: at a hacienda-style cantina known for handmade tortillas and colorful décor, one of the district's signature Mexican restaurants. From there, the route moves through the neighborhood's trading posts and historic homes, stopping at the Old Town Trading Company and Casa de Estudillo to hear how the settlement took shape. The walk is built around food, so you move between restaurants rather than museums, but the history threads through: El Campo Santo Cemetery, where early settlers are buried, sits openly in the district, and the Whaley House Museum anchors the tour's second half.

You'll taste from 3–4 restaurants across the 2.5 hours, sampling the cuisine Old Town is known for. Drink samples are included at each stop, and the guide (who speaks English) explains what you're tasting and why the neighborhood's 25 restaurants cluster here. The pace is walking speed through the Old Town streets, so you cover ground between bites rather than sitting through a long meal at one table.

The tour runs with a minimum of 4 passengers. If that threshold isn't met after you book, the operator offers an alternative tour or a full refund. Service animals are welcome, and the walk suits all fitness levels. Public transportation stops nearby if you're not driving, and infants can ride on an adult's lap during any seated tastings.

What’s included

• Visits to 3–4 Mexican restaurants in Old Town.
• drink samples at each stop.
• food tastings.
• entry to historic sites including the Whaley House Museum and El Campo Santo Cemetery.
• live English-speaking guide for the full 2.5-hour route.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 12:00 and 16:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 15 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by So Diego, Inc.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided sequence through multiple restaurants rather than choosing your own route. The guide handles the order and pacing while you focus on eating.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3).

What restaurants do you stop at on the Tequila, Tacos and Tombstones tour?

The tour visits 3–4 Mexican restaurants across Old Town, starting at a hacienda-style cantina and moving through the neighborhood's dining scene. The specific stops may vary, but each one is chosen for its authentic cuisine and role in Old Town's food culture.

How much walking is involved in this Old Town San Diego food tour?

The tour is 2.5 hours of walking through Old Town's streets, moving between restaurants, historic sites like the Whaley House Museum and El Campo Santo Cemetery, and trading posts. It's designed for all fitness levels and covers the neighborhood at a comfortable pace.

Is the tour guide included, and what language do they speak?

Yes, a live guide in English leads the entire tour, sharing history of the district and context for each stop along the way.

What is El Campo Santo Cemetery, and why is it part of this food tour?

El Campo Santo Cemetery is a historic burial ground for early European settlers in Old Town San Diego. It sits openly in the neighborhood and is included on the route because it's central to understanding Old Town's role as California's first European settlement. The history and the food are woven together on this walk.

Can I join the tour if I don't have a car?

Yes, public transportation options are available near Old Town San Diego, so you can reach the starting point without driving. The tour itself is entirely on foot through the neighborhood.

What happens if the tour doesn't have enough passengers to run?

The tour requires a minimum of 4 passengers to operate. If that number isn't met after you book, the operator will offer you an alternative tour or a full refund.