Santa Monica Food Tour: 6-8 Tastings with Expert Guide

Taste your way through Santa Monica's food scene and its hidden past

A guided walking food tour of Santa Monica with 6-8 tastings at top-rated eateries, led by an expert guide who connects the food to the city's history, from the 1970s drought that sparked skateboarding culture to the speakeasies of Hollywood's Golden Age. The itinerary shifts based on restaurant hours and menu availability, so no two tours follow the same route. Dietary accommodations including vegetarian and pescatarian options are available. Let the operator know when you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Third Street Promenade30m
2. Santa Monica Beach and Pier30m

Santa Monica food and sightseeing tour

• Visit historic hotel from 1926
• Pass by African American heritage park
• Pass by Bruce family city park
• Pass by Tongva people city park
• See 1930s gym equipment near pier
• Explore Third Street Promenade shops
• Enjoy Santa Monica Beach and Pier

The experience

The tour moves through Santa Monica's neighborhoods on foot, stopping at roughly 6 to 8 eateries where you taste dishes beyond the typical tourist menu. Between tastings, your guide walks you past landmarks that shaped the city: a 1926 hotel on the National Register of Historic Places, the site where the Works Progress Administration installed gym equipment in the 1930s that later inspired Joe Gold to found Gold's Gym, and parks tied to Santa Monica's African American history and the Tongva people who lived here for thousands of years. The route is not fixed: your guide chooses stops based on which restaurants are open that day and what's available on their menus, so the experience changes with each departure.

You'll stand on the Santa Monica Pier, which has hosted everything from amusement rides to fishing spots since it was built, and walk through Third Street Promenade, the downtown shopping district. The guide shares stories about how a severe 1970s drought led to the rise of skateboarding culture in Southern California, and points out where Old Hollywood stars drank illegal liquor during Prohibition. The whole experience (tastings, walking, and time at each stop) takes 3 to 4 hours.

You can book a private tour for your group or join a public tour with other food lovers. Either way, the guide speaks English and can work with vegetarian and pescatarian diets if you note your requirements at checkout. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and strollers are fine for infants and small children.

What’s included

• Six to eight food tastings at local eateries.
• an expert English-speaking guide who shares Santa Monica's history.
• walking access to landmarks including the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade.
• accommodation for vegetarian and pescatarian diets upon request.

Options for this experience

2 options

Public tour in Santa MonicaGuide in English · 12:00 and 17:00

Private tour in Santa MonicaGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 12:00, the last at 16:00Private

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday6 departure times: the first at 12:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (2 and older) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 10

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 due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Delicious Dish Tours LA

Is this one for you?Book the private tour if your group wants to set the pace and skip the coordination of meeting strangers. Book the public tour if you're traveling solo or want to meet other food lovers and split the cost. The itinerary shifts based on restaurant availability, so each tour discovers different dishes and stops: return visitors will find a new route.

Traveler reviews

4.45★★★★★★★★★★

20 verified traveler reviews

5 ★16

4 ★1

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How many food stops are included on the Santa Monica food tour?

The tour includes roughly 6 to 8 tastings at different eateries, though the exact stops change depending on which restaurants are open and what dishes are available that day.

What's the story behind the gym equipment near Santa Monica Pier?

The Works Progress Administration installed gym equipment near the pier in the 1930s as part of a federal jobs program. It attracted famous bodybuilders of the era, including Joe Gold, who later founded the original Gold's Gym in nearby Venice.

Can I do the Santa Monica food tour if I'm vegetarian or have dietary restrictions?

The operator accommodates vegetarian and pescatarian diets. Tell them your requirements when you book, and they'll adjust the tastings accordingly. If they can't meet your needs, you'll get a full refund.

Is the Santa Monica food tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby. Service animals are allowed.

What does the guide teach you about Santa Monica's history?

The guide connects the food stops to the city's past: how a 1970s drought sparked skateboarding culture, where Old Hollywood stars drank during Prohibition, the role of the 1926 hotel in Santa Monica's "Gold Coast" era, and the history of African American and Tongva communities in the area.