Food and drink
The best Toronto food tours
Market walks with peameal bacon and butter tarts, Kensington Market tastings, the Distillery District, a craft-brewery tour and a private street-food walk; here is how they compare, with honest advice on whether a food tour is worth the money, what happens if you need to cancel, and how much food you really get.
See our 8 picks
The best Toronto food tour for a first visit is the St. Lawrence and Distillery tour with 6 tastings, from €77 per person. It is rated 4.7 from 268 reviews. On a budget, the 3-hour food and history walk through St. Lawrence Market starts at €43.
Which Toronto food tour should you book?
Market walks first, then tastings in Kensington, beer tours and a private walk. None of the eight picks you up at your hotel. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide.
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from €77 per person Our top pick 3 hours 4.7 (268) reviews on GetYourGuide
St. Lawrence and Distillery food tour, 6 tastings
A little over 3 hours through St. Lawrence Market and on to the Distillery District. You taste a peameal bacon sandwich, pasta, poutine, a butter tart, a Nanaimo bar and a secret dish at a fish market. You meet at 27 Front Street East. It is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Best for First-timers who want the Canadian classics
Check availability: St. Lawrence and Distillery food tour, 6 tastings on GetYourGuide -
from €43 per person 3 hours 4.7 (99) reviews on GetYourGuide
Food, history and St. Lawrence Market walk
Three hours on foot through Old Town and St. Lawrence Market, in a small group of up to 12. You get coffee, half a peameal bacon sandwich, ginger ale, a butter tart and half a pint of craft beer. A vegetarian swap is possible. You meet at the Hockey Hall of Fame, 30 Yonge Street.
Best for A budget, history and a small group
Check availability: Food, history and St. Lawrence Market walk on GetYourGuide -
from €81 per person 2.5–3 hours 4.9 (13) reviews on GetYourGuide
Culinary Adventure Co. food walk, 15+ tastings
Two and a half to three hours with more than 15 tastings from many cultures. You learn the history of the neighbourhoods. The meeting point depends on the option you pick. Children under 6 go free but get no food.
Best for Big appetites
Check availability: Culinary Adventure Co. food walk, 15+ tastings on GetYourGuide -
from €70 per person 2 h 30 min 4.9 (11) reviews on GetYourGuide
Kensington Market "Taste the World" food tour
Two and a half hours in Kensington Market, with food at each stop and enough for lunch. It can be made vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free. The listing calls it Kensington Market's first and oldest food tour. You meet at 30 St Andrew Street.
Best for Adventurous eaters and special diets
Check availability: Kensington Market "Taste the World" food tour on GetYourGuide -
from €70 per person 4 hours 4.9 (9) reviews on GetYourGuide
Craft brewery tour by mini-coach
Four hours visiting craft breweries by mini-coach or van, from Keele Station and back. You get a flight of four 5 oz beers at each brewery and a look behind the scenes. You must be 19 or older and bring ID. The breweries can change.
Best for Beer fans
Check availability: Craft brewery tour by mini-coach on GetYourGuide -
from €61 per person 1 h 30 min 4.8 (5) reviews on GetYourGuide
Distillery District beer and cheese tasting
A 1.5-hour walk with three stops: Mill St Brewery, Wildly Delicious for a charcuterie board, and Old Flame Brewery for four beers and a warm pretzel. It is for ages 19 and up. You meet at 11 Gristmill Lane.
Best for A short drinks stop
Check availability: Distillery District beer and cheese tasting on GetYourGuide -
from €60 per person 3 hours 4.4 (8) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private street food tour with a local guide
Three hours with your own guide, private and tailored to what you like. You taste street food and dishes at local restaurants. Guides speak English, Spanish, French or Italian. You meet at 45 The Esplanade.
Best for Couples or friends who want it private
Check availability: Private street food tour with a local guide on GetYourGuide -
from €58 per person 2 hours 3.9 (6) reviews on GetYourGuide
Kensington Market express tour, 5 tastings
Two hours and five dishes, from Korean rice cakes to a Caribbean patty and Himalayan butter tea. Your guide holds an orange umbrella at 20 Kensington Avenue. Tell the operator about diets in advance. It is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Best for Short on time
Check availability: Kensington Market express tour, 5 tastings on GetYourGuide
Toronto food tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | What you taste | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Lawrence and Distillery food tour, 6 tastings | €77 per person | 3 hours | 6 tastings, from peameal bacon to a butter tart | First-timers who want the Canadian classics | The best-known classics in one walk; 4.7 from 268 reviews. |
| Food, history and St. Lawrence Market walk | €43 per person | 3 hours | Coffee, half a peameal sandwich, a butter tart, beer | A budget, history and a small group | The cheapest food tour here, with the most history. |
| Culinary Adventure Co. food walk, 15+ tastings | €81 per person | 2.5–3 hours | 15+ tastings | Big appetites | The most tastings of any tour here; 4.9, from 13 reviews. |
| Kensington Market "Taste the World" food tour | €70 per person | 2 h 30 min | Enough for lunch | Adventurous eaters and special diets | The best pick for vegan or gluten-free; 4.9, from 11 reviews. |
| Craft brewery tour by mini-coach | €70 per person | 4 hours | 4 beers of 5 oz at each brewery | Beer fans | Transport and full flights included; 4.9, but from only 9 reviews. |
| Distillery District beer and cheese tasting | €61 per person | 1 h 30 min | Beer, charcuterie and a pretzel | A short drinks stop | The shortest drinks tour here; 4.8, but from only 5 reviews. |
| Private street food tour with a local guide | €60 per person | 3 hours | Food and drink tastings | Couples or friends who want it private | The only private food tour here; 4.4, from 8 reviews. |
| Kensington Market express tour, 5 tastings | €58 per person | 2 hours | 5 dishes | Short on time | Rated 3.9 from only 6 reviews, lower than our other picks. |
St. Lawrence and Distillery food tour, 6 tastings
€77 per person3 hours 4.7 (268)
Details
- What you taste
- 6 tastings, from peameal bacon to a butter tart
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want the Canadian classics
- Why we picked it
- The best-known classics in one walk; 4.7 from 268 reviews.
Food, history and St. Lawrence Market walk
€43 per person3 hours 4.7 (99)
Details
- What you taste
- Coffee, half a peameal sandwich, a butter tart, beer
- Who it suits
- A budget, history and a small group
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest food tour here, with the most history.
Culinary Adventure Co. food walk, 15+ tastings
€81 per person2.5–3 hours 4.9 (13)
Details
- What you taste
- 15+ tastings
- Who it suits
- Big appetites
- Why we picked it
- The most tastings of any tour here; 4.9, from 13 reviews.
Kensington Market "Taste the World" food tour
€70 per person2 h 30 min 4.9 (11)
Details
- What you taste
- Enough for lunch
- Who it suits
- Adventurous eaters and special diets
- Why we picked it
- The best pick for vegan or gluten-free; 4.9, from 11 reviews.
Craft brewery tour by mini-coach
€70 per person4 hours 4.9 (9)
Details
- What you taste
- 4 beers of 5 oz at each brewery
- Who it suits
- Beer fans
- Why we picked it
- Transport and full flights included; 4.9, but from only 9 reviews.
Distillery District beer and cheese tasting
€61 per person1 h 30 min 4.8 (5)
Details
- What you taste
- Beer, charcuterie and a pretzel
- Who it suits
- A short drinks stop
- Why we picked it
- The shortest drinks tour here; 4.8, but from only 5 reviews.
Private street food tour with a local guide
€60 per person3 hours 4.4 (8)
Details
- What you taste
- Food and drink tastings
- Who it suits
- Couples or friends who want it private
- Why we picked it
- The only private food tour here; 4.4, from 8 reviews.
Kensington Market express tour, 5 tastings
€58 per person2 hours 3.9 (6)
Details
- What you taste
- 5 dishes
- Who it suits
- Short on time
- Why we picked it
- Rated 3.9 from only 6 reviews, lower than our other picks.
- Small group: Food, history and St. Lawrence Market walk takes up to 12 people.
- None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 8 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Where to go on a food tasting tour: the areas tours cover
Most Toronto food tours cover St. Lawrence Market, Kensington Market or the Distillery District. Each area has at least one tour on our list.
- St. Lawrence Market and Old Town: the 6-tasting tour and the food and history walk. The South Market is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays.
- The Distillery District: the old Gooderham & Worts distillery, founded in 1832. The 6-tasting tour ends here, and the beer and cheese tour stays here.
- Kensington Market: a National Historic Site west of Spadina Avenue. Two tours eat their way through it.
- The Esplanade: the private street food walk starts at 45 The Esplanade.
- Craft breweries: the brewery tour picks you up at Keele Station by mini-coach.
Secret Food Tour Toronto: St. Lawrence and Kensington
Two of our picks are run by Secret Food Tours. The St. Lawrence and Distillery tour has 6 tastings. The Kensington express tour has 5. Both include a secret dish that you only learn about on the day.
Guides to Toronto's food neighbourhoods
Each market and district on its own page, with its tours and hours.
Which tour fits which neighbourhood and appetite
Pick by your mood first, then by area. The table matches each kind of eater to one tour.
| If you are… | Our pick | Area | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| A first-timer | 6-tasting St. Lawrence and Distillery tour | St. Lawrence, Distillery | €77 |
| On a budget, into history | Food, history and market walk | Old Town, St. Lawrence | €43 |
| Very hungry | Culinary Adventure Co. walk | Depends on the option | €81 |
| Vegan or gluten-free | Taste the World tour | Kensington Market | €70 |
| Into beer | Craft brewery tour, or beer and cheese | Breweries, Distillery | €70 or €61 |
| A couple or private group | Private street food tour | From The Esplanade | €60 |
Culinary tours in Toronto for big appetites
The Culinary Adventure Co. walk has more than 15 tastings. It cannot do vegan, gluten-free, halal or kosher. The food and history walk offers only a vegetarian swap.
Brewery tours in Toronto, plus beer and wine for drinkers
Two tours here are built around beer, and both are for ages 19 and up. That is Ontario's legal drinking age.
Toronto beer tours compared
The craft brewery tour lasts 4 hours, with transport by mini-coach from Keele Station. You get four 5 oz beers at each brewery. Bring ID.
The beer and cheese tour lasts 1.5 hours in the Distillery District. It stops at Mill St Brewery, Wildly Delicious and Old Flame Brewery.
Wine tasting tours from Toronto
None of our food tours is a wine tour. For wine, most tastings mean a trip to the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Its tourism site calls them "world-class".
Our Niagara Falls guide covers the trip.
Are food tours worth it?
A food tour is worth it if you want a guide's stories and many small tastings in one go. You also skip the guesswork of where to eat.
Eat at the markets on your own if money is tight. The same goes if you have a long list of food needs. Most tours can only handle a few diets.
Check what you get. The Taste the World tour says it serves enough for lunch. The 6-tasting tour lists each dish.
What you will eat: the must-try Toronto foods
Peameal bacon is the dish to try first. Destination Toronto says it is also known as Canadian bacon.
Carousel Bakery at St. Lawrence Market calls itself the home of Toronto's world-famous peameal bacon sandwich. That is the bakery's own claim.
Destination Toronto calls the butter tart "the quintessential Canadian dessert". The 6-tasting tour adds poutine and a Nanaimo bar.
The Caesar cocktail was invented in Calgary in 1969, per Destination Toronto. In Kensington, the express tour serves Korean rice cakes, a Caribbean patty and Himalayan butter tea.
What to expect on the day
Each tour meets at a different place, so check your booking. On the Kensington express tour, look for a guide with an orange umbrella. Arrive 15 minutes early.
Menus can change. The 6-tasting tour says its menu can change with the weather and what is open. The brewery tour says its breweries can change.
Parts of several tours are outdoors, so dress for the weather. Start times vary by option, so check the time on the listing.
The 6-tasting tour, the express tour and the food and history walk are not suitable for wheelchairs.
Our guide to getting around Toronto has the streetcar and subway basics.
A Toronto walking food tour: how far you walk
The food and history walk covers about 2 km at a relaxed pace. The 6-tasting tour runs a little over 3 hours. Wear comfortable shoes.
Do the markets on your own
On a Saturday you can build your own food walk. Start early at St. Lawrence Market.
- Morning: the Saturday farmers market opens at 5 a.m. in the North Market. The South Market opens at 7 a.m. Try the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery.
- Late morning: the Distillery District opens at 10 a.m. on Saturdays.
- Afternoon: take transit to Kensington Market and walk its streets.
- On a weekday: the South Market opens at 9 a.m., Tuesday to Friday. It is closed on Mondays.
One day in Toronto
Start at the market, eat on a tour at midday, then head up high. St. Lawrence Market's South Market opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays.
Spend the afternoon up the CN Tower, or on one of the Toronto harbour cruises.
The CN Tower's observation levels are open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., with last entry at 9 p.m.
Next steps
Pick your area first, then your tour. The guides list above covers each market and neighbourhood in more depth.
Tip your guide if you liked the tour. In Toronto, 15 to 20 per cent is the usual tip on tours and at restaurants.
Tips for booking a Toronto food tour
Check the cancellation rule
Each of the eight listings shows free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Tell them about diets
Say what you cannot eat when you book. Several tours cannot do vegan or gluten-free.
Come hungry
The Taste the World tour says it serves enough for lunch.
Bring ID for beer
Beer tours are for ages 19 and up, and the brewery tour asks for ID.
Toronto food tours: questions and answers
Where can I go on a food tasting tour in Toronto?
What food is a must-try in Toronto?
Are food tours worth it?
What is the best food tour in Toronto?
How much does a food tour in Toronto cost?
Do Toronto food tours pick you up at your hotel?
More Toronto food tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (10)
- St. Lawrence Market: hours and parking
- St. Lawrence Market: Carousel Bakery
- Parks Canada: Kensington Market National Historic Site
- The Distillery District: FAQ
- Destination Toronto: Canadian flavours in Toronto
- Destination Toronto: facts and info
- City of Toronto: information for visitors
- AGCO: legal drinking age
- Niagara-on-the-Lake tourism
- CN Tower: hours