Food tours in Savannah are a must-do. I took two different food tours in Savannah and was not disappointed with the variety or quality of dishes offered on either one! The best part was getting to experience this beautiful city from behind local eyes while learning about its history along the way.
There are no less than 8 tours in the area that will take you through all of this, from Southern cuisine to ghost stories! This post is going to highlight two tours: The Famous and Secret East Side Food Tour and First Squares Food Tour. Each tour is unique and your experience will vary from mine.
Famous and Secret East Side Food Tour
The Famous and Secret East Side Food Tour that I took was led by Country – yes, that’s the name she goes by. By far, she was the best tour guide I have ever had. She had all of the guests laughing as she took us on a three-hour tour around Savannah.
We began our journey at Capital Bee Company where we tasted several varieties of honey.
We then made our way to one of Savannah’s beautiful squares and each had a full-size chicken biscuit from Rise Biscuits and Donuts. While enjoying hot biscuits, we heard stories about fried chicken, the early Scots, and the period of segregation.
We continued on to Cha Bella, a farm-to-table restaurant where microwaves and deep fryers are not used and the food is always fresh. We had a sample of risotto with tarragon and shrimp.
Our next stop was Ashford Tea Company where we learned about the different varieties of tea and were able to sample some that the shop sells.
While there, we also were treated to a sandwich from Zunzi’s (a South African-inspired restaurant) called the Conquistador. It was made with French Bread, Chicken, Romaine Lettuce, Tomato, Provolone, Parmesan, Zunzi’s Sauce, Zunzi’s Dressing.
We then headed to The Common Restaurant, a restaurant/bar that serves bottomless mimosas from 8 AM until 3 PM. While we did not imbibe on anything bubbly, it was there that we had a smoked oyster and a sample of fried cornbread.
Our final stop was outside of Leopold’s. Our tour group status meant that we did not have to wait in line to get some of the world famous ice cream. We each got a cup of Leopold’s Butter Pecan Ice Cream before saying our farewells.
This was a tour that I would happily repeat, stories and all. If you want to take a tour with Country, she typically works Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 11 AM.
First Squares Food Tour
The First Squares Food Tour took a different route and different foods and beverages were sampled. It rained the day of the tour, but that did not stop the three-hour walking tour from taking place.
The First Squares Food Tour began inside the Andaz hotel at 22 Square. There we had a sample of shrimp and grits with pork belly.
We moved on to The American Prohibition Museum where we sampled Artillery Punch along with a bite of a pimento cheese sandwich and boiled peanuts.
Making our way through the rain, we arrived at Little Crown by Pie Society, a traditional British bakery/pub, where we noshed on sausage rolls and heard the background story of how a British bakery landed in Savannah.
Our next sample was that of pork belly doughnut sliders from The Ordinary Pub. Because of the downpour, we nibbled on them under the protective cover of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Not to be deterred by the rain, we made our way to Mint To Be Mojitos where we sampled real empanadas. Most of the tour participants opted to purchase a mojito, like the (virgin) watermelon mojito pictured below, in the laid-back environment of their hidden speakeasy.
Our final destination was the flagship store of the Savannah Bee Company. We sampled several varieties of honey and then had apple slices with honey and cheese.
I can’t think of a better way to enjoy delicious bites from distinctive restaurants while learning about the city’s fascinating history at a leisurely pace.
There are a couple of advantages of taking a food tour at the beginning of your trip.
- You sample dishes that you may or may not like. If you find a dish you like, you can go back later to that restaurant and order the full-sized dish/meal. If you don’t like the item, you know to avoid it.
- Tour participants are often offered discounts to the establishments that are visited.
How To Book a Food Tour
Before booking a tour, I recommend that you read the reviews at TripAdvisor.com. There are usually plenty of helpful tips in the comments to give one a "heads up" about what to expect or whether a different tour might be better.
Then, head to a site like Viator.com or GetYourGuide.com to book a tour. If you book a tour using one of those sites, I recommend that you download their app so that you will have your electronic ticket at your fingertips.
Have you taken a food tour? Where was it and what was the best thing you tried?
Rhonda Albom says
Yummy! No better way to see a place than with a food tour and this one looks amazing. I have yet to make it to Savannah, and now I have a second reason to get there. I have to try one of those tiny burgers!