10 Best San Diego Food & Beer Tours

San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is best known for its historical buildings, but it also has an active nightlife scene, with plenty of breweries and restaurants serving quick bites. On the Brothers, Bites, and Booze: San Diego Gaslamp Walking Tour, you’ll get to explore the best bars and restaurants in the neighborhood, sampling beverages and a variety of cuisines as you go.

Additionally, the tour will take you through what was once one of the major red light districts in Southern California. Previously known as a hub of debauchery, many of the original buildings have been renovated into vastly different businesses through the years, though you can still see the Victorian-era architecture. Your guide will tell salacious tales from the Stingaree District with plenty of scandal and intrigue, bringing the historic district to life.

The Brothels, Bites, and Booze tour lasts about 2.5 hours and spans multiple breweries and restaurants. It is a guided walking tour that is best suited for adults due to the serving of alcoholic beverages and the more mature nature of some of the stories told during the tour.

This tour is actually featured in the Best Things to do in San Diego at night!

As California’s first settlement, Old Town has been around for over 250 years. In that time, it has served as the resting place for thousands of San Diegans over the course of its existence, which means its graveyards are full of important figures and local legends.

The Tequila, Tacos & Tombstones Walking Tour in Old Town San Diego offers a window into history, with information about what the town would have looked like in the 1800s, as well as notable events from the dawn of the Mexican period through to the American Gold Rush. You’ll also get to hear ghost stories in one of the most haunted neighborhoods in the nation, complete with a visit to the famously haunted Whaley House.

You won’t go hungry on the tour either, as you’ll get to dine and drink at a local Mexican restaurant, sample dishes from multiple other restaurants, and enjoy complimentary samples of alcoholic beverages. Eating street tacos is also featured on our Unique Things to Do in San Diego article.

While the tour is catered toward adults, younger guests are also welcome. This is a 2.5-hour walking tour with a live guide, and the tour is wheelchair accessible. This tour is our #2 pick in the Most Fun Things to do in San Diego.

North Park is considered by many to be not just the brewery capital of San Diego, but one of the best neighborhoods for locally brewed beer in all of America. It’s no surprise, then, that the neighborhood is home to the Brewery Tour with Tastings & Food Pairings, which invites tour-goers to visit multiple breweries in the area, sampling beer and light bites as you go.

The Brewery Tour is led by a knowledgeable beer enthusiast, who will bring you to a selection of three or four of the best breweries the town has to offer. At each stop, you’ll get a unique look into the process of making craft beer, including the different methods and ingredients that go into each unique blend of flavors. You’ll get to enjoy beer samples with food pairings, and the tour also includes some information about how North Park developed into the trendy beer capital it is today.

The Brewery Tour with Tastings & Food Pairings lasts about 3 hours. Since the main draw is visiting breweries and sampling alcoholic beverages, the tour is only recommended for those 21 and over.

As the name suggests, Little Italy is brimming with Italian restaurants on every corner, and it’s only natural to want to dine at as many locations as possible.

You can do exactly that on the Little Italy Food Walking Tour, which includes a sampling of delicious dishes from four different restaurants which have earned a reputation as local favorites. Many of these restaurants are family-owned and operated, serving hundreds of daily customers with recipes that have been passed down through the generations, providing a truly authentic experience.

Restaurants you’ll visit during the tour serve a variety of meals including classic Italian fare, New York-style pizza, New Zealand-inspired grass-fed burgers, and dessert from an Italian bistro. In addition to tasting a popular dish at each location, you’ll also get complimentary drinks.

The tour lasts about 2.5 hours, but you’ll spend most of your time dining rather than walking, so it’s not especially strenuous. In addition to being wheelchair accessible, the Little Italy Food Walking Tour is also a great family-friendly activity.

Carlsbad Village is an incredible neighborhood for learning about the culture, history, and architecture that makes San Diego so special, and you can do all this and more on the Carlsbad Village: 3-Hour Local Food Tour.

During the food tour, your experienced guide will help you navigate through the village as you make your way toward local landmarks, many of which have historical connections. You’ll also get the chance to explore some of the town’s most famous streets, which are lined with art galleries, murals, museums, and cute boutique shops.

There are few better ways to learn about an area’s culture than through tasting local dishes, and luckily, the tour also includes samples from some of Carlsbad Village’s best restaurants. Dine on authentic dishes from eight different restaurants, each of which has a unique menu and atmosphere. You’ll get to try foods that are culturally important to the many different ethnic groups that call San Diego home, as well as sampling locally-made wine and beer.

Since the tour includes stops at a dessert shop and some of the most romantic restaurants in the neighborhood, it’s especially popular with couples!

Culture overflows from every corner of Tijuana, Mexico, which is heavily influenced by California just to the north. You can sample delicious, authentic local dishes while also learning about the city’s vibrant culture at its most iconic locations on the Tijuana City Guided Tour and Food Tasting from San Diego, which is one of the best ways to experience the very best of Baja California.

The Tijuana City Guided Tour begins at the Tijuana Cultural Center, which has its own museum detailing local history, as well as a botanical garden with many native species of plants. Next, visit one of Tijuana’s beautiful beaches along the border, with a quick snack and drink break to refresh yourself. The trip also includes stops at a restaurant, Caliente Casino, the Jai Alai building, a market with plenty of stores for some shopping, and tequila and beer tasting.

Tours of Tijuana City are primarily geared toward adults, but the tour provides an educational experience that is suitable for all ages. This is an all-day activity that typically lasts about 7 hours. It’s a great trip for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the stunningly vibrant culture and incredible sights of Tijuana.

Discover a new way to explore the Downtown San Diego area from the comfort of a motorcycle sidecar on the San Diego: Brewery and Tap Room Sidecar Tour.

Unlike many other brewery tours, you won’t have to spend all day on your feet; instead, you can travel in style while still visiting the best breweries the Downtown area has to offer!

This is a guided tour, and your guide will not only be your driver, but also your source of information about the many local landmarks you’ll pass by on the trip. Along the way, you’ll get to visit a variety of tap rooms and breweries, each serving up their own unique craft beer brews. You’ll also get to learn about the brewing process and, of course, enjoy a sample of beer and light snacks from each brewery.

The Brewery and Tap Room Sidecar Tour is not for anyone younger than 21, as the primary draw is getting to sample beer from the breweries. However, it’s a fun way to explore the city that’s especially well-suited to adventurous couples.

The tour lasts about 2.5 hours, and all tour-goers must wear protective helmets while riding in the sidecar.

Explore the waters of the Pacific Ocean as well as the many coastal landmarks of San Diego from the comfort of a 2-hour cruise on a yacht. Buffet, Brunch and Cruise Tour in San Diego includes a narrated tour of all the most scenic spots along San Diego’s shores, as well as incredible views of the gentle waves in the picturesque San Diego Bay.

As you relax and take in the scenery, you’ll also get to enjoy a buffet-style brunch complete with ambient music and sparkling champagne. Dine on a selection of breakfast and lunch entrees, seafood, pastries, fresh fruit, and salad, and be sure to visit the carving stations and dessert bar. The menu changes with the seasons, so you can be sure you’re always enjoying fresh, flavorful meals.

Guests can sit at their own private tables on the deck of the boat, making the cruise a great choice for business trips, ladies’ weekends, and other groups of just about any size. Additionally, the Buffet, Brunch and Cruise Tour in San Diego is a family-friendly activity, with free admission for infants.

Dine on the water with the sea breeze in your hair on the San Diego: Dinner Cruise, which is a 3-hour cruise around San Diego Bay. The highlight of this cruise is the atmosphere, as you'll enjoy amazing views of the city, as well as getting to see the sun set over the bay before your meal.

Points of interest include the Cabrillo National Monument and Coronado Bridge, though just viewing the city of San Diego all lit up at night from the bay is an attraction itself. There's also a good chance you'll see some seals and sea lions, which make their homes along the shore. Relax at your own table on the roomy deck and enjoy a buffet-style meal complete with wine, salad, entrees with vegetarian options, dessert, and coffee.

The Dinner Cruise also features a live DJ for entertainment. If you'd like a souvenir, you can purchase commemorative photos taken by a professional photographer after the cruise.

This is a fun excursion for groups of all sizes, and in particular, an unbeatable romantic night under the stars for couples.

Located about an hour north-east of San Diego, Temecula is known for its incredible local wineries. You can sample the offerings from four different local favorites and enjoy a tasty picnic lunch on the Temecula: All-Inclusive Wine Tasting Tour With Lunch, which offers a unique look at some of the area's best independently-owned wineries.

The Temecula Wine Tasting Tour is only suitable for those 21 and older, but it makes for an ideal activity for a ladies' weekend, and it's also a fun choice for couples on vacation or honeymoon. As you'll be visiting four wineries and sitting down for a sample of drinks at each one, the tour lasts about six hours, so it's suitable for a day trip.

Take a VIP tour where you'll learn all about the wine making process, from the growing of grapes to harvesting, processing, bottling, and storing. You'll also learn a little about how to taste the quality of different wines, then put your newly-earned sommelier skills to the test as you sample wine.

A picnic lunch will be provided from a nearby eatery, which you can choose when you book your trip as well.