Boston is one of my favorite cities. There’s so much to do there, and I love to explore the different neighborhoods, especially when there’s a food tour involved.
I’ve been to Cambridge on a really fun and unique donut tour and a food and art tour. My next stop had to be the North End, the Ultimate Boston Food Tour by Walks and Devour.
The tour blends history, local flavor, and insider stories to reveal what makes this city so unforgettable. It’s the perfect mix of classic tastes, fascinating stops, and the kind of local expertise that only a born-and-raised guide can offer.
I received a complimentary tour while in Boston, but all opinions remain my own.
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Why Choose Walks and Devour?
The Walks and Devour partnership encompasses two types of tours. The Walks tours are explorations of a local destination, like the day I spent in Salem, Massachusetts. Devour tours focus on the food, and it’s always local.
The company began when three friends in Madrid noticed travelers eating at tourist traps instead of the neighborhood spots locals loved. They created food tours that showcased local restaurants, artisans, and chefs.
Walks started in Rome with the same goal of showing travelers how to experience a city through its food and culture. Together, they now operate tours around the world with a focus on meaningful connection through local flavor, and that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a tour.
It’s a small group experience that feels personal from the start with our tour guide Sarah, who’s a Boston native. Along the way, Sarah weaves in bits of Boston trivia, from the site of the first Dunkin’ Donuts on Quincy Street to how Tremont Station became the first subway stop in the United States.
She also offers smart local tips. The Freedom Trail, for instance, is an easy add-on before or after the tour. For those staying longer, she recommends exploring Fenway Park, even for non–baseball fans, or visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, home to the largest art heist in history with more than $500 million in stolen works that remain missing to this day.
This food tour was an easy walk from my hotel. I’ve stayed at many different places in Boston, and the Boston Omni Parker Hotel is the closest and easiest for so many of the tours I want to do while there.
Tips for Taking the Tour
The Ultimate Boston Food Tour covers about a mile and a half, mostly on flat terrain. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, even though it isn’t the longest walk I’ve had on a food tour.
Unlike many food tours, this one is not suitable for those with allergies to gluten, dairy, or seafood, as substitutions aren’t possible. Bring a small bottle of water, but know that drinks and restrooms are available at the Boston Public Market and Union Oyster House.
Why This Tour Stands Out
I love a food tour that balances food and storytelling because there’s always so much I don’t know about an area that I love to hear about. Sarah was a fantastic guide whose passion and humor keep things engaging, whether she’s explaining the Big Dig or telling a story about Daniel Webster’s fondness for oysters and brandy.
This one offered a large quantity of food over the three hours of the tour. You can definitely replace at least one meal with the delicious food along the way, and the variety of options really gives you a feel for some of the most well-known foods Boston has to offer.
Do I Need to Tip My Guide?
Tips are obviously never required, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll be impressed with your guide and want to tip them.
They are happy to take tips, and this helps them afford life and shows your appreciation. This tour is capped at 14 participants, and the tour costs a little over $100 per person if that helps you decide how to tip for your three hour fantastic experience.
Starting at Boston Public Market
The tour begins at Boston Public Market, a modern indoor market that opened in 2015 on a site that once held a parking garage. The market was designed as a “Market with a Mission,” highlighting local farmers, small businesses, and artisans from across New England.
It’s home to about 30 vendors, and in 2023 it was ranked the third-best market in the United States by USA Today. We enjoyed bites from two different booths, and then we had some time to explore the market on our own before moving on to the next location.
The first stop is Red Apple Farm, a family-run farm that’s been operating in Massachusetts for generations. Their apple cider and cider donuts are staples, made from a blend of apples that changes throughout the year.
Next is The Popover Lady, run by Naomi, who began baking popovers for local farmers markets in 2009. She opened her permanent stall in 2017, offering plain or asiago popovers, along with breakfast sandwiches filled with bacon, egg, and cheese.
Many local restaurants now serve her popovers as sides, a testament to their popularity. We had the option to choose either a plain or an asiago popover, and I definitely recommend getting the asiago version.
Exploring Boston’s Historic Heart
From there, the tour moves toward some of Boston’s most iconic sites, beginning at Faneuil Hall. We went inside because it was a not busy day, but many tours go around the outside of it to hear the stories rather than venturing into the crowded hallway.
Originally built in 1742, the building became a meeting place for revolutionaries such as Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere. Charles Bulfinch, one of Boston’s most renowned architects, renovated and expanded it in the early 1800s.
Nearby, the Old State House still stands as one of the most significant landmarks in Boston. The Declaration of Independence was first read publicly from its balcony in 1776, a tradition continued every Fourth of July. Across the street, markers commemorate the Boston Massacre, one of the pivotal moments leading to the American Revolution.
Union Oyster House and Centuries of Tradition
Our next food stop is a place I definitely would have missed on my own. I’ve been to Boston umpteen times and never visited. Oops.
No Boston food tour would be complete without a visit to the Union Oyster House, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States. Established in 1826, it has hosted everyone from Daniel Webster to John F. Kennedy, who had his own private booth upstairs.
We had freshly shucked oysters, along with creamy clam chowder (some of the best I’ve ever had in Boston) and homemade cornbread. For those who drink, it’s worth ordering the Colonial Ale, a brew made exclusively for the restaurant by Sam Adams, though this is an additional charge.
Take the time after you finish eating to explore the restaurant; they’re used to it. The artwork on the walls, along with the Kennedy booth on the second floor are different from any restaurant I’ve ever been in. Each room has a different theme and feel, so take your time to really look around.
A Walk Through Quincy Market and Beyond
After that not small snack, you’ll enjoy a bit of a walk as the guide points out some of the top destinations you pass. Our guide pointed out places I would have missed, like the Bell in Hand Tavern and The Green Dragon, both known as gathering spots for colonial revolutionaries.
The route then passes the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a lush public park built after the Big Dig replaced Boston’s elevated highway with underground tunnels. If you have time after the tour, come back and wander and relax here.
Enjoy Stops in the North End
The final portion of the tour heads into the North End, Boston’s historic Italian neighborhood. There are so many small businesses here that has been around for generations, and the Walks and Devor tour finds some of the best ones.
At Caffè Paradiso, we received a hand-filled cannoli made with a crisp shell and creamy cheese filling. The owner fills each one to order with a spoon, an old-fashioned technique that keeps the texture perfect, which means it may take a few minutes for them to be ready.
Next is Polcari’s Coffee, a North End institution since 1932. Stepping inside feels like stepping back in time, with vintage scales, jars of spices, and tons of coffee beans lining the shelves.
While I could have stayed all day here with the different varieties of coffee they offer for sale, but of course we had to move on. I expected to enjoy a cup of coffee, but instead Polcari’s provides a cup of lemon Italian ice, made fresh daily, and it was amazing.
The final stop is Pauli’s, a local sandwich shop known for its massive lobster rolls. This small shop has very limited seating, so generally you’ll get your lobster roll outside and eat it back at the Rose Kennedy Greenway picnic-style with a fabulous view of the Boston skyline.
Owner Paul Barker gained national attention for his overstuffed creations, including a 26-ounce lobster roll challenge featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The tour version offers a more manageable half sandwich that I absolutely loved made with lightly dressed lobster and no lettuce, served with Utz chips.
Book this Boston food tour before it sells out for the day you want!
Why You Should Book the Tour
The Ultimate Boston Food Tour: North End & Boston Public Market offers a window into the city through its best bites and landmarks. It’s a thoughtful blend of flavors, stories, and history that captures what makes Boston so distinctive.
This is a great option whether it’s your first visit or you’re a native Bostonian. You’ll enjoy this tour, which will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the city and just maybe a craving for a bowl of that New England clam chowder.
