Featured image: Food tours are a great way to discover the true taste of a city | Photo by RossHelen on Envato

Food tours offer solo women fun ways to connect

by JourneyWoman Staff

Not only do food tours give insight into a culture, but they are also a great way for solo women to connect with locals and other travellers. There are several companies that offer these services, including Devour, EatWith, Viator and GetYourGuide, and support local small businesses and entrepreneurs. It’s worth booking in advance when you’re planning your trip, but make sure you check cancellation terms, in case your plans change. 

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Food tours we love around the world

When we invited our team to share their favourite culinary experiences, they delivered, from Mexico to Italy, Read on to get your taste buds salivating!

1. Paris, France

“On a recent tour in the Marais, my guide, Davide, explained croissants’ foreign origin and how we had adapted them to the French palate (one word: butter). Davide took us to an out-of-the-way organic bakery, with croissants whose texture wasn’t anything like I’d tasted before: crunchier on top, with a slight almond aroma inside. As we sat at a communal table, he entertained everyone by whipping out a sheet of newspaper and demonstrating how to fold it over and over to eventually yield a croissant shape. A true croissant apparently requires a minimum of 80 layers to qualify… not something I’ll be trying at home anytime soon.” – Leyla Alyanak

“Another food tour, this time at sunset in the Latin Quarter, was more of an apéro, and in Paris that implies drinking, especially light wines, and finger foods, like cheese and “charcuterie”. These are usually pork products, by the way, and inelegantly translated into English as “cold cuts”. This tour brought home the sad fact that even though I’m French, I do not know everything there is to eat in my country!” — Leyla Alyanak

Explore both of these immersive food tours with Devour: the Pastry and Chocolate Tour in the Marais and Paris at Sunset: Aperitif, Food & Wine.

2. Dublin, Ireland

“My first EatWith experience at Ann’s house was a highlight of my Dublin trip in July 2024. There were about eight other people from around the world, including three solo women. We all shared in the preparation of the meal and enjoyed a delicious evening chatting over soda bread, Irish stew, colcannon and of course, Irish whisky, which I had the pleasure of making. I don’t think any of us wanted to leave!” — Carolyn Ray

Get an authentic food experience on your next trip with EatWith, where you can join a local in their home for a home-cooked meal. Learn more here.

3. Florence, Italy

Years ago, I took a cooking class in Tuscany and made some firm friends as a result. Perhaps it’s an age-old ingrained reflex, but cooking brings out a certain community spirit, plus the joy of discovery, learning and sharing the food once it’s done. Shopping in the market is also high on many solo travellers’ lists, especially if it’s guided so that you can understand local ingredients and learn their history and use.” — Leyla Alyanak

Check out “Wanna Be Italiano: The Original Cooking Class and Market Tour in Florence” on Viator.

4. Saint Croix, Virgin Islands

“I’d do a tasting tour almost anywhere. I did one in Saint Croix and it was delightful. About a dozen people. Sitting around a table and sharing food is already a communal activity. Very reasonable price.” — Diana Eden

Learn more about this experience on Viator here.

5. Naples, Italy

Naples is a city known for its food. It’s the birthplace of pizza, in the region of Campania where fior di latte and buffalo mozzarella are from, and boasts incredible street food. There is no better way to discover the heart of Naples than on a food tour.

My most recent tour was the Ultimate Naples Food Tour with Devour. We started with an espresso and sfogliatelle, a traditional Napoletano dessert, in Bar Mexico. Next up was a fried pizza and frittatine di pasta (my personal favourite!). We learned the history of these fried foods and how they tie into the local culture. Our next stop was a small produce shop, where we met the owners Tina and Angelo. Tina gave us a taste of different types of tomatoes from the region. We then stopped in a traditional deli to taste four different types of local cheese. We finished the tour in a sit-down restaurant where we tried the original pizza: Margherita, made with only three toppings. My favourite thing about Italian food is how simple yet delicious it is. — Stephanie Carretti,  Website Manager

This tour was an incredible way to explore the city, learn about its history and traditions, and enjoy delicious food along the way. Our host was knowledgeable and entertaining and answered any questions we had. Make sure to check out all the cities where Devour operates its food tours here.

6. Palermo, Sicily

“There’s no better way to understand Sicilian culture and cuisine than by doing a street food tour in the bustling Mercato del Capo in Palermo. From arancini, panelle, pane con la milza or pani câ meusa (bread with spleen) – it’s all delicious and worth trying! I’d also suggest an anti-Mafia tour to gain insight into the history of this incredible city.

Learn more about the Palermo Food Tour and the Anti-Mafia Tour on Viator.

7. Mexico City, Mexico

“I’m heading to Mexico City soon. The “Historic Centre of Food Tour’, and ‘Exploring La Merced and Sonora Market with Tastings’ are both very appealing. Sharing food with people always gets conversations going and is great fun. It’s also a wonderful way to learn about the culture.” — Karen Gershowitz

Learn more about the Historic Centre of Food Tour and ‘Exploring La Merced and Sonora Market with Tastings’ on Viator.

8. Singapore

We went on an incredible food tour in Singapore with a private guide, who introduced us to the city’s vibrant culinary scene. Our group of 12 women, traveling with Pack Light Global, tasted a delicious mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian street foods, including must-tries like the tarik and rojak. Along the way, we explored cultural hotspots like Kampong Glam, Little India, and the Elderly Corner in Chinatown, making the experience delicious and enlightening. The tour was tailored to our preferences, allowing us to fully enjoy the flavors and sights of the city. In each of the three locations in Singapore, we learned about the history of the place and the people, and we tasted food in both informal neighborhood restaurants and food halls. Our guide Arthur was amazing. — Dawn Booker

Book the award-winning 10 Tastings of Three Cultures food tour on Viator. 

9. Istanbul, Türkiye

I did the best food tour I’ve ever been on (and I’ve been on many) in Istanbul with Culinary Backstreets called Born on the Bosphorus: Exploring three distinct Waterside neighbourhoods. It was a small group (seven of us). We ate fabulous food, learned a lot about the culture and really experienced life in Istanbul. The guide was the best I’ve ever had. It was so good that I signed up for a tour with them in Mexico City. — Karen Gershowitz

Learn more about the Culinary Backstreets Born on the Bosphorus tour on Viator.

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