Southern & Secret Walking Food Tour

This Southern & Secret Walking Food Tour turns a lunch break into a guided walk through Savannah’s most cinematic squares, with food stops built in. I love the small group size (14 people max), because it stays easy to hear your guide and ask questions between bites. I also love that you get up to five tastings from local restaurants and specialty shops, so lunch comes to you as part of the experience. Guides like Lori, Christopher, and Gail often get high marks for making the stories funny and the food stops genuinely fun.

One consideration before you book, this is a 3-hour walking tour that includes standing, moving, and listening. If you need gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan alternative tastings, plan for limitations, since the tour does not offer those substitutes. You can often get help for seafood allergies, nut allergies, pescatarian, and vegetarian options, but you should flag dietary needs ahead of time.

Key things I’d circle before you go

• Up to five tastings across restaurants and specialty food shops, built to add up to a lunch portion
• Square-to-square walking in the Historic Landmark District, with quick stops at Chippewa, Johnson, and Ellis
• A final stop at Savannah Taste Marketplace so you can keep browsing and comparing flavors after the tour
• Stories tied to Savannah’s streets, with guides such as Lori, Gail, Shannon, Erin, and Christopher getting praise for energy and humor
• Dietary limits you should know early, including no gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan tastings

A 3-hour lunch tour that treats Savannah like a food story

This is a straight-forward lunch-time experience in Savannah’s Historic Landmark District. You meet at Zunzi’s, 236 Drayton St, then spend about 3 hours walking and eating, ending near 108 W Broughton St at the Savannah Taste Experience Food Tours location. The format is built for a small group, and that matters. With up to 14 people, you are not lost in the crowd, and your guide can keep the pacing smooth.

You also get a few “smart extras” baked in. Water is included, and you’ll receive a map plus exclusive discounts that can help you return to the places you liked most. Tastings across multiple stops mean you get variety without planning anything yourself. If you are the kind of traveler who wants to sample first, then choose later, this kind of structure is a win.

Price is $92.17 per person, so the value really depends on what you want out of the day: food plus story, served on a walking route.

Chippewa Square, Johnson Square, Ellis Square, and the payoff of short stops

The tour uses Savannah’s squares like anchors. Each square stop is brief, around 5 minutes, but your guide uses that short window to connect what you see with what you’re tasting and learning.

Chippewa Square is the first big photo moment. It is famous for the Forrest Gump bench scenes, so even if you’ve only seen clips, you’ll recognize the vibe. Think: a calm pause that also gives your guide a way to talk about Savannah’s pop-culture footprint.

Johnson Square is where the city’s age and scale show up. It’s Savannah’s oldest and largest city square, and the live oaks create a canopy you can feel even while standing in the shade. Your guide uses this as a springboard for architecture and culture as you continue walking.

Ellis Square leads into the tour’s downtown energy. It was resurrected in the early 2000s and is closely tied to the City Market area. That connection helps you understand why people end up here after the walk, since it is a natural place to keep wandering once your tour hands you off.

Between these squares, you’ll be moving toward five total tasting stops at local restaurants and specialty shops. The route ends only a few blocks from where you started, so you do not feel like you are stranded far from your plans.

Up to five tastings, from biscuits and grits to local sweets

This is the heart of the tour, and it is not just one “tiny sample.” You stop at five local restaurants and specialty food shops, and the tastings you get add up to about a lunch portion. That means you should eat lightly before you go. A full breakfast or a big heavy meal first can turn the experience into decision fatigue.

The tour is built around Southern classics with some innovative touches. From the tour description and guide-led experiences, you might encounter items like buttery biscuits and shrimp and grits, plus other Lowcountry-style bites. In past tours, people have specifically mentioned boiled peanuts, fried green tomatoes with crabmeat, and Leopold’s ice cream as standouts. Your exact lineup can vary by stop and day, but the range stays anchored in Savannah and the Lowcountry.

Portions are generally satisfying, but there’s one practical note from real-world expectations: some people feel certain samples are on the smaller side for the price. If you come in expecting a full restaurant meal at each stop, you may be disappointed. If you come in ready for a guided sampler that finishes with a sweet, you’ll likely feel right on track.

Alcohol is a separate choice. Alcoholic beverages are not included, but you can buy them. The tour also notes a strict rule: if you do order alcohol, it must be in a plastic or Styrofoam cup, and you can have only one at a time while on the tour.

Dietary needs you should flag, before you fall in love with the menu

This tour has clear limits for some diets. It does not provide gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan alternative tastings. The good news is that the tour says it can often accommodate seafood allergies, nut allergies, pescatarian, and vegetarian options at most locations.

If you have any restrictions, communicate them in the special requirements area at checkout and follow up using the contact info listed with your ticket. Also note the tour states it cannot offer a reduced ticket price based on dietary restrictions, so treat that as part of how they price the experience.

Guides who blend Savannah street stories with what’s on your fork

A big reason people keep recommending this tour is the guide element. A small group makes the storytelling feel personal, not like you’re stuck listening to a microphone across a long line.

When guides like Lori lead the group, the feedback tends to focus on energy and friendliness, with history and fun balanced alongside the food pairing. With Christopher (including Christopher Wolf), people often highlight the storytelling and local knowledge that makes the walk feel like it has a point beyond eating. Gail gets praise for sharing context around the places you pass, including mention of things like houses, parks, and even cemetery history as you move through the city. Shannon and Erin are frequently mentioned for keeping the group engaged with humor and upbeat delivery. And when someone mentions Miss Country, the theme is plain joy and entertainment.

What this means for you: you are not just collecting bites. You’re also getting explanations for why Savannah’s layout, architecture, and customs matter, and how that connects to the dishes in front of you.

Where you meet, how the walking feels, and what to wear

You meet at Zunzi’s, 236 Drayton St in the Historic Landmark District. The tour ends at Savannah Taste Experience Food Tours, 108 W Broughton St. Since it finishes near the start, you can usually keep going with your own plans afterward without a long transfer.

Expect walking, standing, and listening for about 3 hours. That may include some stairs, and if you are traveling with kids, the tour notes it might not be a good fit for all children because of the standing and walking demands.

The tour operates in all weather conditions, so dress for heat and humidity, or bring layers and rain gear if the forecast looks messy. Water is included, which helps, but bring your own pacing mindset too. If you are someone who hates getting stuck upright for long stretches, this is the part you should think about first.

Finally, timing can shift if a location needs to close due to weather. The tour does not ignore this, but you may feel the pace tighten if a stop needs to be swapped.

Price and value: is $92.17 a smart use of your Savannah time?

At $92.17 per person, this isn’t the cheapest thing you’ll do in Savannah. So I treat it like this: you’re paying for a bundle. That bundle includes a 3-hour guided route, tastings from up to five places, water, a map, and exclusive discounts, plus the advantage of a 14-person max group.

If you love structured experiences, and you like having someone else handle the planning, the cost starts to make sense. You also get a guide who connects what you see in squares like Chippewa and Johnson with what you taste. That story layer is what makes the walking part more than just transportation between restaurants.

If you care only about big portions or only want one narrow slice of Lowcountry food, some people feel disappointed. There are also mentions that certain items did not feel “spectacular” to some expectations, and a couple of comments question whether the overall mix matched the price.

So the honest way to decide is simple: if you want a lunch-sized sampler plus city context delivered on foot, you’ll probably feel like the price is fair. If you want a full meal at each stop or only traditional fare with no surprises, you might feel it costs more than it gives.

One more practical point: the tour often books ahead. The data here suggests it’s commonly booked around 22 days in advance, so if your dates are fixed, book sooner rather than later.

Should you book this Savannah Southern & Secret food walk?

Book it if:

• You want a 3-hour walking loop through the Landmark District with tastings that add up to lunch.
• You like Savannah squares and street-level history, the kind your guide can explain while you’re standing right there.
• You have a normal flexible diet and can work within the tour’s limits (no gluten-free or vegan substitutes).

Skip it or think twice if:

• You need gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan tastings. The tour does not offer those alternatives.
• You expect every stop to be purely Lowcountry seafood and nothing else. The tour aims for a mix of Southern classics and innovative dishes, so your menu may not match a strict “only seafood” preference.
• You dislike being on your feet. This is standing and walking for the full experience.

If you fit the first group, this is a strong use of a half-day in Savannah. You’ll leave knowing where the squares are, what makes Johnson Square’s live oaks so iconic, how Ellis Square connects to City Market, and you’ll have a map to guide your own follow-up tastings.

FAQ

How long is the Southern and Secret Walking Food Tour?

The tour is about 3 hours.

How many people are in each tour group?

The group size is 14 people or fewer.

Where do I meet and where does the tour end?

You meet at Zunzi’s, 236 Drayton St, Savannah, GA 31401 and end at Savannah Taste Experience Food Tours, 108 W Broughton St, Savannah, GA 31401.

What food is included in the tour?

You’ll get food tastings from up to 5 restaurants & specialty food shops. The tastings add up to a lunch portion, and water is included.

Is alcohol included in the price?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included, though non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages may be available for purchase.

Can the tour accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan diets?

No gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan alternative tastings are provided. The tour can often accommodate seafood allergies, nut allergies, pescatarian, and vegetarian options at most locations.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Yes. The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund.