- Next dates - Sat. Dec. 9; Jan. 20 & Feb. 24, 2024
- Approx. 2.5 hours
- Age 21+
A fun, hands-on, make-your-own, enjoy-your-own craft cocktail adventure!
Quick Details
Tour Start Time: 11:00 a.m.
Tour Start Location: Hotel Roanoke. Meet your tour guide in the main lobby.
- Led by a fun and passionate tour guide.
- Iconic eateries and recipes. Satisfying and delicious tastings!
- Perfect for visitors and locals. Great way to show off the “Star City” to your out-of-town guests.
- Uncover hidden gems, iconic landmarks, back alleys, and our colorful history.
- The perfect blend of history, culture, and delicious food.
- Easy hard surface walking within historic downtown.
Limited capacity for this tour.
Six food tasting locations — all food and beverages included.
We can accommodate most food allergies. However, this tour is not advised for persons with moderate to severe Celiac disease
Tours held rain or shine. Wear weather-appropriate casual clothing and shoes for walking.
Approx. 1 mile walking on easy, flat, hard surfaces.
This tour can accommodate guests with mobility disabilities or wheelchairs.
Private Group tours are available year-round every day of the week- minimum of 8 guests.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Iconic Food Tastings
This is the award-winning guided Historic Downtown Food, History & Cultural walking tour that connects our local food scene with Roanoke’s colorful history. We’ll visit six food-tasting locations within the historic and vibrant downtown Historic District. Delicious samplings, enough for a hearty meal for most, are served from locally-owned eateries at iconic historic locations. Stops include one of the top historic hotels in the U.S., Roanoke’s most recent Lebanese food enterprise, our internationally acclaimed 24/7 “Tavern,” and more. All food and beverage tastings are included in the ticket price.
Why Take the Tour?
Treat yourself and impress your guests with a memorable adventure. Roanoke is rich in colorful history, culture, and iconic culinary treats. We combine these with a leisurely walk to off-the-beaten-path areas and the talents of local food artisans. Our tour is a must-do activity for both locals and visitors. You’ll never view Roanoke the same again.
Enjoy these delicious and iconic eateries on the tour
(subject to change)
Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – Fine dining with a distinctive Southern US/French fusion cuisine. Voted one of the “Top Historic Hotels” in the U.S. (est. 1882)
Cedars Lebanese Restaurant – Authentic Lebanese cuisine. Celebrate the immense Lebanese impact on Roanoke’s food culture. (est. 2013)
Billy’s – Iconic location with just the right mix of upscale and casual, in the heart of Roanoke history. (est. 1979, reopened in 2012)
Texas Tavern – An iconic eatery with a very limited menu, and a local history that is generational and legendary. On Southern Living magazine’s list of “100 Places to Eat Now.” (est. 1930)
Little Green Hive – A fun coffee and smoothie bar serving locally roasted organic coffee, exotic teas, and handcrafted whole-fruit smoothies, tucked inside an art-deco hidden gem. (est. 2013)
chocolatepaper – Chocolates from around the world and just around the corner, but so much more (est. 2006).
READY TO JOIN US?
Ready to enjoy the mouth-watering tastes and fun of the Historic Downtown Food & Cultural Tour? Call or click BOOK NOW to purchase tickets and see tour dates.
Have questions? See the Frequently Asked Questions page. Or call or email us directly – (540) 309-1781 or email [email protected]
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Cancellation Policy: If you cancel with less than 24-hour notice, tickets and fees are non-refundable.
We reserve the right to cancel a tour due to weather or unsafe conditions, or if there are less than the minimum required guests on a specific tour.
HAVE A GROUP? A SPECIAL OCCASION? A PRIVATE FOOD TOUR IS GREAT FUN!
We can arrange a private tour for up to 14 guests – it’s the perfect fun outing for wedding parties, birthdays, company functions, and other groups.
WHERE TO MEET
Please meet your tour guide near the fireplace in the main lobby of the Hotel Roanoke. Parking suggestions will be emailed with your eTicket.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Our tours serve enough food that for most participants lunch afterward is not necessary. With the combination of drink and food tastings along with breaks for architectural, cultural, and historical insight, most participants are comfortably full after the tour. Our food tours are not intended to replace breakfast and lunch combined, so please consider eating a light breakfast before the tour.
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Absolutely not! Our food tours combine architectural information, historical facts, local culture, and culinary insight into a unique tour experience. The food is primary, but the tour is so much more.
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Please be sure and let us know if you (or anyone in your group) has a dietary restriction (e.g. vegetarian, food allergy, etc.) when you purchase your tickets. As long as we know in advance, we can usually accommodate your needs.
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Tours generally last about 3 hours and participants can expect to be standing or walking for a good portion of the tour. We walk at a moderate pace and also provide sit-down locations on all of our tours.
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There are a couple of stairways along the tour route; however, there is an elevator or alternative route provided in all instances. All walking is on flat hard surfaces (sidewalks). If you have concerns, please indicate this when you purchase your ticket or be sure to tell your tour guide before the start of the tour.