Old Town San Diego Walking Food Tour: Tequila, Tacos & Tombstones

Walk through Old Town San Diego on a food tour built around tequila, tacos and tombstones. Travelers stop along the way to eat and drink while picking up the stories that give the tour its name.

Overview

This Old Town walk from So Diego, Inc. mixes Mexican food and drink with the neighborhood's history. Between bites, the guide points out landmarks such as the Old Town Trading Company, Casa de Estudillo, El Campo Santo Cemetery and the Whaley House Museum as you pass by them. The tour is listed at 30 minutes, though one traveller described a relaxed pace with time to sit at each stop rather than eating on the move.

The food side is generous. Reviewers advised coming hungry because it is a lot of food, while another felt the portions were small for the price, so appetites and expectations vary. Tequila and margarita samples are part of the experience, and the tour ends in the Fiesta de Reyes square on Calhoun Street, where the guide points out spots to shop or grab another margarita on your own.

Groups are capped at 15 travellers, and the minimum to run is 4, so it is a sociable, small outing. One group of four locals said they enjoyed learning background on the city they live in.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Cafe CoyoteMeet your guide at the entrance to Cafe Coyote, 2461 San Diego Ave, San Diego. This is the starting point and first tasting stop.
2. Cafe Coyote tastingThe listing allots 15 minutes at Cafe Coyote. Admission is free.
3. Walk past Old Town landmarksThe route passes the Old Town Trading Company, Casa de Estudillo, El Campo Santo Cemetery and the Whaley House Museum. These are pass-by stops, so you view them from outside rather than entering.
4. Restaurant stopsThe tour visits approximately 3 to 4 Old Town Mexican restaurants in total for food tastings and drink samples, all included.
5. End at Fiesta de ReyesThe walk finishes in the Fiesta de Reyes square at 2754 Calhoun St, where your guide points out the best places to shop or grab another margarita.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this one.

• Come hungry. Reviewers advised coming hungry because it is a lot of food. Treat this as a meal, not a snack between meals.
• Seated, not rushed. Unlike some food tours where you eat standing up, this one gives you time to sit down at each stop, according to one traveller who appreciated not being rushed. Timing can vary, though, as one reviewer reported a late start that compressed the schedule.
• Group size. The tour runs with a maximum of 15 travellers and needs at least 4 to operate. The listing describes it as suitable for most travellers.
• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup or drop off. The meeting point is Cafe Coyote on San Diego Avenue, near public transportation, and the end point is on Calhoun Street, so plan your own transport both ways.
• History on the move. The historic buildings are pass-by stops, so you will not go inside them. One reviewer wished the tour had gone into the historical buildings, while others enjoyed the storytelling between restaurants.
• Stay after. The tour ends in Fiesta de Reyes, where the guide points out places to shop or get another margarita.

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum of 4 passengers and can be cancelled after confirmation if that number is not met, in which case you would be offered an alternative or a full refund. It is not wheelchair accessible, and infants must sit on laps. Gratuities and hotel transport are not included. One reviewer reported a guide arriving an hour late, which left the tour feeling rushed, and another found the restaurants large, main-street spots rather than off-the-beaten-track finds. A couple of travellers also questioned the price relative to what was served.

Common Questions