Best Food Tours in Washington DC

When you have finished seeing and doing all that Washington DC has to offer, a very interesting option is to continue your tour with one of the city's culinary tours. The American capital stands out for its museums and monuments, but also for its extensive gastronomy as any cosmopolitan place.

From the Capitol to U Street and from Eastern Market to the Potomac River, Washington DC has a wide variety of gastronomic tours for you to enjoy the most varied flavours. Here are the best options, where to find them and everything you need to make your experience a satisfying one.

This tour will take you off the beaten track in Washington DC and that's good news because you'll get to see a different side of the city.

On the U Street tour you'll not only sample some of the best flavours of the American capital, but you'll also learn about the history of the streets of Black Broadway and its influence on the Jazz Age from an expert local guide.

This culinary tour will take you to one of the best corners of the city to enjoy a burger, sausage, pizzas and other delicious foods that will enhance the flavour of your experience, all while your guide tells you the story of jazz pianist Shirley Horn and the Lincoln Theatre building.

The U Street tour lasts approximately three hours and a portion of the proceeds are donated to Bread for the City, an organization that provides food, warm clothing, medical care and financial assistance to reduce poverty in Washington DC.

Details of interest

• Price... The full tour including the assistance of an expert local guide and lunch starts at 92 euros.
• Duration of tour... The tour lasts approximately three hours.
• How to get to U Street... From Capitol Hill you can get there directly by buses 90, 92 and 96 or by Metro taking the green and yellow lines from L'Enfant Plaza to U Street Northwest.
• Benefits of this tour... Not only will you enjoy a delicious lunch, but you will learn about the history of one of Washington DC's most eclectic neighbourhoods.

If you're a beer aficionado, this is the tour for you. On an approximately five-hour tour you'll sample a variety of award-winning beers and visit four of Washington DC's top breweries, while an expert local guide takes you through every step of the brewing process.

The tour also usually includes lunch or dinner, as well as a bus transfer to the Hellbender, Right Proper, Brookland Pint and 3 Stars breweries.

On each of the tours you can do a variety of activities, including brewing your own beer, learning about the entire brewing process at an industrial bottling plant and the secret behind the flavours of each of the beverages.

The tastings and meals included in the tour are designed so that you can enjoy your visit and have a different experience on your trip to Washington DC, away from the typical visits to war memorials and public buildings on the National Mall.

Interesting details

• Price... The full tour with beer tasting, meals and transfers starts at 105 euros.
• Duration of the tour... The tour lasts approximately five hours.
• Benefits of this tour... You will get to know a different side of the American capital and the workings of Washington's major breweries.

Washington DC has the second largest Ethiopian community in the world and also one of the most important Ethiop ian food circuits.

There are about fifty Ethiopian restaurants throughout the US capital and most of them are located in Shaw, just east of U Street.

This expertly guided tour takes you on a journey through the neighbourhood's history and waves of immigration, and allows you to enjoy four tastings that include a traditional Ethiopian breakfast, a national dish, Italian-influenced desserts and other pairings that will introduce you to the flavours and textures of Ethiopian cuisine.

The tasting offerings include meat and vegetarian dishes, Ethiopian breads, traditional snacks and dips and a coffee ceremony, all on a three-hour tour with four stops at some of Shaw's top restaurants.

Interesting details

• Price... The full tour with tasting and expert local guide starts at €64.
• Duration of tour... The tour lasts approximately three hours.
• How to get to Little Ethiopia... From Capitol Hill you can get there directly by buses 90, 92 and 96 or by Metro taking the green and yellow lines from L'Enfant Plaza to Shaw-Howard University Station.
• Advantages of this tour... You will have access to one of the most important gastronomic cultures of Africa in one of the largest Ethiopian communities in the world.
• Disadvantages of this tour... The tour includes a walk of approximately two kilometres at a moderate pace, which should be taken into account if any of the visitors have mobility problems.

Eastern Market is the oldest functioning food market in Washington DC and also because of its proximity to Capitol Hill a focal point of the city, even for locals.

This tour usually includes the chance to enjoy eight tastings, including artisan bread, local fruits and vegetables, regional and international cheeses, Salvadoran empanadas and typical Eastern European desserts.

The urban myth of the US capital as a planned city was built around Eastern Market, and since then the market has become of central importance to Washington DC. In a one and a half hour tour you will get to know the secrets of this emblematic place and you will also get a taste of the flavours it houses.

This tour admits a maximum of six participants and an expert local guide will lead you inside the market while telling you about the history of the building. Children under the age of seven who do not participate in the tastings are admitted free of charge.

Interesting details

• Price... The complete tour with the eight tastings and the expert local guide starts at 39 euros.
• Duration of tour... The tour lasts approximately one and a half hours.
• Easter Market opening hours... The market is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.00am to 6.00pm.
• How to get to Eastern Market... From Capitol Hill you can take the 32 and 36 bus.
• Benefits of this tour... You will be able to access a circuit frequented by locals and sample local and foreign foods in an area very close to Capitol Hill.

On this food tour, an expert local guide will tell you about the history of Georgetown and host you at an Indian restaurant, a French bakery, an Italian food stall and a local coffee shop.

In a three-hour tour you will learn all about Georgetown, one of Washington DC's most distinguished neighbourhoods. Home to embassies and some of the most notable residents' homes, it is also a hub of restaurants and food shops that contribute to the neighbourhood's reputation as a culinary landmark in the city.

The three-hour tour includes meals and food pairings, which may include alcoholic beverages, and the assistance of an expert local guide. Vegetarian options are available on the menu.

Interesting details

• Price... The complete tour with the visit to the restaurants and the expert local guide starts at 69 euros.
• Duration of tour... The tour lasts approximately three hours.
• How to get to Georgetown... From Capitol Hill you can take buses 32 and 36 in combination with the GT-US bus or buses 33 and 38B.
• Advantages of this tour... You will get to know an emblematic neighbourhood of Washington DC and its culinary circuit in the same tour.

Dupont Circle is one of the most cosmopolitan neighbourhoods in Washington DC and therefore its gastronomy is very varied. This tour proposes a tour with up to four tastings, including Asian dishes, Mediterranean desserts, Malaysian food or typical American cuisine alternatives.

On this tour you will also get to know the diversity of the neighbourhood, its impressive 19th-century mansions, which represent the opulence of Washington DC and the embassies that represent more than fifty countries in the American capital.

The four-hour tour, with four stops and groups of up to twelve people, will include restaurants from around the world but will start and end with local food.

Interesting details

• Price... The full tour with restaurant visits and expert local guide starts at 73 euros.
• Duration of tour... The tour lasts approximately four hours.
• How to get to Georgetown... From Capitol Hill you can take the Metro Red Line from Union Station to Dupont Circle or the Blue Line from Capitol South Station to Farragut West. Also buses 32 and 36.
• Advantages of this tour... This is an opportunity to experience Washington's bohemian neighbourhood from a culinary perspective.

Adams Morgan is one of Washington DC's most vibrant nightlife districts , with many eclectic bars and international restaurants including Guatemalan, Dutch, Peruvian, Vietnamese, Brazilian and Israeli cuisine. On this tour you will visit a variety of ethnic food venues to enjoy specialties from around the world.

On this four-hour tour, you'll visit about five ethnic restaurants with tastings and an expert local guide included, and learn about the history of one of the most culturally diverse neighbourhoods in the US capital. Vegetarian options are also available.

The Adams Morgan restaurant tour is an ideal plan to do during the midday lunch hour and later enjoy the area's themed bars.

Details of interest

• Price... The full tour with restaurant visit and expert local guide starts at €75.
• Duration of the tour... The tour lasts approximately four hours.
• How to get to Georgetown... From Capitol Hill you can take buses 90 and 96 directly or buses 32 and 36 or the Metro Red Line from Union Station combined with buses 42, 43 and L2.
• Advantages of this tour... The tour includes access to some of Washington's best restaurants so it is an economical option to have access to several of them with tastings.

This tour offers a luxury option at an affordable price. It includes a trip on a sightseeing cruise on the Potomac River and a premium dinner to watch the sunset and the city light up at night.

On a three-hour tour you will have access to one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Washington DC while enjoying a three-course dinner.

This tour also includes a DJ with live music and a near shore tour to see Washington DC's best landmarks. The ship's design allows for free sailing under the bridges of the US capital and the glazed walls of the cruise ship promise a sweeping view.

The cruise departs from the Washington DC docks and smart casual attire is recommended.

Details of interest

• Price... The full tour with cruise and three-step dinner starts at 94 euros.
• Duration of the tour... The tour lasts approximately four hours.
• How to get to Georgetown... From Capitol Hill you can take buses 32 and 36 combined with the P6 bus or the Metro Green Line from Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter to the Waterfront.
• Advantages of this tour... The tour combines an affordable cruise tour with a three-step dinner.

All the excursions in this article are oriented towards the gastronomic side of the tour but also include other cultural activities such as a tour of different neighbourhoods and their secrets or a cruise on the Potomac River. So on these excursions you will not only discover the flavours of Washington DC but also its stories.

These tours also allow you to combine interesting activities outside the main circuit of attractions and museums of Washington DC and discover the cosmopolitan side of the American capital.

Because you will learn a lot about the culture of not only the United States and Washington DC but also many of the countries of the world. The Little Ethiopia tour will take you to the best of African cuisine and the Adams Morgan tour will give you a quick tour of many other countries.

At other sites such as Eastern Market or U Street you can learn more about local food and the influences of these places on the culture of Washington DC.

All tours include the assistance of an expert local guide to ensure that you not only enjoy the food but also the stories of each location. On your own you will be able to visit each and every restaurant but you will miss out on information along the way that may not complete your experience.

If you are interested in getting to know the American capital from the gastronomic side, I recommend that you choose the tour that best suits your interests and start enjoying the tastiest side of Washington DC with all your senses.