Tour Code: 558-529
Local Tastes of North Beach (Little Italy) Food Tour in San Francisco
- All food and non-alcoholic drinks included
- Imagine you're in Italy as you sip a fresh cappuccino or espresso
- Enjoy Italian Specialties
- Savor local Italian specialties from Arancini, deli favorites, and more
- Sink your teeth into a classic cannoli, a recipe baked in the same brick oven for more than a century
- Taste samples from the old-school Molinari Delicatessen, a North Beach staple
- Relax with pizza at Mona Lisa Restaurant
- Explore Stockton and Green streets for lively music and Beatnik history
- Vegetarian and special dietary needs welcome
- Whether you are in Union Square, Pier 39, Market Street, or Nob Hill, our tours are easy to get to
Itinerary
Day 1:Itinerary
Welcome to San Francisco's Little Italy... Or as we Bay Area locals like to call it: North Beach.
On this small-group walking food tour, your Bay Area local guide showcases the beloved Italian-American neighborhood, where views of Coit Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid make perfect backdrops for a stroll to bakeries, delis, coffee shops, and gourmet chocolate boutiques.
Along the way, your guide (a local of the neighborhood) chats with the business owners and makers along the way. You’ll discover many of the restaurants and bakeries we visit are family-owned, and they have passed down as far back as the early 1900s.
The only two things you really need to know for this tour: wear comfortable shoes and come hungry! The mostly flat sidewalks and laid-back vibe make it easy to embrace la dolce vida in a real San Francisco neighborhood.
Start fresh with a cappuccino or espresso
Begin your North Beach food and walking tour with an espresso, cappuccino, or tea. Your guide gets you acquainted with what's in store as you sip a freshly roasted cup of your choice.
Visit two of San Francisco's oldest eateries
On this tour, you get to visit two food institutions, Stella Pastry and Molinari Delicatessen, both located in the heart of North Beach. Expect generous samples of cannolis, deli meats, olives, and more. Both are owned and operated by the families to this day.
Walk in the footsteps of the Beat generationNorth Beach hums with history of the Beatnik movement. Hear stories of Jack Kerouac, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Allen Ginsberg and their time here. San Francisco Chronicle columnist, Herb Caen, coined the term "Beatnik" back in 1958 to describe the group of artists, poets, musicians, and writers who claimed North Beach as their home. Expect to pass City Lights Bookstore, the Beat Museum, and Vesuvio Cafe.
Stop at one of the best chocolate shops in the United StatesAnother highlight: a stop at the acclaimed Z. Cioccolato on Columbus Avenue for decadent chocolates. Their fudge has been featured on the Cooking Channel. Expect a special sampling of popular picks and shop favorites.
Expect Italian food favoritesDuring this portion of the North Beach walking tour, experience the friendliness of this neighborhood through its rich and delectable foods. Expect samples from arancini, pastries, North Beach family specialties, and of course local pizza.