Eat Like A Local

Coastal Food Tours

By Morgan Cole & Nicole Willis

If you think a guided tour through the city is an activity solely reserved for the enjoyment of tourists on segways, out-of-towners and history buffs, think again!

Food tours are becoming an increasingly popular activity in cities across the country, for both visitors and locals. Offering a unique way to explore a city’s local culinary scene, food tours guide participants through different restaurants and curated culinary experiences. Along the way, guests have the opportunity to discover new flavors, learn more about local history and enjoy a unique social experience.

Attending a food tour as a local offers a fresh perspective on your city, introducing you to hidden culinary gems and local traditions you might not discover on your own.

Whether you’re visiting from out of town or simply looking to try something new with friends andfamily, food tours are a fun way to dive a little deeper into the history, culture and cuisine that makes each city uniquely its own.

From historic downtown Pensacola to the quaint oak-lined streets of Fairhope, Ala., here are some of the top regional food tours within a short drive from Pensacola. Bon Appetite!

Bienville Bites Food Tour

Discover the best of Mobile’s history and charm while tasting delicious, award-winning cuisines on the Bienville Bites Food Tour. Bienville Bites gives you a behind-the-scenes tour of Mobile’s thriving culinary scene. Whether you're a visitor exploring for the first time or a local looking for a unique night out, Bienville’s tours offer a little something for everyone.

Owned and operated by Chris and Laney Andrews, Bienville Bites was named one of the Top 5 Best Food Tours in the U.S. by USA Today. This three-hour guided walking tour takes you on a delicious journey through the historic streets of downtown Mobile as you explore the city’s rich history and diverse culinary flavors.

Bienville’s food tours celebrate classic Alabama favorites, with sweet and savory options as well as unique alcohol and cocktail tastings. Experienced tour guides will take you on a stroll through downtown beneath historic oaks to visit locally owned restaurants and indulge in a variety of the city’s most popular cuisines.

Depending on the selected tour, guests will have the chance to visit five to six local restaurants. Along the way, you’ll also learn about Mobile’s rich history dating back to 1702.

Bienville Bites offers both public and private tours, as well as a variety of themed and seasonal tours for holidays like Mardi Gras, Halloween, Christmas and more. Private tours for special occasions, parties and corporate events are also available upon request.

Bienville Bites offers a choice between four different food tours—each with its own unique twist. Each tour is curated to create a memorable tasting experience. While some of the tours are reserved for individuals ages 21 and older, Bienville Bites also offers tours appropriate for diners of all ages. The guided food tours last around three hours and include the option

to add on cocktails or beer for an additional cost, depending on the tour. Current food tours include:

Downtown Mobile Food Tour: From crispy fried green tomatoes to sweet beignets, this tour features a mix of Gulf Coast classics and local flavors that define Mobile. With stops at six of Mobile’s top eateries, this tour doubles as a full meal so, there’s no need to plan lunch or dinner. The Downtown Mobile tour is suitable for all ages. This tour starts at $65 per adult and costs $39 for children ages 6 to 12.

Old Mobile Evening Food Tour: Perfect for Mobilians, weekend adventurers, or anyone wanting a fresh take on downtown’s culinary scene, this tour includes tasty Gulf Coast classics, standout cocktails, stunning aerial views of the city and more. With five unique stops, including an old speakeasy vault, guests will have a chance to taste the dishes locals rave about while exploring Alabama’s oldest city after hours. This tour ranges from $75 to $95 per person and is limited to ages 21 and older.

Lei’d to Rest: A Tropical Murder Mystery: Island vibes collide with a juicy whodunit and tasty food at some of Mobile’s most beloved restaurants for this murder mystery-themed food tour. Guests are invited to play a role in solving a fictional crime as they follow a trail of clues and suspicion at each stop. Along the way, guests will visit five of Mobile’s top restaurants to enjoy tropical bites and tasty cocktails. Think island-inspired vibes and Jimmy Buffett nods with plenty of fun surprises along the way. This tour is limited to individuals ages 21 and older and ranges from $79 to $99 per person.

Summer Supper Series: This seasonal food tour brings together the best bites and local stories the city has to offer. For this tour, guests will take a leisurely stroll through the streets of downtown Mobile with stops at six delicious destinations enjoying everything from spicy cucumber starters and pulled pork sliders to shrimp and grits and sweet beignets with strawberry syrup. Each stop celebrates the fresh, bold flavors of summer in true Mobile style. Along the way, guests will hear tales of summers past—from jubilee sightings and riverfront fun to Mobile’s unmatched baseball history and legendary hurricanes. This tour is for ages 21 and older and ranges from $99 to $125 per person.

Each tour is led by one of their certified, best-in-class hosts—part food expert, part Mobile historian and part vibe curator. Bienville handles all the logistics from pacing and dietary needs to timing and local flair. You simply show up hungry and ready to mingle.

For booking and details on current food tour offerings, visit bienvillebites.com.

Seville Stroll Food Tour

The Seville Stroll food tour dishes up a unique culinary experience that’s sure to tantalize your taste buds. On this guided culinary tour through the historic streets of downtown Pensacola, you’ll learn about the city’s rich culinary history while enjoying local cuisine from a myriad of delicious eateries.

The brainchild behind the operation is Pensacola native and local history buff Duel Christian, who launched the company back in 2021. After seeing the rising popularity of tours like these in other “foodie” meccas of the U.S., like New Orleans and Chicago, Christian wanted to bring something similar to Pensacola.

So, when Christian decided that he was ready to start his own business, it only seemed natural to pursue an endeavor that would allow him to combine two things he loves— food and local history.

“Seville Savories came about when I was just looking for something different to do. I was an independent advertising consultant at that time, and I saw an ad for a food tour on Google. I knew immediately that I could do that. I know exactly how to do it because I grew up immersed in Pensacola history. I'm a food historian, and with the walkability of downtown, it was a no-brainer to put it together. From there, I contacted local restaurants, and I wrote the tour talk about the general history of Pensacola,” Christian said.

In May 2025, Christian decided to partner with longtime friend Wesley Odom, the owner of the oldest continuously operating tour company in Pensacola, Go Retro. The duo combined forces to enhance and expand Go Retro’s current tour offerings.

“Wesley and I grew up together at First United Methodist Church. We've known each other pretty much our whole lives. We bumped into each other back in April, and he asked me to give him a call. He said, ‘Why don't we just merge the two companies and create one big tour company?’ So, he brought me on. I am now the general manager of Go Retro, so I'm running the whole company,” Christian explained. “Wesley brought me on to do the food tour aspect, and we've hired another guide to do the walking food tour. Now we offer many different types of tours, and we have more coming.”

In his new role as general manager, Christian oversees the company’s diverse lineup of classic riding tours. He will also lead the expansion into new, themed food tours, building on the success of Seville Savories with the debut of exciting new culinary tour offerings.

“We will be kicking off an afternoon dessert tour called Dessert Madness, probably within the month, and hopefully, a coffee tour will be coming later this year, as well,” Christian said.

For now, Go Retro is hosting Christian’s popular Seville Stroll food tour, which can be booked directly through the Go Retro website.

For this guided dinner tour, guests will stroll through the streets of the Seville Historic District in downtown Pensacola, tasting delicious cuisine from four of downtown’s top dining destinations, including The Kennedy, Dog House Deli, 86 Forks Bar + Table and Bubba’s Sweet Spot. Along the way, an expert guide will teach you fun facts about Pensacola’s history dating back to the days of the famous Spanish explorer who first set foot in Florida—Don Tristán de Luna.

The tour takes about 2 hours, but don’t worry, the walk isn’t far and you’ll have plenty of time to rest after enjoying food at the different stops along the way. Each tour can accommodate anywhere from four to 12 people.

The Seville Stroll dinner is hosted on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 pm, and the cost is $72 per person. Though Go Retro isn’t currently offering private food tours, Christian says this is something they hope to offer in the near future.

For tickets and more information on the Seville Stroll food tour, visit goretro.us.

Taste of Fairhope

Also owned and operated by husbandand-wife duo Chris and Laney Andrews, Taste of Fairhope was established in 2020. As owners of the already well-established Bienville Bites food tour based out of Mobile, Ala., the couple wanted to bring this same typed of curated culinary experience to the charming town of Fairhope.

“It was kind of a natural progression for us. We wanted to expand on what we were doing in Mobile. We love the food and the restaurants in Fairhope, so it just felt like a natural fit,” Chris said.

Currently, Taste of Fairhope offers the Fairhope Foodie Tour— A 3-hour walking food tour strolls through the streets of downtown Fairhope, Ala. and highlights some of the most-loved restaurants in the city. Featuring six stops, the tour is an easy pace, with the prime location requiring just a short walk between stops.

The tour begins at Provision, where the tour group meets up for their first tasting experience with a refreshing beverage and bite. Part coffee shop, market and wine bar, Provision is a haven for coffee lovers and wine connoisseurs alike.

The tour group will then walk south on Section Street to perhaps one of the most well-known restaurants in the area, Panini Pete’s, which gained fame through its many appearances on various Food Network shows, most notably Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

After a panini bite and a beignet, the tour continues to the beloved Bay Breeze Cafe. At this stop, guests will enjoy a cup of roasted corn and tomato bisque and a grilled cheese to dip.

Located just across the street in the former Dragonfly Food Bar is the next stop—Market by the Bay. Here, guests will get to sample a taste of the coast with a fresh po’boy and a hot cup of gumbo.

The next stop on the tour is the Happy Olive, where guests will enjoy a unique tasting experience with a curated selection of premium olive oils and aged vinegars from around the world.

The tour concludes with a stop at the iconic Mr. Gene’s Beans, where guests will sample the shop’s famous coffee and ice cream concoction—the Fairhope Float!

The Andrews are not alone in this venture, as two local guides assist them in leading the tours—Jennifer Wilson Galloway and Parker York. Galloway is a lifelong Fairhope resident with a love for the city and its culinary scene. York is a Fairhope High School teacher who is also passionate about the city and its history.

Tour groups range in size from two to 16 attendees. Private tours are also available upon request and make a great option for corporate events, birthdays and other special occasions.

The Fairhope Foodie tour is $79 per adult. This ticket price includes all food, tax and gratuity at each restaurant. There is also an option to add three cocktails throughout the tour. The food and cocktail package ticket price is $99 per adult.

If your kiddo is a fellow foodie, they are welcome to join in on the food tour. Children ages 11 and under who want to participate in tastings are $39 each.

Throughout the summer months, Taste of Fairhope offers tours Tuesday through Saturday. To learn more and book your tasting experience, visit tastefairhope.com.