Tastes of Little Italy: North Beach San Francisco Food Tour

Enjoy pizza, espresso, cannoli, and more on a tour of North Beach.
$74 per person – 3 hours


All food and non-alcoholic drinks included

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.

Highlights

  • All food and 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
  • All food and non-alcoholic drinks included
  • Whether you are in Union Square, Pier 39, Market Street, or Nob Hill, our tours are easy to get to.

Taste of the Tour

These are just some of the highlights when you come out with our San Francisco local guides.

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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.

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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.

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Walk in the footsteps of the Beat generation

North 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.

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Stop at one of the best chocolate shops in the United States

Another 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.

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Expect Italian food favorites

During 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.

Important Information

  • Upon booking, let us know if you have any dietary requests for the tour
  • Our tours operate daily
  • If you need to get in touch with us, we are available 24/7. Contact us here , or by phone at (415) 665-0480

Cancellation Policy

Local Tastes of the City Tours wants your entire experience with us to be exceptional and we want you to feel confident reserving a tour, whether by phone or online.

We ask you to give us 48 hours notice to cancel a tour. If it's less than 48 hours, and the unexpected happens, such as being delayed at the airport, flight cancelled, or something else, call us and we'll do our best to make you happy.

Meeting Location

Our North Beach (Little Italy) tours begin at 480 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133, at the corner of Green and Columbus, in front of BMO\Bank of the West.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, please let us know at the time of booking.

Yes, and we’ve heard from plenty of parents how much fun their kids had eating pizza and visiting the candy stores!

Yes, we are happy to accommodate dietary needs. Please let us know at the time of booking.

Vaccinations are not required on our tours; however, we highly recommend that you are vaccinated.

Masks may be required in some stops. Proof of vaccination is required on all tours.

This tour covers about 8-10 city blocks with some slight inclines on hills.

Chinatown and North Beach (Little Italy) share a border at Stockton Street. It is easy to get between the two neighborhoods by foot.

Locals call it North Beach and people outside San Francisco call it Little Italy, however it is the same neighborhood

Situated less than one mile from Fisherman's Wharf and the Financial District, North Beach is known for its Italian restaurants, the City Lights Bookstore, Saints Peter and Paul Church, and Washington Square Park.

Both tours run daily. Our combination tour of Chinatown and North Beach runs in the afternoon; meanwhile the Little Italy and Chinatown tours run in late morning and early afternoon.

Our Little Italy tours begin at 480 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133, at the corner of Green and Columbus, in front of BMO\Bank of the West.

Local Tastes of the City Tours wants your entire experience with us to be exceptional and we want you to feel confident reserving a tour, whether by phone or online.

We ask you to give us 48 hours notice to cancel a tour. If it's less than 48 hours, and the unexpected happens, such as being delayed at the airport, flight cancelled, or something else, call us and we'll do our best to make you happy.