Secret Food Tours

What Secret Food Tours Is and Where It Operates

Secret Food Tours runs guided food walking tours in more than 120 cities. The about page calls it "the world's leading food tour operator," and the homepage FAQ says "We're the world's largest independent food tour company, operating in 120 cities and growing. Each city is run by passionate food lovers," both of which are the company's own descriptions. It was "Founded in London in 2013 by Nicolas Jacquart and Oliver Mernick-Levene," trades under Essor Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales, and says it "offers 200+ tours and welcomes over 400,000 guests every year." The homepage breaks the network down by region: 57 cities in North America, 52 in Europe, 14 in Asia, 9 in South America, 4 in Australia and 1 in Africa, with recent additions including Bogotá, Victoria, Calgary, Santiago and Manchester. Tours are priced in the local currency of each city, such as Canadian dollars in Montreal. The homepage FAQ defines a food tour as "a walking feast through the heart of a city," and says each tour "is local-led, filled with authentic stops, and topped off with our signature Secret Dish," a surprise revealed only on the day.

The Range of Tours

Each city has its own set of routes. The Montreal page is a good example of the detail: the Mile End tour runs "2 1/2 - 3 hour," has 6 stops, a maximum of 14 people, is in English and costs C$ 109.99 per person. The itinerary starts at "a beloved neighbourhood counter" where "everything is homemade," then moves through a Montreal bagel with cream cheese, street gnocchi "From a legendary family-run walk-up window," poutine, and a seasonal finish: in fall and winter "a beautiful terrace at a historic café," in spring and summer artisan ice cream. The page notes that "the itinerary and menu is subject to change." Montreal also has an Old Montreal tour (3 hours, 6 stops, 16 people max, C$ 139.99), which the page says covers "smoked salmon bagels, local charcuterie, cheeses, and classic poutine" and ends with a maple syrup tasting, and a Jean-Talon & Little Italy tour at C$ 99.99. The homepage "Top Rated" row adds the NYC Chinatown & Little Italy tour, which promises "the vibrant food scenes of Chinatown and Little Italy" and "family-owned businesses," and a Paris Notre Dame tour described as "a culinary journey across the birthplace of the French capital." London's tour includes "award-winning fish & chips, world-famous sausage rolls and breakfast baps."

How It Works on the Day

The about page describes "a guided walking experience lasting two to four hours, led by a local guide," and the homepage FAQ says most tours "last about 3 to 4 hours" at an easy pace. On size, the FAQ explains that "Our food tours usually host around 10 to 12 guests," while individual tours set their own caps, like 14 on Mile End. Meeting points are published per tour: the Mile End group meets at the Rialto Theatre, 5723 Av. du Parc, every day at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and "Your guide will be waiting with an orange umbrella." The Montreal page says there is "around 35 mins of walking" covering "just over one kilometer," and the group FAQ puts typical walking at "1 to 1.5 miles." The same FAQ says "we welcome foodies of all ages," but alcohol tours require photo ID and legal drinking age. On diets it says accommodation "varies tour-by-tour but we absolutely try to provide dietary alternatives where we can," asks for allergies at booking, and states that the company "cannot accept responsibility for potential risk of allergen exposure." Pick-up and drop-off are offered "depending on your exact location for a fee."

Booking, Cancellation and Payment

Tours are booked online per city, with a "Lowest price guarantee" shown on the booking panel and an email address for payment problems. The cancellation policy is strict and stated plainly in the group FAQ: "For groups under 10 guests: Once a tour is booked and paid, it is non-refundable," though the company will "reschedule your tour at no additional charge (based on availability)" or give credit toward a future tour. Groups of 10 or more can hold a booking with "a non-refundable 20% deposit," pay in full 2 weeks before, and after that the booking is non-refundable; bookings made within 2 weeks are paid in full at once. Gift cards are sold in GBP and "can be redeemed for any food tour" in any city, and vouchers can be bought for a specific tour. Private tours for birthdays and families and corporate events are available; the corporate page says the company runs "thousands of corporate events, holiday parties and team building activities every year" and offers a 5% discount for paying in full up front. The same FAQ lists two payment methods for group bookings: bank transfer, with "no booking fees," and PayPal by credit card, where "a PayPal® service fee of 4.8% is included." Tips are "not obligatory" but can be added to the booking in advance. Individual travelers pay in full when they book, and the homepage tells travel professionals that "Our private tours are commissionable."

Recognition, Gaps, and Who It Suits

The about page lists a Tripadvisor "Travelers' Choice Best-of-the-Best Award across multiple cities," with the Nashville tour "named the #1 Food & Drink Experience in the entire United States," and says that in late 2025 the company ranked #14 on the Sunday Times 100 list and #18 on the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50. It cites "over 100,000 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide and Google." The main caveat is the no-refund policy for small groups: plans that change mean a reschedule or credit, not money back. Languages other than English are not mentioned on the Montreal page or the FAQs, and wheelchair access is answered only as varying by tour. Secret Food Tours suits travelers who want a set, well-documented neighborhood food walk with a clear meeting point, a fixed stop count and a group of around a dozen, in almost any major city. Travelers who want a refundable booking, or who have severe allergies, should read the terms and contact the city team first.