Top Foodie Tours in San Francisco

San Francisco is home to numerous opportunities for foodie tourism, from the tourist-heavy Fisherman’s Wharf chowder in a sourdough bowl, to upscale fusion restaurants, to Chinatown dim sum and Mission tacos, to the many food trucks that dot the city. With a thriving foodie scene, the City by the Bay is a natural fit for our series examining opportunities to explore fresh, local, and natural foods in some of the great food cities of the world.

If you want to skip the rich and heavy to experience the healthy side of San Francisco foodie tourism, read on for our top local, natural foodie tour picks.

Top Local, Natural Tours in San Francisco

Ferry Building Marketplace and Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market

The Ferry Building and the farmers’ market that pops up outside three times a week form an irresistible combination for foodies looking for the fresh and natural side of San Francisco, from cheese, to wine, to produce, to preserves. The Ferry Building features restaurants and cafes as well as merchants so you can sit down for a rest if your foodie senses get overwhelmed. You can find a list of Ferry Building merchants and read more about the historic building here. If you want help navigating all the options, Viator offers a two-hour guided tasting tour twice weekly for $50.

SoMa StrEat Food Park

With so many food trucks in town, you could spend your entire trip to San Francisco checking out new curbside eats. But if you want to get your food truck hit in one dose, check out SoMa SteEat Food Park at 428 11th Street, where you can create your own lunch- or dinner-time tour of six to eight food trucks, then eat at a picnic table in a covered, heated seating area and have access to washrooms. Open weekdays 11-3 and 5-10, and weekends 11-10.

Sonoma County Farm Trails Tour

Sonoma County is the northernmost of the San Francisco Bay Area counties. It’s an area with loads of farms and vineyards, and you can drive through the area on a self-guided tour, stopping at farms and wineries on the way. Sonoma County Farm Trails offers a guide to farms in the area, including driving maps. It’s available for $5 from their website, or for free in Sonoma County at public libraries, the Chamber of Commerce, visitors’ centers, and some businesses.

Napa Valley Wine Train

Easily accessible by bus or ferry as a day trip from San Francisco, the Napa Valley Wine Train features a three-hour round-trip rail tour from Napa through lush vineyards. The three onboard kitchens are stocked with produce from the local farmers’ market, all-natural beef from a local ranch, Napa goat cheese, and locally baked bread from a bakery that’s been in the area for 80 years. Prices start at $99 per person for lunch and $109 per person for dinner, not counting transportation from San Francisco.

The Bottom Line

San Francisco is a foodie’s paradise. These tours focusing on the fresh, local side of San Francisco eating will allow you to experience the local foodie culture and eat some healthy food, too.

Christina Newberry

Alumni: University of Victoria – Christina Newberry is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in national and local magazines and newspapers. With a Bachelor’s degree in English and Anthropology from the University of Victoria and a Journalism Certificate from Langara College, Christina brings keen curiosity and the love of a good story to her work with HealthCastle.com.

Christina is a passionate traveler and urban gardener with an interest in vegetarian eating and making good, tasty food from scratch. Sharing lessons learned from her own experiences, Christina writes about lifestyle topics for HealthCastle, with a focus on eating well at home and on the road.