Gaslamp Quarter Food & Drink Tour: Brothels, Bites & Booze
Description
Explore San Diego’s infamous Gaslamp Quarter through food, cocktails, and scandalous stories. This small-group walking tour combines delicious tastings with the surprising history of the city’s former red-light district, making it one of San Diego’s most unique food experiences. Come hungry — this experience includes multiple food tastings and drink samples from some of the Gaslamp’s best local spots.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Often called the Historic Heart of San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter is the main dining and entertainment district of the city. With more than 150 bars and restaurants and 94 registered historic buildings, this nightlife playground has a lot to see and do, as well as a fascinating past. The Brothels, Bites and Booze tour will introduce you to the beginnings of San Diego as a port town – learn why it became one of the more notorious red light districts of its time, and find out how this once-undesired neighborhood became a fun and vibrant nightlife destination for both locals and visitors. After meeting your guide, you’ll embark on a journey of scandalous tales, unique cocktails and local cuisine. On the tour, you’ll make new friends, hear interesting stories and explore new tastes at local restaurants.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 18 years
- There is a minimum of 4 passengers to operate. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
Reviews(856)
This tour was really great. Our guide Ben, knew all there is to know about San Diego and gave us a great walk around the town. The food and drinks was also really good
Thank you for the great feedback! We're so happy you got along with Ben, and hope you continue to share about your great experience!
The your was fine. Learned a lot of history, but I had higher expectations of having a better food experience of what the area has to offer.
Thank you for the feedback. I'm sorry the food didn't meet your expectations. We work with restaurants that are locally-owned, and who have put in a lot of effort in sharing their heritage and essence in food.
Ben was a terrific guide. He was knowledgeable about the area and a lot of fun. There was plenty of good food and drink. Make sure to show up hungry. I recommend this tour.
Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour!
Magda provided a good history of the Gaslamp Quarter back more than 150 years. Gave a good picture of the area evolving. The restaurants were well selected and the drinks were good. You will be well fed so plan on coming hungry. Great tour.
This is great news! We're so happy you had such a great time with Magda! Thank you for joining us!
A few friends and I took this tour while visiting San Diego for a history conference on the USS Midway. Ben was our tour guide and he was great! There was just enough history, coupled with tasty treats and downtime to talk with friends and tour mates. I have done a food tour in NYC as well and find them great ways to get to know local spots you other side wouldn’t see. I highly recommend this tour!
Thank you, fellow food tour-goer! We couldn't agree more with your sentiments around taking food tours...they are a great balance of history, tasty bites, and community! We appreciate you!
“Brothels, Bites and Booze” was the perfect mix of scandal, snacks, and sips — basically everything I want in a San Diego history lesson. Ben was an incredible guide: hilarious, knowledgeable, and somehow able to make old-timey vice, local lore, and delicious food all feel like they belonged on the same syllabus. Every stop had a great story, a great bite, or a drink that made the next scandalous story even better. The tour was fun, well-paced, and full of the kind of history they definitely did not teach us in school. I left entertained, well-fed, slightly more educated, and very confident that San Diego’s past was much messier than its postcards suggest. Highly recommend this tour for anyone who likes good food, good drinks, and learning about questionable decisions made by people long before us. Ask for Ben — he’s fantastic.
You are amazing, and your review makes me want to offer you a job! LOL. We're so happy you had such a great time with Ben! Thank you so much for joining, and for the great review! :)
We had Melissa as our tour guide. She made this tour so much fun with all her knowledge of the area. Not only did we love the food from each place but we left with so much knowledge of downtown Gaslamp! Highly recommend taking this tour!
Thank you for the great review! We appreciate the love!
It was a really fun tour. We had a great tour guide and the food and drink at several establishments was good. Again wear comfortable shoes. It involves a lot of walking.
Thank you the 5 stars! We're so happy you had a great time! Yes, the walk can be long, but we do stop and sit at each restaurant, so you can take a moment and relax....
Great tour, very knowledgeable guide- Ben- good food and drinks- highly recommend. There was almost two miles of walking, so be prepared- it was all flat and not too fast paced.
We're so happy you had a great time with Ben. Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a great review!
Our tour guide Blerta was awesome she was so great she and made the tour really fun. I really feel like we know Gas lamp now
We're so happy you had such a great time with Blerta! Thank you for joining us!
