Great Canadian Food Tour- St. Lawrence Market + The Distillery
Description
What does Canada taste like? Over two and a half unhurried hours, we answer that, counter by counter, in two of Toronto's most storied neighbourhoods: the Distillery District, a pedestrian-only village of restored Victorian architecture, and St. Lawrence Market — first on National Geographic's list of the world's top 10 food markets. Expect the classics told properly — peameal bacon, butter tarts, poutine done right — alongside savoury bites, a signature alcohol-free cocktail, and sweet finishes: tastings generous enough to equal a full meal. Between them, your Culinary Storyteller unpacks how a distillery town became a food city, and why this market has fed Toronto for 200 years. We are Chopsticks+Forks — Canada's #1 Food & Drink Experience on TripAdvisor (2022), featured in Conde Nast Traveller and National Geographic, exclusive food tour partner to Four Seasons Hotel Toronto and Viking Cruises. Small groups, always led by a veteran Culinary Storyteller. Bienvenue. Welcome home.
Tour Options
Itinerary
A national historic site and one of Toronto's proudest transformations: once the Victorian-era Gooderham & Worts distillery, today a pedestrian-only village of cobblestone lanes, galleries, and artisan kitchens — often called the largest collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America. This is where our walk begins, at Sweetie Pie Bakery on Tank House Lane. Over our hour here, recent tastings have included two savoury bites, a signature alcohol-free cocktail, and a sweet treat worth saving room for. Between tastings, your Culinary Storyteller tells the story the buildings can't: how whisky built this corner of the city, why it fell silent, and how food brought it back to life. Cameras welcome — the lanes photograph beautifully in every season.
Two hundred years of feeding Toronto, 120+ vendors under one roof — and first on National Geographic's list of the world's top 10 food markets, ahead of London's Borough Market. St. Lawrence Market is not a tourist attraction that sells food; it is a working market that became an attraction by being excellent for two centuries. Our hour here moves stall to stall the way regulars shop: recent tastings have included a peameal bacon sandwich — the market's signature — fresh seafood, and a second sweet treat to finish. Your Culinary Storyteller knows the families behind the counters, which is the difference between eating at the market and being introduced to it. The tour ends here, in the middle of the market — on purpose. Guests regularly stay to shop, armed with our shortlist of what to carry home. One walk barely scratches the surface of how Toronto eats.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Our friends cook their family recipes as they always have, so we can't accommodate gluten, dairy, or nut allergies, and we don't offer a vegan option. Vegetarian and pescatarian versions are available — just tell us when you book.
Reviews(119)
William led us through some interesting areas of old Toronto, with fascinating historical facts and insights. The food was great, even the pineapple pizza and poutine, which I didn’t think I’d like.
Don’t eat breakfast before you go on this tour!! So much information, so much food, so much fun!! You won’t regret this one!!
William was an awesome tour guide and was very informative about the Canadian history and various foods. The food was excellent and very good portions. Definitely recommend this tour, time and money well spent.
Anthony, thank you — "time and money well spent" is the exact bar we set, so hearing it back in your words means a lot. Leaving guests full is a point of pride around here: proper portions, no polite little samples. And yes, William can trace a plate back a hundred years without breaking stride — Canadian history goes down easier with peameal in hand. Your recommendation is the best thanks there is. Send your friends; we'll feed them properly. — Jusep, Founder, Chopsticks+Forks
There is so much good food! And we enjoyed learning about the history of the city from our guide, William! Both areas visited were very interesting. We’ll definitely visit them again!
Amy, this is our favourite kind of ending — guests going back on their own. That's the whole idea: once William hands you the stories, St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District stop being attractions and start being your neighbourhoods. Say hi to the vendors when you return — and when you've eaten your way through those two, Kensington Market is waiting with five continents more. — Jusep, Founder, Chopsticks+Forks
William was a great guide. Food was good, and especially enjoyed him giving the history of the districts visited.
Thank you for this, and for spending the day with us! The history is William's favourite part — he can't pass a corner of St. Lawrence Market or the Distillery District without telling its story, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Glad the food kept pace with the storytelling. When you're next hungry, our Kensington Market International Food Tour takes you to five continents in one walk — William's friends there set a high bar.
We had so much delicious new foods on this tour we skipped dinner. Our guide William was a delightful guide and storyteller and very attentive to our dietary needs. Travelers should know there is a 20 minute walk between the Distillery District and the St. Lawrence Market.
Joseph, skipping dinner is the highest star rating we know — thank you! William will be pleased his stories landed and that your dietary needs were handled with care; that attentiveness is a point of pride with him. And thanks for the practical note on the walk between the Distillery and St. Lawrence: we like to think of it as the appetite reset between courses, but it's a fair heads-up for fellow travellers. Come hungry again soon!
I had a wonderful experience on the food tour of St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery Historic District. It was a fantastic way to discover Toronto’s history, culture, and amazing food. A special thank you to our tour guide, William, who made the experience truly memorable. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the stories behind the places we visited and the foods we tasted. His enthusiasm and attention to detail made the tour enjoyable from start to finish. The food selections were delicious, and I appreciated learning about the history and traditions connected to each stop. William created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making everyone feel engaged and comfortable. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to explore Toronto through its food, history, and hidden gems. Thank you, William, for such a wonderful experience!
Thank you so much for the glowing review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the Distillery + St. Lawrence Market tour and that William made your experience so memorable — we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words. It’s wonderful to hear the food, stories, and atmosphere hit the mark. We’d love to welcome you back anytime to explore more of Toronto’s culinary and cultural gems. Safe travels and thanks again for recommending us!
Very good! We loved the explanation and the experience. William was patient during the tour, at our pace, and very kind.
hank you so much for your kind words! 🌟 ¡Muchas gracias por esta hermosa reseña! Nos alegra muchísimo saber que disfrutaron la experiencia en el Great Canadian Food Tour (Distillery District + St. Lawrence Market). William se pone muy contento cuando escucha que logró llevar el tour a su ritmo, con paciencia y amabilidad. Para nosotros es muy importante que cada persona se sienta cómoda y realmente conectada con la historia y los sabores de Toronto. ¡Esperamos tener el placer de recibirlos nuevamente en otra de nuestras experiencias! Si regresan a la ciudad, avísennos — siempre hay nuevos tours y recomendaciones especiales para amigos como ustedes. ¡Abrazos y hasta pronto!
It was a great tour! I wasn’t expecting anything this nice. Willian was an excellent guide and his acting career made his delivery of information very entertaining! The food was plentiful and was more than enough for a heavy lunch
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so happy to hear that the tour exceeded your expectations. The Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market are two of Toronto's most iconic neighborhoods, and we're glad you enjoyed exploring them with William. William has a unique talent for bringing the stories, history, and culture of the city to life, and his background in acting certainly adds an entertaining dimension to the experience. We're delighted that his enthusiasm helped make the tour both informative and enjoyable. It's also great to hear that you found the food plentiful and satisfying—we always aim to provide a generous tasting experience that feels like a true culinary journey. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another Toronto food adventure in the future!
My son and I did the Distillery/St. Lawrence Market tour with William. The food along the tour was delicious and really filled us up! We also got an excellent sample of Canadian cuisine. We started in the Distillery where we had two savory bites, a “savory” cocktail (virgin), and a delectable sweet treat. William told us about the history of the Distillery and how it developed into the area it is today. He was super knowledgeable. Then, we walked through the Esplanade, which on this beautiful Toronto day, was quite lovely. This walk lead us to the St. Lawrence Market where we sampled 3 more items: a sandwich, seafood, and a second sweet treat. Was it $80 worth of food? No, it was not, but it gave us a great sampling of Canadian culture with a personable guide, and it WAS filling. We even brought some back to the hotel because we couldn’t eat it all. To me, it was well worth it. ENJOY!!!
Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review! We're delighted that you and your son enjoyed exploring both the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market with William. It's wonderful to hear that the food was delicious, filling, and provided a great introduction to Canadian cuisine and culture. We're especially pleased that William's knowledge of Toronto's history and neighborhoods helped bring the experience to life. Thank you as well for highlighting the value of the tour as more than just a food experience—our goal is to combine great food, local history, and meaningful cultural insights into one memorable outing. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you both back for another Toronto food adventure in the future!
