The 5 Best Toulouse Food & Drink Tours
When spending time in a foodie capital like Toulouse, booking a food tour or tasting experience is an excellent way to enjoy local specialties while gaining insights into the local food culture. There is, perhaps, no better shortcut to getting a feel for a city than through its cuisine. An army marches on its stomach, said Napoleon, and so does a city.
Toulouse’s culinary landscape is populated with big robust flavors – cheeses, red whites, decadent pastries, and warming stews (read our What Typical Foods Should I Try in Toulouse blog to learn more). These are foods that lend themselves to social gatherings, foods best enjoyed in the company of family, friends, or fellow travelers.
So, take a seat by the bar and join us as we discuss five food and drink tours in Toulouse that will serve as great introductions to various aspects of the city’s gastronomy.
Victor Hugo Market Tour – Taste of Toulouse
Our Walking Gourmet Tour of the Marché Victor Hugo helps you develop your market shopping skills in the company of a certified French Wine Scholar and ex-cheesemonger.
In small groups of no more than eight, we’ll walk the historic halls of a market that has been at the heart of Toulouse for well over a hundred years. In a market famed for its premium quality produce, we’ll sample a variety of foods and enjoy some wine. The tour lasts around 3.5 hours (weekend tours can be a touch longer).
The Victor Hugo Market is more than just a place for people to shop for groceries. It’s one of the city’s great meeting points, a place adored by locals and tourists alike.
Join us on our tour to soak up the market’s famous atmosphere and spend time with like-minded food lovers (and, of course, indulge in delicious cheese, wine, fresh bread, and more).
La Balade Gourmande – Toulouse Office of Tourism
Organized by the Toulouse Office of Tourism, La Balade Gourmande (The Gourmet Stroll) is led by a certified guide and explores traditional Toulouse cuisine. You will visit one food market and sample a rewarding mix of flavors.
This 2-hour tour is delivered exclusively in French. Tickets are reasonably priced at €15, and participation is free if you have the Pass Tourisme (Toulouse Tourist Pass).
Chocolate & Pastry Tour – Taste of Toulouse
Discover the decadent world of French chocolate and pastry on our Toulouse Chocolate & Pastry Tour.
We’ll enjoy a 2 km stroll through the charming, cobbled streets of Toulouse’s historic center, stopping in artisan chocolatiers and pâtisseries. Sampling a medley of sweet treats, we’ll learn about the desserts that are unique to Toulouse and discover why single-origin chocolates are so prized.
The craft and creativity that goes into these confectioneries’ design and preparation are genuinely inspiring. During the warmer months, we’ll enjoy locally-made ice cream with our selection of chocolates. You can learn about French ice cream (glace) and how it compares to its Italian and North American cousins here.
If you’re in Toulouse in the wintertime, you may want to indulge in a superb hot chocolate, which is something of a city specialty. For inspiration, read our 5 best spots for hot chocolate in Toulouse.
At the end of the tour, guests will be sent a list of everything we’ve tasted as well as suggestions for future exploration.
Farinettes & Compagnie
Provided exclusively in French, the gourmet walks of Farinettes & Compagnie are led by a native-born Toulousaine.
Making these walks unique, your host takes you around the historic streets of Toulouse while pushing a picnic-on-wheels. This means you get to eat delectable food sourced directly from local providers in a variety of picturesque settings.
Please note that Farinettes & Compagnie only accept group bookings between November and March. From April to September, anyone can book a place on the walk.
Toulouse Wine Bar Tour – Taste of Toulouse
Wine lovers will not want to miss our Toulouse Wine Bar Tour. We’ve written previously about the fantastic choice of wine bars to be found in Toulouse (you can read about it here – The Best Wine Bars in Toulouse). With this tour, you get to take a deep dive into that very scene.
Over 2.5 hours, we’ll visit some of the coolest wine bars in town, sampling a harmonious blend of intriguing wines. You’ll taste grape varieties unique to southwest France, like Négrette, Mauzac, and Braucol, while you savor locally-produced charcuterie and cheeses or other small seasonal small plates.
Your certified French Wine Scholar guide will also help you develop your tasting technique and add to your tasting vocabulary. Together, we’ll also discuss the complexities of France’s AOC/IGP system, particularly the varieties of wine produced locally.
To top it all off, we’ll send you a list of the wines you tasted, the locations visited, and other helpful resources so you can continue your own journey into the world of wine.
This brings us to the end of our list of the 5 best Toulouse food & drink tours. Please contact us if you have questions about this blog or our Toulouse Gourmet Walking Tours.
