Salem Food Tours - Salem, Massachusetts

Bobby R.

I’ve now gone on at least 4 tours with Karen from Salem Food Tours, and each tour has been phenomenal. Karen has a passion for Salem and it’s history, food, people and culture. You get so much more on this tour than your typical Salem tour. She pulls back the curtain and truly gives you an insiders view of Salem beyond the common Salem Witch Trials view. Throughout your tour you will sample some of the best foods and drinks that Salem has to offer from a variety of locations across the city. She makes history come alive as you sample spices and learn about what truly put Salem on the map - their spice trade industry. Karen is ready and excited to give recommendations for restaurants, places to grab a drink, local attractions and local shops. It’s simply a joy to go on a tour with Karen and if you truly want an insiders view of Salem, meet local shop owners, and eat and drink your way through Salem and it’s history - do it with Karen. She is second to none!

Shelby D.

Karen, our tour guide, is truly out of this world. If you think you know what this food tour is going to be, you're in for tons of pleasant surprises.

We're from Seattle and food tours have long been in their heyday over here. We've done just about every variety you can think of - 21st birthday tours, Pike Place Market tours, even those fun mystery picnic food tours - and hands down, this one is the best.

We booked our tour for Oct 29 to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. From the moment Karen handed off piping hot cups of chowder and started taking photos - not just of the group, but individual photos for every single one of us - we knew we were in for a treat.

This gal does not skimp. Ever. The cheese shop was closed for a big seasonal event, and what did she do? Arranged ALL of the cheese to-go so we could enjoy it outside of the shop.

Seriously, the attention to detail is something that I thought you couldn't find in this day and age. I was so happy to be proven wrong.

I don't even know how to say what the best part is! I'm torn between...
-The heavy pours during the wine tasting
-The gallery of photos we received after the tour including notes on all the vendors and shops we visited
-The interweaving of Salem's history without it ever skewing deep into witch/spooky territory
-The lasting memories! For Christmas, we ordered items from almost every single vendor and had them shipped to our home so all our loved ones could share in the flavors and fun.

We'll be back on the East Coast this fall, and I'm doing everything in my power to have another Salem food tour during the trip. I don't even care if it's the exact same tour... It was that good!

DO NOT sleep on this opportunity. I recommend booking it at the start of your Salem trip as you get quite a few discounts for local shops after the tour!

Thank you Karen for an unforgettable first anniversary. You are one of a kind!!

Georgie A.

Fantastic tour for the price. The tour lasted a while. We got to try spice tasting, go to a bunch of gourmet shops. Karen is a great tour guide and so knowledgeable. You can tell her presence is felt in Salem MA because everyone from shop owners to random people on the street were happy to see Karen. Would highly recommend

Emily C.

Karen was amazing! There are so many haunting tours, but this tour had wonderful history and experiences that weren’t covered by others. Karen’s passion for Salem was evident and her knowledge and clear relationships with local business was amazing.

Definitely not a tour to skip!

Patricia B.

Went on the 4 hour Food Tour with Karen. It was given to me as a gift.
It was beyond fantastic!! It was like a wonderful History Lesson combined with excellent food, drinks, facts about Salem, laughter and so much fun! I have never been to Salem but I am definitely going to go back and spend a few days! Karen introduced us to so many shops and restaurants that I want to revisit!!
I would definitely recommend this tour for yourself or as a gift!!!

Andrea D.

My parents and I did this tour with Karen in September 2024 and it was incredible! Karen is so knowledgeable about Salem’s history, architecture, and local businesses. If I could only choose 1 thing to do in Salem, it would absolutely be this tour. So amazing!

Joe L.

Karen is an amazing tour guide. She's super knowledgeable about the area and its history. Absolutely loved her energy as she took us around the town and met with the local shop owners. Would 100% recommend anyone to book a tour with Salem Food Tours if you're in town and want to explore the best that Salem has to offer.

Jackie D.

My friends and I went on the AM Coffee Walk with Karen and it was spectacular! Karen has an insurmountable amount of knowledge about Salem past and present. We were engaged the entire tour! Karen also made many recommendations during the tour which we checked out after. They did not disappoint! If you have the opportunity to take a tour in Salem, I recommend you put Salem Food Tours #1 on your list!