If you’re looking for a unique and delicious way to explore Georgetown, look no further than a local food tour! My daughter and I recently traveled to Washington, D.C., and took the Georgetown Food Tour, and it did not disappoint. We had a blast exploring and eating our way through this historic and picturesque neighborhood. You will too!
What’s Georgetown known for?
Most people know Georgetown as a historic neighborhood in Washington, D.C., but it’s also known for its food scene. This town has a thing for cupcakes, and there are several iconic bakeries where you can get your sugar fix. Baked & Wired is one I return to again and again. Georgetown offers everything from high-end restaurants to local gems – one of which serves the city’s best cheap eats ($4 falafel sandwich).
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Georgetown really does have something for everyone when it comes to food. And a food tour is the perfect way to get a little taste of everything!
For more on our recent trip, see our DC 4-Day Itinerary’s Not Entirely Focused on History
What can you expect on a food tour?
Food tours are one of my favorite ways to explore an area because they offer a unique way to explore a new place. Not only do you get to eat your way through the neighborhood, but you also get to learn about the local history and culture. And Georgetown has plenty of both!
On our food tour, we visited four different restaurants, all of which were local gems. Three of them we probably would have never found on our own, and the fourth was one we’d heard and read about before the trip. It was on the list of “must-try” restaurants in Georgetown, and it did not disappoint. There were two sweet treats and two savory dishes, and we left feeling full and satisfied.
If you’re looking for a fun and delicious way to explore Georgetown, I highly recommend taking a food tour. It’s the perfect way to get a little taste of everything this historic neighborhood has to offer!
Georgetown Food Tour
In late July, we were in DC and booked the three-hour Blue Fern Travel’s Tastes of Georgetown: Food and History Tour through Viator. I book my tours through Viator because I like the convenience, safety, and customer service Viator offers. I chose this particular tour because it featured local restaurants and every ticket sold provided a meal through the Bread for the City Charity, which helps low-income and homeless residents of DC. I also wanted to take a food tour in Georgetown because it’s one of the most historic parts of DC, and I knew there would be plenty of interesting stories to learn along the way.
District Doughnuts
We met our tour in the District Doughnut pop-up shop in Cady’s Alley, which is a historic alley in Georgetown with charming shops and restaurants. I’ve been to Georgetown several times over the years and didn’t even know this place existed! Our tour guide, Jim, was friendly and knowledgeable about the area. He told us about the history of Cady’s Alley and Georgetown while we enjoyed our delicious doughnuts.
The doughnuts here are made fresh daily and come in a variety of flavors. We tried the brown butter doughnut. It was amazing, fluffy, and not too sweet. I could have eaten a dozen of them! There are other locations in the city, but this is the only one in Georgetown.
After District Doughnut, we walked to the C&O Canal, which is a manufactured canal that was built in the early 1800s to transport goods. It runs from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland, and is now a popular spot for walking, biking, and picnicking. We learned about the history of the canal and the surrounding area. Then we found a shady spot to enjoy our next stop.
Falafel, Inc.
Our second stop was Falafel Inc. for their popular falafel sandwich. Falafel Inc. is a local, fast-casual restaurant with a unique story known for its cheap falafel sandwiches. The company was started by a social entrepreneur interested in helping refugees. He came up with the idea to open a falafel shop offering a $3 sandwich and the profits would go to charitable causes.
The restaurant has been a huge success, and it’s easy to see why. It was voted the best new restaurant in D.C. The falafel is fresh and delicious, and you can’t beat the price! Nothing in the shop is over $6 and in the D.C. area, that’s pretty rare. This Georgetown location is small with only a few standing tables inside. We grabbed our sandwiches and enjoyed them alongside the canal.
Off the Beaten Path
Next, we walked off M Street, the main drag in Georgetown, past Georgetown Park, and into the residential areas on N Street NW. We walked by some beautiful homes and learned about the history of this part of Georgetown; where the Kennedy’s used to live, the conspiracy behind Mary Pinchot Meyer, the oldest house in Georgetown, and other interesting facts. One such fact was that during the Civil War a house with a red painted door signified that a home was a safe refuge.
Martin’s Tavern
We then walked to Martin’s Tavern for lunch. This restaurant is over 80 years old and has been visited by every president since Harry Truman. It’s a cozy spot with dark wood paneling and wooden booths and tables. Upon being seated, you receive a flyer with pictures of some of the famous people that have visited and dined here over the years. They claim to be the place where JFK proposed to Jackie, and there’s a booth in the restaurant dedicated to their love story.
Here, I have had the most unusual food tour offering, meatloaf with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. I know, it doesn’t sound that great, but it was actually really good! The meatloaf was moist with mushroom gravy and the mashed potatoes were creamy. The portion we received was a half, which was the perfect size since we still had one more stop.
Being able to sit inside in the air conditioning was a nice respite from the heat and humidity that day. In late July, D.C. can be quite miserable weather-wise. Our tour guide, Jim, kept us entertained with more stories about Georgetown while we ate.
After a mini-lunch here, we continued walking past historic homes and churches, learning more about the area.
One notable sight was a temporary mural created by Isaac Campbell for the Hostages and Wrongfully Detained Bring Them Home Campaign. This paper mache mural depicts 65 American citizens who have been detained abroad. It was very moving to see, and it brought attention to an important issue.
Other Washington DC Food Tours
Brasserié Liberte
The last stop was for dessert at Brasserié Liberté. This is a modern French restaurant serving up an amazing vanilla crème brûlée. The vanilla bean custard was smooth and creamy, and the caramelized top was the perfect crunch. This is one of the best crèmes brûlées I’ve had in years!
After our tour ended, our tour guide Jim, gave us a few recommendations for other places to eat and drink in Georgetown.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the Tastes of Georgetown: Food and History Tour is a great tour and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting D.C., especially if you’re looking to escape the busy tourist areas and explore a different side of the city. Portions were generous, the food was good, and the tour itself was very informative. Our tour guide Jim was great, he was very passionate about Georgetown and its history. He kept us entertained with stories and jokes while we walked around in the heat.
At the time of booking (July 2022), this tour was just under $104 a person. Booking through Viator was very easy and straightforward. I will continue booking through them again. If needed, the cancellation policy allowed for a full refund up to 2 days prior to experience. The group size was small (8 people + a guide). Food and bottled water is included in that price. Guide gratuity is not.
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Georgetown and trying some delicious food, this is the tour for you! I would recommend wearing comfortable shoes as there is a fair amount of walking involved. Also, be sure to bring cash to tip your guide at the end of the tour.
I hope you enjoy your experience as much as I did! For other Washington DC food tours, check out Viator’s website. Not only will you find food tours, ut all guided museum experiences, night-time monument bike rides, and dinner cruises on the Potomac River, plus so much more
More DC Tours and Activities To Explore
Thank you to Jim, our guide, for a great experience and to Viator for providing this tour at a discounted rate. All opinions are my own.
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