Doctor Gumbo Tours

Doctor Gumbo Tours runs guided food and drink walks in New Orleans and describes its outings as a mobile social event full of flavour. It has been named one of the ten best food tours in the United States in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for three years running, including 2026, and it is a good option if you want to learn about the city's food history while tasting it.

There are three main public tours. The Food History Tour lasts three hours and visits up to five locations, combining tastings with stories about how the city's cooking developed. The Cocktail History Tour, also three hours long, visits historic bars to sample drinks with a strong New Orleans connection. The Combo Cocktail and Food History Tour lasts four hours and visits up to six locations. All three run daily.

Private versions are available too, including a private food history tour and private cocktail and combination tours for over-21s, which suit birthdays, hen and stag parties and corporate groups. Bookings are made online through FareHarbor, linked from the company's website, and gift cards are sold through the same system. Check the confirmation for the meeting point and start time, and contact the company by phone or email with any dietary requirements before you go.

The food tour suits first-time visitors, couples and families with older children, while the cocktail tour is for adults only. Arrive hungry, wear comfortable shoes and allow the full time, as the tours involve walking between stops. Because there are several tastings, a food tour can easily replace lunch.

Book early for weekends and holidays, which are busy times across the city, and choose the combination tour if you want both food and cocktails in one outing.

Taking a tour early in your trip is a good idea, as it gives you an introduction to dishes you can then try elsewhere, from gumbo and po'boys to beignets and pralines. Afterwards, use what you have learned to plan meals at restaurants such as Commander's Palace, Dooky Chase's or Parkway Bakery and Tavern. If you want to explore the city's cocktail history further, the Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt and the Carousel Bar are natural next stops.