Sydney Private Food Walking Tour With Locals: The 10 Tastings

Lovely hostess but I can’t recommend

While the host was lovely and very friendly, I ended up leaving after wandering around for about 2.5 hours of looking at graffiti because I was starving. Granted I do have a gluten intolerance-which the hostess asked about- but the first (and only) stop in the 2.5 hours I was with the group did not offer gluten free options. Look, it’s my intolerance so, my problem and I don’t expect to be catered to, but perhaps if the pacing was more balanced between the graffiti art and actually getting some bites, it would’ve been a more pleasant experience. I did make friends with someone who said they ended up eating later but I had to go grab a bite elsewhere and couldn’t wait any longer. Very nice guide, though! She definitely loves the art and I’m grateful for what I learned but I don’t know if I would’ve been better off packing snacks for a food related tour…? Seems counterintuitive.

via Tripadvisor

Lazy, sloppy guide and NOT worth the money.

Tour guide was 15 minutes late without explanation or apology. We were messaging Viator when he finally showed up in gym shorts, t shirt and flip flops. He was a VERY poor communicator. We kept having to ask questions get any information. He says he is not a foodie but likes to show people his favorite places. This was supposed to be a 3 hour tour with 10 tastings and stops at the Hub Studio and Newtown Courthouse. The food was good and each stop was one shared portion. At one stop our guide seated us at a table without food and left the restaurant for about 10 minutes. We had no idea where he went and were concerned we had been abandoned. He showed back up, again with no explanation as to where he had gone. After the last food stop 1 1/2 hours into the 3 hour tour, our guide Chris said he was done and heading in the opposite direction. The stops at the Newtown Courthouse and Hub Studio were not offered nor even directions to get to them on our own. I again contacted Viator about the issues and the missed stops. They said they would contact the guide about a partial refund. He has yet to respond and all Viator did was send me a copy of their refund policy which basically says they don’t stand behind the guides they hire and since he didn’t respond, we get nothing. Bad business.

via Viator

We did a food tour through Bew Town & Robyn is the best!

Excellent excellent excellent. We visited NewTown

via Tripadvisor

Not recommended

The tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable about the area of Newtown. This area can be described as eclectic or bohemian and run-down, trashy and not where I would choose for a food walking tour. There is a wide variety of food to be sure but only a few of the tastings were standouts. We actually had a cold piece of toast with Vegemite! The drinks consisted of water and a shared bottle of ginger beer. We walked down a couple of dirty alleyways to view a large wall mural. Not a good value for this price and would not recommend. I've been on several food walking tours that were excellent but I was very disappointed with this experience. Just walk around on your own and sample the food and check out the shops.

Response from the operator: Dear Cheryl, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience so openly. We’re sorry to hear that the tour in Sydney didn’t feel like good value for you and that it left you disappointed, especially given your positive experiences with food tours elsewhere. Newtown is an intentionally chosen neighborhood because of its alternative, ever evolving character and everyday local food scene, rather than a polished or traditional culinary district. That said, we fully understand that this style isn’t for everyone and that some of the tastings and locations didn’t resonate with you or meet your expectations for a ten tastings experience. We’re also sorry to hear that only a few of the tastings stood out and that the overall experience felt underwhelming for the price you paid. We do appreciate you noting that the guide was kind and knowledgeable, and we regret that the structure and selection of tastings didn’t come together in a way that made the experience feel worthwhile to you. Thank you for sharing your honest perspective. Feedback like yours is important, even when it’s difficult to hear, and it helps us reflect on how our experiences are felt by guests on the ground. Kind regards, The Withlocals Team

via Viator

A disappointing food tour but the guide was excellent.

Australia has a great food culture which has many influences, from farming to immigration and from the aboriginal people. Unfortunately we didnt feel this captured any of it as there was no narrative to tie the restaurants together. We visited 10 restaurants and about 3 of them reflected Australian culture. Some great meats are reared in Australia and there is a huge fishing community but this tour contained none of that. What about anzac biscuits, lammington cake, BBQ's? We also went to some other great restaurants (Vietnamese etc) but it felt pretty random. It would have been nice if this was tied into some history i.e. some Vietnamese immigrants came here and have adapted their food to reflect local culture. We really liked Chris the guide and he was super knowledgable, but he had to stick to a preselected tour. To top this all off, I got sick from a lamb samosa on the tour and spent the whole night up being ill. Overall, I wouldnt recommend this tour (except for guide).

Response from the operator: Dear guest, Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and balanced review. We’re glad to hear how much you appreciated Chris and his knowledge — that personal connection with a local guide is something we truly value. We understand your point about the experience feeling disconnected and missing a clear narrative around Australian food culture. A food tour should tell a story, helping guests understand how different influences, local produce, and history come together. We appreciate you articulating so clearly what you felt was missing, as that perspective is incredibly valuable. We’re also sorry to hear that you felt unwell afterward. Being sick while traveling can really overshadow an experience, and we hope you recovered quickly. Thank you again for sharing your honest reflections. Feedback like yours helps us think more carefully about how experiences are structured and how they come across to guests who are genuinely curious about local culture. Kind regards, The Withlocals Team

via Tripadvisor