Brothels, Bites and Booze: A food tour of the Gaslamp Quarter’s questionable past.

Brothels, Bites and Booze: A walking food tour of the Gaslamp Quarter’s questionable past.

Scandalous stories of the Wild West!

The historic Gaslamp Quarter

The historic Gaslamp Quarter is famous for its entertainment, shopping, and nightlife, but most people don’t realize the historic district was once home to one of the most anticipated red light districts in the West. On this guided Gaslamp tour full of cuisine, culture, and curiosities, we’ll take you through the scandalous post-Gold Rush history of the heart of downtown San Diego.

About The Gaslamp Food Tour:

The Brothels, Bites and Booze tour is a fun way for you to explore the Gaslamp Quarter, the historic heart of America’s Finest City. Experience what makes this neighborhood one of the top destinations for dining, entertainment, and nightlife. This San Diego food tour will uncover the district’s intriguing past. On these Gaslamp tours, you will learn the secrets behind the district’s historic buildings, and travel back in time to when thousands arrived in the port town of San Diego. This popular Gaslamp Quarter walking tour will not only satisfy your taste buds, but your curiosity, too!

  • A walking history tour of San Diego’s thriving “New Town”
  • Indulge your senses and taste original flavors from 4 participating restaurants
  • Drink samples at 3 of the 4 locations
  • Listen to stories about the scandals of the Stingaree District
  • Learn some of the history that they don’t teach you in a classroom
  • Enjoy enough delicious food for a light meal

Rates:

Adults (Ages 13+): $85.00

Duration:

2.5 hours

Private Groups:

Do you have a group of 10 or more guests?  Contact us to book a private tour.

Book Online Now:

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A historical building in the San Diego Gaslamp quarter

BROTHELS

In what was once the infamous red-light district of San Diego, your tour guide will give you an in-depth look at what life was like for the women who once ruled the streets, complete with scandalous tales of the most famous brothels and Prohibition-era gangsters!

 2 women eating during their Gaslamp walking food tour

BITES

Satisfying not just your curiosity, but your hunger too, this Gaslamp walking tour takes you to four popular restaurants for a memorable dining experience full of worldwide cuisine, always brought to you by our favorite locally-owned establishments.

Cocktails on a table on the Brothels Bites and Booze Gaslamp food tour

BOOZE

The best match for delicious food and fascinating stories? A satisfying drink. To top off this San Diego tour experience, all of your food samples will be paired with the perfect “spirited” beverage.

Explore + Experience

Our Restaurant Partners

345 Sixth Ave,
San Diego, CA 92101

Meze is known for its tasty Greek-fusion dishes and selection of Greek wines.

702 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA 92101

Whiskey Girl is a staple in the Gaslamp for fun, American-classic and unique fusion dishes, full bar and great cocktail list, and live music.

1061 La Mirada Ct
Vista, CA 92081

This Downtown location is one of 3 locations, and the decor represents the elements of the West Coast.  Their beers represent and are named after the owner and his wife’s favorite places in California.

544 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA 92101

They are a family-owned restaurant that wanted to bring the essence of a traditional Irish Pub to San Diego when the founders settled here from Ireland.

903 Island Ave,

San Diego, CA 92101

Housed in a historic home from the 1890s, this brew pub is family owned by a brother and sister duo, and they serve a taster of their house-brewed beer and house-made sausage flatbread.

842 Market St
San Diego, CA 92101

They offer 100 local, domestic and international beers in addition to 20 of their own beers brewed right next door. The food is sourced locally from San Diego farms, and crafted to invoke the comforts of a British pub for a place to come, be welcomed in, and enjoy quality food and drink

425 Market St
San Diego, CA 92101

A local ice cream shop with shops in Downtown and Encinitas. They make all of their ice creams in house, and create fun and unique flavors in addition to seasonal flavors with ingredients they source locally.

411 Market St,
San Diego, CA 92101

A beautiful restaurant that celebrates craft cocktails and rotisserie.

310 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA 92101

Rockin Baja is a local restaurant that is inspired by the coastal town of Puerto Nuevo, Baja CA, Mexico – about an hour south of the San Diego/Mexico border from Downtown.

935 J St,

San Diego, CA 92101

A tequila and mezcal bar and restaurant brought to you by Octavio Tequila.  Enjoy upscale Mexican fare and you sip on a mezcal margarita or a bloody Maria.

751 Fourth Ave,

San Diego, CA 92101

Family-owned BBQ restaurant smoking meats low and slow.  Enjoy one of the pulled pork slider’s and their very own Smokin’ J’s lager.

Brothels, Bites and Booze FAQS

You will be walking several blocks at a time, and stop to rest at local venues before continuing on the Gaslamp food tour.  The total amount of walking on this city tour should not exceed 1 mile.

The Gaslamp Quarter food tour will feature stops with 3-4 bites of a food sample, and then a last stop will be a full dessert. While some guests may look at this as a full meal, others may see it as a light snack.  We do not guarantee that the amount will suffice as a full meal, however, you shouldn’t leave the Gaslamp district tour feeling hungry.

Parking is easy at 6th and K Parkade, or Park it on Market.  On Padres home games, you may need to reserve parking, or we suggest you get a ride to the Gaslamp via rideshare or on the MTS trolley…stop at “Gaslamp Quarter” stop on the green line.

While we try to accommodate restrictions as best as possible, we may not be able to accommodate all restrictions.  Please notify us before your tour of any allergies you have.

Gratuity for your guide is not included, but very much appreciated.  We suggest a standard of 15 – 20% gratuity for each guest.

You may make modifications or cancel up to 24 hours before the start of your tour.

So Diego can provide private Gaslamp walking tours catered to your interest. Whether you want to go on a rooftop bar tour, a craft cocktail tour, or explore the breweries in the area, we have something just for you!

Join Us In

the Heart of Downtown San Diego

Hotel St James

BOOK YOUR TOUR

Whether you’re with a corporate group or looking for a unique birthday celebration, all it takes is a few simple steps in order to explore San Diego the right way.

Meet Your Tour Guide

Meet us at the Gaslamp Quarter Sign near the Hard Rock Hotel and get ready for hours of food, fascination, and a whole lot of fun in America’s finest city. (Tip: park at the 6th and K Parkade).

People standing outside on a San Diego walking tour
People standing in front of a historical building in the Gaslamp Quarter

Discover The Secrets

On this Gaslamp Quarter food tour, explore historic buildings and uncover the history you won’t learn about during your average San Diego tour!

Enjoy!

When we’re not discussing the secrets and scandals of the Gaslamp Quarter’s past, we’ll be indulging in local flavors for a one-of-a-kind San Diego experience.

People taking selfie on mobile phone while on a tour

Join Us In

the Heart of Downtown San Diego

Hotel St James

BOOK YOUR TOUR

Whether you’re with a corporate group or looking for a unique birthday celebration, all it takes is a few simple steps in order to explore San Diego the right way.

People standing outside on a San Diego walking tour

Meet Your Tour Guide

Meet us at the Gaslamp Quarter Sign near the Hard Rock Hotel and get ready for hours of food, fascination, and a whole lot of fun. (Tip: park at the 6th and K Parkade).

People standing in front of a historical building in the Gaslamp Quarter

Discover The Secrets

On this Gaslamp Quarter tour, explore historic buildings and uncover the history you won’t learn about during your average San Diego tour!

People taking selfie on mobile phone while on a tour

Enjoy!

When we’re not discussing the secrets and scandals of the Gaslamp Quarter’s past, we’ll be indulging in local flavors for a one-of-a-kind San Diego experience.

Tour guide speaking to guest in front of the San Diego Gaslamp Quarter sign

YOU LOVE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES

Sure, we could take you through the same-old history you’ll hear about on other city tours, but we prefer the more adventurous side of life. That’s why we centered our Gaslamp District walking tour around the questionable yet oh-so-interesting parts of San Diego’s history, perfect for any curious San Diegan and tourist alike.

Tour group walking across the street in the Gaslamp Quarter

YOU WANT TO DO MORE THAN JUST SEE THE SIGHTS

We love sightseeing as much as anyone, but for a fully immersive experience, you need to indulge more than just your sense of sight. This San Diego food tour is the best way to indulge in remarkable food tastings while unfolding the city’s rich history. Luckily, we combine scandalous story-telling and historic explorations with booze and bites that are always local—and always delicious.

People tasting beer on a brewery tour

YOU’RE HUNGRY FOR LOCAL FLAVORS

The Gaslamp District is famous for its dining, so to make sure you really get the most out of your time in the historic heart of San Diego, we’ve partnered with restaurants that serve up local dishes inspired by worldwide cuisines for a Gaslamp food tour you won’t find anywhere else. And to complete the dining experience, our Brothels, Bites, and Booze tour pairs all of your food samples with a taste of local beers and cocktails.

You’re traveling in a group! You can amp up the excitement on any of our tours by booking a private tour with 10 or more guests!

Group of friends taking photo at table on the Brothels Bites and Booze Gaslamp

Large groups can book private tours whenever they want, as long as there’s availability, and can get an even more indulgent downtown experience with add-on stops, full drink options, or a speakeasy of choice to end up in. If you’re looking for an experience outside of Gaslamp quarter, our other signature food tours explore the rich history and delicious bites of Little Italy, La Jolla, and Old Town San Diego.

Food Tour Photo Gallery