Salem Food Tours

Salem Food Tours

Salem Food Tours | Culinary Walking Tours | Salem, MA

About Salem Food Tours

Salem Food Tours was created and founded in 2012 by Karen Scalia, offering award-winning guided food and cultural walking tours of historic Salem, Massachusetts. The tours feature tastings at Salem’s best food shops and restaurants, insider tips on great foodie finds, talks with chefs and fellow food lovers, and information on local history and culture including Salem’s illustrious spice trade history. With a passion for fresh local foods, a love of cooking and history, Salem Food Tours shares Salem’s past with a taste of the culinary present as the perfect way to understand and appreciate this beloved city. Salem Food Tours has received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award since 2015, including their Hall of Fame recognition.

Our Experience

Salem Food Tours operates year-round (closed major holidays) with tours that are “like a roaming dinner party,” engaging all your senses to help you really know Salem. The mission advocates for small business, inviting guests to eat and shop locally not only in Salem but wherever they live or travel.

Core Offerings

• Salem Food Tour (4.5+ hours)
• Afternoon Strolls (3.5+ hours)
• Morning Walks (1.5+ hours)
• Bridal Tours (3.5+ hours private)
• Private and Corporate Tours
• Salem Spirits Trolley
• Kitchen Witch Salem online shop

Tours

Salem Food Tour – Full-length 4.5+ hour experience including cheese, wine, sweet and spice tasting, two savory tastings, local artisanal bread, and chocolate tasting. Includes information on local history and modern-day cultural and culinary scene.

Afternoon Strolls – The most popular tour, just over 3.5 hours giving guests a great overview of Salem. Includes cheese, wine, chocolate and spice tasting, fresh from scratch New England clam chowder (or veggie option), a second sweet surprise, and local artisanal bread. Perfect for groups.

Morning Walks – Start your day with a five-star rated Morning Walk including a complimentary fresh, locally made breakfast treat and ending with a spice tasting. Learn about local history, illustrious spice trade history, and get recommendations on where to eat, shop, and visit. Great for small and large parties.

Bridal Tours – Private 3.5+ hour excursions perfect for bridal and wedding parties, family bonding experiences before or after nuptials. Includes cheese, wine, bubbly, chocolate and spice tasting, savory tasting, a second sweet surprise, and local artisanal bread.

Private & Corporate Tours – Custom excursions perfect for team outings, office parties, family reunions, anniversaries, or gathering friends. Stellar business and team-building outings, great client thank-you gifts, or enriching afternoons for executive teams.

Salem Spirits Trolley – Explore the history of Salem’s illustrious spice trade and the role of spices in spirits production. Enjoy samples of locally produced craft products like hard cider, gin, rum, and beer while seated on the charming Salem Trolley traveling through historic neighborhoods. Seats up to 30 guests.

What Makes Salem Food Tours Special

• Award-Winning – TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence since 2015, Hall of Fame 2019, featured on Chronicle
• Eat Local, Shop Local, Support Small Business – Core mantra since the start
• Tour Partner Discounts – Guests receive discounts at local shops
• Sustainability Focus – Many partners source from small area farms, includes stops at Salem Farmer’s Market in season
• All Senses Engaged – Walking tours that educate and entertain
• Rain or Shine – Tours run year-round in all weather
• Time to Shop – Tours timed to allow for shopping at local businesses

About the Founder

Karen Scalia is a licensed Salem-based guide with a background in special event planning and hosting, including work for Fortune 500 companies. She is Past President of Destination Salem’s board and member of the Marketing Committee, and Board member of Salem Chamber of Commerce. She has emceed food-related events including hosting Giada de Laurentiis’ book tour stop at North Shore Music Theater and local Chef competitions. Karen is also an actor and writer, and served many years on the New England board of SAG-AFTRA.

Kitchen Witch Salem Shop

Bring magical, delicious Salem into your home with spice blends, aprons, towels, cookbooks, and more. The online shop features aromatic spice blends that magically transform ordinary dishes into delicious experiences, including Wicked Habanero Hot Salt, Pumpkin Pie Magic Blend, Honey Chipotle Magic Rub, Mediterranean Magic Blend, Tuscany Bread Dipping Magic, Magic Seafood Seasoning, Breakfast Magic Blend, and Maharajah Magic.

Giving Back to the Community

Salem Food Tours volunteers time and resources to the local community throughout the year, supporting local arts as a long-standing member of the Salem Arts Festival committee. Since inception, Salem Food Tours has donated time and resources to numerous events and hundreds of tour tickets for auctions and fundraisers, including The House of Seven Gables, Phillips House Museum, Hamilton Hall, Salem State University, Historic Salem Inc., Salem Main Streets, Salem Arts Festival, Salem Chamber of Commerce, Cape Ann Animal Aid, North Shore YMCA, and many others.

Tour Details

• Advance ticket purchase required
• Tours run rain or shine (predominantly outdoor experiences)
• Children and teens welcome (wine tastings for 21+)
• Service animals welcome with advance notice
• Walking/standing for most tours covering 1-2 miles
• Casual walking pace, mostly flat streets
• Time allowed for shopping
• Gift certificates available

Contact

Location Salem, MA

Information

• Website: salemfoodtours.com
• Email: info@salemfoodtours.com
• Phone: (978) 594-8811
• Instagram: @salemfoodtours
• Facebook 
• Trip Advisor
• Online shop: Kitchen Witch Salem

Since 2012, award-winning food and cultural tours featuring tastings at Salem’s best shops and restaurants. Discover historic Salem through the senses—a delicious place to explore!