Is a Seville food tour worth it? My Seville Food Sherpas review
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If you’re visiting Seville for just a short break, you’ll probably want to try some of the city’s famous tapas and experience its lively food scene. Luckily, you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants tucked away in the city’s narrow streets and lively squares.
But with so many different venues to choose from, how do you know where to go, what to order, and how to make the most of your limited time?
This was something I grappled with when planning my own trip to Seville. With only a couple of evenings to sample the local food, I wanted to make sure I could experience a variety of restaurants and dishes.
I decided to book a guided food tour with Seville Food Sherpas (also known as Spain Food Sherpas). This gave me the chance to visit several establishments, sample different food and drinks, and learn more about the city from a local guide.
Below is my review of the tour I booked, including the pros and cons, so you can decide whether it is worth including in your own Seville itinerary.
Is a Seville food tour worth it?
Are Seville food tours worth the extra expense, especially when you could explore the city’s tapas bars independently? For me, it was definitely worth the money, particularly as I was only visiting the city for a short break.
In just a few hours on the tour I booked, I got to sample a variety of local food and drinks in four different establishments, without having to research where to go or what to order.
But it wasn’t just about the food.
Our guide was fantastic, sharing stories about Seville’s history and culture and making the whole experience great fun. So although you could undoubtedly eat more cheaply by visiting local tapas bars independently, I thought the combination of food, drinks, local knowledge, and a sociable experience made it well worth the extra expense.
Why book a Seville food tour?
If you’re planning a short break in the city, my 2 days in Seville itinerary covers the main things to do in Seville and helps you make the most of your time.
But with so many tapas bars and restaurants tucked away in Seville’s narrow streets and lively squares, choosing where to eat can be difficult, particularly if you’re only visiting for a couple of days.
A guided food tour takes much of the guesswork out of the experience. You’ll visit several pre-selected establishments, sample a variety of local dishes and drinks, and learn about the city’s food traditions from a knowledgeable guide.
It’s also a chance to discover places you might otherwise overlook and enjoy a sociable experience with other travellers.
There are, however, a few things to consider before booking.
The pros of booking a guided Seville food tour
– You get to sample a range of local dishes and drinks in several different bars and restaurants
– Bars and restaurants are selected for you: no need to do the research yourself
– Guided food tours are accompanied by knowledgeable local guides: food and history all in one!
– Many tours are group tours so are great if you are looking for a fun and sociable experience
– Tours may suit solo travellers who prefer not to eat out by themselves
– On a substantial food tour like the one I took, you may not need to pay extra for a meal later on
The cons of booking a guided Seville food tour
– A guided food tour may be more expensive than purchasing a few tapas dishes in a bar
– Group tours are unlikely to suit you if you prefer a more private dining experience
– There’s less flexibility: tour timings and restaurants have been pre-arranged
– You should contact the tour company if you have dietary requirements
My review of the Seville Food Sherpas tour
I booked the ‘Seville Food Tour: Tapas, Wine, History & Traditions’ tour organised by Seville Food Sherpas (depending where you book it, this is sometimes called the ‘Tapas, Taverns and History walking tour’).
This tour that runs several times a day and lasts for 3.5 hours. It includes a visit to four bars and restaurants with food and drinks in all.
All of the stops included on our tour were great and are outlined below. Note, however, that the venues and the food included can change according to season and availability.
KEY FEATURES
– Timing: 3.5 hours, starting multiple times a day
– Group size: 12 maximum
– Inclusions: food and drinks in four establishments
– Exclusions: transport, tips
– Cancellation: up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
– Not suitable for: vegans, coeliacs, travellers in wheelchairs
– Booking: check availability for this tour on GetYourGuide
Joining the food tour
The meeting place for this tour was by the fountain in Plaza de la Encarnacion. This is near Seville’s Metropol Parasol (Las Setas), so is very central and easy to find.
There were 10 of us on my tour and as soon as our guide, Remy, introduced himself, we knew we were in for some fun. He asked us to introduce ourselves to the group, set out the schedule for our few hours together, and opened with a few funny stories that helped put us at ease from the get go.
First stop: tapas on an outdoor terrace
After the introductions, we headed to our first stop, a local tapas bar. This was just a few streets away and only a short walk.
Here we sat at an outdoor table where our guide took our orders for drinks: wine, sangria, beer, or soft drinks.
These came accompanied by plates of chicharrones (slices of pork) and a large portion of montaditos (small Spanish sandwiches).
Our guide then started the local history part of the tour, giving us some interesting history facts and the first of many stories.
We heard how the building of Las Setas was controversial among local residents, how the best time to visit Seville to see the famous oranges on the trees is the winter months, and various facts about the local beer, Cruzcampo.
We also got to practice how to say cheers when you’re in the city!
Second stop: tortilla and Spanish sherry
Next stop was a more formal restaurant. Sitting around a dining table we sampled large slices of tortilla espanola (some of the best I’ve ever tried!) with breaded fried fish bites and slices of cured tuna.
There was also Spanish sherry to accompany this and some local wine.
Third stop: a traditional tapas bar
Afterwards we headed to another tapas bar, just a few minutes’ walk away down some old cobbled streets. En route, we stopped off in a small artisan food shop which gave us the chance to buy some souvenirs to take home.
The tapas bar was a small, busy, place and we crammed around a small table in the middle. For this venue, think traditional Spanish tapas bar with huge hams hanging from the ceiling.
It was unsurprising therefore that we tried various cured meats with Spanish cheese – plus more wine: a choice of red or white. It was so good I took a picture of it to purchase later!
I also got to try salmorejo, a cold Andalucian tomato soup seen on a lot of menus.
We also learnt more about why so many places in Spain have hams hanging from ceilings and in windows. The guide told us that one theory is that during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, the display of pork was used to convince the authorities that the household was not Jewish or Muslim.
Fourth stop: Andalucian dishes and orange wine in a traditional house
Our final stop was in an old traditional house with a central patio. This was a beautiful place to spend the last part of the tour.
The food here was carrillada (a meat stew) with small crispy potatoes, and espinacas con garbanzos (spinach with chickpeas). For dessert, there were pestinos (small fried pastries) and a glass of local orange wine (if you’ve never tried this, I’d really recommend it).
We left very happy, very full, and with a guide to dining in Seville with recommendations of other great places to try.
What I liked about this Seville food tour
I loved this tour. It was a fun way to take a short walking tour in Seville, learn about the local food, and get an insight into some of the city’s history.
Our guide was fantastic – extremely knowledgeable and really skilled at putting us all at ease and making sure a group of strangers had a fun time. Although I wasn’t on a solo trip this time, I do often travel solo, and it’s the type of tour I know I’d enjoy in those circumstances.
The food and wine was enough to substitute for an evening meal and really varied. As someone who doesn’t eat red meat, the guide also ensured that I had substitutes ready for me (note however, that the small print says the tour is not suitable for vegans or those with coeliac disease, so you should check that your particular needs can be catered for).
The restaurant guide was also really useful. We took the tour on our last night, but had we done it earlier, we would have used it to guide the rest of our stay.
So if you don’t fancy researching options yourself, maybe do the tour early on in your visit and use the guide to help you for the rest of your trip.
What I didn’t like about this Seville food tour
To be honest, there wasn’t much I didn’t like about this tour.
One of the bars we went to was a bit crowded and I would have preferred it to be a little quieter. We also went on the tour in the winter and so had I known the first stop involved sitting outside, I would have worn warmer clothes!
For me, it was a great experience. However, if you’re visiting Seville on your own or in a small group, and are not so keen on group dining with strangers, perhaps consider either a private tour or a more standard meal out.
Was the Seville Food Sherpas tour value for money?
The tour included food and drinks at four different establishments, several glasses of wine, and 3.5 hours with a knowledgeable local guide.
You could undoubtedly eat for less by visiting tapas bars independently. But I think it’s important to consider everything that’s included in the price.
As well as plenty to eat and drink, we enjoyed a short walking tour, learnt more about Seville’s history and food traditions, and received recommendations for other places to eat.
And for me, the convenience of having everything organised, the variety of dishes we tried, and the excellent guide made the additional expense worthwhile, particularly on a short break.
That said, if you enjoy researching restaurants and prefer choosing exactly where and what you eat, you may get better value by exploring Seville’s tapas bars independently.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✅ 4 venues, 3.5 hours
✅ Food & drink included
✅ Max 12 per group
What other food tours can you consider in Seville?
There are plenty of other food tours to choose from for your Seville itinerary.
- For something a bit shorter than the one I went on, there’s this guided Andalucia food tour which lasts for 2.5 hours and includes visits to two different tapas bars
- For some snacks along with Spanish sherry tasting, there’s this tour which includes five different sherries, plus olives, cheese, and ham over a 90 minute period
- For a more hands-on experience, check out this tour: after a visit to the Triana market, you get to learn how to cook tapas dishes and paella
Frequently Asked Questions
This really depends on what you’re looking for from your dining experience in Seville.
If you fancy experiencing a few different establishments and dishes and having a fun time in a group, then I’d recommended booking a Seville tapas tour.
If, however, you prefer a full meal in your chosen restaurant or something a bit more private, such as a romantic meal out, then a group food tour may not be for you.
Seville Food Sherpas indicates that vegetarian options can be accommodated, but I’d recommend contacting the company before booking to confirm this and any specific requirements.
Although I’m not vegetarian, I don’t eat red meat, and our guide made sure I had suitable alternatives throughout the tour.
The company also states that this particular tour isn’t suitable for vegans or people with coeliac disease, so it’s important to check any dietary restrictions before booking.
My experience of the tour I went on is that you won’t. Although each dish is relatively small, collectively they add up to being quite a lot of food. I certainly don’t think you’d need a full meal – if you’re peckish later you could just order a small dish from a nearby venue as an extra.
However, there are a range of different food tours in Seville and some only include drinks or just drinks and small snacks. Check out what’s included before you book.
My overall conclusion…
I’m really pleased I booked this Seville food tour. It was a fun way to spend a few hours in Seville, sample different local dishes, and learn more about the city from someone who knows it well.
If you’re visiting Seville for just a couple of days and want to experience its food scene without spending hours researching restaurants, I think it’s a great option. I’d happily recommend it, particularly if you enjoy meeting other travellers along the way.
To discover other things to do in Seville on a short break, check out my itinerary for 2 days in Seville.
I also have a guide to a day trip from Seville to Cordoba if you’re lucky enough to have time to visit.
All views in this post reflect my own personal experience of this food tour. I paid for the tour myself and was not commissioned to write it by Seville Food Sherpas (listed as Spain Food Sherpas through some suppliers).
