FAQ

For the North End Pastry Tour, Back Bay Chocolate tours, and Union Square Breakfast Tour, tastings will be provided from 4 different locations. For the Food Tour, tastings will be provided from 5 different locations.

For the food tours, we provide tastings, so please do not expect a full meal at each location. Tastings vary in portion size, with some tastings served while seated inside the restaurant, and others served in a more “on the go” manner to also allow time for the neighborhood component of the tour.

We can provide vegetarian options in most tasting locations with advance notice. Please be sure to make this request when purchasing tickets as we will not be able to arrange for alternative options on the day of the tour.

For the Food Tour, we can accommodate a vegan diet for most spots on the tours. Please make this request in advance.

For the Breakfast tour, we can accommodate a vegan diet for some spots on the tours. Please make this request in advance.

All substitutions must be requested in advance, so please indicate accordingly in your reservation when purchasing tickets. Tastings are prepared ahead of time based on reservation notes, so we are unable to make changes to the orders on the fly on the day of the tour.

For allergies and restrictions not listed, as there may not always be a “next best” best option that also meets specific dietary needs, we are not able to provide substitutions in all tasting locations. However, our tours offer a good mix of foods, including vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten-free options.

Please make your way to the starting point of your tour 10-15 minutes before. Because of the tight schedule, the tour will start right at the time noted on the website and we will not wait for late guests.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets may be purchased through our website. Cash is not accepted for ticket purchases.

Tickets can be refunded and/or exchanged for a different date up to 24 hours prior to the originally scheduled tour. Tickets cancelled within 24 hours of the tour or after the tour will not be refunded or exchanged.

Tour guide gratuities are not included in the ticket price. If you had a great time, gratuities will be welcomed and greatly appreciated by your tour guide at the end of the tour. Standard gratuity is $10 per guest in your group.

Yes, in the tasting locations where we are seated and served, gratuities for the servers are included in the price of your ticket and have been taken care of behind the scenes.

Yes, children are allowed on each of the tours available. Children from ages 13-17 get a $5 discount, children from ages 3-12 get a $10 discount, and children under 3 are free.

Yes, infants and strollers are allowed on the tour.

Children from ages 13-17 get a $5 discount, children from ages 3-12 get a $10 discount, and children under 3 are free.

There are no discounts for seniors.

Yes, we can accommodate private group tours. Please visit the Private Group Tours page for more details.

The North End Pastry Tour will begin at the Tony DeMarco Statue and end at Modern Pastry.

The Bay Bay Chocolate Tours start in front of the Tesla showroom at the Prudential Center and end on Clarendon Street.

The Union Square Breakfast and Food Tours will begin and end in Union Square in front of Vera's.

For the Union Square and North End Tours, we walk approximately 0.5 - 0.75 miles, accounting for about 20 minutes of walking.

For the Back Bay Chocolate at Night Tour, we walk approximately 1 mile. For the Back Bay Chocolate & Art Galleries Tour, we walk approximately 1.25 miles.

Each tour is coordinated in advance to ensure fresh food tastings and an efficient operation. Because of this, it is critical for us to stay on schedule. We ask that you please refrain from purchasing your own food during the tour unless stated otherwise. However, everything is within close proximity and we will provide all the information you need to return to your favorite spots easily after the tour.

Additionally, there will be time frames in which you're allowed to do some shopping at Bow Market during the tours in Union Square, and in the Prudential Center during the Back Bay tours.

All tours will run rain or shine. Please check the weather forecast and plan ahead. If rain is predicted, please bring an umbrella and proper rain gear.  Boston area weather is quite variable, so please also plan attire accordingly for hot or cold temperatures depending the time of year you visit us!

Parking is available on the main streets of Union Square, but capacity is scarce and availability is sporadic. We recommend that you arrive by public transit or Uber/Lyft. Because of the unpredictability of Boston transit and traffic, please give yourself a 15-minute buffer when considering your ETA. 

Parking capacity is also scarce and availability is sporadic in the North End and Back Bay. Please consider using public transit or Uber/Lyft, or even walking if you're staying downtown.

Bathrooms will be available at each stop of the Union Square tour.

For the North End tour, there will be bathrooms available at the first and last spots on the tour.

For the Back Bay Chocolate tours, bathrooms will be available at most chocolate vendors.

Absolutely! Taking pictures and documenting your tour is welcomed and highly encouraged. If you had a good time, feel free to tag us on social media @upandadamfoodtours.

Yes, the tours are accessible by wheelchair.

We highly recommend you take this tour toward the beginning of your vacation so you have time to re-visit the neighborhood and your new favorite local eateries!  In addition to the tasting locations visited as part of the tour, we also talk about and provide a list of our favorite places to go and things to do in the Boston area.

For the comfort of all of our guests and per Massachusetts regulations prohibiting animals in establishments serving food, we do not allow pets on our tours.

For the comfort of all of our guests, we kindly ask that you refrain from smoking during our tours.