Jasper Food Tours: Downtown Foodie Tour Review

Thinking about going on a Downtown Foodie Tour with Jasper Food Tours? You’ve come to the right place.

Jasper has a growing food scene that is eclectic and unique. From Canadian classic dishes and local beers to wild game and globally inspired restaurants, you will have an adventure with your palette.

A food tour is a great way to explore local cuisine, but is the Jasper food tour worth it?

Let’s get right into everything you need to know including what’s included, tips for booking your tour, and my Jasper Food Tours review.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Tourism Jasper and Jasper Food Tours. All thoughts and opinions are my own. In addition, some of the links in this post are affiliate links; if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

About Jasper Food Tours

Jasper Food Tours is a tour operator in Jasper, Alberta that offers and organizes food-focused activities: including walking tours, hiking tours, and e-bike tours. The owner Estelle is very easy to talk to, and her staff are fun to be around and knowledgeable.

Location

Jasper Food Tours is located in Downtown Jasper, although the start point depends on which tour you choose. Meet outside Tourism Jasper for the walking tour and outside a bike shop for the e-bike tour. Both meeting points are easy to find.

Address: 500 Connaught Dr, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0 and 611 Patricia St, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0

The Scenery

Located in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper is a small mountain town with beautiful views in every direction. While you walk, bike, or hike, you have the opportunity to admire the views and potentially spot some of the local wildlife that calls Jasper National Park home.

Food Tours Offered

Jasper Food Tours offers three types of food adventures:

Downtown Foodie Tour – their classic walking food tour of downtown Jasper

Peak-Nic Tour – a mountain hike with a backcountry cooking lesson

Bites on E-Bikes Tour – e-bike through Jasper National Park with food stops along the way

About the Downtown Foodie Tour

The Downtown Foodie Tour is a 2 km guided walking tour around the town of Jasper.

Enjoy the afternoon as you dine at 4 local restaurants. Where you will taste a hand-picked dish and an accompanying alcoholic beverage. Each item and restaurant is picked to represent the best of Jasper and locals’ favourite dishes.

The tour is adult-only, although non-alcoholic beverages are also an option for those who don’t drink alcohol, like me. This was an important feature for me.

While the dishes are kept secret to add to the adventure of the food tour, they are able to accommodate food allergies including dairy, shellfish, nuts, gluten and vegetarian.

Operating daily year-round, it’s great for any season.

This is a small group tour with 12 people maximum per day. If you prefer, book the private food tour option which is perfect for any kind of celebration or a more intimate experience.

Note: It is not a loop tour, so it doesn’t end at the meeting point.

Downtown Foodie Tour: What It’s Like

Here is what it’s like going on the Downtown Foodie Tour with Jasper Food Tours:

I met the guide and the rest of the group outside the Information Centre. There were 5 of us on our winter tour, including our lovely guide Hilary.

I was excited to start as I love walking tours and have enjoyed walking around Quebec City, Montreal, Panama, Germany, and more.

From there, we walked around downtown learning about the history of Jasper and Jasper National Park. It was a short walk between restaurant stops, which was perfect for a winter tour. A fun mostly indoor winter activity in Jasper.

At each of the 4 stops, we were served interesting and classic dishes with a beverage pairing. The first one challenged me but I quite enjoyed it. The second stop was not my preferred dish from that style of cuisine but the drink was amazing. The third stop was my favourite and the fourth stop with a great finish.

I was not used to all of the styles of dishes, but it was an opportunity to explore my taste buds. Not every dish was my favourite but I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the experience.

There was a good variety of flavours and I was happy with the portion size. Portions were about the size of 1/4 of a main dish, and for me, I didn’t need to eat again for the rest of the evening.

While I was nervous to eat in a group in case we didn’t vibe, it was actually amazing. Our group was funny and outgoing, and made the tour even better for me.

When the tour ends, you have the option to stay at the last restaurant, continue on your own around town, or head back to your Jasper hotel.

Tips for Your Jasper Foodie Tour

Book your tour in advance to ensure your spot, especially in summer. Group sizes are limited for the best experience.
Request accommodations in advance for food allergies and non-alcoholic beverages.
Be open-minded on your food tour, you might find a new favourite dish.
Aim to book your tour for the beginning of your trip. It’s a great way to know where to eat for the rest of your trip and get insider food tips from your guide.

Things to Do Nearby

Jasper Skytram – an aerial tramway up Whistlers Mountain to hike or snowshoe
Pyramid Lake – a lake at the base of Pyramid Mountain, good for swimming and skating
Maligne Canyon – the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park, great for hiking year-round

Jasper Food Tours: Review & Final Thoughts

This was my first food tour and I had a positive experience. I like exploring the food scene wherever I travel: to try new flavours and this was an adventure for my palette.

My only critique would be for all the non-alcoholic beverages to pair well with the dish. The third stop only had water, and it would’ve been great to have even a pop to go with it.

The Jasper Downtown Foodie Tour allowed me to try things I never would’ve ordered off the menu. Now, I want to try more food tours wherever I travel next.

Jasper Foods Tour is one of the best tours in Jasper for a reason.

With a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor, you will want to add it to your Jasper itinerary.