Cheesesteak and Tomato Pie on a Walk Past City Hall
A guided midday walk through Center City that adds up to lunch, with City Hall up close and dessert inside Reading Terminal Market.
City Food Tours sells this walk as a meal, and that is the right way to plan it. The five stops cover the city's standards: a cheesesteak with cheese whiz fries, tomato pie from a mom-and-pop pizzeria, a soft pretzel from a bakery, and two desserts inside Reading Terminal Market. The operator's booking notes say the tastings across the five stops are designed to feel like a full meal, so book it in place of lunch.
Between stops the guide talks food history and points out the buildings on the way, City Hall included. Expect a walk with stories as much as a crawl.
The tour starts at Liberty Place and ends inside Reading Terminal Market rather than looping back. Departures are at midday, at 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM or 1:30 PM depending on the date, and the booking calendar shows which run on a given day.
Flavors of Philly Food TourGuided 2.5-hour walking food tour in Center City with five stops, lunch-size tastings and two desserts at Reading Terminal Market.www.viator.comFive Stops That Add Up to Lunch
The listing names the menu: cheesesteaks and cheese whiz fries, tomato pie, soft pretzels, and two sweet treats from Reading Terminal Market. Several 2026 reviews name those two treats as a doughnut and a cookie. The operator's guide has named Joe's Pizza on South 16th Street as the tomato pie stop, and Joe's lists this tour on its own site. Reviewers as recently as September 2026 name Zio's on South 13th Street for the cheesesteak. The operator calls its stops independently owned, but reviewers who name the pretzel stop, most recently in May 2025, place it at a Philly Pretzel Factory, a chain.
Reviewers describe the tomato pie as a sauced crust with no melted cheese, and the ones who were let down expected pizza. Some tastings are partial servings: reviewers in 2025 and 2026 mention getting a piece of a pretzel. Bottled water is included; alcohol is not. The guide's tip is extra too: the operator leaves it to you and calls 20 percent the common gratuity.
City Hall Comes Between Courses
The listing promises an up-close look at City Hall, and the operator's notes add quirky food stories, Philadelphia history and insider tips on where to eat after the tour. Much of the two and a half hours goes to talk. The few unhappy reviews mostly say the food was ordinary or that history crowded it out.
The operator's FAQ puts walking on its tours at 0.5 to 1.5 miles, 10 to 30 minutes in total, at an easy pace with places to sit. This one finishes six blocks from where it starts, an 11-minute walk by the operator's count. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
Dessert Inside Reading Terminal Market
The last stop is Reading Terminal Market, where the two desserts are served and the itinerary allows about 20 minutes. The tour ends there, and the market's own site names City Food Tours as its exclusive tour partner.
The listing suggests staying on afterward to shop, and the guide's tips on where else to eat in Center City are meant for exactly that. The market's own site lists it as open daily from 8 am to 6 pm, though each merchant sets its own hours, so a tour that ends mid-afternoon still leaves time to browse.
Diets, Kids and Steps
This tour cannot accommodate a gluten-free diet; the listing and the operator's booking notes both say so. A vegetarian option is available if you ask when you book.
The operator says the tour is not designed for children under five and points families with younger kids to its private tours. The listing's child ticket covers ages five to ten, and an adult ticket starts at eleven.
The listing marks every area as wheelchair accessible. The operator's own FAQ is more careful: almost every stop is, but some may not be, and a 2022 traveler described a couple of stops with several stairs. Put any access needs in the booking's special requirements field.
📍 Meet inside the Liberty Place lobby, 1601 Chestnut Street, 10 minutes early, near the Saxbys coffee kiosk; the guide wears a maroon City Food Tours shirt. Cancel 24 hours ahead for a full refund, then arrive hungry.