Red-Oak Tri-Tip to Local Truffles: San Luis Obispo on Foot
A Saturday walk through downtown San Luis Obispo that opens on Santa Maria barbecue, with the food and drinks included.
Taste of SLO runs this small-group walk through downtown San Luis Obispo, with five stops at small local businesses. The listing names what turns up along the way: Santa Maria style barbecue, locally made gelato and truffles, craft beer, San Luis Obispo County wine, fresh-baked bread and Latin-style food. Food and drinks at the stops are included, alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike.
The group meets inside Old San Luis BBQ Co., and reviewers describe the first plate there as a full barbecue spread. A guest in August 2023 listed "chicken, pork, pulled pork and tri-tip and cowboy cornbread". Come hungry.
This listing's calendar shows one departure a week, Saturday at 12:00 PM, and booking closes four hours before the start. Groups are generally capped at 12, though the operator notes they can run larger. Tickets here are sold for ages 21 to 99 only. The operator's description says alcohol-free versions with mocktails are available, and asks guests to flag vegetarian, gluten-free or other dietary needs when they book.
Downtown SLO Brunch Food & Drink Walking TourTaste of SLO Food & Wine Tours · 3 hours · Five stops, food and drinks included · Meets inside Old San Luis BBQ Co.www.viator.comThe First Plate Comes Off a Red-Oak Fire
Old San Luis BBQ Co. cooks Santa Maria-style barbecue over locally sourced red oak, a ranch tradition the restaurant traces to the Santa Maria Valley about 150 years back. Its tri-tip is hand-trimmed Angus beef, and the bar runs self-pour tap walls. "You meet up at SLO BBQ in the beer area," a guest wrote in October 2025.
From there the route covers about 1.5 miles at an easy pace. Two reviewers describe part of the walk following the creek off Higuera Street. A guest in October 2024 put the distance in perspective: "The walking distance is broken up a lot with the different stops so don't be intimidated."
Five Stops, and the Lineup Keeps Moving
The stops change over time. A repeat guest wrote in July 2021 that the tour "is always evolving", and reviews trace the shifts. Peruvian food shows up in 2019, 2023 and April 2025. A September 2024 group named "the French Toast and drink selection at the Granada Hotel & Bistro" as its highlight, and a 2022 guest described a hotel bar stop that came with a look around the boutique hotel. In reviews from 2022 to 2024, dessert closes the walk. "We ended the tour with fantastic chocolates of our choice," that 2024 group wrote.
Most reviews name the guide as Angee, and one calls her the owner. Guests often mention meeting the people behind the stops. One 2021 group was "greeted with smiles and our own private seating area at every stop."
Portions, Pace and Rain
Most reviewers leave full. "Each place provides you with generous amounts of food and drink," a November 2024 guest wrote. Not everyone agrees: a June 2026 reviewer found portions "meager at a few of the places", and a 2022 guest called the food "a little light" for a food tour. Plan on a long, grazing lunch with the biggest plate at the first stop.
The listing says the tour runs in all weather, so dress for it. One December 2022 group walked it in pouring rain and still gave it five stars. If you use a wheelchair, check the route with the operator before you book.
Parking and the Fine Print
Details from the listing and the operator's notes:
- The walk starts inside Old San Luis BBQ Co., 670 Higuera St., and ends nearby.
- The operator asks drivers to skip street parking. City meters in the downtown core allow three hours at most and are enforced on Saturdays, about the length of the walk itself, so park in a city garage on Palm Street instead: 842 Palm or 919 Palm, $2 an hour with an $8 daily cap.
- Parking fees and gratuities are not included, and there is no hotel pickup.
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
- Cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
📍 Meet inside Old San Luis BBQ Co., 670 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, on Saturday at 12:00 PM. Pace yourself at the barbecue. Four more stops are still to come.