Alicante tastes like a story you can eat. I love how this 3-hour food walk kicks off at the entrance of Casa Carbonell and then turns into a proper old-town tasting, with Silvina bringing the history into the glass and on the plate. It feels less like a checklist and more like getting shown where the locals actually go.

Two things I really liked: the food lineup focuses on regional ingredients you might not order on your own, and the pairing is built around Alicante-area wines from the Vinalopó and La Marina regions. A classic standout for me was the salted tuna mojama over ripe local tomatoes, finished with great extra virgin olive oil.

One drawback to consider: portions are “tasting sized,” not a full feast. If you come in ravenous and expect big plates, you may find the experience more satisfying for sampling than for getting stuffed.

Key highlights at a glance

• Casa Carbonell start gives the tour instant context, right where Alicante foodie history begins
• Silvina-led storytelling ties what you eat to the city and local habits
• Wine tasting with 3 glasses per person plus beer, sangria, or wine during the stops
• A tapa-focused menu includes mojama (salt-cured tuna), dried pepper + salted cod, and pork with smoky peppers
• Small group feel with a maximum of 10 people, so the pace stays human
• Vegetarian and vegan options exist if you notify the team at least 48 hours ahead

Casa Carbonell and the old-town start that sets the tone

You begin at Passeig Esplanada d’Espanya, 1 (easy to find, right in the heart of things) and then get oriented for the walk into Alicante’s old-town feel. Your first moment is at the entrance of Casa Carbonell, which matters because it anchors the tasting in place, not just food.

This is a city where food culture is tied to neighborhoods, daily rhythms, and what the region grows and produces. Starting at a well-known spot like Casa Carbonell helps you understand why the later tapas make sense. Instead of random stops, you’re tasting with a sense of direction.

I also like the way the opening proposal works: you don’t have to wait until the “best part” to get going. You start with a local bite early, then build from there. That keeps the walk from feeling like a long preface before the food arrives.

What you eat: the tapas menu is regional, not generic

The food is built around tapas that feel unmistakably Alicante and Mediterranean. You’ll see a mix of lighter starters and more flavorful “tapas selection” plates, plus a shared table of snacks.

Here are the key items you can expect, based on the menu style used on the tour:

Local salad and tapa

This starts with a local salad and a tapa per person. The tapa part is described as a rustic mix: dried red peppers, crumbled salted fish (cod), garlic, and local extra virgin olive oil. That combo is classic Spanish logic: concentrated flavors, not fussing, and olive oil doing heavy lifting.

If you like food that tastes like real pantry staples rather than trendy fusion, this will hit the right note.

Mojama with ripe tomatoes

Next is a classic Mediterranean tapa: salt-cured tuna loin (mojama) served over a bed of ripe, local tomatoes, finished with extra virgin olive oil.

Mojama can sound like a niche item, and that’s the point. It’s the kind of tapa you might walk past on your own, but on a guided tasting it becomes approachable and explained. The tomato base also keeps it from tasting too intense on its own.

Award-winning tapas selection

Then the tasting shifts into the “this is why Alicante gets talked about” zone: an award-winning tapas selection that includes succulent pork, smoky peppers, and fresh locally-sourced seafood.

Even without knowing the exact order of every plate, you can think of this round as the richer, more satisfying part of the tour. It’s where the smoky notes and seafood flavors start building a theme.

Shared snacks table: sausages and cheeses

You’ll also get a snacks table of sausages and cheeses to share. This is useful for two reasons. First, it gives you a break from just one type of tapa. Second, it helps you pace yourself if you’re drinking wine alongside food.

How much is enough?

It’s important to set expectations. The tour includes a set of tapas for lunch and a set of tapas for dinner (each listed as 4 tapas per person). That means you’re sampling across multiple stops, not just one small tasting.

But the overall style is still tapas. So even if you end up with a lot of small plates, you might not feel like you’ve eaten a full sit-down meal. If you want “comfortably full,” plan to top up with something after the tour.

The wine setup: Alicante wines in Vinalopó and La Marina

Food is the headline, but the wine is the thread that ties the whole afternoon together.

You get alcoholic beverages as follows:

• 1 beer or sangria or glass of wine per person in each bar or restaurant
• wine tasting includes 3 glasses of wine per person

That structure is smart. It means you’re not only sipping wine in tiny theory portions. You taste, then you keep tasting while you keep eating. It also reduces the chance you only get one “interesting” wine and then drink whatever the room has.

The wine itself comes from Vinalopó and La Marina regions of Alicante. Those areas are part of why local bottles taste distinct from the generic tourist version of Spanish wine. The goal here is not wine bragging; it’s helping you understand how the region’s flavors show up in your glass.

If you enjoy wine that isn’t trying to be fancy, this kind of tasting usually feels comfortable. You learn enough to order smarter later.

Where the walking and talking balance actually works

A good food tour has one job: keep the energy up while you eat at a steady pace. This one is designed around that.

The tour runs about 3 hours, and it’s set up as a guided walk through nice parts of the city while you stop to taste. The best part of a guided tasting isn’t just food. It’s the way Silvina connects what you’re eating to the city around you—history, habits, and local context that make the plates feel personal instead of random.

From the reviews and the tour description, the vibe is close to a dinner with someone who knows the neighborhood. You’ll likely get recommendations beyond the tour, too, because the guide builds trust fast.

A small group limit of up to 10 travelers also helps. In a bigger group, it’s harder to ask questions about what you’re tasting and harder for the guide to keep everyone moving.

Lunch and dinner style tapas in a single afternoon

One thing that might surprise you: the included menu is written as both lunch (4 tapas per person) and dinner (4 tapas per person). In practice, that likely means the tour is split into rounds across multiple stops, with each stop functioning as a mini plate-and-drink moment.

So think of it less as a strict lunch followed by a strict dinner, and more as a structured tasting run. You’ll get enough variety that the experience doesn’t feel repetitive.

This matters if you’re the type who likes food progressions—lighter starters, then richer plates, then a finish where you’re still enjoying the flavors rather than tired of them.

Price and value: what you’re really paying for

At $162.92 per person, this isn’t a bargain tasting. It’s priced like a guided, multi-stop experience with alcohol and a local host.

To judge value, look at what’s included:

• multiple tapas rounds (4 + 4 per person, as listed)
• a snacks table of sausages and cheeses
• wine tasting: 3 glasses per person
• plus beer/sangria/wine (1 drink per stop)
• a licensed-style local guide experience in English
• a mobile ticket and a set start/end in central Alicante

If you planned to do this on your own, you’d spend real money on good tapas and real money on wine. And you’d spend time figuring out where to go. This tour compresses the decision-making into a single guided afternoon.

Is it “worth it” for you? If you’re a confident independent eater who already knows where to find top tapas, you might feel it’s pricey. If you want a guided introduction to Alicante flavors and you value the time-saving and local recommendations, the price starts to make more sense.

One more angle: the tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travelers, and a solo booking may be charged at the base rate for two. If you’re traveling alone, factor that into your comparison.

Dietary needs: vegetarian and vegan support needs your timing

Good news: the tour says it is suitable for vegans and vegetarians, with a key condition: you must notify the team 48 hours before the reservation date.

That’s the part you can control. If you’re following a strict diet, don’t wait until the last day. Send the request on time so the guide can plan adjustments across the stops.

Also note the tour allows service animals. If this matters to you, it’s good to see it clearly stated.

Tips to get the most out of the tour

A few practical moves make the experience smoother:

• Eat light beforehand, but don’t expect a huge meal. Tapas are small by design.
• Bring comfortable walking shoes. It’s a walk through the city, and it’s part of the experience.
• Go with curiosity. The menu includes items like mojama and salted cod mixtures that you might not pick automatically.
• Ask questions about what you’re tasting. With Silvina and a small group, you’ll likely get answers in real time.
• Plan your schedule after. You’ll likely want something simple after if you’re someone who needs a full dinner.

Is it a fit for you?

This tour fits best if you:

• love food-first travel and want a guided taste of what to order in Alicante
• enjoy wine pairings and want a local regional focus (Vinalopó and La Marina)
• like meeting a city through neighborhoods and stories, not just museum stops
• prefer a smaller group pace with a host who can explain dishes as you go

You might think twice if you:

• want large portions and a sit-down-style meal
• are strictly comparing cost per plate and care less about guidance and pairing
• dislike alcohol or don’t want to participate in wine tasting (the tour includes it, so your experience may feel constrained)

Should you book this Alicante wine tasting and tapas tour?

If you’re in Alicante and you want the fastest path to tasting multiple regional flavors without guessing, this is a strong choice. The Casa Carbonell start, the Silvina-led old-town storytelling, and the focus on Alicante wine regions make it feel more like a local introduction than a generic tasting circuit.

If you’re the type who already has Alicante tapas spots mapped out and you don’t need a guide, you could recreate something similar on your own for less. But you’d lose the structured wine pairing and the explanations that help you order smarter later.

My call: book it if you want a guided, wine-and-tapas afternoon that helps you leave Alicante knowing what to seek next time.

FAQ

How long is the Alicante wine tasting and tapas tour?

It’s about 3 hours.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $162.92 per person.

Where do I meet, and where does the tour end?

You start at Passeig Esplanada d’Espanya, 1, 03002 Alacant, and the tour ends at C/ de Balmes, 1, 03004 Alacant.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What’s included for food and drinks?

You get a snacks table of sausages and cheeses, plus alcoholic drinks: 1 beer or sangria or glass of wine per person in each bar or restaurant, and a wine tasting with 3 glasses of wine per person. Food includes 4 tapas per person for lunch and 4 tapas per person for dinner.

Are there vegetarian or vegan options?

Yes, the tour is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. You need to notify the provider at least 48 hours before the reservation if you have dietary needs.

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