Private: Nashville 12South Walking Food Tour W/ Secret Food Tours

Nashville’s 12South is best explored one bite at a time. This three-hour private walk takes you along a popular avenue lined with restaurants, coffee shops, restored buildings, and independent shops, with five food stops built into the route.

I like the private format, since your group gets the guide’s full attention and can ask questions as you walk. I also like the mix of foods: a breakfast taco, Southern pork and grits, sweets, a burger, and a surprise dish give you a broad taste of modern Nashville. The main drawback is the price, $335 per person, which makes this a serious splurge unless you value a private guide and a full meal in one outing.

Key points at a glance

• Five stops in about three hours: Plan on roughly 30 minutes at each food stop, plus the walking time between them.
• A private Nashville walk: Only your own group takes part, so the pace and conversation can feel more personal.
• 12South beyond the restaurants: You will pass stylish shops, coffee spots, restored buildings, and a dress shop associated with a famous movie star.
• A full food lineup: Expect a breakfast taco, seasonal donut, brisket quesadilla with spicy green beans, Southern hot pork and grits casserole, water, and a secret dish. Stop descriptions also mention a famous cookie and a burger, so the exact menu may change.
• Guides with local knowledge: Jiana, Scott, Nik, Shawn, Julia, Sean, and Courtney have led Nashville food walks, though your assigned guide can vary.
• Good weather matters: The walk may be moved or canceled if conditions are poor, with a new date or full refund offered.

Why 12South works so well for a food walk

12South gives you a compact slice of present-day Nashville. Instead of spending the afternoon moving between distant restaurants, you walk along one of the city’s most popular avenues and sample several different styles of food along the way.

The neighborhood is also useful for first-time visitors because food is only part of the appeal. You can look into coffee shops, browse independent stores, admire restored buildings, and keep an eye out for the dress shop tied to a famous movie star. The route gives you a reason to slow down and notice the area instead of simply arriving for one meal.

The private setup changes the feel of the outing. You are not placed with a large public group, and only your party participates. That matters most if you have a particular interest in Nashville food, neighborhood stories, shopping, or local restaurants.

I would still keep your expectations practical. This is a walking food tour, not a formal sit-down tasting menu. Portions are described as generous, so you should arrive hungry and avoid booking a large meal immediately before the start.

Starting with a Nashville breakfast taco

The tour begins at 2229 10th Avenue South. The first stop features a breakfast taco at a sought-after local restaurant, a smart opening choice for a food walk that starts earlier in the day.

A breakfast taco gives you something filling without slowing the group down. It is also a relaxed introduction to the tour format: you eat, talk with the guide, and get your bearings before continuing toward 12South.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes. Since the activity includes several substantial tastes, use this first portion as a sample rather than treating it as a full breakfast. Water is included, but other drinks are not listed as part of the standard package.

The starting point is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying elsewhere in Nashville. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to 2229 10th Avenue South.

Southern comfort food at 2706 12th Avenue South

The second stop brings you to a well-known restaurant for a Southern hot pork and grits casserole. This is the most traditional-sounding dish on the route, with soft grits and seasoned pork forming the heart of the tasting.

I like this stop because it gives the tour a clear Nashville and Southern identity. The dish should appeal to you if you enjoy hearty comfort food, though it may feel heavy when paired with several more stops still ahead.

You have about 30 minutes here. That time allows for eating and conversation, but not for lingering over a long restaurant meal. The purpose is to sample the restaurant’s specialty, learn why it matters to the route, and keep moving.

The guide is an important part of this stop. Past Nashville guides have included Jiana, Scott, Nik, Shawn, Julia, Sean, and Courtney. The exact person assigned to your group is not guaranteed, but the tour is designed around the guide’s stories about the neighborhood, food, and Nashville.

The sweet break at 2606 12th Avenue South

After the savory dishes, the route turns to something sweet at 2606 12th Avenue South. The stop is described as a famous gourmet cookie, while the included food list also names a seasonal donut.

That difference is worth noting before you book. Menus can change, and the information provided describes both a cookie and a seasonal donut. You should expect a sweet course, but contact the operator if a particular dessert matters to you.

A sweet stop works well in the middle of a food walk. It breaks up the heavier pork and grits course and gives you a change in flavor and texture. If you are sharing tastes within your group, this is also an easy course to divide.

The 12South setting adds to the stop. You are not simply being driven from restaurant to restaurant. You get a short neighborhood walk between tastings, which helps the three-hour schedule feel like a local outing rather than a series of isolated food samples.

A burger stop at 2403 12th Avenue South

The fourth stop is at 2403 12th Avenue South, where the route description calls for a burger. The included food list also mentions a brisket quesadilla with spicy green beans, so this is another place where the exact food lineup may not be identical on every date.

The common thread is filling, casual food. A burger or brisket quesadilla gives the tour a satisfying late-stage savory course, while the spicy green beans add a vegetable side with more bite than a plain salad.

This stop may be the point at which you realize how much food is included. The tour is not a small collection of delicate nibbles. It is built around generous portions, so pace yourself from the breakfast taco onward.

For many people, the casual comfort-food stops will be more useful than a parade of tiny samples. You leave with a better sense of what Nashville’s everyday restaurant culture can look like, not just its famous hot chicken or barbecue stereotypes.

The secret dish on Caruthers Avenue

The final destination is at 1110 Caruthers Avenue. Here you receive the secret dish, which is kept as a surprise until the end.

A surprise ending is a nice touch on a private food walk because it gives the guide room to finish with something that fits the day, the season, or the participating restaurants. The exact dish is not identified in advance, so do not book this tour if you need every course confirmed before arrival.

The secret course is described as the culinary finish to the outing, and the food list confirms that it is included. Afterward, the activity returns to the meeting point. Since the full route includes food at five locations, expect walking between venues rather than a single fixed restaurant setting.

The return to the starting point simplifies your plans. You do not need to arrange a second pickup at the end, though you still need to handle transportation to the initial address.

What the private format is worth at $335

At $335 per person, this tour costs far more than a casual Nashville lunch. The price makes sense only if you place real value on the private guide, the organized route, several included food courses, and the convenience of having the neighborhood introduction built around your group.

You are paying for more than the food itself. The guide connects the restaurants and streets into one experience, answers questions as you walk, and can help you understand why 12South has become such a popular place to eat and shop.

The value improves for a small group that wants personal attention. A private outing can be especially useful for a family, a birthday group, or a bachelorette party that prefers its own schedule and conversation. One past Nashville group used a food walk as part of a bachelorette celebration, and the format is well suited to that kind of occasion.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want inexpensive samples or if you would rather choose your own restaurants. Nashville has plenty of casual food options that cost much less. I would book this only if you want a hosted neighborhood experience and are comfortable paying a premium for privacy.

Pace, walking, and practical comfort

The tour lasts about three hours. Each of the five listed stops allows roughly 30 minutes, leaving the remaining time for walking, introductions, neighborhood information, and movement between addresses.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness. No extreme hike is involved, but you will be on your feet for much of the activity. Comfortable shoes are the sensible choice, especially since the value of the tour depends partly on seeing the area between meals.

The activity is near public transportation, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not provided. Plan your route before the start time and allow a little extra margin so you are not rushing to the first stop.

Because the tour takes place outdoors between restaurants, weather can affect the schedule. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The activity also requires a minimum number of participants, and if that requirement is not met, you can choose another date or experience or receive a full refund.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Inside that window, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. This is important for bachelorette groups and other parties whose plans may shift.

Who will enjoy this Nashville food tour most

I would recommend this walk to you if you want food and neighborhood context in the same outing. It suits first-time Nashville visitors who want an introduction to 12South, as well as repeat visitors who prefer independent restaurants and local streets over a standard sightseeing loop.

It is also a good fit for private celebrations. A group of seven used a Nashville food walk for a bachelorette trip, and the private arrangement can make that kind of event easier to manage. The guide can keep the group together, answer questions, and provide a shared plan without the feel of a large public tour.

Food lovers who prefer generous portions will appreciate the lineup. You get several savory courses, something sweet, water, and a surprise finish. If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied information does not explain available substitutions, so ask before booking rather than assuming.

I would be cautious about choosing this tour if you dislike surprises, have limited mobility, want hotel transportation, or are looking for a low-cost way to eat. The pace is moderate, the route is on foot, and the menu details may shift between the named stop descriptions and the included food list.

Should you book the 12South private food walk?

Book it if you want a guided introduction to one of Nashville’s most popular food neighborhoods and you are willing to pay for a private experience. The strongest reasons are the five-stop structure, the mix of Southern and casual foods, and the chance to explore shops and streets between tastings.

Skip it if the $335 price feels out of proportion to your food budget or if you prefer to choose each restaurant yourself. Also confirm the current menu if you have your heart set on the cookie, donut, burger, or brisket quesadilla, since the listed food details allow for variation.

For the right group, this is an efficient way to spend three hours in 12South. You finish fed, oriented, and ready to return to the avenue on your own for more shopping or coffee.

FAQ

How long is the Nashville 12South food tour?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 2229 10th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37204.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the activity.

What food is included?

The included food list names a breakfast taco, seasonal donut, brisket quesadilla with spicy green beans, Southern hot pork and grits casserole, a secret dish, and water.

Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is the tour near public transportation?

Yes. The meeting area is near public transportation.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of bad weather?

You are offered another date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation deadline?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.