Off the Beaten Path Food Tours

Central Square Food & Mural Arts Tour [Tue night]

Discover Central Square, a diverse & fun Cambridge community, through its unique food & art murals on this weeknight version of our Sunday tour!
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On this weekend tour you will…

Cambridge’s Best Eats

Whether it’s date night or a friends night out, sample the area’s best eats and most exciting spots together including Michelin-recognized acclaimed PAGU!

Central Square Public Art

Uncover the vibrant public art murals of Central Square, Graffiti Alley, and within a hidden passageway.​

From Hidden Art to The Original Graffiti Alley

From short rib grilled cheese to arancini to chicken karaage, you’ll taste the area’s best!


Food Tour Details

120 mins

1 mile

3 stops

$65
includes all food + drinks

Book Now →

Don’t see a date that works? Contact us about private tours.

  • See the Weekend version of this tour.

Have fun and unleash your inner art and food critic while exploring Central Square, Cambridge with us. Discover a hidden art passageway – this tour is full of cool surprises!

A Food Tour for Birthdays, Date Nights, & More

Whether you’re celebrating your birthday, enjoying date night, or having a fun night out with friends – this tour is for you! Our friendly and local guides will take guests along Massachusetts Avenue to uncover the evolution of the area and the ever-increasing importance of self expression.

Why Choose Off The Beaten Path Food Tours?

✓ TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner
✓ 5-star average rating from delighted guests
✓ Local expertise from guides who live and breathe Cambridge
✓ 95% of our guests book directly with us for the authentic experience

Book now and discover why Central Square is Cambridge’s most colorful and delicious destination!

Sample Itinerary

Food Tour Itinerary

What to Expect

  • Visit this beloved art district Cambridge, in between Harvard University and MIT, steps from downtown Boston
  • Paint graffiti in famous Graffiti Alley and uncover a secret second alley full of art!
  • Sample delicious short rib grilled cheese at Roxy’s and if you’re 21+ you can enter their secret arcade. Enjoy a cocktail or mocktail.
  • Discover Michelin-recommended Bib Gourmand PAGU and its remarkable Japanese tapas, including chef’s choice from new menu items such as matcha cookies to tasty patatas bravas and yummy chicken karaage
  • Enjoy local neighborhood gem Viale while eating the best arancini in Boston and enjoying their occhi stellati mocktail under the stars
  • Discover and discuss the art murals together with a friendly guide!

Note: Sample itinerary is subject to change based on availability.

Special Diet Information
Vegan, Gluten-free, and Vegetarian Diets

YES DAIRY-FREE, GLUTEN-FREE, VEGAN, and VEGETARIAN diets can be accommodated on this tour.

About the Neighborhood

Central Square Location

Home to a vibrant public art scene, including iconic Graffiti Alley, a sanctioned graffiti walkway that changes daily, and a variety of impressive large scale murals commissioned by the city from award-winning local talent. Uncover the artists and meaning behind these dynamic murals and enjoy delicious, diverse eats from local independent establishments – restaurant in Central Square – including a hidden art wall, top restaurant in Boston, and even a dynamic pan-Asian bar! Uncover murals within the restaurants.

Cancelation Policy

If you have to cancel, at least 48 hours notice before the tour start time is required in order to receive a refund back to the original payment method. Guests requesting a refund less than 48 hours prior to the tour start time cannot be refunded or rescheduled due to advanced preparation and scheduling commitments for each tour. Guests who arrive late or don’t show will also not be refunded or rescheduled. Should we have to cancel a tour, you’ll be refunded in full.

Per industry standard, private tours are not refundable. We look forward to meeting you. Thanks for supporting our small business, local guides, and independent restaurants!

Meeting Place

Meet Meet under Market Central sign - 425 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

425 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139

**PLEASE NOTE THE WEEKEND TOUR MEETS IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION**

 

This Tour’s Food Guides

Arthur

Bio & Tours

Arthur

Arthur is originally from Florida and he has enjoyed getting to know Boston food but not so much Boston winters! His background is in healthcare and he enjoys spending time outdoors as well as playing water sports. Coming from a multicultural family, he hopes to continue learning about new cultures and tasting new foods.

What he loves about Cambridge: The innovation! Did you know that many of today’s modern innovations were developed at various research labs, companies, and universities right here in Cambridge?

Favorite food:  Fried clams and blueberry cobbler. Briny and bright!

Favorite stop on the tour:  Commonwealth Kitchen. What makes ice cream so special? The science behind creating that perfect creamy frozen texture. I scream for ice cream!

Favorite time in history: Late 18th, early 19th century and the Age of Enlightenment. What an exciting time for food! We saw the refinement of French cuisine and the establishment of many modern day cooking techniques. Bon appétit!

Super-hero power he’d most want: Time travel. I’d want to go back to see how food changed over time. Ever wonder what the first blueberry cobbler was like? Did it look like the ones we know today? Did it taste good? So many questions.

Other fun fact: Arthur can speak three languages (Mandarin, French, English)!

Tours:

Sophie

Bio & Tours

Sophie

Brief bio: Grown and raised in Hong Kong, Sophie has always loved trying new foods and learning how to make things taste good. In fact, she first started learning to bake in middle school to satisfy her own sweet tooth.  Now as a resident of Central Square, she loves how vibrant this area of Cambridge always is and how there is something for you to love and discover here no matter what your interests are. Sophie works as a 5th Grade teacher and can be found trying new fitness classes, discovering new restaurants, and exploring Boston and its greater neighborhoods.

 What Sophie loves about Central: She loves that there is so much happening at any given moment! Whether it is the farmer’s market on Mondays, the various live musicians who jam together when the weather is nice or the colors of the square itself, there is always something that brings her small joy.

Favorite Food: It’s hard to pick a favorite but if she had to, it would be dumplings or cake.

Favorite Time in History: 1960s, Sophie thinks it would be incredibly interesting to personally experience such a powerful period of change in the U.S.
Superpower: To be able to speak and understand all languages
Other fun fact: Sophie has an irrational fear of pigeons.
Tours:

Gia

Bio & Tours

Gia

Short Bio: 
Gia loves food, walking and talking. At 10 years old she forgoed watching the Disney channel in favor of the Food Network, and came in second place at her high school’s “Chopped” challenge. When she’s not leading tours Gia likes to compose music, research historical fashions and re-read “Wuthering Heights”.
What Likes About Central Square: 
She loves all the murals and how guests can contribute to the art work in the graffiti alley!
Favorite Food:
She is a French fry connoisseur!
Fave stop on the tour:
Definitely Sojo! She dreams of their papaya salad
Favorite time in history:
She loves the American colonial period!
Super Power Most Want:
She can turn invisible when no one’s looking
Other Fun Fact: 
She’s an opera singer!
Tours:

Tvisha

Bio & Tours

Tvisha

Short Bio: Tvisha was born and raised right here in New England, and has just graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Growing up, she would visit India every other year, and have had the amazing opportunity to travel through Europe and Asia. In doing so, she has developed an expansive pallet. Boston has so many good eats, but she particularly loves Central Square because it has all the types of food you can imagine.

Favorite Time in History: She thinks the 1960’s is such an important and moving time in history!

Favorite Food: There are so many good dishes but hers has to be sushi!

Superpower Most Want: To have unlimited space in her stomach so she can constantly eat food

Tours:

photo of woman in central square cambridge ma with red hair

Jasmine

Bio & Tours

photo of woman in central square cambridge ma with red hair

Jasmine

Jasmine is originally from New Jersey and recently graduated from Tufts University, where she studied Architecture and Mathematics. She is an avid restaurant connoisseur who can often be found rating restaurants (local or all across the world!) on food review apps. Growing up in a multiracial household, she had a childhood filled with unique dishes that blended flavors, spices, and cultures. Today, her creative spirit shows itself in the fusion food she cooks as well as in her deep passion for art.

 

What she loves about Central Square: Jasmine loves all the liveliness and whimsy found throughout Central Square. From live music to incredible murals to countless local curated shops to, of course, amazing food, this gem has so much to offer! It is truly a place she can frolic for hours!

 

Favorite food: Jasmine is a cheese lover at heart! She also loves udon and carrot cake.

 

Favorite stop on the tour: PAGU for sure! The food and ambience are immaculate.

 

Favorite time in history: The Renaissance period because of its advances in art and architecture!

 

Superpower most wanted: To be able to speak all languages so that she can travel around the world (and try all the foods too)!

Tours:

head shot for boston food tour photo of male actor

Caleb

Bio & Tours

head shot for boston food tour photo of male actor

Caleb

Caleb is a Cambridge local and has lived in Cambridge or Somerville for most of his life. He is an actor and
playwright, performing with theater companies in Boston, Cambridge, Jamaica Plain and Worcester, and every October pretends to be a Puritan in Salem. He’s starting a business as a professional Dungeon Master and loves performance, history, food, and the Greater Boston area!

 

What he loves about Harvard Square: It’s beautiful, regardless of the time of year. The way the sun comes through the trees and reflects off the bricks in both the yard and the square is magical.

 

Favorite Food: Teriyaki Chicken

 

Favorite Stop on the Tour: Very hard to choose with so many great options. Saloniki is a classic though.

 

Favorite time in history: He knows quite a lot about the Puritans and the Revolutionary War and has also been increasingly intrigued by the history of the 1800’s.

 

Super Power: Perfect sense of direction

 

Other Fun Fact: He lived in London for three years.

Tours:

Customer Food Tour Reviews

I recently took the Central Square Cambridge Food and Mural Arts Tour led by James, and it was an incredible experience! ... The tour was well-paced, informative, and engaging. I learned so much about the local history, enjoyed delicious food, and admired the beautiful art murals in Central Square. Our guide's passion for the subject matter truly shone through, making the tour both educational and entertaining. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in exploring the vibrant culture of Central Square. Thank you for a memorable and insightful experience!


Bibek
★★★★★

Had an amazing experience at the Tuesday evening Food and Mural Arts Tour! Even with the rainy weather, it did not disappoint. We stopped at 3 restaurants and all were very unique from each other. It was really cool to be able to chat with the owners/chefs and learn a little bit about the inspiration behind the food, as well as the murals they commissioned to have a home there... Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who loves food and art and wants a more local experience when visiting Boston!


Aubreylyn
★★★★★

The Central Square Mural Arts Tour was a fantastic experience! From the captivating art scattered thorughout the streets to the vibrand community vibes, every step was a treat for the senses. Our tour guide, Sophie, was an absolute gem, effortlessly weaving tales of the area's history with a contagious passion for local cuisine. I work in Central Square and would have never noticed the hidden gems along my typical route. I will definitely take my friends and family on more of these tours!


Gabrielle
★★★★★

Such a fun tour! The art is phenomenal and food is AMAZING. Emily is very friendly and knowledgeable guide. A must for anyone visiting Cambridge.


Caroline
★★★★★

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Cite
★★★★★

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