Alicante food and wine starts fast here. This 3-hour tasting experience is built around Alicante’s old-town flavors, starting at Casa Carbonell and moving through a series of local bars and restaurants. You’ll learn a bit of history along the way, then get served regional tapas paired with local wines from the Vinalopó and La Marina areas.

I especially like the focus on dishes you might not order on your own, like mojama (salt-cured tuna) over ripe tomatoes with extra virgin olive oil, plus a rustic cod-and-pepper mix. I also love the way the guide, often Silvina, blends city context with what’s on your plate, so each stop feels like part of one story, not random snack stops.

One thing to consider: this isn’t an all-you-can-eat meal with huge portions. Some people will find the tastings enough, but if you’re very hungry or price-sensitive, you may feel the value is tighter than a full sit-down dinner.

Key things to know before you go

• Casa Carbonell as the launch point: you start with history and a first local bite right in the old town.
• Mojama + tomatoes + top olive oil: a signature Mediterranean-style tapa you can’t easily recreate at home.
• 8 tapas total, plus a shared snacks table: plan on multiple courses across the bars/restaurants.
• Wine tasting includes 3 glasses per person, alongside your option of beer/sangria or wine at the stops.
• Small group, max 10 people: better attention and a more relaxed pace.
• Tell them about vegan/vegetarian needs 48 hours ahead to make sure you get the right options.

Casa Carbonell Start: Tapas With City Context

Most food tours start with food. This one starts with place. You meet at Passeig Esplanada d’Espanya, 1, right on the edge of the area that helps you get your bearings fast—then you move into the old-town vibe with Casa Carbonell as the kickoff.

Casa Carbonell matters for two reasons. First, it anchors the whole experience in Alicante’s wine and culinary culture, not just tapas as an item you check off. Second, the guide uses the building and its setting to explain what you’re about to taste and why it fits here. You’re not just being told what you’ll eat; you’re getting the background that makes the choices make sense.

In the first round, you get a local proposal prepared for you in the old town. Expect early flavor “anchors” like olive oil-forward tapas and seafood-based plates—Alicante loves both, and this sets the tone for what comes next.

What I like for your planning: starting centrally means you can combine it easily with a walk along the seafront before or after. And because the tour ends at C/ de Balmes, 1, you’re left in a convenient part of the city to keep roaming on your own.

What You’ll Eat: From Cod, Peppers, and Garlic to Mojama

The food layout is built around variety, not repetition. You’ll get multiple tapa courses across different stops, and each one is designed to show off local ingredients and styles.

Here are the standout menu items you should look forward to:

Rustic local salad and tapa: dried peppers, salted fish, olive oil

This first starter is a mix you might not see elsewhere: dried red peppers, crumbled salted fish (cod), garlic, and local extra virgin olive oil. It’s the kind of flavor combo that makes sense in Mediterranean cooking: salty + aromatic + oily richness. Even if you’re not a big “salty fish” person, it’s worth trying because the olive oil and garlic smooth out the edges.

Mojama with ripe tomatoes and olive oil

Mojama is salt-cured tuna loin, and it lands here on ripe local tomatoes, finished with extra virgin olive oil. It’s simple in structure, but it’s not boring. The cured fish brings concentrated flavor, while the tomatoes add sweetness and acidity. This is one of those tapas that teaches you how Alicante balances preservation traditions with fresh produce.

An award-winning tapas selection: pork, smoky peppers, and seafood

The “champion creations” portion is where things get more exciting. You’ll taste a selection built around succulent pork, smoky peppers, and fresh locally sourced seafood. Even if you’re already familiar with Spanish tapas, this portion helps you see the regional twist—the smoking element and the way seafood shows up alongside meat is a strong Alicante signature.

Snacks table: sausages and cheeses to share

Before you fully settle into the tapas rhythm, there’s also a shared snacks table of sausages and cheeses. It’s a practical move: you get something to nibble while the group settles in, and it helps you pace your appetite across the whole experience.

How much food to expect

The included plan lists 4 tapas per person for the dinner part and 4 tapas per person for the lunch part, plus the shared snacks table and wine tasting. So you should plan on a full tasting session rather than just “a few bites.” Still, it’s tapas sizing, not a steakhouse portion.

Wine Tasting in Alicante: Vinalopó and La Marina in Your Glass

Food is half the show. The other half is wine, and this tour is pretty clear about what you get.

You’ll be offered wine tasting with 3 glasses per person, alongside your drink options at the stops (1 beer or sangria or a glass of wine per person in each bar or restaurant). That structure matters because it keeps the tasting from feeling like only one drink setting.

The wine focus is on local regions: Vinalopó and La Marina. Those names are your clue that you’re drinking wines tied to the area’s terroir, not just grabbing whatever is easiest to pour. If you’ve ever visited a region and thought, I should taste what they actually grow here, this is built for that.

A practical tip: pacing is on you. If you’re doing a long day, take water when you can (bottled water is not listed as included), and don’t “speed-run” the 3-taste flight. You want to actually taste the differences, not just ride the alcohol.

3 Hours on Foot: How the Pace Usually Works

This experience runs about 3 hours and does not include an air-conditioned vehicle or private transportation. That means you’re moving on foot, hopping between a few places in the old town.

So the best “bring” item isn’t a gadget. It’s comfort:

• Wear shoes you can walk in for a short-to-moderate city route.
• Dress for weather, because the experience requires good weather.
• Come ready to snack across multiple stops, not just at one sitting.

The tour also ends after the last tasting at C/ de Balmes, 1. Because it’s a start-to-end route (not a loop that returns you to the exact first spot), you can plan a next stop nearby without backtracking.

Price and Value: What You’re Paying For at $162.92

At $162.92 per person for about 3 hours, the price can feel high if you’re comparing it to a casual bar crawl with cheap bites. But this tour is priced for something more structured than “wander and hope.”

Here’s what you’re getting for the cost, based on what’s included:

• Multiple tapas rounds (4 + 4 per person across the provided lunch/dinner structure)
• A shared snacks table (sausages and cheeses)
• Wine tasting with 3 glasses per person
• Additional drink option at each bar/restaurant (1 beer or sangria or wine per person)

And there’s the human part: the guide sets the pace, explains what you’re eating, and helps you land at places that you might skip if you’re just following your own hunger.

That said, one drawback showed up clearly: if you’re a very adventurous eater who doesn’t mind wandering, you might feel you could build a great night on your own for less. Also, tapas portions are tapas portions. If you want big, filling plates, this may not fully satisfy your hunger unless you’re a light eater.

My “value test” for you:

• If you want regional guidance + pairing + multiple stops in one block, it’s easier to justify.
• If your goal is maximum food volume for the money, look at a full meal option instead of this tasting-focused format.

Dietary Needs: Vegan and Vegetarian Options With Notice

This tour can work for vegans and vegetarians, but there’s a catch: you have to notify them 48 hours before the reservation date.

That requirement is actually a good sign. It means they aren’t guessing last-minute. They can plan replacements and adjust menus so you’re not stuck with bread and olive oil pretending to be a meal.

If you have other dietary restrictions, you can also request accommodations—just make the ask in advance. When food tours handle this well, you enjoy the experience instead of managing your diet in real time.

The Host Factor: A Friendly Guide Who Links Food to Place

A lot of people book food tours for the food. They stay for the explanation.

In this case, the host experience is a major strength. Silvina appears in multiple accounts as the guide who mixes warm conversation with practical food-and-wine knowledge. The result is that each stop feels like a mini lesson: what you’re tasting, where it fits in Alicante culture, and how the ingredients connect to local habits.

You also get something that’s easy to underestimate: route planning. Picking bars and restaurants you might not notice on your own takes effort. The tour handles that, so you spend your attention tasting instead of hunting.

Where to Meet and How to Make It Easy

Meeting point: Passeig Esplanada d’Espanya, 1, 03002 Alacant, Alicante, Spain.

Ending point: C/ de Balmes, 1, 03004 Alacant, Alicante, Spain.

A couple of practical notes help your day go smoother:

• Bring your mobile ticket (it’s mobile-ticket based).
• If you’re running late, message the guide in advance via WhatsApp or send a message so they know.
• Since bottled water isn’t listed as included, consider grabbing water before you start if you tend to get thirsty.

Should You Book This Alicante Tapas and Wine Tour?

Book it if you want a structured Alicante introduction focused on regional tapas and real wine tasting. It’s a strong pick for foodies who like to try dishes they wouldn’t automatically order, and for anyone who enjoys learning the story behind what’s on the plate.

Skip or reconsider if:

• You’re mainly chasing a high quantity meal and you hate tapas portion sizes.
• You’re extremely price-sensitive and prefer to wander independently to build your own food route.
• You know you’ll need guaranteed large-volume filling dishes; this is tasting-forward.

My bottom line: if your idea of a great afternoon is walking between local spots, tasting multiple styles of Alicante food, and leaving with a better sense of what Vinalopó and La Marina taste like, this tour has a clear payoff.

FAQ

How long is the Alicante wine tasting and tapas tour?

It runs for about 3 hours.

Where does the tour start and end?

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

What food and drink are included?

You’ll get 4 tapas per person for the dinner part and 4 tapas per person for the lunch part, plus a shared snacks table of sausages and cheeses. Drinks include 1 beer or sangria or a glass of wine per person in each bar/restaurant, and the wine tasting includes 3 glasses of wine per person.

Is the tour vegetarian or vegan friendly?

Yes, it can accommodate vegans and vegetarians, but you must notify the provider 48 hours before your reservation date. Other dietary restrictions can also be requested in advance.

What group size is this tour limited to?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.

What’s the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, you won’t get a refund.