Three hours, lots of bites. This small-group tour in downtown Winter Haven focuses on tastings included so you can keep walking and tasting instead of pulling out your wallet at every stop. With guide Amada Anderson, you get a tight no-pay food route packed with sweet and savory favorites.

What I love most is the sweet-and-savory variety—from pistachio muffins and gelato to burgers, brisket, Thai curry, and more. The second win: you also pick up local context while you snack, including stops tied to Winter Haven spots like Gram Parson’s Derry Down and the original site of Publix. The one thing to consider is that a planned restaurant stop can be closed on certain days, so expect that tastings may be updated ahead of time on your booking page.

Key things to know before you go

• Small group (max 10) keeps the pacing friendly and makes it easy to ask questions.
• Tastings are included (coffee/tea, snacks, lunch), so you can focus on the food, not the bill.
• Downtown mix of styles: bakeries, burgers, BBQ, coffee, Polynesian, Thai, Italian gelato.
• Sweet finish built in with gelato and tasting-style stops like balsamic and olive oil samples.
• Personal preferences are taken seriously, including dietary needs like vegetarian and no cilantro.
• Local stories aren’t an add-on; they’re part of the reason you’re moving stop to stop.

Starting at 220 Avenue A NW: Your downtown food loop

The tour kicks off at 220 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven, starting at 2:00 pm and running about 3 hours. You’ll end back near the start point, so you don’t have to plan a second leg or worry about ending far from where you began.

This is set up for walking-and-tasting in downtown, so the timing matters. Plan to arrive a few minutes early and keep your schedule flexible enough to enjoy the stops without feeling rushed. With a maximum of 10 travelers, the group size stays manageable, which helps the guide keep things moving at a comfortable pace.

Also worth noting: it’s offered in English, you’ll get a mobile ticket, and it’s said to be suitable for most travelers. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting area is near public transportation, which makes it easier to build around a day in Central Florida.

How tastings work (so you don’t keep paying)

Here’s the practical part that makes the tour feel good: coffee/tea, snacks, and lunch are included, and the stops are built around tastings rather than full meals you need to order and pay for. That means you can try a broad range without turning the experience into a constant checkout line.

Alcohol isn’t included, which is important if you’re a big drinker. If you’re expecting beer or cocktails as part of the price, you’ll need to treat that as optional and plan to pay separately if it’s offered at a stop.

This included-tasting setup also shapes your best strategy as a foodie. Eat like you’re on a sprint, not a buffet: take a small break between stops if you need it, and don’t worry about getting full. The tour is designed so you sample and compare.

A sweet-and-savory menu built for variety

One of the strongest parts of this tour is how it avoids the usual food-tour pattern of only doing one cuisine style per stop. You get a mix that feels like real life in Winter Haven, where coffee shops share the street with burger joints, BBQ spots, and international kitchens.

On the sweet side, the tour starts you off with pistachio muffins, and it also works in gelato at the end. In between, you’ll see how sweet and savory collide—think pastry meets coffee, and a creamy finish after richer dishes.

On the savory side, you can expect items that range from comfort food to global flavors. The menu includes things like Adler’s burgers and brisket from SmokinOX, fried green tomatoes, pork nachos and truffle fries (from the Polynesian craft kitchen stop), Mexican tamales, and Panang curry with Thai tea.

The result is simple: even if you’re picky, you usually find something you want again. And even if you’re not picky, you get a guided reason to try dishes you might skip on your own.

Stop-by-stop: what you’ll actually taste and why it matters

Stop 1: Downtown history plus pistachio muffins

You begin at 220 Avenue A NW with a guided walk through downtown, hitting multiple places and picking up stories as you go. This is where the tour adds texture beyond food. You’ll visit Gram Parson’s Derry Down and the original site of the Publix supermarket, two reminders that Winter Haven has more going on than strip malls and road signs.

Food-wise, you’ll start with their famous pistachio muffins. Those muffins tie into the coffee theme too: the tour notes that Richard’s Coffee is the first independent coffee house in Polk County and has been around for over 25 years. That kind of longevity tends to show up in what locals keep ordering—simple, consistent, and hard to beat.

One caution: if you’re extremely sensitive to nuts, ask ahead of time. Pistachio is central here, and you won’t want to get stuck at Stop 1 with nothing that fits.

Stop 2: Adler’s burgers, fries, and daily specials

Next up is Adler’s, a casual spot known for classic burgers and daily specials. The stop is about 20 minutes, so it’s designed for a quick taste and a smooth move to the next location.

Even though the tour itself doesn’t include alcohol, Adler’s is described as serving fries and beer and craft soda as part of its broader menu. Your tour experience focuses on what’s being handed to you during the tasting window, so you can keep things light and still leave satisfied.

If you like familiar comfort foods, this is the place that gives you the baseline flavor to compare everything else later. It’s a useful anchor stop.

Stop 3: SmokinOX Premium BBQ and the smoky comfort foods

Then you hit The SmokinOX Premium BBQ stop, where the menu leans hard into smoked meats like brisket and ribs. You’ll get a taste designed to show what the kitchen is best at, plus sides that come alongside the BBQ style.

This stop includes fried green tomatoes, described as a taste of the south, which is a nice way to mix textures. BBQ can get heavy fast, so the combo of meat plus something crunchy and tangy is a smart pacing choice.

If you’re a BBQ person, you’ll likely find yourself thinking about this stop after the tour ends. If you’re not, you can still enjoy it as a study in how smoke and seasoning drive a whole meal.

Stop 4: Haven Coffee Roasters and the 2025 Golden Bean nod

Coffee fans get a dedicated stop at Haven Coffee Roasters. The tour notes they were Golden Bean winners in 2025.

This matters for a simple reason: coffee isn’t just a warm-up. If a shop earns awards, it usually means the beans, roast style, and consistency are strong enough that people keep coming back—exactly what you want from a tasting tour. Expect a quick, focused stop around 20 minutes, which keeps the tour on schedule while still giving the coffee its moment.

A tip for your comfort: coffee can add punch even when it’s just a tasting size. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, let the guide know so you can pick the option that fits you.

Stop 5: Sauvage for a Polynesian twist

Next is Sauvage, described as a Polynesian craft bar & kitchen. You get about 40 minutes here, which suggests more time for food samples, conversation, and a slightly longer break in the walking rhythm.

The menu points to pork nachos and truffle fries as part of this stop’s tastings. It’s a fun idea because nachos are shareable and easy to compare bite to bite—cheese pull, crunch factor, and how the toppings balance salty and rich. Truffle fries also add a perfume-like aroma that keeps this stop from tasting like the same old fry-and-salt combo.

Since alcohol isn’t included, think of Sauvage as a flavor stop first. If you love craft drinks, you can always treat that as optional.

Stop 6: Thai Haven for Panang curry and Thai tea

Then it’s over to Thai Haven, the downtown Thai spot where you’ll sample Panang curry plus Thai tea. This stop is about 20 minutes, so it’s built for clean, concentrated tastes rather than a slow sit-down.

Thai tea is a smart pairing because it brings sweetness and creaminess that can cool down spicy heat. Panang curry also gives you a chance to taste how regional Thai flavors can feel both rich and balanced without needing a full dinner order.

If you’re someone who avoids spicy food, tell the guide your comfort level. This tour is designed to accommodate preferences, and it’s better to set expectations early than to hope the curry is mild enough.

Stop 7: The Treasured Olive for balsamic, olive oil, and gelato

Your last “linger” stop is The Treasured Olive, where you sample flavored balsamic vinegars and olive oils and then finish with authentic Italian gelato. You’ll have about 20 minutes here, which is plenty time to taste and compare the vinegar flavors without feeling rushed.

This is a great ending because it gives you a palate reset. BBQ and curry can linger, and balsamic plus gelato clears the slate fast. If you like food that’s part snack, part souvenir, this is also the kind of shop where you might want to remember flavors once you’re done.

Also, gelato is included. That’s not a small detail—it’s a sure thing at the end of a walking tour.

The vaudeville-era vibe: a 1925 movie theatre stop

There’s also a stop tied to a Vaudeville/Movie Theatre built in 1925. You’ll see it as part of the downtown route, and it adds a historic layer to your evening—like walking through the city’s story, not just its restaurant list.

Even if you’re not a big architecture person, the timing works. You get a break from tasting intensity and a mental reset, which makes the last couple of stops feel more fun instead of purely fuel.

Personal touch: how Amada Anderson handles preferences

The guide’s role here is bigger than “lead the group, say hi, move on.” Amada Anderson is described as patient, and the tour can be shaped to your tastes and interests.

This shows up in practical ways. If you’re vegetarian or you’re avoiding something like cilantro, you can tell the guide and expect adjustments in what you receive during tastings. That’s a huge deal on a food tour, because many tours say they’ll try to help but end up offering the same plain plate to everyone.

There’s also an emotional side. One group even had a birthday surprise, which suggests the operator knows how to turn a food tour into a moment. If it’s your celebration, mention it in advance so the guide can plan around it.

Best time and smart prep so you enjoy every bite

With a 2:00 pm start, this tour works well if you want a late lunch vibe without committing to a full restaurant meal for your whole afternoon. It also works for people who don’t want an early morning tour or an evening crowd scene.

Before you go, do three things:

• Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably for a couple hours.
• Plan to eat lightly beforehand, since coffee and a real lunch are included.
• Bring a small appetite buffer. The tour is tasting-focused, but it adds up.

If you’re extra picky, treat this like a planning dinner. Tell Amada your preferences early, especially if you have allergy-style restrictions. The tour notes that most travelers can participate, but the quality of your experience depends on matching what you can eat with what you’ll be served.

Who this tour is for (and who might want a different plan)

This tour is a strong fit if you want:

• A walking food route with included tastings
• A mix of American comfort, BBQ, Thai, Mexican, coffee, and gelato
• A smaller group where you can ask questions and get personal adjustments

It’s also a good choice for couples, friends, and anyone celebrating something, since the guide seems open to making the experience special.

You might consider another option if you need a fully sit-down meal experience. This is built around moving between venues and tasting along the way, so it’s not a slow dinner with long conversation at one table.

Should you book Flavors of Winter Haven Food Tour?

I’d book this tour if you want a guided downtown snack-fest that covers a lot of ground without making you do the math at each stop. The combination of included coffee/tea, snacks, and lunch, plus a guide who can work with preferences, turns it into a practical way to learn the city through food.

I’d think twice if you want a strict list of exact restaurants no matter what. On some dates, a planned stop can be unavailable, and tastings can be updated on the booking page, so go in with flexibility.

If you’re heading to Winter Haven and you like tasting different styles instead of repeating one cuisine, this is the kind of tour that usually pays off fast.

FAQ

How long is the Flavors of Winter Haven Food Tour?

It runs for about 3 hours.

Where does the tour start, and where does it end?

The tour starts at 220 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881, USA, and it ends back at the meeting point.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time listed is 2:00 pm.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

What’s included in the tour?

The tour includes coffee and/or tea, snacks, and lunch.

Are alcoholic beverages included?

No, alcoholic beverages are not included.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.

Is the tour accessible, and can I bring a service animal?

Service animals are allowed, and the tour notes that it’s near public transportation and that most travelers can participate.

What happens if weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.