Aix en Provence: Food Tour with Local Tastings & Market Walk

4.87

(142 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I still remember the first bite of that aioli—garlicky, creamy, just a little sharp. We’d barely made it past the first corner in Aix en Provence when our guide, Camille, stopped at this tiny stall I would’ve walked right by. She greeted the vendor like an old friend (maybe they were?), and suddenly we had slices of crusty bread loaded up with aioli in our hands. The sun was already warming the stones underfoot, and someone nearby was selling fresh-cut lavender. It all kind of hit at once: the smell, the chatter in French, that first taste.

The food tour didn’t feel rushed at all. Camille led us through these winding alleys—she kept pointing out little things I’d never have noticed on my own, like a faded mural above a bakery or how locals tap their fingers on café tables when they’re happy with their coffee. At one point we tried crunchy almonds dusted with something sweet (I forgot to ask what), and I ended up buying a bag for later. There was this moment where she handed me lavender ice cream and laughed when I hesitated—turns out it’s weirdly good, floral but not soapy. It melted faster than I could eat it though.

We stopped for anchoïade too—salty, briny, not for everyone maybe but I liked it. The market was buzzing (it’s open early if you want to see it before the tour), and there were locals arguing gently over cheese prices. Camille shared stories about her childhood here; she even gave us her “to do” list for Aix, scribbled on a napkin. By then we were full but somehow managed to squeeze in homemade madeleines. I didn’t expect to laugh so much or feel so at home in a place where I barely speak the language.