Spice souk on Dubai Souks and Creekside Food Walk - Sheban Naim (1)

Server with Emirati Lamb Machboos at a traditional restaurant (1)

Frying Pan Adventures - Dubai - Jan2021_2659

Frying Pan Adventures - Dubai - Jan2021_2744

Explore Dubai's historic souks while indulging in nostalgic foods and hearing stories of the city's first communities - the perfect mix of sightseeing and food!

The Quick Take

Al Ras, Deira and Fahidi, Bur Dubai

4 hours. Usually offered in the evenings, post 4:30PM. Morning options available for private tours on select days.

Runs year-long, selected days of the week except Saturday. Limited options available during summer based on demand.

Minimum age of 8 years recommended given duration and walking involved. No infants/strollers.

Non-refundable option: AED 435
Flex option: AED 478.50
Private tours: AED 3,056+

The tour requires a minimum of 6 guests; we may cancel and refund tickets if the minimum is not met.

3 snack stops, 1 local sandwich with tea, and 1 main meal.

**During the hotter months: To reduce walking in the heat, we may replace 1 snack stop by ordering an extra item at another stop.

Walking only; distance covered is ~3.4km/ 2.1mi with stops in between.

Carry earphones for the audio system used by our guide.

Tastings include Gluten/Lactose/Dairy/Nuts. Please notify us of severe allergies.

Dress comfortably to walk.

The Juicy Bit

Explore Dubai’s Souks Like a Local: Back Alleys, Old School Treats and Stories

Step off the beaten path and into the heart of Dubai’s oldest communities with Frying Pan Adventures. While the Dubai Souks are a bustling tourist hotspot, we dive deeper, celebrating the narrow alleys and humble eateries that define the area’s rich history. This isn’t just a tour; it’s a multi-sensory journey through the vibrant souks, where every sight, sound, and scent adds to the narrative we weave as your local storytellers.

What Makes Our Dubai Walking Food Tour Different?

Experience the Dubai Souks like never before, engaging all your senses while uncovering stories only locals can tell. Roam with us, and discover why just looking around isn’t enough—without the stories, you’re only scratching the surface.

What Will You Experience?

Unravel an Old Dubai nostalgic wrap in the back alleys of the souk. This dish, a vibrant “child of mixed race parents,” reflects the diverse culinary influences of the region.
Get ready for a competitive round of Spicy Bingo as we navigate through the aromatic alleys of the souk. Bring your game face—it gets lively!
Indulge in a piping hot stuffed bread, a favorite from a tiny corner bakery. This treat boasts one of our most cherished fillings on the planet.
Refresh with a traditional Iranian dessert, a cool concoction doused in rose syrup and lemon juice, perfect for the Dubai heat.
Enjoy the scenic journey across the creek from Deira to Bur Dubai in a traditional wooden boat, capturing the essence of old Dubai.
Feast at a waterfront Emirati restaurant that keeps alive local maritime flavors and culinary traditions from the 1960s.

More Than Just Eating

Soak up the souks of Old Dubai with us—it’s a riot of colors, smells, and endless chatter. In our small group tours, capped at about 14 souls, it feels more like wandering with old friends than following a flag-waving guide. You’re not just another tourist to us; you’re part of the gang, digging into the city’s stories as if they were your own.

Why This Tour?

Weary of the overrun tourist track? Us too. Join our Dubai walking food tour for a raw slice of the city. We’re all about digging into the juicy stories and delicious bites that make up the first chapters of Dubai’s history—not just skimming through them.

Limited Availability

Spaces on this adventure are as coveted as the last bite of the honey-dripping fresh bread we serve on this tour. They go quick! Book now to snag your spot. Don’t just hear about Old Dubai; come live it with us, and create some epic tales and tastes to take home.

Adapting for Comfort: During the Hotter Months

Summer brings the heat, but it doesn’t stop our adventure. We adjust by adapting the route to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all.

Meet & Greet
Meet our friendly food tour guide at the historic Spice Souk & learn about the significance of the Al Ras neighbourhood.

Egg Rolls
Fuel up with an Old Dubai nostalgic wrap that’s a ‘child of mixed race parents’ in the back alleys of the souk. (G/D)

SPINGO at Deira Spice Souk
Play a fun and educational round of Spicy Bingo through the aromatic alleys of the souk. Warning: this gets competitive! Get your game hat on.

*During the hotter months: This game may be replaced with a shorter visit to the souk due to excessive heat.

Communal Bakery
Bite into piping hot stuffed bread with one of our favourite fillings on the planet, all from a closet-sized corner bakery.

**During the hotter months: This stop may not be featured if heat levels are excessive during the summer. As a replacement, we would order a special local bread at our final dinner stop.

Icy Persian Treat
Sample a traditional, refreshing Iranian dessert doused in rose syrup and lemon juice.

Abra Ride
Cross the creek from Deira to Bur Dubai in a traditional wooden boat.

Textile Souk Stroll
Take a quick walk through the vibrant textile souk and witness religious tolerance firsthand in Dubai.

Traditional Emirati Restaurant
Discover the hearty flavors of coastal Dubai at a restaurant that cooks up homestyle seafood from fried local fish over rice to tender fish cutlets (S/P). Vegetarian options are admittedly limited, but we promise to order lentil soup and spiced rice if you don’t eat seafood!

Allergens Key: Contains G-Gluten; D-Dairy; N-Nuts; M-Meat (Beef/Lamb); P-Poultry; F-Fish; S-Shellfish. We regret that there may not be substitutes for dishes. Even if specific dishes do not contain these ingredients, we cannot guarantee against cross-contamination of allergens in the restaurant kitchens.

All prices below include 5% VAT and all the food and water that the guide orders for the group on the tour. Soft beverages are not included.

Shared Tour:

Non-Refundable Ticket:
- AED 435 per person.
- This ticket cannot be changed or refunded for any reason once booked.
Flex Ticket:
- AED 478.50 per person.
- On public tours, this ticket may be:
  - (a) Rescheduled or
  - (b) Refunded minus a 35 AED cancellation fee per ticket, anytime up to an hour before the tour starts.
- Within an hour of the tour start time, no changes are possible on a Flex Ticket.
- Once rescheduled, the Flex Ticket becomes non-refundable and non-reschedulable.

Can I book this tour out as a private experience?

Yes we’d love to serve you and your group privately!

Rates per private group based on group size below:

6 guests or fewer – AED 3056
7 guests – AED 3484
8 guests – AED 3982
9 guests – AED 4480
10 guests – AED 4893
11 guests – AED 5382
12 guests – AED 5871
13 guests – AED 6361
14 guests – AED 6882

All prices include 5% VAT, plus food and water ordered by the guide during the tour. Soft beverages are not included.

Refund/Rescheduling Policy on Private Tours:

21+ days before tour: Full refund or free rescheduling.
8-21 days before tour: Reschedule for a fee of 25% of the ticket price or 70% refund.
7 days or less before tour: No changes allowed.
Group size reduction: Same refund policy as above.
Only one reschedule is allowed per private group booking, subject to availability.

Refunds for bookings using gift cards or gifted tickets will be credited back to the original gift card or ticket.

For Children in Private Tour Groups:

This tour is recommended for children 8+, but younger kids can join if parents feel they can manage.
Children 4+ count as regular guests; kids under 4 join free.
Discounts for kids aged 4-8 are available during online booking (AED 125 discount per child.)
Diaper-changing facilities are not provided on the tour.

Inclusions:

Friendly, passionate and knowledgeable tour guide who has grown up in Dubai. Licensed by Dubai Tourism.
All food tastings: 3 snack stops, 1 local sandwich with tea, and 1 main meal. **During the hotter months: To reduce walking in the heat, we may replace 1 snack stop by ordering an extra item at another stop.
Unlimited still water

Exclusions:

Transport to/from the tour
Earphones required to connect with the guide’s live audio system (not a pre-recording!) These can be purchased at the time of booking or on the tour itself
Souvenirs purchased on the tour
Sparkling water or beverages other than what is mentioned under Inclusions, unless the soft beverage package is purchased

We will meet right by the benches in front of Jafer Biman Ali Cafeteria at the Spice Souk. Nearby metro: Al Ras (start) and Al Fahidi (end).

Tips

Please be on time, we don’t wait for latecomers! Given traffic, limited parking and different starting/ending locations, we strongly recommend that you take the metro rather than driving to the trail. If you plan to take a taxi, please budget extra time for traffic.

Nearby metro: Al Ras (start) and Al Fahidi (end).

Here’s What Past Guests on This Tour Are Saying

Can I book this tour as a private experience?

Yes, we’d love to serve you and any companions on a private tour! We need a minimum of 2 people to run this tour as a private experience. You may book out an existing date on our tour calendar as a private tour if no one else has already booked spots on it. Alternatively, please email us at munch@fryingpanadventures.com with your preferred dates so we may schedule a private tour for you.

Should I join this tour if I am vegetarian?

Yes. While the final stop now has limited vegetarian options, we’ll make sure you’re offered rice or bread along with lentil soup. Two tastings on the tour are vegetarian-friendly, and a third includes an egg and cheese sandwich.

How do I get to the tour?

We recommend taking the Al Ras metro and walking down to the starting point at the Spice Souk.

If you plan to drive, please note that parking is challenging to find and our starting point and ending point on this tour are different from each other.

If you plan to take a taxi, please budget extra time for traffic on the roads especially between 5PM and 7PM.

Do we only walk around and sample food?

Our walking food tours are immersive experiences that go beyond eating. We combine food tastings with history, culture and personal stories of the city.

What should I bring with me?

Earphones with a 3.5mm jack for the portable audio system that helps you hear the guide clearly.

Please don’t carry anything too heavy as we will be walking. If you plan to purchase edible souvenirs during the tour, please make sure to carry both cash/your credit card (most, but not all, locations accept credit card).

What if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?

Please be sure to let us know if you (or anyone in your group) have a dietary restriction (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic, allergy, etc.) when you purchase your tickets. In most cases, nuts, lactose and gluten may be in the foods featured on our experiences and there is a risk of cross-contamination. If you have a serious allergy, we recommend contacting us at munch@fryingpanadventures.com prior to purchasing tickets to enable us to advise you if our tours are suitable for you.

Are toilet facilities available on the tour?

Toilet facilities will be available at the start and end of the tour. Please arrive 10 minutes early so you may have time to use the toilets before the tour commences.

Is this tour summer-friendly?

We’ll be upfront — this tour involves a good bit of outdoor walking through the historic souks, and during the summer, it can get very hot and humid. We do adapt the route to make it more comfortable, shorten the walking, and add a bit more food at our final (indoor) stop.

But most of the experience is still outdoors. So if you’re someone who’s used to being active in the heat and don’t mind a bit of a sweat, it can still be rewarding. Just come dressed for it, stay hydrated, and know what you’re signing up for!

PS. We also recommend getting the soft beverage package when booking — it’s a refreshing way to stay cool along the way.

Is the tour offered in different languages?

At this time, the tour is only offered in English.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

We regret that this tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Are children allowed?

Please note the minimum age requirement for this tour is 8 years of age. All children must be accompanied by their legal guardian.

What do we do in case of bad weather?

The tours are very rarely cancelled due to bad weather. We will email you at least 4 hours prior to the tour should it not be advisable to walk outside due to a thunderstorm or sandstorm; please make sure to check your email if you are aware of bad weather. We also advise you to check weather conditions for your tour and dress appropriately and carry an umbrella if required.

Do I need to purchase tickets in advance?

Yes, advance ticket purchase is required through this website. Our experiences, typically, sell out quickly during the peak season (November to April). To maximize your chances of getting the date, time, and number of tickets you prefer, please book well in advance.

If a tour is sold out, can I get on a waiting list?

If the date and time of your choice is sold out, we recommend signing up on our waitlist here.

What are the change policies on my booking?

Please review our cancellation policies under our Terms and Conditions here.

Do I need to tip?

Gratuities are always appreciated but are not mandatory.

Please review the following terms and conditions to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience on our tours.

Tour Routes & Stops:
Our tour routes and featured stops, including restaurants and other establishments, are subject to change.
Unforeseen Circumstances:
Changes may occur due to unforeseen circumstances such as lack of availability, closures, or operational adjustments at any of our planned locations.
Adaptation of Experience:
In the event of such changes, our team will adapt the tour to offer a comparable experience.
No Refunds for Changes:
Please note that we do not offer refunds due to these alterations, as they are beyond our control.
Commitment to Excellence:
We appreciate your understanding and flexibility. Rest assured, we are committed to ensuring you have a delightful and memorable experience with us.

Please click here for our complete list of terms and conditions.

Dubai Souks and Creekside Food Walk