Looking for something different to do in Erie, PA? Set off on a fun happy hour adventure through downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, with Erie Food Tours’ unforgettable Happy Appy Food Tour! Sample mouthwatering appetizers and carefully crafted boozy drinks on a walking tour with a little history along the way.
Food tours are perfect for visitors and locals (aged 21+, of course), and the Happy Hour Food Tour lets you sip, savor and celebrate some of Erie’s best watering holes.
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My tour was arranged through Visit Erie; my experiences are solely mine. Each tour experience can vary.
Happy-Appy Downtown Erie Food Tour
Erie Food Tours’ happy hour-themed food tour takes place on Wednesdays from 5-7 pm and includes three stops for bites and brews and several fun and quirky stops at local landmarks.
We started our adventure at Voodoo Brewery with samples of their signature beer—Voodoo Love Child—an easy-to-drink Belgian Tripel, and their dangerously delicious Watermelon Passionfruit Slushie.
Then came the munchies: chips and salsa, pizza with pickles(!), and Parmesan fries with garlic aioli dipping sauce—something for everyone.
We relaxed for about 45 minutes at Voodoo Brewing before meeting outside the building for some quick history about the legendary Boston Department Store building where the brewery is located.
Next, we stopped outside the old Lawrence Hotel (now the Avalon Hotel) and the Erie Playhouse, where we listened to a couple of fun stories about some of the famous people who’ve spent time in Erie: JFK, Alice from The Brady Bunch, and Rue McLanahan from The Golden Girls.
We also stopped at a historical sign at Griswold Park and learned about Harry Kellar. Umm, who? Harry Kellar was an Erie magician born in the 1800s, the inspiration for The Wizard of Oz, and the primary influence on Harry Houdini! Who knew?
Our next food/drink stop was at the Brewerie at Union Station, once the busy transportation center for nearly two-hundred passenger trains a day. Nowadays there are only two trains a day and in the words of our tour guide, “They are neither timely nor convenient.” Still, it’s the only brewery in the world under an active rail station—you can feel the rumble when a train goes through—kinda cool.
Along with BBQ pulled pork mini tacos, we sampled two beers: Uncle Jackson’s Blonde Ale and Apparition Amber. After eating, we went upstairs by the train tracks, where they have outdoor seating and a fun patio area with lawn games.
Our guide also told us a ghost story and pointed out the unusual roof of the post office across the street. When it was built, the tile order was mixed up with a New Mexico post office tile order, and well, they just went with it.
After leaving Union Station, we quickly stopped for a group photo at this beautiful mural before arriving at our last stop, Room 33.
Room 33 is a speakeasy-style bar hidden behind this bookshelf.
And it has a vibe.
Our small bites include a Korean-style meatball, classic bruschetta, and maple Cajun cauliflower bites. We were also served a mini berry martini. Everything was delicious.
At this point, the tour ended, and our guide gave a little goodbye speech and told us about the other Erie Food Tours. Most people in my sold-out Happy-Appy tour had taken at least one of the other food tours already!
I highly recommend the Happy-Appy food tour for tourists and locals; it makes a great date night or girls’ night out activity for the 21+ crowd!
More About Erie Food Tours
Erie Food Tours has three tour routes: the “Original” Downtown Erie Food Tour, the “Historic” North East Erie Food Tour, and the “Happy-Appy” Downtown Erie Food Tour.
Food tours run seasonally from June through August. Private tours are available year-round upon request.
Other Questions You May Have
All tours are approximately one mile in length.
Yes, for groups of six or more.
Substitutions are available for vegetarians, but not other restrictions and preferences. Contact Erie Food Tours for specific concerns.
All food tastings and beverage samples are included, as well as tips for the servers at each food location. (Guests may make additional purchases.) Bottled water will also be provided. Tour guide tips are not included but are welcome.
Yes. The food locations need to have a head count ahead of time.
Check out Visit Erie for a visitor guide and more ideas on things to do in Erie, PA.
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