Alleyway Food Tour

A wonderful evening!

Put your feet on the ground and join Soham for an unforgettable experience of a part of Kolkata you won't get on your own. His food/alleyway tour is underpinned by his knowledge, enthusiasm and love of his neighbourhood. When he says you should arrive hungry he wasn't joking. It's a great way to get an insight into a very old part of Kolkata. Highly recommended

A rewarding experience- dont miss it!

We did the alleyway food tour last night and it was absolutely fantastic. A truly wonderful way to experience life in Kolkata. Soham is so knowledgeable and gives you a great history of the city, the food, the people. He doesn't overload you with information but gives a perfect balance. He is passionate about what he does which is one of the reasons that he isso successful. The food is wonderful. Make sure you arrive hungry! We adored everything we tried. We got to try local specialities we didn't know existed and we can't wait to have them again. This was by far the highlight of our 3 days in Kolkata. It is a must if you are staying in Kolkata. Make sure and book early as the word is out.

A neighborhood, a city, a country......and lovely food!

The Alleyway Food Tour was a perfect late afternoon/early evening slice of current life (& past lives...) in a historic Kolkata residential neighborhood. Historic in the sense that it is an old neighborhood with 4th & 5th generations of the same family still living in their family's homes, a time capsule of Kolkata architecture and living. The tour starts, naturally, in front of Soham's family home. From there we wandered the neighborhood lanes & alleys learning the history and stories of this neighborhood, Kolkata and India itself. I was aware that Kolkata had formerly been the capital of India during the British Raj. And that Kolkata is the intellectual & cultural capital of India....but what that meant in historical terms, not so much. Soham gives fascinating insights into the actions of ordinary Bengalis and the not-so-ordinary Bengalis such as Subhas Bose who pushed India forward towards independence. But ultimately I came to Kolkata for the food of West Bengal.....one of the major cuisines of India that I hadn't experienced yet. Soham's selection of Bengali street food, whether from a specific vendor's street cart or a historic hole-in-the-wall, was the perfect mix of all types of savory & sweet, veg & non-veg. I couldn't pick a favorite....it was all REALLY GOOD! He has carefully selected his vendors and pays attention to hygiene protocols. (To be blunt, the day after the tour I am no worse for the wear....) Soham is extremely knowledgeable and has an easy, comfortable guiding style. Every question was welcomed and answered thoughtfully. I heartily recommend this tour to anyone.

Extremely enjoyable & informative!

One hell of a food tour that we’ll be raving about for some years to come Soham was brilliant, warm and personable, extremely considerate - took all necessary hygiene precautions with thought to traveller’s sometimes delicate constitutions & very importantly, really well informed about Kolkata’s history & culture. As a Bengali returning after decades, with a group of people from different nationalities, it was impressive how the tour pleased all of us

Great tour

Wonderful walking food tour. Soham was very knowledgeable and really considerate of all participants on the tour. Really enjoyable and lots of delicious food along the way.

GOOD FOOD & VERY INFORMATIVE

Soham was very good, his knowledge of the area was fantastic (he is a local boy) The food......simply delicious. Tour was very well run...a very good tour that I would recommend to any visitor to Kolkata

The best walking tour I’ve ever been on!

We had the most incredible time eating our way through the streets of Calcutta, a culinary as well as visual feast. The experience was delightfully curated, with Soham a most knowledgeable and charming guide: he opened our eyes to Calcutta’s history, culture, and the stories that have shaped the city, through the lens of food. We did this tour on our first day in Calcutta and now on our way out, still vote it as by far the best experience we had. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it is the best walking tour / food tour I’ve ever done. Would really recommend. P.S. if you’re worried about street food and food safety, don’t be - Soham ensured at every step that the preparers of the food were taking every caution, from wearing gloves to using mineral water. Our tummies were absolutely fine, apart from being really full with all the deliciousness.

Fun, delicious and such variety

We loved the food tour with Soham at 4pm yesterday (our third tour with him) and ate the most delicious Bengali specialities non-stop for 3.5 hours. For someone who never eats street food, I ate everything: chicken kebabs with delicious fine onions, capsicums and spices, mutton (goat) from the city’s famous Golbari, deep fried eggplant and onion in chick pea flour, little newspaper packets of freshly puffed rice with the most delicious herbs and vegetables and a squirt of mustard oil, Indian ice cream made with date sugar (jaggery) and the prettiest cakes from a shop that has been selling cakes for generations that add up to 150 years. Even the street vendor with phuchka - tiny puffed wheat pockets (that he filled with potatoes and chillies and fresh tamarind juice) was third generation and had been selling them for 31 years. Soham managed all but 2 courses gluten free (the fish cutlet and the roll around the egg chicken kati roll) Astonishing! Usually I can’t eat anything on a food tour. The food is totally safe and hygienic. Soham had an arrangement with the charming people at the restaurants, streets stalls, shops that they wear gloves and use bottled water. What a guy. He weaves some fascinating Kolkata history into the food tour. Soham asked my husband and I what was our favourite tour? It’s so hard to pick one because each one offers such an authentic insight into one of the world’s great cities, Kolkata. Soham’s tours are expansive, mind blowing and totally delicious. With each one I had some of the greatest food I had ever eaten.

Bengali Bliss

Our guide Soham made this tour the most incredible experience. It would not have been possible without his local knowledge snd lively stories which explain as much about the laneways, buildings and history as the delicious choices of foods. His love and passion for all things Calcutta gave heart and soul to the tour as well ss very full tummies! Highly recommend. Worth every cent.

Loved every minute of this food tour

We have been on many food tours in cities all over the world. Calcutta Capsule’s was brilliant! It is Soham’s one-man business. He grew up in Kolkota and designed the tour personally, so you get great insights and local knowledge. We peppered him with questions and it was obvious they he really knew Kolkata and its people. He was warm, friendly and helpful. The stops on the tour are well thought out and diverse. And Soham’s English is superb.

Authentic and Awesome Experience

You could not dream of a better host. So much local knowledge and history in addition to great food. I am coeliac and the tour was planned so everything was safe for me to eat. Incredible experience. Thanks.

Experience an authentic Kolkota

This was one of the best food tours we’ve been on. Soham is warm, accommodating and knowledgeable. It was a unique opportunity to explore the alleys with someone who grew up in the hood. The food was delicious and diverse. Soham’s beautifully curated tours offer an insight and depth you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere.

An unforgettable experience.

Soham loves India and Kolkata in particular, and with this tour he makes you love it too. He is so very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and entertaining, and he has put his all into designing an evening full of laughter and surprises. I don't want to spoil it by telling you, but as well as really excellent food this tour is about history and family, myth and society, and most of all about how we live together as humans. It's worth every rupee. Do not hesitate to book.

Unforgettable food tour in Kolkata

The Alleyway Food Tour was amazing, and the highlight of our trip to Kolkata. Soham’s route through his local area was so carefully thought out and weaved in local and personal history with LOTS of delicious food. Definitely come hungry. Soham was particularly kind and helpful working out what I could/couldn’t eat (I have to avoid gluten), and adapted the food stops for me, as well as my friend who is a vegetarian. I would highly highly recommend!

Discovering Kolkata's Flavors.

If you're looking to dive deep into the heart of Kolkata and its vibrant food culture, this walking tour of North Kolkata's lanes is a must! It’s the perfect way to discover Bengali cuisine. Soham ensures high hygiene standards throughout, so you can enjoy every snack with confidence. We tasted a wide variety of delicious local specialties, each more tempting than the last. A tip: come with an empty stomach! For three hours, you get to feel like a local, wandering through historic streets, savoring authentic flavors, and seeing Kolkata in a whole new light.

Enchanting tour, delicious food

This was the most magical and fun (food) tour I have ever joined. Soham is an incredible storyteller who can unveil so much of the historical heritage hidden and alive in Kolkata's beautiful alleways. You will try A LOT of delicious street food, both sweet and savoury. Soham has a personal connection to all of these places, some of which are many generations old. Besides that, he is a very caring guide, making sure all aspects of the tour are hygienic and that everyone is well-hydrated. You will feel totally safe in his warm company.

Make sure you go with an appetite!

Great tour exploring the back alleys of Kolkata and trying some of the delicious foods that it has to offer. Make sure you go with an appetite!!

Unforgettable Culinary and Educational Experience

There is no other guide like Soham: his passion for his clients and his city, his creativity in curating unique experiences, his encyclopedic knowledge of and gift for explaining history, mythology, economy... this tour in particular is a stunning whirlwind of the best local food the city has to offer, that doubles as a living history tour of the greatest, most interesting of Calcutta's neighborhoods, the deepest, Shyambazar, from which Soham hails, which he knows like the back of his hand. It's difficult to imagine a more authentic and exhilarating tour of any place, any where. Truly a mesmerizing experience, packed with flavor and lore on seemingly every corner, down every mysterious alleyway. Like a magic show playing with time - by the end you'll feel like you just started, barely able to remember every meal, and unable to forget. One of a kind. Must go.

Food and Fun!

If you enjoy being down in the culture, and feel a little adventurous, this tour is for you! Having grown up in the area, Soham was the perfect guide to share the interesting history of the alleyways and also, to choose the various foods we ate! The evening was great fun and filled with wonderful memories! I highly recommend!

Delicious, interesting and fun!

This was the first of three tours we took with Soham and it was perfect. We were tired and hungry, having arrived from the UK that day and we finished the tour feeling energised, well fed and thrilled to be in such an interesting city. Soham took us to food outlets we would not have had the confidence to try on our own and everything was absolutely delicious, including a mutton kosha which was like nothing I’ve ever tasted! The restaurants and food stands are obviously chosen very carefully, with a keen eye on food hygiene, and Soham goes the extra mile to make sure our delicate stomachs are protected. We felt we were in very good hands. It’s more than just a food tour - giving a real insight into how Calcutta came to be and how people have lived in this vibrant part of the city over the years. We took this tour, the Contrasts tour and the Magic Hour tour and we’d have absolutely no hesitation in recommending all three. Just brilliant.

Awesome!

Highly recommend! Both a food tour and a history tour. He is obviously very knowledgeable about Kolkata. Includes a great variety of both savory and sweet tastes.

An amazing evening - would highly recommmend

It was amazing! Rather than just being a food tour, this is a brilliant evening walking through areas of Kolkata we would not have otherwise visited. All the dishes were excellent - I am still thinking of the mutton scotch egg and wish I could have it again! Soham is an excellent guide, who is very knowledgeable and entertained us with his stories of the city and the different dishes we were eating. He also ensured we were able to get a taxi back to our hotel when we were struggling in the rain - thank you again Soham!

Excellent food tour!

Really enjoyed this. It was so much more than a food tour. Soham was knowledgeable, thoughtful and interesting about this area of Kolkata where he grew up, and about Indian history and culture in general. At the same time as chatting and being shown the back streets in a way I would have been unable to do without a guide, I got to sample a full range of well selected and delicious street foods. I felt fully confident in his judgement and local knowledge regarding cleanliness and hygiene. Soham was careful to look after me as a guest for the time I was with him, and super helpful beforehand helping me get there by taxi. A really excellent way to begin my visit to Kolkata. I would highly recommend it to anyone as a chance to sample street food in relaxed and rewarding company on a very well planned tour.

Local food through a historical lens

Soham is an exceptional guide intermeshing history with the alleyway food tour. As an Indian I learned a lot about my own country's history, especially the role of Calcutta and Bengalis in the freedom struggle. The food itself was fantastic... a wide breadth of savouries and sweets. The Bhetki roll was my personal favourite.

Amazing Food Walk!

This food walk was a magical way to get to know Calcutta (specifically the northern part of the city). It was my first time visiting the city, and I had limited time to try all of the wonderful food the city is known for, so this tour was perfect. Soham is unbelievably friendly, knowledgeable and courteous. He takes you to delicious hole in the wall places you wouldn't know to try on your own, and directs you towards the best dishes they have to offer. HIGHLY recommend!

Soham's Alleyway Food Tour a Kolkata Must...

Soham shared personal stories from his alleyway neighbourhood, a history of Kolkata, and a wide variety of tasty foods & sweets from the best vendors in Kolkata. It was a pleasure to spend four hours on this amazing tour of an area... and food from outlets... that you wouldn't try alone. Hygiene and quality of food were a priority. Soham gave such an insight to the food culture in this easy paced walking tour. A recommended tour for anyone wanting to see the real Kolkata.

Great food with historical significance

Soham was a great guide and told the history of the city while experiencing great food. Everything was covered and I left with extra food even. I ate so much

A full stomach and heart!

The tour gives you a unique perspective of Kolkata’s history and the influence of its food culture. With enough options for vegetarian you will surely leave with a big smile and a bigger belly! PS: Skip lunch before the tour!

Wow, wow, wow. Brilliant 4 hour cultural & food tour. of

Wow, wow, wow. We chose this tour as it was focused on both the great culture and food of Kolkata. Soham (the host) lives in and breathes the air of the area of Kolkata where the tour is based. His intimate and historical knowledge of the area and where best to experience great local food was excellent. The tour lasted around 4 hours. Seeing many intimate areas of Kolkata local life whilst tasting around 12 different dishes / drinks. As vegetarians we chose the vegetarian tour. Although there is a non-veg also. If in Kolkata, reach out to Soham. A highly knowledgable and great host. Brilliant tour. Having been in India cities numerous times, this was by far the best food tour we been on by far.

A fabulous and tasty experience

My goodness. Just an absolute 10/10 experience. Soham was everything you could ever ask for in a host. He was kind, knowledgeable and most of all passionate. Just a really cool guy to spend an evening with and the food he took us to enjoy was an absolute treat. We left the tour happy and full. I can't say enough good things about this tour and Soham as a guide/human. It was far and away our favorite part of our time in Kolkata and I would highly recommend it. I cannot stop thinking about the Kuthi rolls specifically. YUM. Thanks so much Soham! We had a blast.

Amazing tour, loved it.

Soham did an amazing job in getting us introduced to the Bengali sweets with his great story telling. If you are looking for a local friend who will help you explore based on his experiences, just go with this tour.

by watching the tour you feel alive, by tasting the food you live a little of the everyday life of the inhabitants. Nic

The tour was a unique experience. Soham took us to small quiet hidden streets just behind the mighty hustle and bustle of the road, which I would never have discovered on my own. At the same time, he vividly explained the history, architecture, current conditions of Kolkata. He took us safely to a picturesque busy street with a street of food and small local bars. I tried the food he recommended, along with a comprehensive explanation of the cuisine, the habits of the locals. Tasting it was a unique culinary experience, watching the preparation even more so. A walk through the bazaar, a view from the secret terrace to the market and again through the quiet and narrow streets back to the beginning... the privilege of an excellent guide on a cult tour.

An amazing exportierenence about food and beyond

I did the Alleyway Food Tour with Soham and it turned out to be one of the highlights of my stay in Kolkata. We were shown around in line of the oldest neighbourhoods of Kolkata and Soham had interesting stories to tell about the buildings and connected those stories easily with culture, history and… the next foodstall. Over there he took care everything we tried was prepared with the greatest hygiene possible, explained the dish and then let us try. During the walk he was very aware of our safety and guided us safely through the chaotic traffic of Kolkata. In total we tried 6 savouries and 4 sweet dishes. Glad he recommended us to come hungry as there was plenty of food to delight our tastebuds. As said the tour was magical. There might be Many food tours in Kolkata and I have experienced Manz of them in other cities. The Alleyway Food Tour is without doubt the best of all of them. Entertaining, Informative, safe, hygienic and extremely tasty. I can only highly recommend this tour. Soham is an absolute entertainer who knows what he is talking about. What a fabulous experience!!!! Soham, Dhanyavad!!!!

Do it

The perfect tour for anyone really wanting to try Bengal street food but a bit nervous about it. Let Soham guide you through the insanely narrow alleyways and markets. He oozes pride in the city that has been his family's home for generations. And then there's the food. So delicious and maybe stuff you wouldn't try unless you had a trustworthy local by your side. Two words: Do It.

Come hungry!

Soham is perfect to run this tour! He is friendly, professional, energetic, entertaining and very safety conscious. There was a broad variety of street foods available which a tourist might not ordinarily be game to try, but even better, he tied the food in with fascinating stories of Kolkata and the history of Bengal, as we strolled around his heritage neighbourhood. Well worth it and extremely enjoyable.

Good eats and stories from an expert guide

I signed up for the highly recommended Magic Hour Tour, which was so good that I signed up this Alleyway Food Tour that evening. And Soham did not disappoint! I live in Bangladesh, so I'm already familiar with Bengali food, street food, etc. but Soham has created a tour that even the most experienced travelers will enjoy. Come hungry because he's going to introduce you to the most amazing treats around Old Calcutta, his own childhood stomping ground. Thank you, Soham!

Explore with a local and experience amazing food, sights and learn along the way - Soham is the best!

Incredible! We loved the alleyway food tour. We learnt so many fun facts about this beautiful city and tried all the best delights the city has to offer. Soham is caring and goes over and above to ensure we enjoyed our time in Kolkata. Great value and super accommodation for the kids too. Really spoiled! A must do if visiting Kolkata!

Just go! Safe, great food and company!

Fabulous! Completely safe. Authentic. Spectacular. How many adjectives can we use? We have done many food tours but none were as engaging, thoughtfully curated or fun. My feedback after four hours was, “I wish we’d booked a full day with you.” Soham was truly a wonderful story teller who made the entire experience come alive. And we tasted all the foods we’d seen. We had to stop because we had so much to eat. Even with one of us having a hearing challenge, heard and understood perfectly even with the street noise.

Wonderful

This tour was so enjoyable. Soham provided so much history and information about Kolkata as we walked the alleyways. Each place we had food had some history and was delicious. Time went by fast and we were stuffed by the end that we took the last stop of sweets home with us.

Outstanding street food tour

Soham offers a great experience at a nice pace to enjoy a variety of street foods. Taking us to places with a long history and connection to Kolkata. The food was outstanding, it was informative and interesting. Plus we walked through many small alleys. A delightful and filling evening.

A filling evening in Calcutta

Such a great experience with Calcutta Capsule's Alleyway Food Tour. While it is mainly a food tour, a passionate Soham gives a glimpse of his neighbourhood, talking about its history and, living and growing up in Calcutta. Soham made the tour very interesting with his personal stories. In addition to sumptuous food, Soham even takes pictures of your experience with his camera and sends them to you and even takes you to his secret spots for great shots. I was lucky to be the only person on the tour as I visited in the off-season. Most other companies cancel if there aren't enough participants. I can't recommend this tour enough and hope to do another tour with him when I'm in Calcutta next.

Wonderful tour

I went on the alleyway food tour yesterday. It was really wonderful evening. Soham is really wonderful guide. We got to taste many delicious street foods and explored lots of hidden gems we never would have found. It was good fun. I highly recommend.

Best. Tour. Ever!! ( No seriously. The best EVER. )

My wife and I have done many food tours globally. This one was the best. And surprisingly, it was the best by quite a margin. I rarely write reviews but felt compelled to complete one for this experience. Soham is the owner / operator of the tour company. He’s clearly thought the entire tour through from the travelers perspective start to finish. He provided an ‘Uber to Uber ‘ experience. Meaning he met us as we exited our Uber and saw us off at the end of the excursion. We had trouble getting an Uber at the end of the night because of lack of availability. So he hailed a cab, negotiated a good rate and saw us off. Finding the meeting site couldn’t have been easier. Inputting Calcutta Capsule into both google maps as well as Uber put us right where we needed to be. The doorway of the meeting spot has a large hand painted ‘Calcutta Capsule Tour’ mural to let you know you’ve arrived at the correct location. The tour itself was excellent. Well designed. Stops were delish and threaded into an overall narrative conceived by Soham. Includes anecdotes from his life growing up in the neighborhood and some that are historically and culturally relevant. All weave into the overall story of the food stalls. A particularly nice touch is Soham took pictures of us (with our permission) with a DSLR camera and sent them to us shortly after the tour. They were great. There were a total of 8 or so stalls. They were well curated and all delicious. Standouts for us were the mutton with tamarind sauce for me and my wife’s favorite was a fried onion dish. Of note, there are quite a few stalls and portion sizes were not particularly modest considering the number of stops . My wife and I split single portions between the two of us instead of taking the full portion offered at each vendor. We both ended up quite full. If we had eaten full potions, we would’ve been probably uncomfortably full by the fourth or so stall. You can do this and get more at any time if you wish. Overall, by far the best food tour experience we’ve had over decades of pretty extensive travel. Soham couldn’t have been a better host and his passion , meticulous nature and generosity of spirit really take this tour over the top. Soham, I wish you the absolute best for this business and anything else for which you may endeavor. Best of luck and I hope our paths cross again sometime

A must do while in Kolkata!!

The alleyway food your is a must do while in Kolkata. Soham Was an amazing tour guide and very knowledgeable! The food was super delicious. Walking through the back alleys and experiencing the vast history of the city was great. Such a great experience

Kolkata Visit would be incomplete without Alleyway Food Tour

Our Tour Guide Soham was amazing. It is one of the best food tours I have been to. Soham not only gives you a takes of the food, but also stories behind each restraurant. The taste of mutton Kosha, the devil, Kaathi Roll interwinded with stories made it all the way more special.

A street food feast for the senses

A perfect evening in Calcutta with Soham as our guide. The route covered Calcutta’s best-loved food stalls, with a delicious and fascinating mix of savory and sweet bites. Even better was listening to Soham’s stories of Calcutta’s rich history told through the lens of the treats we savored. Add in the secret stops like the one above Calcutta’s “Times Square” and it was a truly unforgettable experience. We loved the company of our fellow traveler too. Don’t miss Soham’s Calcutta Capsule tours, and consider a stay at his family’s “Owl’s Nest” bnb in the same great neighborhood.

Amazing foodie walking tour

Amazing and interesting walking tour! Soham is an enthusiastic and engaging guide, who loves and knows all the secrets of his neighbourhood.

Great tour!

One of the best food tours I have done! Great good, informative and great conversation. Highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting

Brilliant evening in North Kolkata.

What a fantastic time! A whole bunch of energy and good vibes from Soham. A super interesting and informative wander through back alleys and local North Kolkata street stalls with some fun twists and turns on the way. I ate myself silly and enjoyed everything. I was also lucky to have a cool group on the night! Thanks to hanging out with Soham the frenetic streets of Kolkata have taken on a more relaxed tone in my eyes and a few of those interesting sidewalk street food offerings are far less intimidating.

The best choice in Calcutta

This is the second tour I do with Calcuttacapsule, and after that I had the same wonderfull feeling of satisfaction than when I finished the first tour (Magic Hour). Very very recommendable experience to everyone who visit Calcutta.