Food and Rum Tastings in Reunion Island: 5 experiences, 2026 prices

This is the cheapest tasting in the selection: €15 per person for a guided tour of the Savanna distillery in Sainte-Suzanne (east coast, 30 minutes from Saint-Denis via the RN2). Founded in 1948, Savanna is one of the island's oldest distilleries and now makes internationally award-winning aged rums (the Lontan range, aged in oak barrels).

What happens: a local guide welcomes you and shows you round (the distillation column, the ageing cellar, the bottling line), explains how rum is made (from cane juice to rhum agricole, through fermentation, distillation and ageing in French and American barrels), and then the cellar master leads a tasting of Savanna rums (white, amber, aged).

Who it's for: rum and spirits lovers, travellers curious about Creole culture and the island's industrial history, couples after an affordable, well-rounded cultural outing, and anyone staying on the east coast or driving between Saint-Denis and the volcano. Who it's not for: under-12s (no tasting for minors) and anyone who can't or doesn't drink alcohol.

Price €15 per person. This package was sold through Ceetiz, which has closed down, so there's currently no working booking link for it. Note: 12-17 year-olds can join the tour but not the tasting. Bottles are on sale in the shop at the end of the visit (prices rise with the age of the rum), a chance to take home a genuine souvenir of the island.

This is the most central food tour in the selection: €47 per person for a 3-hour guided food tour of Saint-Denis, sold by Civitatis. A French-speaking guide takes you to six neighbourhood spots where locals really eat, away from the tourist restaurants. The tour starts at 22 Avenue de la Victoire, right in the town centre.

The route: you meet the guide, then walk between six food stops in central Saint-Denis. At each one there's a tasting and the story behind the dish: crispy samosas (samoussas), stuffed bouchons (steamed dumplings), fragrant cari (Creole curry), melt-in-the-mouth sarcives (Creole char siu pork), sweet potato cake and other Creole specialities. The tastings change with the seasons and can be adapted to dietary needs (a vegetarian option is available on request).

Who it's for: travellers staying in or passing through Saint-Denis who want to get to grips with Creole food in an afternoon, couples and friends who'd rather graze at several places than sit down to one meal, and foodies looking for good local spots for the rest of their stay. Who it's not for: anyone after a proper sit-down meal (the Creole cooking class with locals suits them better) and solo travellers on a day with no confirmed departure (at least 2 participants are needed).

Civitatis price €47 per person, minimum 2 participants. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. It's a recent listing on Civitatis, with no average rating yet. Allow around 3 hours and come hungry: the six tastings add up to a full meal spread over the walk.

This food tour is a fun, sociable way to discover Creole cooking: €51 per person for a half-day with No Diet Club, sold through Funbooker. It's a group tour with several stops at local food spots (bouchons, samosas, rougail sausage, sweet potato cake, Creole desserts).

The route: you meet at the point Funbooker sends you after booking, then take a guided walk between 4-6 food stops in a town chosen by the operator (often Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre or Saint-Gilles, depending on the session). At each stop there's a tasting, and the guide talks about Creole specialities, local produce and traditional techniques. It's built around lots of small tastings rather than one big meal.

Who it's for: street-food fans who want to taste the full range of Creole cooking in one go, couples or friends after a foodie outing that's different from a distillery or vanilla plantation visit, and foodies looking for tips on where to eat for the rest of their stay. Who it's not for: anyone after a sit-down, restaurant-style meal (try a Creole cooking class instead) and people with multiple allergies or restrictive diets (the stops are fixed).

Funbooker price €51 per person, with free cancellation through Funbooker. Included: a local guide, tastings at each stop and cultural commentary. Not included: extra drinks, food souvenirs and transport to the meeting point.

This is the most hands-on way to discover Creole cooking: €62.50 per person for a cooking class run by two Reunion Islanders in their home near Saint-Gilles-les-Bains. You learn the basics of Creole cooking by making a traditional dish together (chicken or fish cari, rougail sausage, sambos, vegetable achards, sweet potato cake and so on, depending on the season and what's available that day).

What happens: your hosts welcome you into their home, introduce the local ingredients (spices, herbs, local fruit and vegetables), then you prepare and cook the dish together under the cook's guidance before sitting down to share it in a relaxed atmosphere. You leave with the recipes and a genuine taste of everyday Creole life (far more authentic than a restaurant).

Who it's for: travellers curious about local food who want to take recipes home, couples looking for an original evening out (some sessions run as a dinner), and families with children aged 8+ who enjoy cooking. Who it's not for: very restrictive diets (strict vegans or people with multiple allergies should say so when booking so the menu can be adapted).

Price €62.50 per person. This package was sold through Ceetiz, which has closed down, so there's currently no working booking link for it. The exact meeting point (the hosts' home address) used to be sent after booking. Allow 3-4 hours (class, meal and a chat).

This is the most complete way to combine culture and food in a single day: €75 per person via Ceetiz for a guided trip into the Salazie cirque (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with a visit to a Bourbon vanilla plantation. You see one of the island's 3 famous cirques and learn about Bourbon vanilla in the region where its history on the island began.

The day: morning pick-up in town, then the drive up to Salazie on the RD48 (spectacular bends beneath the Bélouve cliffs), photo stops at viewpoints over the cirque (the Voile de la Mariée waterfall, Hell-Bourg) and a guided tour of a local vanilla plantation, covering hand pollination (a craft technique dating back to the 19th century), drying the pods (6-9 months) and curing. Depending on the plantation, you can sometimes taste vanilla products.

Who it's for: travellers wanting a day that mixes culture and food, those without a hire car who'd like transport laid on, and couples or families keen to see Salazie (a stunning setting, and the greenest and most accessible of the 3 cirques). Who it's not for: travellers on a short stay who just want a quick tasting (the €15 distillery tour in Sainte-Suzanne suits them better) and independent groups who'd rather drive to Salazie themselves.

Price €75 per person, rated 4.64/5 on the listing (no review count published yet). This package was sold through Ceetiz, which has closed down, so there's currently no working booking link for it. Allow 8-10 hours for the day (including the journey back to your starting town).