Downtown Providence is experiencing a renaissance of its historic brewing scene- join us for a tasting tour of Providence’s local libations, including delicious beer and spirits produced right here in Rhode Island’s capital city.
Between sipping on local brews, learn about the incredible history of Rhode Island prohibition in a state that never ratified the Prohibition amendment. Immigrant-rich Providence found it a little too difficult to part with its Old World drinking cultures, despite what the Feds had decided was “moral.”
From the zealous coalition who brought it to Congress and famous bootleggers to undercover agents and corrupt officials, Providence’s Prohibition history is rich with characters and culture you won’t find anywhere else.
The tour begins at the Hotel Providence and ends at the Plant City Food Hall, about a fifteen minute walk from the starting point.
Meeting Point: Lobby of Hotel Providence
Address: 139 Mathewson St, Providence, RI
Distance: About 1.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Tour Length: About 3.5 – 4 hours
Tour Ending Point: Plant City, 334 S Water Street
For Private Tours: Contact Us
Malted Barley
Eno Fine Wines
Moonshine Alley
Plant City
Origins of Prohibition
Liquor Loopholes
Famous Bootleggers of Rhode Island
Prohibition Enforcement
Gunfights on the Narragansett
Cultural Impact
Guests should wear comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate attire, and bring an open mind. In hot weather, hats, sunglasses, water bottles, and sunscreen are usually good ideas.
Tours are rain or shine! Only in dangerous weather conditions will a tour be cancelled. A tour guide will reach out to you the morning of the tour to let you know if a tour is cancelled- if you have not been contacted, assume the tour is proceeding as scheduled.
Street parking is readily available throughout Providence, and free on Sundays. This is the easiest option.
For the Prohibition in Providence: A Drinking History Tour, the closest parking is the Civic Center Garage at 165 Washington Street.
There is a bathroom available at the meeting point.
We love giving tours to private groups- we find that some of the best bonding experiences happen when a group is learning something new together, or sharing a family-style meal.
There are incentives for groups of 10 or above, and we can customize tours to make them more suitable to your group’s budget or timeline. Please send us a message to learn more about group tour options and pricing, or cut straight to the chase and request a private tour.
All food and drink is included in the price of our two food tours.
Yes: when booking your food tour, be sure to indicate your dietary restriction in the provided box. Our vendors can accommodate most restrictions and can do so easily with advance notice.
While we can accommodate gluten intolerant guests on our Crime & Cuisine on Federal Hill tour, it is an Italian food tour and centers on foods containing gluten. The experience is notably different from the traditional tasting tour.
Tour guide tips are not included in the tour price, but are appreciated when a guide exceeds your expectations. A generous tip is anywhere between $5-10 per guest.
Tours can be canceled for any reason up to seven days after purchase.
The Providence Tour Company also offers trip protection, which allows guests to cancel up 48 hours before the tour is to begin. The fee for trip protection is a flat 10% of the ticket price.
If you believe that your circumstance warrants an exception to this policy, please contact us.
Office Address:
225 Dyer Street
Providence, RI 02903
*This is not the meeting location of tours. Please refer to your confirmation email for tour meeting location details.
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