About Us
The Local Sauce Tours Story
My name is Justin, I’m the guy with the “tour guide hands” in the photo. I started Local Sauce Tours back in 2018 after escaping a corporate law career. I realised that I was working around a lot of unhappy people and I thought, “I want to work in a more enjoyable industry – let’s try tourism!”
From starting with one walking tour on a Saturday morning offered on Airbnb Experiences, we’ve grown to offer a wide range of unique tours and experiences, led by a team of amazing hosts.
In 2022 and 2023, we were awarded Gold in the NSW Tourism Awards for Cultural Tourism. We’re also ranked #1 for all Tours & Activities in Sydney on TripAdvisor, so you’re making a great decision to explore Sydney with us.
What our tours are like
Our tours focus on showing guests around Sydney with an expert local, weaving in entertaining stories about the area while visiting excellent, independently-owned bars, restaurants and cafes.
We limit our group sizes on all of our tours to 12 people, as we’ve found this is the magic number for guests to meet each other, bond and have a fun time. If you’re visiting Sydney or travelling solo, you’ll probably meet people on the tour to hang out with while you’re here!
You’ll quickly discover that a tour with us is a little bit different to a regular one, as we focus on making it feel like you’re just in a group of new friends hanging out and enjoying themselves, with your host keeping everything flowing and telling you stories.
Our promise
We love having each and every guest along on our tours. Whether you’re visiting Sydney or a local looking for something new to do, we know that you can choose from a million other activities – but you chose to join one of our tours and hang out with us!
We take that commitment from you seriously and will do everything we can to give you an amazing experience and the best possible introduction to Sydney. We guarantee you’re going to love the Sydney that we show you so much, you’ll be asking “when’s the next tour?” and booking again with us!
Since we started, we’ve received thousands of 5-star reviews on Airbnb, Google, TripAdvisor and Facebook. Check some recent ones out below.
We’ve received over 2,000 five-star reviews
All Reviews 5.0
-
Google 4.9
-
TripAdvisor 5.0
-
Airbnb 5.0
-
Facebook 5.0
- Francesco Romeo24/07/2024what can I say, a beautiful tour of Sydney, starting from the arrival of the English up to the Rocks. Justin you managed to show us corners of the city that we would not have been able to see and understand. Thank you very much for the wonderful experience.read moreread lessNicole23/07/2024Super fun! We had a good group. It was nice to go on a pub crawl that was more cocktail focused, and the drinks were really good (if pricey because it’s Sydney). Justin was great and kindly answered all of my questions as I grilled him about Australia. I would consider going on one of their other tours.read moreread less
- Laurie15/07/2024Excellent introduction to Sydney and its history. Our host Michael was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable – a great story-teller – and the narrative was really well organized. There was a lot to see so you could make notes of places to return to (but at the same time it was not at all overwhelming); I would recommend doing this tour early in your stay. Michael also shared recommendations for ferry rides and places to eat.read moreread less
- Elizabeth Winter12/07/2024Andrew’s tour of Sydney was comprehensive and entertaining covering early settlement by Capt Arthur Phillip to historical buildings from that time with interesting stories about their construction. Walking through secret alleyways to view indigenous symbols and art design we gained an insight into Australia’s brutal past. My personal favourite was the statue of Matthew Flinders and his amazing cat Prim. A great explorer and adventurer who charted most of Australia’s coastline and discovered Bass Strait . Thank you Andrew for a wonderful step back in time.read moreread less
- Sara07/07/2024This was an amazing tour! It was unique and thoughtfully done – Justin has a thorough knowledge of the area as well as Chinese-Australian history. We had a group of about 12 people and visited several different small Chinese restaurants/sites with yummy tastings from each and all dietary preferences were taken into account (there were a lot in our group). Reasonable amount of walking for kids and it was a good balance of talking, walking, and eating to keep everyone engaged. It was drizzling most of the time but the weather wasn’t an issue because we were under cover most of the time. I definitely recommend this tour! Just be aware, it’s only offered on Friday and Sundays so book early!read moreread less
- Laura05/07/2024Nos ha encantado la forma del guía de interactuar con el grupo, el trato ha sido súper cercano y desenfadado. La información sobre la historia, edificios, etc era muy detallada e interesante durante todo el tour. Hemos pasado por varias exposiciones y sitios que nos hubieran pasado inadvertidos si no hubiera sido por Daniel. 100% recomendable para tener el contexto histórico de Sídney!read moreread less
- Farai05/07/2024This was a great tour. Our guide, Justin, was friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable, and has put together a great tour of Chinatown, with interesting history and great food. Justin gave additional recommendations of areas to visit and restaurants to try. We enjoyed ourselves and would highly recommend this experience!read moreread less
- Jessica28/06/2024This food tour in Sydney’s Chinatown was an unforgettable experience. It was intimate and educational, providing a fascinating glimpse into the area’s rich culture and history. Each stop was intriguing, uncovering hidden gems that I would have never discovered on my own! Stroller friendly if you’re bringing babies along (we had 2 with us and Justin was great with them!)
The food was phenomenal. We visited hole-in-the-wall eateries that I would have been too intimidated to enter without guidance. Justin not only led us through a delightful lunch, but also gave us a fantastic list of more places to try. I only wish I had done this tour earlier during our trip so I could try more on his list.
This tour is an excellent way to support the local restaurant scene and savor the authentic flavors of Chinatown. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Sydney!read moreread less - Erika Wright24/06/2024This tour was one of the highlights of our time in Sydney and we ended up revisiting the food establishments 2 more times during our stay. In addition to the incredible food discoveries, we learned so much about the history of Asians in Australia. It was a fantastic experience and our family highly recommends it for all! Our kids LOVED it! Thank you Justin!read moreread less
- Rebecca L17/06/2024Great introduction to Sydney! We had an amazing tour with Michael yesterday. We learned so much about the founding of Australia and Sydney. He shared tips and suggestions for our trip including sights to see and restaurants to visit. This was a wonderful way to begin our trip. What a great introduction to Sydney!read moreread lessRebecca L17/06/2024Great introduction to Sydney! We had an amazing tour with Michael yesterday. We learned so much about the founding of Australia and Sydney. He shared tips and suggestions for our trip including sights to see and restaurants to visit. This was a wonderful way to begin our trip. What a great introduction to Sydney!read moreread less
- Francesco Romeo24/07/2024what can I say, a beautiful tour of Sydney, starting from the arrival of the English up to the Rocks. Justin you managed to show us corners of the city that we would not have been able to see and understand. Thank you very much for the wonderful experience.read moreread less
- Elizabeth Winter12/07/2024Andrew’s tour of Sydney was comprehensive and entertaining covering early settlement by Capt Arthur Phillip to historical buildings from that time with interesting stories about their construction. Walking through secret alleyways to view indigenous symbols and art design we gained an insight into Australia’s brutal past. My personal favourite was the statue of Matthew Flinders and his amazing cat Prim. A great explorer and adventurer who charted most of Australia’s coastline and discovered Bass Strait . Thank you Andrew for a wonderful step back in time.read moreread less
- Erika Wright24/06/2024This tour was one of the highlights of our time in Sydney and we ended up revisiting the food establishments 2 more times during our stay. In addition to the incredible food discoveries, we learned so much about the history of Asians in Australia. It was a fantastic experience and our family highly recommends it for all! Our kids LOVED it! Thank you Justin!read moreread lessRebecca L17/06/2024Great introduction to Sydney! We had an amazing tour with Michael yesterday. We learned so much about the founding of Australia and Sydney. He shared tips and suggestions for our trip including sights to see and restaurants to visit. This was a wonderful way to begin our trip. What a great introduction to Sydney!read moreread less
- Merryn B16/06/2024Fascinating, tasty and enlightening: Chinatown Street Food and Stories An awesome afternoon of key landmarks in Chinatown, tasty food, and stories of the ways in which Chinese-Australians have long been a part of the community. Eddie our guide had such passion and heart for all of it and made sure we had a great afternoon. I really appreciated his depth of knowledge and feel richer for all that I learned and experienced. We tried a variety of tasty regional dishes and learned about the differences depending on region. I particularly liked the support of independent cafes and restaurants. As a local I now have a road map for trying new places to eat in Chinatown and am more confident to venture off the beaten track. Whether you are a local or visitor to Sydney, I highly recommend Local Sauce Tours – Chinatown Street Food and Stories. It will be an afternoon well-spent.read moreread less
- Rebecca L17/06/2024We had an amazing tour with Michael yesterday. We learned so much about the founding of Australia and Sydney. He shared tips and suggestions for our trip including sights to see and restaurants to visit. This was a wonderful way to begin our trip. What a great introduction to Sydney!read moreread lessMerryn B16/06/2024An awesome afternoon of key landmarks in Chinatown, tasty food, and stories of the ways in which Chinese-Australians have long been a part of the community. Eddie our guide had such passion and heart for all of it and made sure we had a great afternoon. I really appreciated his depth of knowledge and feel richer for all that I learned and experienced. We tried a variety of tasty regional dishes and learned about the differences depending on region. I particularly liked the support of independent cafes and restaurants. As a local I now have a road map for trying new places to eat in Chinatown and am more confident to venture off the beaten track. Whether you are a local or visitor to Sydney, I highly recommend Local Sauce Tours – Chinatown Street Food and Stories. It will be an afternoon well-spent.read moreread less
- Emi13/06/2024We went on the Newtown Chewtown – Food & Street Art with Robyn as our guide. Robyn was very friendly and shared a lot of information about the history and street art in the area. The food tasting was eclectic and delicious. We’ve never been to Newtown before but because of this tour, we’ll definitely be back for the food, art, and shopping.read moreread lessbonnieg1rl12/06/2024We recently had a wonderful Refugee Chef Dinner with friends at Parliament on King in Newtown. Such an atmospheric and cool cafe. Our guest Refugee Chef was lovely and it was moving to hear their story and the food was delicious. It was nice to know you’re helping in a small way. Justin our host was great, very friendly and welcoming as was the owner who also had an interesting and inspiring story. Definitely recommend!read moreread less
- James12/06/2024Considering that this was a historical walking tour, we really got our money’s worth. Our tour guide, Dan, was a wealth of knowledge about the history of Sydney and Australia in general. Informative and funny, Dan made the experience great. We ended the tour at the base of the Harbor Bridge, where we got some beautiful photos. We highly recommend this tour.read moreread lessFrancie P11/06/2024A wonderful way to enjoy cocktails in Sydney I likely wouldn’t have gone/found on my own. Plus, incorporating in some Vivid highlights – 5 stars from me for sure! Mitch was an incredible guide, providing great stories and encouraging us to interact with Vivid attractions I may have just walked by. Excellent tour!read moreread less
- Trek82616910/06/2024This was a great experience – coupling the history/beauty of street art with a few hidden gems/bars in the Redfern area. Justin was fun, funny and knowledgeable about the area and it was great to get to know the scene directly from a local. We met some great people – lowkey, fun and interactive. The rain didn’t keep us down. 😊read moreread lessGarda M09/06/2024I took the tour with my husband who is American and has no knowledge of Sydney. I lived in Sydney before emigrating to the USA so I was prepared to be a little bored. Justin was our guide on a private tour and we were fascinated from beginning to end. We were so enthralled with the stories Justin told us that it wasn’t until the near end of our tour that we even thought to take a photo. This tour is that good. Regardless of what you think you know about Sydney this tour is for you. It is interesting, funny at times and never boring. We were just starting out our vacation and this was the perfect beginning. I cannot recommend it enough.read moreread less
- Alain S08/06/2024I had a very good time at this pub crawl. The group was very nice and easy going we had a lot of fun. Even though it was heavy rain that day, the event was hosted at the perfection by Claudia. She was always looking out that everything goes smoothly. I also love the different bars we went, all very unique in their way with great drinks. I would do it again and I would recommend anyone that is still hesitating to go for it.read moreread lessMobile4735417192805/06/2024Had a great time and the bars were really cool. Great way to check out some of the lesser visited bars in the CBD. We even returned to some of the bars during out trip. Our host, Mitchell was super awesome and went out of his way to take care of everyone. Also a great way to meet other people visiting Sydney.read moreread less
- Micale98031/05/2024Jason gave a very good tour, taking us to a number of notable sites that were part of the development of Sydney from early times when first europeans and created Sydney to what it is now. His commentary on the characters that shaped Sydney was also very interesting. We were also fortunate to be here for Vivid and saw the light show. I would totally recommend this tour.read moreread less
- Nicole23/07/2024Super fun! We had a good group. It was nice to go on a pub crawl that was more cocktail focused, and the drinks were really good (if pricey because it’s Sydney). Justin was great and kindly answered all of my questions as I grilled him about Australia. I would consider going on one of their other tours.read moreread lessLaurie15/07/2024Excellent introduction to Sydney and its history. Our host Michael was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable – a great story-teller – and the narrative was really well organized. There was a lot to see so you could make notes of places to return to (but at the same time it was not at all overwhelming); I would recommend doing this tour early in your stay. Michael also shared recommendations for ferry rides and places to eat.read moreread lessSara07/07/2024This was an amazing tour! It was unique and thoughtfully done – Justin has a thorough knowledge of the area as well as Chinese-Australian history. We had a group of about 12 people and visited several different small Chinese restaurants/sites with yummy tastings from each and all dietary preferences were taken into account (there were a lot in our group). Reasonable amount of walking for kids and it was a good balance of talking, walking, and eating to keep everyone engaged. It was drizzling most of the time but the weather wasn’t an issue because we were under cover most of the time. I definitely recommend this tour! Just be aware, it’s only offered on Friday and Sundays so book early!read moreread less
- Farai05/07/2024This was a great tour. Our guide, Justin, was friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable, and has put together a great tour of Chinatown, with interesting history and great food. Justin gave additional recommendations of areas to visit and restaurants to try. We enjoyed ourselves and would highly recommend this experience!read moreread less
- Jessica28/06/2024This food tour in Sydney’s Chinatown was an unforgettable experience. It was intimate and educational, providing a fascinating glimpse into the area’s rich culture and history. Each stop was intriguing, uncovering hidden gems that I would have never discovered on my own! Stroller friendly if you’re bringing babies along (we had 2 with us and Justin was great with them!)
The food was phenomenal. We visited hole-in-the-wall eateries that I would have been too intimidated to enter without guidance. Justin not only led us through a delightful lunch, but also gave us a fantastic list of more places to try. I only wish I had done this tour earlier during our trip so I could try more on his list.
This tour is an excellent way to support the local restaurant scene and savor the authentic flavors of Chinatown. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Sydney!read moreread less - Aoi15/06/2024Informative, relaxing, and fun!
Our guide Daniel was very passionate and funny, he guided us with interesting history. Not only giving historical story but also giving the current story, I could connect history with today’s Sydney.
I would highly recommend this tour!
ダニエルさんのガイドは、情熱溢れていてとても面白かったです。今のシドニーがどう成り立ってきたのか?また、Aussieとは?という、多文化国家に関する話もとても興味深かったです。楽しいだけでなく学べるツアー、オススメです!read moreread less - Erin01/06/2024Our tour with Claudia was wonderful! She was very attentive and took care of every detail. She told us a lot of the history of the area as well. We had such a fun group and had many laughs and great conversation. Absolutely loved the bars we visited and thoroughly enjoyed our time. Highly recommend!read moreread less
- Yinxin30/05/2024Mitch is a great tour guide, friendly and charming. He really knows the great bars around the Rocks. We had a fun time with him.
What’s more, he is passionate about arts, and knows a lot of the stories behind the Vivid light show. Totally unexpected cherry on top of the cocktail. Well worth the price.read moreread lessRiston26/05/2024Justin was very knowledgeable regarding the rich history and culture of immigration in Australia. This was a very insightful trip for us. On top of that, we got to enjoy some of the best food that Chinatown has to offer. A little bit of everything, but just enough to get us stuffed for lunch. The “restuarant bingo card” that he provided us at the end of the tour was a great touch. I genuinely enjoyed this experience. If you want to have a deeper cultural understanding of Sydney, this tour with Justin is a must!read moreread less
- Ben Scott05/02/2023Awesome experience doing the Chinatown food tour today! Both my parents couldn’t stop raving about this experience and the food they would never of eaten plus the local art work we would have just walked past/ history of the area.
This was a great experience and could recommend this tour highly enough. As a Sydney sider I was gob smacked with how good the tour was! Definetly will be back for more tours! Thanks for the awesome hospitality Justin!read moreread less - Melis Akiz14/01/2020Aussie You’s Secret Bar Crawl covering the Darlinghurst and Surry Hills neighborhoods was easily the highlight of my time in Sydney! Justin took us to some really unique places and made sure that everyone in the group connected well that most of us chose to continue our night after the tour was completed. You should definitely try this tour and I promise you will not just have a blast but also enjoy a unique experience with a knowledgeable and caring guide that you will not forget.read moreread less
- Kate Chen14/12/2019Justin的bar crawl非常值得來參加!整個晚上就像是有個當地朋友帶你去只有當地人才知道的酒吧去玩,他選了風格不同且都很獨特的酒吧,是我們不會知道要去的地方。
Justin人非常友善及幽默風趣,讓你覺得很自在放鬆且有趣!
另外他中文説得也很不錯,所以不用擔心英文不夠好。很推薦參加Justin的bar crawl tour 完美體驗當地夜生活 :)
Justin’s bar crawl is so much fun! It’s like a local friend showing you around the coolest bars while you visit his city! He picked the bars that you would not go by yourselves and he is very friendly and fun to hang out with! Perfect for solo travelers to meet new friends and enjoy local night vibe! Highly recommended!read moreread lessBen Ridding11/12/20195 out of 5 stars. Joined the hidden bar tour after finding a flyer for AussieYou Tours in the hostel I was staying. Tour was great, got to see a completely different bar scene that you would just not find from google searches or normal research methods. Pretty sure that most Sydney residents would not be aware of some of the bars we went to. Justin was a fantastic host, as well as taking the group around cool bars he kept the group entertained with interesting history on Sydney and teaching us Aussie Slang. Would recommend this tour for anybody visiting Sydney and for Sydney residents who want to see a side to the city they might not have been before.read moreread less - Sarah Ann12/04/2019I went on Justin’s secret city bar crawl tour in Sydney with a friend. We had such an amazing time that we had to book the secret Surry Hills bar crawl as well! Both nights were exceptional and Justin is a really good host! The bars we went to were really cool and I definitely would not of stumbled across them!! I really do recommend going on these tours if you are in Sydney, you won’t be disappointed!read moreread less