In Saratoga, practically everyone jaywalks, but no one has gone on a “J Walk.” Until now.
“I grew up in Schuylerville and, to me, Saratoga Springs was the big city,” says Chloe Boyles, founder of the just-launched J Walk Food Tours. “As soon as I got my driver’s license, I’d travel there every chance I’d get. I became, for lack of a better word, a complete foodie. I lived for Restaurant Week every year, because even as a teenager I was able to afford all of these eateries I’d normally never be able to go to.”
Boyles’ passion for all things food became a love of hospitality, and she worked jobs at Wheatfields, The Ice House, and the Saratoga Hilton during the early days of her teaching career. While she no longer works in hospitality, the Saratoga Springs High School English teacher found herself drawn once again to the food business while on a biking tour through Italy with her father.
“We went on this incredible food tour by bike, and we ate all of these iconic foods that we never would have found on our own,” she recalls. “I returned to Saratoga determined to create something similar featuring businesses that are somewhat off the beaten track and well worth knowing for visitors and locals.”
In the spring of 2025, she soft-launched J Walk with the goal of turning anyone who took her tour into an ultra-insider with the scoop on the best places, and what makes them tick behind the scenes. “I also want to make sure everyone leaves with an incredible goody bag of treats, and motivation to go back out and visit these businesses with coupons and discounts,” she says.
Boyles is currently offering one tour, the Sweet Treat Food Tour, on Fridays and Saturdays through the summer. (Come fall, that’ll switch to Saturdays and Sundays.) Tickets, which are $75 for adults and $40 for children, include lunch and sweet treats from Walt Cafe, Taquero, Indulgence Bakery, Sweet Mimi’s, The Bread Basket Bakery, Saratoga Tea and Honey Co., and Saratoga Candy Co. She plans to add more tours in the near future, but is still working out the (likely savory) details. Schedule a tour at jwalkfoodtours.com.
