This post compares and reviews the various Greenwich Village food tours, including our pay-what-you-wish version, which takes place several times each week and our GPS-enabled anytime audio tour version.
- Free Tours by Foot
- Other Companies
- Self-Guided Tour
- Greenwich Village Guide
- Other NYC Food Tours
- Non-Food GV Tours
FREE TOURS BY FOOT
Greenwich Village is well-known for its shady, winding streets with 19th Century houses, for its bohemian roots and historic Washington Square Park.
But the Village's tree-lined streets are also lined with some of the best restaurants and food specialty shops in all of the Big Apple.
Just ask celebrity chefs of the Food Network, food critics from the New York Times and thousands of New Yorkers: Greenwich Village is the place to find the best of every cuisine.
So come along on our pay-what-you-wish Greenwich Village Food Tour and discover for yourself just what makes this neighborhood a foodie destination.
Be sure to consider our other guided and self-guided New York food tours as well as our non-food Greenwich Village Tour.
Join Free Tours by Foot as we locate the best of the best.
You'll crunch your sweet tooth with scrumptious desserts, indulge in prosciutto arancini (rice balls) from a shop 100 years old, eat falafel so good that you will understand why New Yorkers wait in long lines every night at one of the first Middle Eastern establishments in the United States.
And in a city known for its pizza, you will try not one but two of the city's best-rated pizzerias.
Here is a sample of our GPS-led audio tour version of this tour.
Check out our blog post on things to eat in Greenwich Village which describes some of the below-mentioned locations.
Shops and foods we cover on the Greenwich Village Food Tour:
- Mamoum's Falafel
- Hudson Bagels
- Faiccos Rice Balls
- Bleecker Street Pizza
- Varsano's Chocolate
- Molly's Cupcakes
- and much more!
At the food stops, you will choose what treats you would like to sample (or eat in whole). Try them all or none at all.
Unlike other tours that charge around $50 - $60 with some excluding food, on this tour, you choose what to eat and how much to spend.
All the recommended items are less than $4. The suggested amount to bring for snacks is $8.50-15, depending on your appetite!
Vegetarian and vegan options available at several shops. Inform your guide ahead of time of any dietary restrictions.
*Food stops are subject to change.
Tour information
Reservations: REQUIRED. Click here to reserve. Groups of 5 or more traveling together should visit our groups page.
Duration: Approximately 2 hours & 15 minutes. Tour distance is approximately 1 mile (1.6K).
Start point: In front of the Waverly Diner/Restaurant, on Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue) at the intersection of Waverly Place (map).
When: @1pm on Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays or anytime with our GPS-led audio tour. Tours go out rain or shine. Dress appropriate for the weather.
Cost: This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done.
A name-your-own-price tour is a tour for anyone's budget. The suggested amount to bring for snacks is $8.50-15, depending on your appetite. Bring $1 bills for snacks.
Additional planning information: Bring $1 bills for snacks. Guests choose what they want and how much they want to eat. Make your dinner reservations a little later than planned.
OTHER GREENWICH VILLAGE FOOD TOUR OPTIONS
There are several reputable companies that also offer paid food tours of Greenwich Village.
Before making any ticket purchases, it’s important to read through the different company website descriptions, food options, cancellation policy, FAQ, etc.
This will help you frame your expectations, plan your own itinerary and allow you to get the most out of your vacation experience. Mangia!
Take Walks
If you want to learn more about the variety of great food you can find in Greenwich Village, this company provides an outing that covers multiple popular locations.
In addition to the tour itself, you'll also have an opportunity to enjoy a slice of pizza, an arancini rice ball, and authentic Italian gelato.
Discover everything Little Italy has to offer and indulge in a few of the best dishes you'll find in this neighborhood!
- $30 per person
- Duration: 1 ½ hours
- Includes one pizza slice.
- Includes one gelato sample.
- Includes one arancini rice ball.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Reviews:
This is a relatively new tour, so there aren't any reviews as of yet.
That said, Take Walks typically receives excellent ratings from their customers, with most guests indicating that their tour guides are both friendly and informative!
Greenwich Village Pizza Walk
This tour focuses on pizza. Whether you are a pizza connoisseur or the occasional eater, this tour will keep you engaged in the pizza-making process.
You’ll learn about the history of pizza, the different styles of ovens used in New York City and how the different types of doughs, cheeses, sauces, and herbs make the pizza taste so different from one establishment to the other.
You will try three different pizza slices along the way.
Group sizes are a little larger, anywhere from 16-24 people. Only one child per 4 adults.
- $40 per person (non-refundable & non-exchangeable)
- Saturdays at 12 pm and Thursdays & Sundays at 11:15 am
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- More information or to book.
Reviews:
Reviewers are fascinated with the content of this tour and the knowledge level of the tour guides.
With predominantly 5 star ratings on both TripAdvisor and Viator (read the reviews), this tour is enjoyed by foodies, children, and locals looking for something different to do on a Saturday afternoon.
Reviewers categorize this tour more as educational, with opportunities to eat pizza which does make it different than the other food tours listed on this blog.
Sidewalks of New York Food and Walking Tours
West Village Food Tour
This tour focuses on six mom-and-pop shops in the West and Central Village.
You’ll sample pizza, falafel, New York Style bagels, Italian staples, and cupcakes while learning about how the food is made.
You will explore the ‘off the beaten path’ areas Greenwich Village has to offer and learn how the ethnic groups who once called Greenwich Village home influenced how food is made in New York City.
- $50 per person
- Fridays & Saturdays @11 am (year-round) and Tuesdays @11 am (Apr-Nov)
- Duration: 3 hours
- More information or to book.
Reviews:
Reviewers love the food, but especially remark about how much they learned about Greenwich Village history. Even locals feel they learned quite a bit about their own city. Tours are kid-friendly, with group sizes relatively small.
This tour averages 5 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and Viator (read the reviews).
Foods of New York Tours
The Original Greenwich Village Food and Culture Walking Tour and The Heart of Greenwich Village Food and Culture Walking Tour
Foods of New York has two food tours focused in Greenwich Village. Both tours focus on the quaint history of Greenwich Village without overlapping historical content or food tastings.
The Original Greenwich Village Food tour makes 7 tastings “on the go”, with 1 sit down stop. The Heart of Greenwich Village Food tour makes 5 tastings “on the go”, with 2 sit down stops. Both tours cap at 16 people per guide.
- Adults $54 | Children (age 3-12) $35
- The Original Greenwich Village Food Tour - daily @11 am & 1:30 pm and
- The Heart of Greenwich Village Food Tour - Thursday through Mondays @12 pm, 12:45 pm & 1:30 pm
Duration: 3 hours
Reviews:
Both of their Greenwich Village food tours are highly rated, with most reviews at 5 stars.
Quite a few reviewers state they are returning customers. Guests are very satisfied with the blend of historical content and food tastings.