The best food tours in NYC

Despite Manhattan's abundance of white-clothed, Michelin-starred dining rooms, some are now touting Brooklyn as the epicenter of food culture in NYC. Either way, it's impossible to deny that Brooklyn's dining scene is incredible, from pierogis in Greenpoint's Polish stronghold to tacos and pupusas in Sunset Park and trendy farm-to-table newcomers in Williamsburg. To provide a thorough understanding of the borough's eats, this half-day tour will take you through all those neighborhoods, as well as Dumbo, the waterfront neighborhood where you'll enjoy sweets from the renowned Jacques Torres chocolate factory. The tour starts in the West Village and transportation is provided via an air-conditioned shuttle bus, for your dining comfort.  

Long considered a culinary wasteland, the Flatiron District has become, in recent years, a full-fledged foodie destination, thanks in part to the recent surge of boutique firms and tech start-ups setting up shop there. This bang-for-your-buck tour comes with four tastings at NYC favorites including Italian megamarket Eataly, historic Zucker's Bagels and award-winning Bread's Bakery. The tour also stops at the iconic Flatiron building for a photoshoot, and passes through the Union Square Farmer's Market (Saturday only).

What trip to New York would be complete without sampling some of the city’s best pizza? Everyone has a favorite spot and your tour guide is no exception. Choose between three nabes—Little Italy, Greenwich Village or the Lower East Side—and prepare to feast on several slices of crispy thin-crust pizza fresh out of the oven. Depending on which route you pick, you’ll visit beloved local institutions like Joe’s Pizza, Patsy’s Pizzeria and John’s of Bleecker Street.

NYC is a beautiful blend of different cultures, so what better way to spend a day than touring around foodie hotspots in Chinatown and Little Italy? The two-hour tour takes you to four different tastings, learning about the history and visiting local shops and establishments that have been standing for generations. You'll be led by historian tour guides and be part of a small and intimate group to get the best out of the experience

Embark on this three-hour tour of the hippest and foodie-focused places in NYC: the High Line, Chelsea Market, and Meatpacking District. The small-group tour will be led by a guide, offering insider tips and educating you on the locations you're visiting. Savor artisanal specials picked up from the market and marvel at the architecture of the Meatpacking District. Delish!

A food tour of Hell's Kitchen and a walk through Central Park to burn it off, what could be better? Sample food with Middle Eastern, Latin, and Indonesian backgrounds, then discover the secrets of Central Park, led by a professional guide. The group is limited to eight people so you can guarantee an intimate experience. It lasts two hours and the food tastings are included. Put on your comfiest shoes and loosest pants, you're about to indulge. 

Come hungry: You start this walking tour of the Lower East Side with a piping hot bagel smeared with cream cheese. The eats only get better as you visit venerable New York institutions like Katz’s Delicatessen, Russ and Daughters, The Pickle Guy and Economy Candy. It’s not all about the food either: Your guide will explain how immigrants shaped both this neighborhood and its cuisine as you walk.

This tour focuses as much on the Upper West Side’s Jewish community life as it does the food. You’ll learn about Judaism’s traditions, rituals and religious practices like keeping kosher on this 2.5-hour tour. After stopping at a few local synagogues, you’ll nosh on tastings from kosher eateries like the Kosher Marketplace, Murray's Sturgeon Shop and Zabar's. There’s also time to do some grocery shopping, if you need to restock your supply of whitefish and lox.

Past the seedy vape shops and tattoo parlors on St. Mark’s Place, you’ll find the East Village’s borscht belt. The Polish, Ukrainian and Eastern European immigrants who moved into the nabe in the ‘30s brought pierogies, kielbasa, blintzes and potato pancakes with them. Join a two-hour pierogi walk to savor the neighborhood’s history and food in one fell swoop. 

If your main motivation for traipsing around a city is the promise of sweet treats, then this Greenwich Village cupcake tour is the one for you. Made up of seven tastings and trips to iconic venues such as Magnolia Bakery and Molly's Cupcakes, your dessert cravings will be well and truly satisfied by the end of this sugar-centric adventure. You'll also get to customize your own cupcake and pay a bonus visit to Amorino for some world-class gelato.