food tour east village

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Visit  Manhattan Walking Tour  for even more experiences!

East Village Food & History Experience

Five fantastic food stops!

Unique Historic Anecdotes

Personalized attention with your guide

Discover the heart of the East Village on our Food & History Walking Tour, seamlessly blending diverse culinary delights with a rich historical narrative. With an exclusive maximum of 8 guests, this intimate experience captures the essence of NYC’s past, present, and future, making it the optimal choice for an authentic East Village Food Tour.

Small Groups Guaranteed! Maximum Comfort with Minimal Crowds.

Savor tastes like the best New York City egg cream, Eastern European Pierogi and more

Walk in the footsteps of artists and confront darker history of the East Village

Discover great recommendations from your guide to explore more on your own after the tour!

Click the Tabs to Find Out More

Trip details.

Public Tour:

$109 per guest.

Departure time

12:00 PM, rain or shine

Meeting point

Lafayette Street near the Public Theater. After your reservation is made, you will receive a confirmation message with maps and exact address of our meeting location.

Availability

Year-round, except for major holidays and special events in the East Village. Please check our calendar for availability.

Approximately 2.5 hours

All public tours are semi-private with 8 people or less

Participation requirements

It is a walking tour, but the pace is comfortable, with short stops along the way. We recommend your most comfortable walking shoes as we will be walking approximately two miles.

All your food and drink at five (5) different spots is included, and a fully qualified, knowledgeable, award-winning tour guide.

Within a few blocks of both the L train on 14th Street and the 6 train at Astor Place

What to bring

Wear comfortable walking shoes and a camera to capture spirits!

Substitutions

Vegetarian options are available, please advise at time of booking if required. Any other dietary needs cannot be accommodated on this tour (vegan, kosher, nut allergies, dairy-free or gluten-free diets)

Good to know

Wear comfortable shoes.

Overview of the tour

Embark on a delicious journey on our East Village Food & History Walking Tour, a unique experience that blends the neighborhood’s diverse culinary offerings with its rich historical narrative. Indulge your taste buds in the eclectic flavors of this dynamic enclave, from iconic East Village food counters serving NYC classics to avant-garde eateries pushing the boundaries of gastronomy. As you savor the diverse cuisines, we’ll guide you through the neighborhood’s compelling history, exploring the roots forged by 19th-century immigrants, the opulence of wealthy residents, and the vibrant cultural movements that have left an indelible mark. Walk in the footsteps of legendary artists and musicians, from the Beat Generation to the punk rock scene, and confront the darker chapters of the East Village’s past, including drug culture and race riots. This immersive tour encapsulates the essence of New York City’s past, present, and future, making it the optimal choice for those searching for an authentic East Village Food Tour.

Frequently asked questions

We recommend that guests be 8+ to fully enjoy the tour. Younger guests are allowed, but be advised there is a good amount of walking, and the stories told may be frightening to younger guests.

The tour lasts about 2.5 hours, covering about 2 miles total in the East Village

All tours are held rain or shine. However, we supply ponchos if it rains. We recommend you check the weather forecast to help you choose your shoes and garments and to see if you’ll need an umbrella.

Bartender/server gratuities are already included in the tour price. While it’s never expected, if you enjoyed your tour and want to give a tip to your tour guide, please do! Most guidebooks and American Express suggest 20% of the full tour price.

You just have to sit back and relax. We have a handpicked selection of amazing food curated by our guides and vendors.

Check Out What Our Guests Are Saying

My partner and I were visiting New York and were recommended to do a food tour with Alex from Manhattan Walking Tours – it was by far one of the best experiences we had throughout our entire holiday. Alex is not only a great guy and took us to some delicious food stops, he also has a rich bank of knowledge when it comes to the history of New York City. Read Full Testimonial

December 2018

Billy, our tour guide was amazing! He is extremely knowledgeable about NYC, the history and the culture. We enjoyed strolling the quaint streets of Greenwich while enjoying a variety of delicious food along the way. Read Full Testimonial

August 2018

We had a great time on this tour. Our tour guide was Nancy and she was terrific. Very knowledgeable. Easy going. The food was great. I’ve been to Greenwich Village many times and I learned lots of new information and tasted food from places I’ve never visited. Read Full Testimonial

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East Village Food Tour

Explore the trendy and bohemian East Village culinary scene, a diverse neighborhood brimming with delicious ethnic cuisine: Irish, Italian, Ukrainian, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Basque, and more!

Previously Enjoyed By

Explore This Lively, Foodie Neighborhood with an Adventurous Spirit 

Join us on our NYC East Village Food Tour as we explore one of New York City’s hottest restaurant and craft cocktail scenes – known for its role as the birthplace of punk and artist hangouts. Hear the stories of restaurant owners and chefs as you enjoy our all-inclusive 4-course progressive meal with beverage pairings. Taste incredible ethnic cuisines from immigrants who have made the East Village one of the most diverse eating grounds!

How it Works

What’s Included

• 3-Hour Walking Tour (flat route, approximately 1 mile) 
• Expertly Trained Avital Guide 
• 4-Course Meal with Appetizers, Entree, and Dessert 
• 3 Alcoholic Beverage Pairings (optional upgrade) 
• Delightful Sprinkling of Culinary Stories and History
• Team Building Games ( complimentary , optional upgrade)

Example Dishes & Drinks

Our East Village Food Tour includes 4-courses – two appetizers, one entree, and one dessert – with a sprinkling of culinary history and stories in between. We focus on quality over quantity, but we promise you won’t leave hungry! Here are some possible tastings to satiate your curiosity.

Handmade Spaghetti al Limone and pillowy Gnocchi at well-loved popular authentic Italian restaurant

Mouthwatering truffle cashew Cream Pizza from acclaimed Chef reshaping the future of food 

Unique Sichuan dry pot with ingredients such as konjac noodles, lotus root, and chicken thigh from a Michelin Bib Gourmand Favorite

Savory fried Pierogi from historic Ukrainian restaurant known as a locals’ institution

One of New York City’s best NY-style cheesecake  at historic stained-glass frescoed Italian Bakery

Classic Chianti to enjoy with fresh pastas

Baijiu Seasonal cocktail mellowing spicy dry pot

Refreshing white sangria with fresh citrus fruits 

Example Restaurants

We’ll visit 3-4 of the best restaurants in NYC, featuring hot spots (Avital guests skip the line) and hidden gems. All of our restaurants not only serve outstanding food and drinks, but they also have a rich story to discover.

Mala Project

Michelin Bib Gourmand Sichuan Dry Pot Restaurant from Amelie Kang, one of Eater’s Young Guns

Veniero’s

Historical Italian Dessert Cafe with atmospheric stained glass and frescoes — a local’s favorite!

Double Zero

Michelin Bib Gourmand Trendy Plant-Based Pizzeria from fine dining pioneer Vegan Chef Matthew Kenney

Modern Lebanese restaurant with Michelin Bib Gourmand Designation

Soulful Italian Restaurant with Michelin Bib Gourmand

Beloved Italian Red Sauce Restaurant from Restauranteur Frank Prisinzano

“I had such a wonderful experience on my East Village Progressive Food Tour.”

I had such a wonderful experience on my East Village Progressive Food Tour. My family and I all have different dietary restrictions which makes experiences like this rare for us to be able to share and I’m very grateful to Avital for making a special food experience everyone can enjoy!

Freddy V. via Google East Village Food Tour

Where is it?

Tompkins Square Park, East 10th Street, New York, NY, USA

Our start location varies but is always within a 3-block walk from Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, located on the 4, 5, 6, or M line). You’ll receive your exact meeting location after booking.

Run of Show

1: Meet Expert Avital Guide & Introduction

Guests meet Avital Guide at pre-determined location. Kick off the tour with fun introductions!

2: 1st Restaurant for Appetizer & Optional Beverage Pairing

Arrive at the first neighborhood restaurant and sink your teeth into a delicious appetizer with a carefully curated alcoholic (or non-alcoholic if you prefer) beverage pairing.

3: Visit Iconic Landmark

Head towards your next restaurant destination, but on the way discover unique murals, historic statues, or hidden curiosities with rich commentary from your Avital Guide.

4: 2nd Restaurant for Appetizer & Optional Beverage Pairing

Enjoy your second small plate appetizer with another delicious beverage pairing as you hear stories about the restaurant, culinary scene, and the people who make it all possible.

5: Discover Neighborhood Story

As you walk to your 3rd restaurant destination you’ll continue your journey through the neighborhood with more awesome storytelling and fun facts.

6: 3rd (or 4th) Restaurant for Entree, Dessert & Optional Beverage Pairing

Indulge in your main entree course with another incredible beverage pairing as you chat, enjoy, and connect with your fellow diners.

Then enjoy a scrumptious sweet treat for your final tasting. Your Avital Guide will wrap up the tour, answer any final questions, and can recommend other awesome places to visit next time!

The Essentials

Availability.

Public tours are available on Saturdays from 3pm-6pm ET. Private tours are available any day of the week, at any time! 

The East Village Food Tour is a flat route, approximately 1 mile.

Public tours have a 4-person minimum and a 12-person maximum. If the minimum number of guests is not reached, we will contact you to reschedule onto another time or date, or offer a refund. Private tours don’t have a minimum or maximum number of people, but we do have a $1000 minimum spend.

Guests over 21 years can add the alcohol pairing upgrade which includes 3 carefully curated drinks.

Gratuities not included for public tours. 15%-20% is customary in the tourism industry. That’s about $20 per person. For private events, gratuity is included in your package price!

Our public tours sell out fast so we recommend purchasing your tickets at least 2 weeks in advance. For private tours, we can accommodate advance or rush bookings, send us a booking request and we’ll get back to youl.

Private or Public

You can experience the East Village via a public food tour or you can book a private experience just for your group.

Private Tour

A private experience, just for your group. Great for team building, client entertainment, birthday parties, and large groups.

• Reserve Your Preferred Day & Time
• Any Group Size, Best for 5+ People
• Private Avital Guide For Your Group
• Customize Your Package

Public Tour

Join other foodies on this regularly-scheduled experience open to the public. Great for couples, solo travelers, and small groups.

• Pre-Scheduled Tours
• Purchase 1-4 Tickets
• Join Other Foodies (Capped at 12 Guests)
• Prix Fixe Menu with Optional Alcohol Pairing Upgrade

“I highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to plan a company event that is not forced fun but a casual social affair.”

We planned our company outing with Avital and did the progressive tour of the East Village. Our tour guide Sophie was wonderful. She provided an interesting background to all the places we enjoyed and her sparkling personality was a welcome addition to our group. While some of the restaurants were out of my personal comfort zone, I have to say I enjoyed every single one as did the rest of our group. I highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to plan a company event that is not forced fun but a casual social affair.

Laura T. via Google East Village Food Tour

Upgrades & Add-ons

Add 2 Alcoholic Beverages

Curated cocktails, beer, or wine pairings to enhance your dining experience.

Add More Food

Perfect for dinner-time tours. Available on private tours only.

Add Bubbly Toast

Perfect for celebratory occasions. Available on private tours only.

Team Building Games

Booking this tour for a team building activity? Add 1-2 of our quirky-and-classy games for added fun and connection. In between courses, your Avital Guide will lead your team through fun and interactive team building games. Games last about 10-15 minutes each.

Dietary Restrictions

One of our core values is #BreatheCuriosity. We enjoy introducing you to new foods and old favorites in new ways. We very much encourage guests to be adventurous and try something new – we’ve even had an 80-year old man try his first oyster with us! Thus, while we love the diverse ways our guests choose to eat, we can accommodate some restrictions on public tours and most restrictions and preferences on private tours. You will be asked for your dietary restrictions during your booking process. If you are unsure if we can accommodate your restriction, please email us at [email protected] . Please note that this tour may include nuts, dairy, seafood, spicy food, and pork. For private tours, we can accommodate all dietary restrictions with advance notice. On public tours, we can only accommodate the following:

• Pescatarian
• Gluten-free
• Pregnant Guests

Why Choose Avital for Your East Village Food Tour?

Expertly guided.

Our East Village Food Tour is led by a trained, expert Avital Guide. You can sit back and enjoy as your host takes care of all the logistics with rich storytelling and group engagement along the way.

VIP Experience

No waiting in lines and each course is served seated at a reserved table. Tours can be an intimate, small-group experience yet still have that same VIP feeling for large groups.

Experienced Team

A full support team to ensure a turnkey booking and seamless experience from start to finish.

Dietary Restriction Friendly

We understand dietary restrictions and want everyone to leave feeling cared for and full! We’ll ask for your restrictions after booking.

Taste The Best

Instead of visiting a whole bunch of average places with tiny toothpick bites, we visit 3-4 incredible restaurants that not only serve steller food and drinks, but are passionate about storytelling and the guest experience.

All tickets are nonrefundable. Consider it like buying a concert ticket – that seat is reserved for you and we will be unable to resell it. As a small business with only 12 tickets per tour, it’s important that you purchase tickets when you’re sure you can go. If you can’t make it to the tour you purchased, the tickets are transferable.

Gratuity is not included. 15%-20% is customary in the tourism industry.

Yes! Our Progressive Meal is a full meal! The base package features appetizers, entree, and dessert (~3-5 dishes) and is great for lunch or dinner. For private tours, you can also choose the “add more food” upgrade for an even more luxurious and robust menu (~5-7 dishes) great for a heavy lunch or solid dinner.

Our pricing already includes applicable taxes! For private events, there is a standard $25 per person private event service charge noted. This helps ensure we can tip your guide and restaurant servers for larger/private groups. No surprise “booking fees” or hidden extras.

It’s okay! We can accommodate dietary restrictions and requests for non-alcoholic substitute beverages. We’ll ask for your requests and restrictions during booking.

We strongly discourage it. Everything in your pre-booked tour is ordered and prepared in advance to be ready on arrival at each restaurant. Orders placed after arrival take much longer, and come out with little time to spare before we head off to the next course. Guests end up disappointed, leaving cocktails behind or feeling pressure to drink up. Not a good experience.

Yes and no. Our experience takes the best elements of seated dining, prix-fixe chef’s tasting menus, blended with the best elements of a classic food tour, to create an entirely unique dining experience: the Avital Progressive Meal.

That’s okay! You can still book to reserve your date/time with an estimate and adjust later. We accommodate changes of +/- 20% from your original number. Ask your curator if you need special arrangements for larger changes.

That’s our job! We’ve spent years testing out all of the city’s awesome restaurants, finding those quirky characters, and building a culinary experience with story and purpose (that’s also delicious!) Trust us, that’s why you came here.

We’ll send your confirmed meeting address prior to your tour date. The menu itself, and featured restaurants, follow a prix fixe tasting menu style and are revealed as part of the experience itself as it unfolds. You can explore our example featured dishes to understand the caliber and style of dishes and cocktails we highlight.

Our East Village food tour is a flat route with about 1 mile of walking.

Our Flatiron food tour is a flat route with about 1 1/2 miles of walking.

Our Michelin food tour is a flat route with about 1 1/2 miles of walking.

Our public tours sell out fast so we recommend purchasing your tickets at least 2 weeks in advance. For private tours, we also require a 2 week lead time. Private bookings made with less than two weeks notice will come with a nominal rush charge of $150, and deadlines for dietary restrictions info and final guest count are extended to 3 days prior to the event date. Inquiries less than 3 days in advance require all guest info upon booking.

In between delicious courses, your Avital Guide will lead your team through a fun and interactive team building game. Games last about 10-15 minutes each.

Tonight’s Special: Designed in-house by Avital curators who specialize in foodie fun and corporate team building. This creative card game gets players thinking like chefs as they navigate trendy ingredients to create mouthwatering menus. Collaborative and competitive, Tonight’s Special will get your team hungry for more fun!

Embrace Quirky: Our original, and all-time favorite Avital game, Embrace Quirky is inspired by our core values. This simple but effective get-to-know-you game challenges your team to find and embrace their own quirky histories, meanwhile sleuthing out who’s who among their quirky team! Someone here used to be hairdresser to the Queen, someone else drank rum with real pirates, and someone else always ties their left shoe first. Who can it be?

Note: Adding the team building upgrade does not reduce or impact the number of restaurants you’ll visit nor the number of dishes you’ll enjoy. However, adding the team building upgrade does cut in on your “mingling” time during the tour – the in-between moments where you might otherwise enjoy organic conversation time will instead be spent playing these fun and engaging games!

How to Book Your Private Tour

1: explore packages.

Download the PDF proposal to view packages and pricing for each experience. Still have questions? Schedule a call with your Culinary Curator .

2: Start Your Booking

Submit your event details to get started. Upon submission, you’ll also have the option to make an initial, refundable deposit to reserve your date right away.

Start Your Booking

3: Finalize Details

A real human will be in touch to finalize your event details, like confirming your package , how to submit request for dietary or alcohol accommodations , and when your final headcount is due.

Psst! Looking to join a public tour? You can buy tickets here !

Start Your Private Booking

Foodies like you recommend this tour.

• Reserve your preferred day & time
• Good for groups of 5+ people
• All dietary, allergy, & non-alcoholic requests accommodated
• Book with estimated headcount & update later
• Optional deposit for instant hold on your event date (refundable!)

From $115 Per Person

Start Your Booking How to Book

• Regularly scheduled tours with other foodies
• Good for 1-4 people (12 guest max/tour)
• Alcohol pairing upgrade available

Ready for tickets?

View Public Event Dates

Food Tour in East Village in French

Getting there.

Rutherford Place

305 2nd Avenue, New York, 10003-2739

Select date and session

No booking fees

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East Village Food Tour

• Entry/Admission - St. Mark's Place
• Alamo / Astor Place Cube, 149-179 E 8th St, New York, NY 10003, USA We will meet directly next to the cube.
• 125 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009, USA We will end near the corner of Avenue A and E 7th Street.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• Cannot accommodate certain food allergies.
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• St. Mark's Place

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Alamo / Astor Place Cube 149-179 E 8th St, New York, NY 10003, USA We will meet directly next to the cube. See address & details
• 1 St. Mark's Place Stop: 2 hours - Admission included We'll visit five different food establishments on and around St. Marks Place. Read more
• You'll end at 125 E 7th St 125 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009, USA We will end near the corner of Avenue A and E 7th Street. See address & details

• caraliec 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Incredible & Unique NYC Tour! Highly recommend! My friend and I did his Seven Deadly Sins tour and loved it. We've both lived in NYC for 10+ years and didn't know any of the stories that were told as part of the tour. Krikor is a GREAT guide. Sometimes I find these tour guides can kind of weird or offputting, but with Krikor it just felt like a friend showing us around the city who knew quite a lot :) I would definitely recommend his tours to anyone, either local or visiting and I plan to work with Krikor in the future. :) Read more Written 17 September 2023
• Caterina A 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Greenwich Village walking tour One of the best walking tours I have ever been on. We really enjoyed our walk with Krikor, who is super knowledgeable and will guide you the area with a cool mix of historical facts & funny anecdotes. Totally recommended, I'd definitely pick Trues Tales of NYC again if visiting the city in the future. Thank you! Read more Written 5 December 2021
• nataliaspinelli 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun, unique & Informative tours for locals or tourists - great for families too!! Awesome unique tours!!! Everyone had fun and learned so much (even my teen son!!) very well organized & presented! Not your typical BORING tour! Without this tour it would not have been the same! He brought the buildings to life! Highly recommend!!! Read more Written 13 August 2021
• JenniferE516 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Such an interesting walking tour of the East Village!! I came up for a meeting and was gifted with this tour....and it was excellent. The stories about the history were as entertaining as they were interesting. It really left me wanting to know more. I would HIGHLY recommend True Tales to anyone looking for a fun way to really get to know the area and spend the day. Read more Written 13 December 2019
• H7858RRkens 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent walking tour of the East Village The tour was the most informative tour that I have ever been on and I typically do something similar in each of the major cities that I visit. The knowledge of our guide Krikor was above expectation and he also included time period photos of sites throughout the tour. Absolutely amazing tour. Read more Written 11 December 2019
• lisasM5059JW 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Greenwich village walking tour through New York Pass Fantastic few hours exploring Greenwich Village with EVAN. He was super prepared, many interesting to enjoy and anecdotes to laugh at. Thoroughly recommend Read more Written 5 December 2019
• VirginiaTraveller64 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent tour! Great way to spend a few horus We loved our tour with Krikor -- an excellent guide, with great knowledge about local history and wonderful back stories about local eateries. We loved discovering places and foods we'd never have found on our own. We visit NYC often and will definitely do another tour with Krikor. Highly recommend! Read more Written 12 November 2019
• B930KZjohnm 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Friendly and knowledgeable We had to cancel our tour at the last minute due to bad weather but Krikor was very helpful and managed to rearrange our tour for the next morning. The tour itself was really enjoyable and Krikor was very knowledgable. There was a good mixture of history, culture and anecdotes which kept us entertained throughout. Read more Written 2 November 2019
• Michael W 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The village I never knew about I used to live in the city and now live out of state. Was in for a work event with a coworker and I suggested we take this tour. It was really interesting and fun to see and learn about the Village from a fresh perspective. Krikor was knowledgeable, charming,engaged, and had interesting stories to tell. He even sang a bit of a song! I’ve been recommending it to everyone. Read more Written 8 October 2019
• DvaBremen 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles From the past to the present Krikor led us on a wonderful walk into NYC’s past, that he always tied to the present, so that we could visualize the past and the changes in the city since. Krikor is very knowledgeable and engaging. Next time you’re in NYC, I encourage you to take a walk with Krikor. Your visit will be the richer for it. Read more Written 20 April 2019
• Susan R 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Really glad we took this tour My partner and I took the tour of the East village with Krikor on our last day in NYC. We found it very informative and enjoyable. Krikor knows and loves this rather less-known zone of the city and brings it and its history to life with a mix of well told stories from different aspects of its past and present. I expect his other tours would be of an equally high standard as he takes his tour work seriously! Recommended. Read more Written 21 October 2018
• Nomad791907 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Outstanding walking tour I would highly recommend this tour! The guide brought little corners to life with well-delivered, interesting stories and we enjoyed every moment. Next time we're in town we will try his other tour. Read more Written 20 October 2018
• beachlady2014 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Loved the Tours!! We have been on tours with Krikor before and again, he did a wonderful job! We toured Greenwich Village and Brooklyn Bridge. Krikor has a wonderful was of incorporating stories of historical events and people in New York into his tours. His knowledge of the city and it's history is impressive. He recommended a movie that I found and watched and books that I have ordered. Thank you so much Krikor! We will be back! Read more Written 27 August 2018
• Eva P 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles True tales of Greenwich village. Absolutely fantastic. Krikor was a brilliant narrator for the history and humanity of the stories surrounding Greenwich. It was informative and revealed the harrowing developments of New York as a whole in the story of America. Thoroughly recommend. Read more Written 22 July 2018
• Vincent M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Very good stories and amicable guide Get into the old 1900s New York. Good entertainment. Guide friendly and easy going. Great neighborhood. Read more Written 15 May 2018

More to explore in New York City

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Buy it with

East Village Food Tour provided by True Tales of NYC Walking Tours

East Village Food Tour

• Entry/Admission - St. Mark's Place
• Alamo / Astor Place Cube, 149-179 E 8th St, New York, NY 10003, USA We will meet directly next to the cube.
• 125 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009, USA We will end near the corner of Avenue A and E 7th Street.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• Cannot accommodate certain food allergies.
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• St. Mark's Place

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Alamo / Astor Place Cube 149-179 E 8th St, New York, NY 10003, USA We will meet directly next to the cube. See address & details
• 1 St. Mark's Place Stop: 2 hours - Admission included We'll visit five different food establishments on and around St. Marks Place. Read more
• You'll end at 125 E 7th St 125 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009, USA We will end near the corner of Avenue A and E 7th Street. See address & details

• caraliec 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Incredible & Unique NYC Tour! Highly recommend! My friend and I did his Seven Deadly Sins tour and loved it. We've both lived in NYC for 10+ years and didn't know any of the stories that were told as part of the tour. Krikor is a GREAT guide. Sometimes I find these tour guides can kind of weird or offputting, but with Krikor it just felt like a friend showing us around the city who knew quite a lot :) I would definitely recommend his tours to anyone, either local or visiting and I plan to work with Krikor in the future. :) Read more Written 17 September 2023
• Caterina A 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Greenwich Village walking tour One of the best walking tours I have ever been on. We really enjoyed our walk with Krikor, who is super knowledgeable and will guide you the area with a cool mix of historical facts & funny anecdotes. Totally recommended, I'd definitely pick Trues Tales of NYC again if visiting the city in the future. Thank you! Read more Written 5 December 2021
• nataliaspinelli 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun, unique & Informative tours for locals or tourists - great for families too!! Awesome unique tours!!! Everyone had fun and learned so much (even my teen son!!) very well organized & presented! Not your typical BORING tour! Without this tour it would not have been the same! He brought the buildings to life! Highly recommend!!! Read more Written 13 August 2021
• JenniferE516 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Such an interesting walking tour of the East Village!! I came up for a meeting and was gifted with this tour....and it was excellent. The stories about the history were as entertaining as they were interesting. It really left me wanting to know more. I would HIGHLY recommend True Tales to anyone looking for a fun way to really get to know the area and spend the day. Read more Written 13 December 2019
• H7858RRkens 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent walking tour of the East Village The tour was the most informative tour that I have ever been on and I typically do something similar in each of the major cities that I visit. The knowledge of our guide Krikor was above expectation and he also included time period photos of sites throughout the tour. Absolutely amazing tour. Read more Written 11 December 2019
• lisasM5059JW 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Greenwich village walking tour through New York Pass Fantastic few hours exploring Greenwich Village with EVAN. He was super prepared, many interesting to enjoy and anecdotes to laugh at. Thoroughly recommend Read more Written 5 December 2019
• VirginiaTraveller64 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent tour! Great way to spend a few horus We loved our tour with Krikor -- an excellent guide, with great knowledge about local history and wonderful back stories about local eateries. We loved discovering places and foods we'd never have found on our own. We visit NYC often and will definitely do another tour with Krikor. Highly recommend! Read more Written 12 November 2019
• B930KZjohnm 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Friendly and knowledgeable We had to cancel our tour at the last minute due to bad weather but Krikor was very helpful and managed to rearrange our tour for the next morning. The tour itself was really enjoyable and Krikor was very knowledgable. There was a good mixture of history, culture and anecdotes which kept us entertained throughout. Read more Written 2 November 2019
• Michael W 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The village I never knew about I used to live in the city and now live out of state. Was in for a work event with a coworker and I suggested we take this tour. It was really interesting and fun to see and learn about the Village from a fresh perspective. Krikor was knowledgeable, charming,engaged, and had interesting stories to tell. He even sang a bit of a song! I’ve been recommending it to everyone. Read more Written 8 October 2019
• DvaBremen 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles From the past to the present Krikor led us on a wonderful walk into NYC’s past, that he always tied to the present, so that we could visualize the past and the changes in the city since. Krikor is very knowledgeable and engaging. Next time you’re in NYC, I encourage you to take a walk with Krikor. Your visit will be the richer for it. Read more Written 20 April 2019
• Susan R 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Really glad we took this tour My partner and I took the tour of the East village with Krikor on our last day in NYC. We found it very informative and enjoyable. Krikor knows and loves this rather less-known zone of the city and brings it and its history to life with a mix of well told stories from different aspects of its past and present. I expect his other tours would be of an equally high standard as he takes his tour work seriously! Recommended. Read more Written 21 October 2018
• Nomad791907 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Outstanding walking tour I would highly recommend this tour! The guide brought little corners to life with well-delivered, interesting stories and we enjoyed every moment. Next time we're in town we will try his other tour. Read more Written 20 October 2018
• beachlady2014 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Loved the Tours!! We have been on tours with Krikor before and again, he did a wonderful job! We toured Greenwich Village and Brooklyn Bridge. Krikor has a wonderful was of incorporating stories of historical events and people in New York into his tours. His knowledge of the city and it's history is impressive. He recommended a movie that I found and watched and books that I have ordered. Thank you so much Krikor! We will be back! Read more Written 27 August 2018
• Eva P 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles True tales of Greenwich village. Absolutely fantastic. Krikor was a brilliant narrator for the history and humanity of the stories surrounding Greenwich. It was informative and revealed the harrowing developments of New York as a whole in the story of America. Thoroughly recommend. Read more Written 22 July 2018
• Vincent M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Very good stories and amicable guide Get into the old 1900s New York. Good entertainment. Guide friendly and easy going. Great neighborhood. Read more Written 15 May 2018

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Things to Do in the East Village

This post is about things to do in the East Village, including free and nighttime activities, as well as where to eat, shop, and see art. 

The East Village is a great area to visit and is largely known for its history of immigration in NYC.

But, it's also famous for its vibrant food scene, vintage stores, street art, innovative theater, quirky museums, and unique public gardens.

And, as local tour guides, we have the honor to take visitors through the East Village on some of our daily walking tours.

Some of us live here or have lived here, so we know a thing or two about the area.

And, in the video below, local guide Tom takes you on a humorous virtual walking tour of the East Village.

So, without further ado, let's get on with the post.

• Things to See and Do
• Plan Your Visit
• Places to Eat
• Things to Do in NYC
• Where to Stay in NYC

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

1. Experience Three Centuries of History 

Discover New York’s Dutch roots at St. Mark’s in the Bowery Episcopal Church, built in 1799.

Walk past the  DeutscheAmerikanische Schützen Gesellschaft clubhouse, which was built in 1888, when the East Village was known as KleinDeutschland (Little Germany).

Visit the former site of CBGBs, the club where punk rock was born in the 1970s.

Go shopping at Trash and Vaudeville where the Ramones, Blondie, and punk bands bought their clothes.

Whether you are interested in New York City's pre-20th Century history or its punk rock era, the East Village is for you.

For the punk rockers, check out the  Rock Junket’s Rock and Roll Tour  or take a free tour of the neighborhood by Free and Funky Tours (runs daily).

For the history buffs, take a look at our  self-guided tour below .  

2. See Street Art  

Murals can be seen all over the East Village.

The most famous location is the wall on the corner of Houston St. and Bowery. 

In 1982, legendary artist Keith Haring painted his first iconic large-scale mural. 

You can also walk the Mosaic Trail , a unique and well-known series of street lamp posts decorated with bits of broken china, tile, and mirror shards, all found for free.

TIP: If you love street art, take a look at our post on the best places to see street art in NYC  or check out our Lower Manhattan street art and graffiti tours , which take place near the East Village.

3. Check Out the Food Scene

The East Village is known for its wide range of cuisines that reflect the ethnic diversity of NYC.

Prices can be unbelievably cheap too! (See our restaurant section below .)

At various times throughout the year, we offer a pay-what-you-wish East Village Food Tour .

This is ideal if you want a taste of what the East Village offers.

Check our calendar to see if the tour is running while you are in New York City. 

Another option is to check out Food on Foot Tours.

They offer two different food tours of the East Village. Their tours cost around $50 and sample a wide variety of cuisines.

This company's tours are included for free for holders of a New York Pass , one of the many tourist passes. 

For an in-depth look at the cultural and political history of the East Village, check out  Free and Funk Tours' East Village Tour .

4. See Innovative Theater

• Blue Man Group  

At the Astor Theater since 1991, this off-Broadway performance troupe has been entertaining audiences of all ages.

Tickets are very affordable as well. 

The Public Theater

The Public stages a wide variety of top-notch performances by cutting-edge playwrights. 

The Public is also the sponsor of New York’s annual  Shakespeare in the Park which is a must-do activity in  the summer in NYC .

• Theater for the New City  

Theater for the New City (TNC) was founded in 1971 and is one of NYC’s top Off-Off-Broadway theaters.

Their Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts is held every May.

Find out more from our post on things to do in May in NYC .

TIP: Find out about concessionary tickets from our post on how to get cheap Broadway tickets .

5. Go to a Museum

Museum of the American Gangster

80 St. Marks Place. This space once housed a ‘speakeasy’ (an illegal bar during the Prohibition era) and local gangsters Al Capone and Lucky Luciano drank here. 

Groupon sometimes has promo specials for the museum.

Merchant's House Museum  

29 E. 4th St. Built in 1832, this elegant red-brick and white-marble row house was lived in by the same family for almost 100 years. 

Ukrainian Museum

222 East 6th Street. Opened in 1976, it is considered the largest museum in the U.S. that exhibits and preserves artifacts and art of Ukrainian heritage.

6. Community Gardens and Parks 

The East Village is known for its community gardening movement that began in the 1970s when the neighborhood was undesirable to live in. 

Locals turned these lots into makeshift gardens. This was an illegal use of private land but activists fought and won the right to use this land as community property.

Today, there are 39 legal community gardens in the East Village.

One of our favorites is the Creative Little Garden on 6th Street between Avenues A and B.

The largest green space in the East Village is Tompkins Square Park . It’s an entire block wide and three blocks long. 

There’s a big playground inside, as well as basketball courts, a dog run, and plenty of benches.

Walk to the eastern edge of the East Village to the East River Park .

See our self-guided tour below for more details.

7. Explore Little Ukraine

The area of the East Village between 6th and 7th Street between 1st and 3rd Avenues is known as Little Ukraine because of the large number of Ukrainian immigrants who settled here after World War II.

Though the Ukrainian population has dwindled, you can still find remnants of the Ukrainian presence in the collection of folk art at the Ukrainian Museum .

Be sure to try  pierogi at Veselka , an East Village icon!

8. People-watch on St. Marks Place

The three-block stretch of East 8th Street between 3rd Avenue and Avenue A is also named St. Marks Place ( map ).  

Its energy is undeniable.

There is a buzz here 24 hours a day. This makes it ideal for people-watching, a favorite pastime of locals. 

Here you can find cheap, but very good restaurants, CD and even record shops, sidewalk vendors selling funky jewelry, rock and roll T-shirts, crazy wigs and so much more. 

9. Have a Drink at a Speakeasy, Pub or Dive Bar

With dozens and dozens of watering holes in the neighborhood, it is hard to pick out the best bars in the East Village.

Here are the top spots by type of atmosphere.

• Zum Schneider
• Burp Castle

Speakeasy/Cocktail Lounges

• Please Don't Tell
• Angel's Share
• The Ready Rooftop Bar
• 7B  (aka Horseshoe Bar) 

If you prefer to have someone guide you to the best spots, there are plenty of great pub crawls and cocktail tours in NYC.

10. Shop for Vintage Clothes 

No other neighborhood comes close to the quantity and quality of the vintage, thrift, and designer consignment shops. 

Here are some of the best vintage shops:

• No Relation Vintage - 204 1st Ave
• Cure Thrift - 111 E. 12th St.
• East Village Thrift Store - 186 2nd Ave
• AuH2O - 84 E. 7th St
• Buffalo Exchange - 332 E 11th St

For vintage shopping aficionados, you can take this highly-rated  vintage shopping tour !

For a list of other types of one-of-a-kind shops, see below .

PLAN YOUR VISIT

The East Village is known for its edgy vibe, vibrant nightlife, inexpensive delicious food, and unique shopping. 

For history lovers, there is a lot to see in the East Village.

If you do decide to check out this neighborhood like no other in NYC, here’s our guide to the East Village

How To Get Here

The East Village is located within the greater Lower Manhattan District.

It is surrounded by Greenwich Village to its west, the Lower East Side to its south, the East River to its east, and Midtown Manhattan to its north.

Regardless of how you get here, we recommend using this Google Maps link to get directions to the East Village .

Multiple subway lines take you to different parts of the East Village. 

• 6 train to Bleecker Street Station or Astor Place on the western boundary
• N or R trains to 8th Street - NYU Station
• F train to 2nd Avenue
• L train to 1st Avenue 

Take a look at our posts on the subway for helpful tips:

• Navigating the Subway System
• Which MetroCard to Buy

How Much Time To Spend Here

To get a feel for the East Village, including sampling some great (and inexpensive) food, check out some unique shops, and do some people-watching, give yourself about 3 hours.  

If you want to enjoy a sit-down meal instead of snacking, set aside 4-5 hours. 

Add in another 2 hours if you want to see live music, attend a slam poetry reading, or see a performance.

Sample East Village Itinerary 

• It is best to visit midday as the neighborhood is less active in the morning. 
• Start at Astor Place and use our self-guided tour or explore as you like.
• Stop for a bite at one of the restaurants recommended below then continue with the self-guided tour if you wish. 
• Along your way, do some shopping or relax in Tompkins Square Park or a community garden 
• For those who like a good drink, enjoy great savings during “ Happy Hour ” (usually between 4 pm and 7 pm) in one of the many bars in the East Village.
• For an evening out, you can have a sit-down meal or grab a snack then enjoy a comedy show or theater performance .

Nearby Neighborhoods

When you are done visiting the East Village, you can walk west to Greenwich Village or north to Union Square and Gramercy Park . 

For more of the East Village vibe, but a bit more laid back, head south to the Lower East Side .

From there, continue south to Chinatown for a total change of pace and great, cheap food!

RESTAURANTS 

It is quite a task to choose from among the hundreds of dining options in the neighborhood.

Not only is the food quite inexpensive, but ethnic diversity is also unbeatable. 

Rather than recommend by price point, we have chosen the best of the many cuisines you can find here. 

Note that all these restaurants are kid-friendly for children who like a variety of flavors.

Price range: $5-$20 per person . 

• Japanese Ramen Ippudo   
• Jewish Food B & H Dairy (Open since 1938!)
• Ukrainian Veselka
• Moroccan  Café Mogador
• Thai  Somtum Der
• Vietnamese Madame Vo
• Hot Dogs Crif Dogs
• Chinese  Hunan Slurp
• Vegetarian  Superiority Burger
• Indian Malai Marke or any of the restaurants in “Little India” on  E. 6th Street between 1st and 2nd Aves
• Late-Night Snacks - Ray’s Candy Store

These restaurants will cost a bit more, between $20-40 per person . They are well worth the cost.

• Deli  Katz's Deli
• Italian  Franks
• Sushi  Hasaki  
• Pizza  Johns of 12th Street  
• Venieros Pastry
• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream  
• Public Theater

  Live Music

• DROM Live performance of diverse bands playing rock, jazz, electronica, hip-hop, and world music.
• Parkside Lounge Eclectic array of live music including acoustic and electric performances. 
• Rockwood Music Hall 3 stages seven days per week
• Webster Hall

Performances and Readings

• The Red Room at KGB Bar    
• Nuyorican Poets Cafe   

Comedy 

• New York Comedy Club   
• Laughing Buddha  
• Anthology Film Archives
• Angelika Film Center

The East Village is known for its unique shops:

Strand Book Store

This is one of NY's most legendary bookstores.

The Strand sells new books at concessionary prices, used books at a bargain, and rare books for reasonable prices.

Toy Tokyo  

A small shop jam-packed with anime figures, collectibles & art toys.  

Obscura Antiques & Oddities

A quirky store with curiosities like skulls & taxidermied animals.

A-1 Record Shop

The East Village was for decades a mecca of vinyl record stores. Many have closed over the years, but some great ones, like this one, remain.

SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF THE EAST VILLAGE

This tour starts at Astor Place. Use this Google map link  for directions . 

This map is interactive. Click on the square icon on the top right of the map to open to a larger view.

A - Astor Place 

This short two-block street, running east from Broadway to Lafayette Street is named after John Jacob Astor, who was the richest person in America when he died in 1848.

At this intersection is a large pedestrian triangle called Alamo Plaza named after artist Tony Rosenthal’s 1967 sculpture “Alamo”, a massive eight-foot-square steel cube painted solid black.

The Alamo is more fondly known by locals as The Cube and is a popular meeting place.

Stop B - Astor Place Theater and Colonnade Row

Home to the Blue Man Group performance troupe, the Astor Theater is located in what were once the private homes of some of New York City’s wealthiest families, like the Astors and the Vanderbilts back in the 1830s. 

Originally there were nine Greek Revival mansions known as Colonnade Row.

Of the nine buildings, only these four remain and were among the first buildings to gain landmark status in 1965 under the city’s newly created Landmark Preservation laws.

Stop C - The Mosaic Trail 

Throughout the streets of the East Village, you will see street lamp posts decorated with bits of broken china and tile, mirror shards, and any other colorful free materials that the “Mosaic Man” could find.

These lamp posts are the markers of the Mosaic Trail. ( Here’s a map of most of the lampposts ).

Since the late 1980s, Jim Power, a Vietnam War veteran (nicknamed Mosaic Man by The Village Voice newspaper), has been creating these whimsical mosaics without any financial support other than donations of items to decorate the poles.

Many of them commemorate important events in New York history or people from the neighborhood.

At first, he was a target of the city’s Anti-Graffiti Task Force, but now he is allowed to work his magic with official city permission.

Stop D - Cooper Union at Cooper Square and Astor Place

This highly prestigious and competitive private college was founded in 1859 by industrialist/philanthropist Peter Cooper, who believed that a good education should be available to everyone regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or social/economic status.

He mandated that the school would always be tuition-free and it wasn't until 2015 that a financial fiasco caused the school to lose its massive endowments and Cooper Union now charges $40,000 a year.

The building is most famous for the prominent individuals who have spoken there. In 1860, the then-presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln gave his famous "Right Makes Might" anti-slavery speech.

More recently, President Barack Obama spoke there in 2010.

Stop E - McSorley's Old Ale House  15 E. 7th St. bet. Bowery and 2nd Ave

McSorley's is one of the oldest alehouses in New York, opened in 1854. This bar is included in our Self-Guided Historic New York City Bar Tour .

McSorley’s has served up its home-brewed ale to notables Abraham Lincoln, Babe Ruth, and Theodore Roosevelt.

The décor – from sawdust on the floor to the long wooden bar that serves only beer – is like a time capsule.

Whether or not you order a pint of beer, step inside to see the hundreds of photos and memorabilia on the wall.

Stop F - German-American Shooting Society Clubhouse  12 St. Marks Place bet. 3rd and 2nd Aves.

At the time the DeutscheAmerikanische Schützen Gesellschaft clubhouse was built in 1888, the East Village had a huge German immigrant population and the neighborhood was known as KleinDeutschland (Little Germany).

This building is one of a handful of reminders that the area was once primarily German-speaking.

Look up at the façade of the building to see the engraving that reads “ Einigkeit Macht Stark” (“Unity provides strength”).

Stop G - Hamilton-Holly House 4 St. Marks Place bet. 3rd and 2nd Aves.

Named for Alexander Hamilton’s widow who lived there in the 1830s, this mid-19th century Federal-style building is an elegant standout on what was once one of the city’s fashionable upper-class streets.

Stop H - Ottendorfer Library  2nd Ave bet. St. Marks Place and 9th St

Founded in 1884, Oswald Ottendorfer, editor of a widely read German-American journal, helped create one of New York City’s first free libraries.

Ottendorfer wanted to help German immigrants assimilate into American society with access to reading materials.

Next door is the Die Deutsche Poliklinik (German Dispensary), financed by Oswald’s wife, Anna Ottendorfer, to provide poor German Americans with free healthcare.

Stop I - Fillmore East  102 2nd Ave bet. 6th and 7th Sts.

From 1968 to 1971, the ground floor of this building (now a bank) was the Fillmore East, the East Coast counterpart to hippie/music promoter Bill Graham’s Fillmore in San Francisco.

Though only opened for four years, dozens of the best musicians and bands of the 1960s and early 1970s appeared on its stage including Jimi Hendrix, Tina Turner, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Chuck Berry, Miles Davis and so many more musical legends.

Stop J - George and Ira Gershwin's Home 91 2nd Ave bet 5th and 6th Sts.

This was the childhood home of these brothers, two of the greatest song composers of all time.

Their individual and collaborative pieces include the overtures Rhapsody in Blue , Strike up the Band , and the musical Porgy and Bess . (image to the right)

Stop K - New Middle Collegiate Church 112 2nd Ave bet. 6th and 7th Sts. 

The congregation was founded in 1628 and is one of the oldest continuous Protestant congregations in North America.

The church was built in 1891 and is known for its Tiffany stained-glass windows.

Stop L - Yiddish Theater Walk of Fame  corner of 2nd Ave and 10th St.

In the 1880s to the 1920s 2nd Avenue between 10th Street and Houston Street was known as the ‘Yiddish Rialto’ because of the nearly two dozen theaters that put on dramatic plays, operettas, and comedies performed in Yiddish.

Yiddish Theater was enormously popular in the East Village and many of the performers went on to have successful careers outside the Yiddish Theater.

The Walk of Fame, which are plaques placed on the sidewalk, commemorates some of the most beloved Yiddish Theater.

Embedded in the sidewalk are plaques with the names of the great Yiddish theater performers including Fyvush Finkel, known for his role in the TV series Picket Fences .

Stop M - St. Marks on the Bowery 131 E 10th St.

This is one of the oldest sites of continuous worship in the city, built in 1799 on the Stuyvesant estate.

Peter Stuyvesant was the last Dutch colonial governor of New Amsterdam before the British took control of the colony and renamed it the City of New York.

Stuyvesant is entombed in the church’s graveyard.

The church itself shares space with several arts organizations, including Danspace and the Poetry Project known for its Annual New Year’s Day Marathon Reading -- 24 hours of poetry readings by such luminaries as Eric Bogosian, John Cage, Yoko Ono, Amiri Baraka, Patti Smith, and Philip Glass.

Stop N - Tompkins Square Park Ave A to Ave B and E. 7th St. to E.10th St. 

The heart of the East Village, this park is named for Daniel D. Tompkins, once Governor of New York (1807-1817).

This piece of land was part of the massive Stuyvesant estate during the 17th century.

By the 19th century, Tompkins had purchased the land and it was marked for development as a public square.

The Square was the site of two serious New York City protests, in 1857 and again in 1875, over the bad economy and lack of jobs.

In 1878, the square was landscaped into a park that was enjoyed by the primarily German residents of KleinDeutschland .

By the 1980s the East Village had become a dangerous neighborhood and the park was a safe haven for the homeless who would sleep in the park in a small make-shift community.

At the same time, the area was becoming gentrified and the radical, open-minded spirit of the East Village was being replaced by greed and high rents.

On July 31, 1988, the police suddenly and unexpectedly enforced the park’s 1 a.m. curfew, essentially telling locals, homeless or not, ‘get out of your park now’.

A week later a protest was held against the gentrification of the neighborhood.

Clashes between protestors and the police became two days of rioting, with the police being blamed by newspapers, activists, and local politicians, for the escalation of violence.

Over 100 complaints of police brutality were filed.

The Tompkins Square Park Riot has been commemorated in a scene in the musical Rent and a song by famed musician Lou Reed.

Stop O - Charlie Parker’s house 151 Ave B bet. 10th and 9th St.

Legendary jazz saxophonist lived with his family in this landmark brownstone from 1950 to 1954.

It was here that he composed some of his most influential works.

Stop P - Former site of CBGBs (John Varvatos shop) 315 Bowery bet. 1st and 2nd St.

At this location in 1974, a live music venue opened and it was called Country Bluegrass Blues and Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers .

This became known by the now-famous acronym CBGB and OMFUG .

CBGBs is the birthplace of punk rock, at least in the United States.

It all started with The Ramones, a group of long-haired, leather-clad guys from Forest Hills, Queens.

Other bands that got their start at CBGBs are Blondie, the Talking Heads, The Police, Patti Smith, and dozens of other punk/new wave bands.

By the 1990s, the neighborhood had become gentrified with new luxury boutique hotels and restaurants.

Rents sky-rocketed and CBGBs weren’t turning a profit.

It was forced to close in 2006. The site is now a John Varvatos menswear boutique.

Knowing that the site would be a shrine to CBGBs, the store covered its walls with original memorabilia, posters, and albums of the bands that performed at the club.

Step inside the shop, they are very welcoming to people who want to say they stood on sacred ground.

Just for fun, here’s a  video of Blondie performing at CBGBs in 1977 .

RELATED POSTS:

• Things to Do in Greenwich Village
• Things to Do in the Lower East Side

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22 Restaurants That Define the East Village

Japanese, Mexican, Moroccan, Indian, Italian, Chinese, Burmese, and Pakistani — it’s all here in one of the best dining neighborhoods in the city

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Share All sharing options for: 22 Restaurants That Define the East Village

Culinarily, the East Village is one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods. The area has long supported an immigrant population — but it’s also a magnet for younger New Yorkers from all over the city. Here, you’ll find restaurants serving Mexican, South American, Dominican, Korean, Tibetan, Philippine, Thai, and Italian fare, among many others, and over the last decade, the neighborhood has attracted so many Chinese restaurants that it has become a Chinatown unto itself. Pick the food from a country or region, and we bet you can find it there.

But where is “there”? The disputed boundaries go from the north side of Houston to the south side of 14th Street, and from Third Avenue to the East River, thus including what is now called Alphabet City (largely due to the musical Rent ) and even Cooper Square. Take a walk along the neighborhood’s three-block backbone of St. Marks Place to get an inkling of the range of dining options, from french fry-stuffed burritos to Moroccan tagines.

East Village Thai restaurants have long stretched the dining public’s idea of the cuisine. The food of the Chinese community within Bangkok is one example. In this vein, Soothr showcases koong karee, a colorful dish of shrimp in egg sauce. Other highlights involve food from Central Thailand’s Sukothai, where two of the owners, Kittiya Mokkarat and Supatta Banklouy, come from. A third owner, Chidensee Watthanawongwat, hails from Isan.

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YGF Malatang

This Chinese chain with 6,700 branches in Asia specializes in malatang. Pick from among 60 ingredients in tubs deliver them to the rear counter, where they are confiscated and cooked, then delivered to your table when a number is called out and you respond. Three treatments are available including bone broth at three levels of spiciness (Sichuan peppercorns provide some of the heat), a sweet-and-sour tomato broth, and dressed with a peanut sauce and no broth.

The city’s collection of upscale regional Indian restaurants is ongoing, and Jazba is one of the latest additions. Occupying the sainted location of the former Momofuku Ssam Bar, it boasts an interior decorated with pastel murals of street vendors, and there’s an enclosed front porch looking out on bustling Second Avenue. Highly recommended dishes include green chili chicken that the menu attributes to Telangana, and fried chicken from Bangalore.

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Veeray Da Dhaba

Channeling a roadside snack shack in Punjab, Veeray da Dhaba is the brainchild of Indian fine-dining veterans, Sonny Solomon, Hemant Mathur, and Binder Saini. The restaurant offers what is usually displayed on steam tables at Indian buffets, only hiked up a few notches. Goat biryani is one highlight, and so is the saag paneer with cheese made in-house, a fish fry from Amritsar, and an exquisite tandoori chicken.

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Owner Bobian Demce opened this Albanian cafe in a former tailor shop in 2018. It offers all the usual Balkan specialties, from flaky byrek pies stuffed with spinach and cheese to the grilled and skinless ground-beef sausages called qebapa, which arrive smothered in cream sauce. There are also vegetable-heavy casseroles, grilled kebabs and chops, and desserts like baklava. A conventional hamburger is also available.

If the name implies a certain clinical precision at this omakase joint with slightly lower prices in the East Village, so be it. The atmosphere is serene, the furniture comfortable, and the fish of top quality, delivered one piece at a time to your table or the sushi bar. So, don your lab coat and dine.

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While most Chinese restaurants in the East Village specialize in noodles, soups, dumplings, and other budget-friendly dishes, Uluh offers a contemporary Chinese menu that could as easily be found in Flushing, with items like fish with pickled chile, stir-fried okra in XO sauce, and mapo tofu with duck blood curd. There are Sichuan dishes, too, but diners will find ones originating in several other Chinese regions.

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A New York City icon, Veselka has been serving Ukrainian diner fare to the neighborhood since 1954. Pierogi are an obvious order, available in flavors like potato, cheese, and short rib. Other Ukrainian specialties like borscht and veal goulash are also offered, but a sleeper hit is the giant platter piled high with pierogi, meat-stuffed cabbage, and beet horseradish salad. Go at just about any hour for comforting nourishment and a slice of New York life. Come Memorial Day, the restaurant will reinstate 24-7 hours.

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There are currently several branches of this Chinese chain in the metro area, including one in Jersey City , specializing in Hunan and Sichuan cuisines. Century egg and eggplant is a good bet here, featuring the two ingredients coarsely squished together in a mortar, amplified by fresh green chiles. The fish head is probably the Hunan’s most famous dish, and here it comes with more flesh than usually found in this eat-everything-including-the-cheeks-and-eyes delicacy.

Streecha may be the East Village’s most under-the-radar restaurant, located in the basement of a law office on a side street, approached via a nearly unmarked stairway. Once inside , find a wonderfully plain room with a counter at the end where you order from a very short hand-scrawled Ukrainian menu. The choice of pierogis, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and borscht is quintessential.

B&H Dairy

This enduring Jewish dairy luncheonette — open since 1938 — is now run by Polish Catholic Ola Smigielska and Egyptian Muslim Fawzy Abdelwahed, and remains a pescatarian and vegetarian wonder in the neighborhood. Dishes include tuna melts on challah, cheese pierogis, omelets, and berry-bulging blintzes. And let’s not forget its amazing vegetarian soups: Mushroom barley, cabbage, and matzoh ball are favorites. Served with buttered challah made on the premises, they’re bargain meal mainstays.

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Electric Burrito

This burrito spot, which serves tacos and carne asada fries, caused a sensation when it opened on St. Marks Place last year for putting french fries in its burritos in San Diego style. The menu is divided into breakfast burritos and those that can be eaten around the clock. A favorite is the Johnny Utah, filled with carne asada and shrimp.

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Cafe Mogador

Founded by Rivka Orlin in 1983, Cafe Mogador was a pioneer in the East Village dining scene back in the day when options were mainly limited to Italian, Eastern European, and Latin American fare. The menu was a novelty, focusing on the cuisine of the Moroccan Jewish community, which meant a plethora of small appetizing dishes based on vegetables and yogurt, and mains that focused on tajines and couscous — all served in a laid-back, coffeehouse setting.

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Kolachi is like a Pakistani food stall in a market magically transported to the East Village, by Kiran Lutfeali and Saif Qazi. Aside from soft beverages it sells only three things: paratha rolls in either chicken or beef (pick the chicken) and fries lightly dusted with spices. You could fall in love with the output of this fast food spot, gleaming late into the night, where you stand and eat.

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Superiority Burger

When Superiority Burger made its epic move around the corner onto Tompkins Square Park from sleepy 9th Street, few imagined the vastly expanded restaurant that was in the offing. Occupying a former Ukrainian diner, it retained much of the timeworn decor and dropped a menu that seemed like a greatest hits of the old place, plus all sorts of newfangled concepts. But, yes, the veggie burger remains at its heart, plus cocktails, funnel cakes, collard greens sandwiches, and plenty of other diverting items.

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Da Radda is an Argentinean restaurant with an appealing wine list that also includes Chilean vintages. It’s owned by Sergio Raddavero and focuses on the country’s Italian-influenced cuisine, rather than the steaks that characterize most of the city’s Argentinean restaurants. That means an emphasis on a few kinds of pasta, as well as antipasti, risottos, eggplant and veal Parms, and some rather unusual pizzas, such as a fugazza made from onions and cheese.

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Downtown Burritos

When Downtown Bakery closed — retaining the name of an Italian bakery that occupied the same real estate in the last century — we thought it would never reopen. But lo and behold, it finally did, with nearly the same menu chalked on the wall over the counter, with a couple of additions like steak chilaquiles and a vegan tamale that’s one of the better offerings. Still, the new name reflects the most popular dish: burritos, both breakfast and regular.

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What if what is principally visited as a breakfast sandwich place also made its own bread and other baked goods? The result is breakfast nirvana at this small spot with a big following and mostly outdoor seating that overlooks Tompkins Square Park. The chorizo and egg sandwich is probably the most opulent variation on the bacon, egg, and cheese around.

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El Rinconcito

It opened in 1994, but closed down a couple of years ago, only to reopen at this brand new location on Avenue C. El Rinconcito has retained its menu of Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban fare, centered on various forms of mofongo, the dome of mashed plantain that can be flavored and extended in dozens of different ways. The usual pernil and rotisseries chicken are also available, and the place now looks like a gleaming diner by the highway.

Little Myanmar

Tiny premises belie a sprawling menu at this Burmese restaurant that started out as a stall in a Queens subway station run by family owners Thidar Kyaw, Tin Ko Naing, and Yun Naing. The menu is unique, with many ingredients not often found in other Southeast Asian cuisines presented. A tea leaf salad flavored with fermented leaves is a case in point, and so is chicken paratha — a rich soup with rafts of floating flatbread.

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The latest restaurant from Roberta’s owners Carlo Mirarchi and Brandon Hoy is Foul Witch, located in a cave of a place with mysterious diagrams on the walls and a wood-burning oven. It turns out lots of good and sometimes surprising dishes, such as a roasted goat neck, a wiggly block of head cheese, purple potatoes coated with paddlefish roe, and tripe grilled with mint in the Roman style. This is one restaurant that will never bore you.

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New York Sandwich Tour

Description

Join your fellow sandwich lovers on this fun, delicious, and thought-provoking food tour as we feast on amazing sandwiches in New York City.

Together we will visit foodie destinations that only NYC locals know about as we debate the question "what is a sandwich?", and answer it by eating different types of delicious sandwiches.

In addition to the delicious sandwiches, you will also hear stories about the history of the sandwich, and the people who make them. We'll also discover street art and learn about the history of New York too.

Come with an open mind, and leave with a FULL stomach (and an answer to whether or not a hotdog, a burger or a taco is a sandwich).

*Vegetarian options available, but not vegan or gluten-free (sorry!)

**Private tours are available for corporate teams. As experienced by Amazon, Google, Audible and more. 

***Don't see a day/time that suits you? Ask us for a new time and we can try to accommodate.

51 Astor Place New York New York

Professional tour guide (approx. half a sandwich at each destination)

Tips and gratuity, other expenses during the tour aside from the inclusions above, things to know, food safety.

We are not a licensed food handler nor any type of guarantor of food safety. While our goal is for you to experience and try famous New York sandwiches, we still recommend knowing your health restrictions beforehand for you to fully enjoy this tour.

Our top priority is the safety of all our participants. We want you to explore and enjoy your sandwich tour without any worry. We follow governmental policies and restrictions.

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• About NY Food Tours

Posts Tagged ‘East Village Food Tour’

Cuckoo for suco.

Since summer officially began last Monday, the weather has been nothing been hot, hot, hot! With the humidity so high that it leaves us feeling uncomfortably warm and sticky, and with only occasional wafts of fresh, cool air, it’s no wonder that everybody wants to stay still and limit as much movement as they can.

Still, how can we let a day go to waste? After all, summer means longer days. The sun is like a temptress, enchanting us with its bright rays to play with her. We want to resist, but we can’t, and somehow we find ourselves outside, sweating like we’ve never sweat before. We’re doomed before the day even begins.

(Source: gothamist.com)

Luckily, to counter the effects of the hot and humid air, there is an excellent solution: ICE CREAM. Yes, with the weather we’ve been having, it is definitely appropriate to scream for ice cream. And where else to get the best ice cream than Sundaes and Cones on E. 10 th St. between 3 rd and 4 th Avenue?

Sundaes and Cones is a local ice cream shop in the East Village that is known for its premium quality ice cream. Rich and creamy, the ice cream from “SuCo”—as the locals call it—beats any other ice cream you have tried. In fact, SuCo is even more popular because it features unusual yet distinct flavors like Wasabi, Corn, Ginger, and even Sesame!

(Source: yelp.com)

For a wafer/sugar cone or a cup, SuCo charges $3 for 1 scoop; $4.29 for 2 scoops; and $5.54 for 3 scoops. For a waffle cone/bowl, it is $4.01 for 1 scoop; $5.31 for 2 scoops; and $6.55 for 3 scoops. While the ice cream tends to be pricier at this local parlor, it surely makes up for the cost with its high quality ingredients. Once you go “SuCo,” you can’t go back!

Just like this store, the East Village is filled with other restaurants, cafes, and dessert shops that can amaze your taste buds. Did you know that you can find takoyakis , rice balls, falafels, cannolis, Belgium fries , etc. all in the East Village? There are so many eateries featuring different cultures in this area that make it impossible for you to try all cuisines in a limited time.

That is why New York Food Tours is a great way to experience the gastronomic aspect of the East Village . We make sure we take you to all the best spots and have tastings of all the best “good eats” so that you leave feeling satisfied and more knowledgeable about the East Village . You don’t know what takoyakis are? You’ll try them on this tour . Never tried a falafel? Don’t worry! Join our tour so that next time, you can be just like a local and wow your friends!

East Village: New York’s Diverse Neighborhoods

The  East Village is an area that spans east of Bowery from Houston Street to 14th Street, and it represents a multi-cultural and dynamic neighborhood in New York City.  It has been home to numerous immigrant populations creating a diverse area that includes Ukrainian, Polish, Irish, Jewish, Japanese, and Indian cultures.  Additionally, the East Village has been home to artists, writers, and musicians. Currently it has a significant student population due to its proximity to NYU, the New School, and Cooper Union.

To experience the East Village’s cultures and history, you can taste your way through the many different cuisines to be found in this multi-cultural epicenter.   New York Food Tours leads walking culinary tours through this neighborhood, highlighting important architectural sites including  St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowery Church (the second oldest church in Manhattan),  Cooper Union (a free college established by inventor and philanthropist Peter Cooper), and McSorely’s Ale House (the oldest bar in Manhattan). It also takes you through the vibrant St. Mark’s Place, with its culturally diverse shops, coffee shops, bars, and restaurants.

Known as the East Village Food Tour , this educational and delicious tour includes tastings of many of the neighborhoods delectable treasures: Belgian fries, falafel, Italian pastries, and Japanese takoyaki, and Taiwanese bubble teas. Afterwards you will feel like you went through several different countries in a matter of a few hours!

Japan in New York

If you walk in the East Village, or at least the area around St. Marks St. around 3rd Avenue, you will see a trend of  Japanese supermarkets, bakeries, restaurants, and hair salons. This provides anyone a sense of how living in Japan is like without traveling having to there! Many college students from NYU, Parsons, and Cooper Union roam this area looking for cheap eats and in Japantown. Therefore, you can find affordable and delicious dishes to eat. At New York Food Tours , we bring you to the best eating establishments to sample and learn about the development of this neighborhood. Some places to highlight include:

• Otafuku – The most authentic eatery serving takoyaki (Japanese  octopus balls ), okonomiyaki, and yakisoba. It is a small stand and normally people stand outside eating their food.
• Yakitori Taisho – This is known for its yakitori (grilled meat sticks) and numerous other cheap Japanese dishes.
• West Udon – This restaurant specializes in making udon, and has seats at the bar so you can watch them make your bowl of udon.
• Sunrise Mart – A supermarket that has everything one would need, including Japanese snacks and vegetables, along with Japanese drinks, cosmetics, and sauces. You can find rice balls with a variety of fillings and Japanese cookie sticks like Pocky!

This excludes all the sushi restaurants in the area and there are plenty of those that are cheap. This is a really fun area to explore and experience a piece of Japan while being in New York! Check out more details on our site and be sure to book quickly while the nice weather lasts.

Pomme Frites: Once You Pop, You Just Can’t Stop

On our East Village Tour , you get to experience premium and unique Belgian fries. Pomme Frites, with over 990 reviews on Yelp and every review site rating it almost perfect, is an essential destination for any New Yorker or tourist. They have over 25 different flavorful, exotic, and delicious sauces ranging from Mango Mayo to Irish Curry! Then you have their Belgian fries that are freshly cut everyday just right in the back of the eatery. Their potatoes are fried twice to its perfection: first time the potatoes are cooked through, and the second time provides the golden and crispiness to the fries.

With every bite you experience a small crunch and then an explosion of flavor from your dipping sauce. The most fun and unique part is just trying various SAUCES because they can be sweet or savory having Asian, European, and American influences. One of the most popular flavors is Vietnamese Pineapple Mayo . You can taste the sweet flavor of the pineapple combined with garlic and mayo, giving the sauce more intensity and fattiness. When you eat sauces like Parmesan Peppercorn Mayo , it is as if you are eating cheese or peppercorns itself; the flavors permeate your mouth, leaving you astounded by its blaring similarity to the original food. Other sauces like Peanut Satay or Barbeque remind you of eating meat instead of fries because they providing smoky sweet flavors. All sauces should be sampled, savored, and tried again.

By the time you reach the last fry, it is guaranteed that your mouth will yearn for more. On our East Village tour, you are able to try at least 7 different sauces at once with their homemade tasty Belgian fries. Check out what other delicious food you are going to taste on our east village tour at http://foodtoursofny.com/p/EV.html !

A Tasty Japanese Street Snack – Takoyaki at Otafuku

A crowd stands outside a tiny hole-in-the-wall stand on 9 th Street, between 2 nd and 3 rd Avenue. As you look closer, you see that most of them are eating small balls covered in a dark sauce.  Takoyaki , known as Japanese octopus balls, is a street snack that is widely popular in Japan. This dish has made its mark here to Japanese and Americans alike. Otafuku is where you can get one of the most tasty and authentic takoyaki in New York City. On the East Village tour , this destination is one of the highlights where you can experience real Japanese street food!

Served straight off the takoyaki cast iron pan, you can feel the heat emanating from the plate. Take one bite and you find yourself pleasantly surprised, tasting both sweet and savory flavors. The octopus in the middle provides a nice chewiness through the dense batter and katsuobushi (fish shavings) enhances the seafood intensity. The ponzu brings the acidity that cuts the oil and the okonomiyaki sauce adds another layer of sweetness. There is also mayonnaise that brings out fatty flavor to the takoyaki. Immense pleasure overcomes you; your stomach satisfied.

You get to try takoyaki and Otafuku on our East Village Tour ! Please check out our website for more details. Be sure to give us your impression on this dish when you participate in our food tour!

Bon Chon – Fried Chicken for the Korean Soul

Bon Chon, also known as Korean Fried Chicken, is the famous and trendiest wing available in New York City, the center of culinary arts! The New York Food Tours team ventures into Boka , where Bon Chon is served. We cannot wait to taste and experience their popular spicy wings.

Can we say tempting and tantalizing? We quickly munch away at these small crispy pieces of fried chicken. Even though they are not that spicy, they are good enough so you can taste the little kick of heat in your tongue. It is not oily or sticky like Buffalo wings, but it is just as tasty if not more so. We notice that all the other patrons order bon chon with beer just like they would with Buffalo wings. Who can go wrong with that combination? You are guaranteed tasty bar and snack food by ordering both beer and wings.

Boka is one of the restaurants you walk past when you go on our Original East Village Food Tasting and Cultural Tour , so make sure to check it out. You get to experience many other restaurants and different foods in the East Village, so be sure to prepare your stomach for a culinary and historic adventure.

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EAST VILLAGE BLOCK PARTY (EVBP)

We cover several blocks in the East Village with different stops than our East Village Variety Tour. Tour runs on varied days on a limited basis from spring to fall. Allow 3.5 hours. Tour meets outside Grand Central Terminal. One ride or unlimited card or OMNY payment required for the tour. Please arrive with your subway payment ready. Add one ride if you are using the subway after the tour. Tour ends in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. This tour will resume in 2024.

This is a scheduled public tour with individual ticket sales and each guest requires a ticket. This tour runs on a limited basis from March to November. Tours do not run during winter from early January to mid-March but you can book a private tour based on availability. The calendar code for this tour is EVBP. Tours with calendar codes are noted. This tour uses the subway and a card (subway pass) or per-ride OMNY (One Metro New York) contactless credit, debit, reloadable prepaid card or digital wallet on your mobile phone payment system is required and you are required to have it when you arrive. Tours do not wait.

Food On Foot Tours are a QUALITY FRESH FOOD EATING TOUR. We are not a sampling, gourmet, food preparation or history tour. We talk about the neighborhoods to give you a flavor (we had to do it) of the area but we are all about the eating and meeting others. You choose what you like at each stop and how much with either a ticket with a food credit included or you can pay-as-you-go (most people spend about $20 per person on the tours based on sharing). The tour will replace a meal and maybe two meals if you’re really full or skip a meal. There’ll be plenty of food on the tour. All our stops are a surprise. The anticipation is part of the fun. We want you to experience the city the way New Yorkers do at the smaller authentic places where locals eat. There are sometimes waits at each stop while food is prepared and all our guests finish. That’s why we are a true meet mingle tour. We designed the tours to give you time to take in real non-tourist New York neighborhoods in a relaxed manner while meeting others.

Tour Information

Helpful Tips For East Village Block Party Food On Foot Tour

This tour resumes in 2024

• This guided tour includes walking and the subway. A MetroCard or OMNY (subway pass/payment is required) of one or two rides, if you are using the subway after. You may also use an unlimited MetroCard.  
• This tour ends within walking distance of the subway.
• You choose what you like and how much at every stop. You eat WHAT YOU LIKE!
• Our tours go up to 40 people and are designed differently than a standard food tour.
• Our tours are surprise tours. We don’t tell you the stops because the anticipation of the next stop is more fun.
• Our stops are brick and mortar (storefronts). We do not go to food trucks.
• Our stops are all local and sometimes small.
• This tour has a minimum of four stops and includes one or more sweet stops.
• All or most stops have vegetarian options.
• Gluten free options are available at some but not all stops. Check with us before you book because tour stops can change. Vegan options cannot be guaranteed. 
• Tours are rain or shine.
• Not all stops have seating but we will accommodate you if needed, when possible.
• Come hungry and eat lightly in the morning if you have a lunch tour and eat a light lunch or snack if you have an afternoon or dinner tour.

Meeting The Tour

Accessibility, Transportation & Tickets

• Meeting points are clearly noted and simple directions are given on your confirmation to help you meet the group. This tour meets outside Grand Central Terminal. 
• Your confirmation is your ticket. The tour guide will have a list with your name. There are no physical tickets.
• You must show up with your subway pass or payment ready system (OMNY). Tours will not wait for you to purchase your card. It is not fair to people who show up on time to be waiting.
• You must arrive at 15 minutes early for check-in. If you do not, you risk missing the tour and we do not issue refunds under ANY circumstances. Our tickets are the same as any concert, performance or sporting event. They do not issue refunds if you don’t show up and neither do we. 
• Since we are dealing with restaurants and transit, tour times are realistic estimates only.
• Unlike some tours our guide will not just leave you. At the end of the tour your guide will give you directions (by subway or walking) to your next stop. Tour lengths listed do not include return to your next stop once the tour ends.
• We always have at least one stop with a toilet but we recommend you leave extra time at arrival to use the facilities at or near whatever location we are meeting at.
• Not all tours are handicapped accessible. You must make arrangements with us in advance if you need assistance or have special requirements.  Since we do not have our own facilities we must work within the parameters of the city itself to accommodate special requests.
• We offer different ticket levels based on cancellation options and whether you’d like food included or you’d prefer to pay-as-you-go. No matter what ticket you pick you choose what you like on the tour.
• If you choose a pay-as-you go ticket or have any ticket where food is not included we recommend having at least twenty dollars cash in person in smaller bills.
• If you are getting tickets through a partner program only tickets offered by that program are valid for that tour. Tickets CANNOT be changed once purchased. Check your program for details and requirements.
• Tickets are sold via our website and we recommend advance purchase as tours often sell out. Walk-ups are welcome based on availability for Gold Tickets only. Walk-up tickets are cash only and exact change is required.
• This tour is handicapped accessible by arranging a meeting point in advance at a location after the group exits the subway.