New York’s first dedicated food tour company remains one of its best. They offer five different Manhattan tours, including trips to Chelsea, Chinatown and Nolita. Our favorite, however, is this culinary journey through the heart of Greenwich Village. Sample hand-made pasta, famous oatmeal cookies and Indian kati rolls as you explore the streets surrounding Washington Square Park – an area once frequented by the likes of Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix.

The founder of Nice Guy Tours, Dante Mercadante, is a lifelong New Yorker and former stand-up comedian. During his tour of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, you’ll visit renowned Jewish eateries, like Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery, Russ & Daughters, and – of course – Katz’s Deli. Expect epic rugelach, bialys, and pastrami – not to mention fascinating history – in a neighbourhood that was once the most densely populated on earth!

This pay-what-you-like walking tour delves into the vibrant cuisine, history and culture of Manhattan’s East Village. Between food stops, you’ll pass an iconic rock venue, a legendary punk outfitter, and the site of a famous Abraham Lincoln speech. To eat, they’ll be Ukrainian pierogies, pizza, and vegan empanadas, plus nostalgic sweet treats from the hugely popular Milk Bar.

Of course, as you’d expect, Chinatown is home to some of New York’s most delicious Chinese food – soup dumplings anyone?! However, it’s also a diverse centre for many other Asian cuisines, including Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Japanese. This tasting tour is a chance to sample the neighbourhood’s essential flavors – from honey-glazed barbecue pork to moreish wasabi peas – while learning more about the experiences of those immigrants who shaped it.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Mulberry Street was at the heart of Manhattan’s Little Italy. Back then, it was a lively thoroughfare crowded with pushcarts, market stalls and organ grinders. Today, this three-hour tour is a chance to explore the street’s rich history, plus darker tales of true crime and mafia plotting. Along the way, you’ll enjoy great pizza and pasta, Spanish churros and paella, Vietnamese springs rolls, and Chinese desserts.

Hidden NYC is a tour company that takes pride in delivering authentic, local experiences to small groups of curious foodies. Their tour of Chelsea and the Flatiron District covers the neighbourhoods’ quieter streets and oft-overlooked gems. Stunning food and architecture are the order of the day – so an appetite and camera are essential!

There are several different stories of how Hell’s Kitchen came to be known thus. All agree, however, that this traditionally working class, Irish American neighbourhood was once among the city’s toughest. Fun Foodie’s tour highlights what’s changed since then – notably, through the influence of immigration and nearby Broadway. The recent influx of Thai restaurants is its focus, but you’ll also sample Greek, Irish and Cajun cooking.

‘Manhattan? FUHGETTABOUDIT!’ That’s the motto of this Brooklyn tour company. Their Neighbourhood Tour includes a full sit-down meal at the original Junior’s – a New York institution that’s been serving the city’s most beloved cheesecake since the 1950s. Before lunch, you’ll hop aboard the comfortable. air-conditioned bus and take in the many sights of Brooklyn – Prospect Park, Brooklyn Heights, and Green-Wood Cemetery to name a few.

Discover the old and new of Brooklyn’s hippest neighbourhood during this three-hour tour of Williamsburg. From traditional Polish pastries, to awesome BBQ, and even ‘cereal milk’ ice cream – there’s something to satisfy every craving! Between stops, you’ll follow in Henry Miller’s footsteps, pass amazing street art and admire the ultimate view of Manhattan’s skyline.

DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) was once primarily an industrial area. In the 1990s, however, artists began to occupy its vacant warehouse spaces and, more recently, countless tech start-ups have made their base here. Today, the neighbourhood is also known for its awesome (often elusive) food trucks. During this Friday-afternoon stroll, you’ll visit some of the very best while learning more about street food culture and DUMBO’s unique history.

Want to discover some of the borough’s most underrated pizzerias? Well, this is the tour for you! Never mind Brooklyn’s tourist-trap slice joints – avoid the queues and check out a few hidden gems instead! Each tour is led by a passionate Brooklynite and covers three different pies, plus traditional Italian charcuterie, cheese, and baked goods.

Noshwalks offer an impressive selection of neighbourhood-specific food tours. They’re a great way to experience Brooklyn’s diversity, in areas like Bay Ridge, Brighton Beach, Flatbush, and Sunset Park. Whether you’re seeking homestyle Scandinavian delicacies or Caribbean finger foods – there’s a tour (or combination of tours) to delight any inquisitive appetite.

In Astoria, visitors can immerse themselves in the ‘Opa!’ lifestyle of the neighbourhood’s resident Greek population. Here, you’ll find Greek tavernas, supermarkets, coffeeshops, butchers, fishmongers, and bakers, all selling delicious authentic produce. This unique tour is a chance to sample everything from fresh octopus, souvlaki and gyros, to creamy Greek yogurt and the syrupiest baklava. Just don’t expect any plate smashing!

More than 150 different languages are spoken in Queens, with half of its residents born outside the US. The ‘United Kitchens’ full-day tour of Corona and Elmhurst captures this diversity – bringing together several of the neighbourhood’s best ethnic eateries. Whether serving up Pueblan cemitas or Tibetan momo, each establishment you visit represents a true American success story.

If you’re feeling confident, why not follow Serious Eats’ suggestions for a self-guided tour of Jackson Heights and Elmhurst. Their proposed route begins with steamed Tibetan dumplings and – via Venezuela, South India, and Thailand – ends with a slab of Asian-style ‘honey toast’. Perfect if you prefer to set your own schedule, they’ve also published a tour of Flushing.

Joe DiStefano is a Queens-based food writer who’s spent years exploring the borough’s extraordinary range of cuisines. According to the New York Times, he’s an ‘invaluable food sleuth’ and the perfect person to guide you through Flushing’s Chinatown – widely considered the most diverse in New York. Bring your chopsticks and sample the regional specialities of Sichuan, Shanghai, Henan, Xjinjiang, Yanbian, and more!

While its Manhattan equivalent suffers from rising rents and shifting demographics, The Bronx’s Little Italy remains a thriving, vibrant community. Here, you’ll find dozens of family-run food shops, many of which have been in business for over a hundred years. Arthur Avenue Food Tours are unique in that they allow shopkeepers to share their own stories. This personal touch – combined with quality samples, shopping tips, and local history – makes their tour a cut above the rest.

With Noshwalks, you’ll discover there’s more to The Bronx’s food scene than just great Italian. They offer several tours that go deeper – revealing some of the borough’s most popular West African and Caribbean hotspots. Many neighbourhoods here are undergoing a significant revival and there’ve never been more exciting options for adventurous diners. Noshwalks help you to navigate this ever-changing culinary landscape.

Of the five boroughs, Staten Island has perhaps the fewest food tour operators. Nevertheless, Noshwalks have put together a tour that’s well worth the ferry journey. Its focus is Tompkinsville – a fascinating neighbourhood where Sri Lankan, Albanian, Mexican, Jamaican, Polish, Honduran, and Nigerian communities rub shoulders. Don’t dismiss New York’s ‘forgotten borough’ just yet!

Though not a conventional guided tour, this Serious Eats article contains some great recommendations for those planning their own Staten Island food crawl. Richard Gibbs has made the borough his home for nearly 16 years, despite working as an executive chef in faraway Williamsburg. Here, he offers his top tips for finding the island’s best pizza, breakfast, burger, ice cream, and more!

This happy hour tour is a fabulous introduction to the East Village’s thriving craft cocktail scene. Guests will visit some of the neighbourhood’s best bars combining locally-distilled spirits and fresh, artisanal ingredients. Along the way, you’ll hear how prohibition shaped nightlife in the city; with stops at former speakeasies and tales of the notorious gangsters who supplied them. Finally, you’ll swing by Astor Wines, where your guides will offer tips for choosing the perfect quaffable souvenir.

Fans of the multi-award winning TV series will love this themed tour of Manhattan. Come dressed in your sharpest 60s attire and prepare for a cocktail crawl, Don Draper-style! You’ll visit several familiar locations from the show – including the Grand Central Oyster Bar, Roosevelt Hotel, and PJ Clarke’s – while learning more about the real-life admen and women of Madison Avenue. Whatever your poison – be it a Martini, Manhattan, or Old-fashioned – you’d be mad to miss it!

For decades, bars have been at the heart of New York’s vibrant LGBTQ culture. Today, they continue to play an important role within the community – and many historic institutions are still going strong. During this lively tour of Greenwich Village, you’ll visit a few of them – including Ty’s, Julius’, and Stonewall – while exploring the history of gay life in the neighbourhood. From an iconic Keith Haring mural, to a pioneering lesbian nightclub – it’s a tour guaranteed to entertain and enlighten.

Gotham’s beer scene has exploded in recent years, and it’s now home to over thirty breweries. It seems the craft movement is here to stay as the city’s thirst for new and interesting flavors shows no sign of disappearing. For beer-lovers, this minibus tour is a chance to visit four trailblazing breweries – Birreria, Brooklyn, Spuyten Duyvil, and Singlecut. It’ll take you from Manhattan, to Brooklyn, to Queens, and include samples of the best local brews.

Head for the Upper West Side to enjoy fine wine and food pairings, in the company of a knowledgeable ‘wine ambassador’. During this private tour, you’ll spend time in two upscale establishments – Burke & Wills and the Spring Natural Kitchen – sampling several of their cellar highlights alongside freshly-prepared small plates. Your guide will talk you through each tasting and offer tips for buying and serving better wine at home.

It’s safe to say Dave knows a thing or two about New York’s abundant eateries. The former pickle man, cheesemonger, hot dog vendor, bread truck driver and cabbie is now a successful food writer and licensed tour guide. Follow the example of Anthony Bourdain and Rachael Ray, and hail his classic Checker Cab for a food tour par excellence. The private Fat Elvis Package can be adapted to suit your personal tastes and includes 12+ stops over 6+ hours. With a guide who knows the city streets (and eats) like the back of his hand, there’s no better way to explore New York’s culinary underbelly!

The city’s greatest sitcom (sorry, Friends) is famous for its dissections of life’s trivialities – many of which involve food. In this article, the Times’ Justin Sablich sets out to visit several eating establishments that inspired said ruminations. His recommended tour covers Tom’s Restaurant, the Original Soup Man, Mendy’s, La Boîte en Bois, and Gray’s Papaya. For fans of the show, it’s a chance to eat like your favorite characters and perhaps ask yourself: is soup a meal?

Okay, so it’s not technically a food tour. Then again, this is our guide – and New York’s oldest, largest food festival is certainly worth mentioning! Now in its 44th year, the event is a glorious, two-day celebration of cultural diversity in the city, where international food merchants line the streets from 43rd to 57th. If you’re around in May, grab yourself a ticket and prepare to travel the world in the space of a few blocks. Typical New York, really.