Spend your lunchtime or dinnertime learning the history and lore of two of New York's most historic districts: Little Italy and Chinatown. Sample their foods and flavors, wander their streets, and learn all about their history and heritage. The food included is more than enough for lunch. Start in Chinatown with Hong Kong style sponge cakes to go, where your local historian tour guide will lead your intimate-sized group through Chinatown’s winding streets and Columbus Park. Enjoy history and fun facts, and visit a hidden dumpling spot, with views of the One World Trade building. Then, be led down the famous Mulberry St. to Little Italy’s romantic corners. Hear stories of NYC mafia crime and pizza lore as you eat your slice of pizza and enjoy cannolis and music at a 130-year-old bakery. Appreciate a tour that visits favorite family-owned shops and that supports NYC locations that are off-the-beaten-path. Taste the history of food establishments that have been in business for over 100 years. Leave NYC with a newfound appreciation of these two neighborhoods, newly discovered secrets of New York City, and more tips and suggestions for things to do in The Big Apple.

Stroll the streets of the Lower East Side of Manhattan to discover the history of different immigrant communities. See how they made this part of New York their home and treat your taste buds to food samples from all over the world.  Stop outside significant local landmarks including the African Burial Ground Monument and the New York Supreme Court. Learn about the facinating origins of the African American community in New York.  Head to the Chinatown district and learn more about the Chinese community which once lived in the area. Try some fried dumplings at a spot that is popular with locals. Then, discover the adjacent district of Little Italy which was home to thousands of immigrants from southern Italy. Enjoy some classic Italian flavors which have formed the basis of some of the most popular modern American snacks.  Next, enter the Nolita neighborhood and stop outside St Patrick's Old Cathedral, a key focal point of the Irish Catholic community. Take a short stroll through the Sara D Roosevelt Park.  Learn about the history of the Jewish community as you stroll through the Lower East Side. Try knishes, a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish snack made with potato-based dough and a variety of fillings. End your tour outside the Tenement Museum.

A Big Apple experience doesn’t get more authentic than a visit to SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown, where you’ll experience very different worlds in a relatively small area. Spot movie stars, celebrities, and fashionistas in the historic SoHo district with its charming cast-iron buildings – its greatest treasure. On this 2-hour guided walk you’ll hear stories of immigrant struggles and gang violence in Little Italy and Chinatown as you sample ethnic food. The itinerary includes visits to many of the following sites: • Spring Street • Greene and Spring streets (site of the Manhattan Well Murder, which was the first recorded murder case in New York City) • Cast Iron district • E.V. Haughwout Building (home to the first safety elevator) • 421 Broome Street (where Heath Ledger died, in Mary Kate Olsen's apartment) • Old Police Station (1909 Beaux-Arts building, which is now a residence) • Ravenite Club (the story of John Gotti) • Old Saint Patrick's • Mulberry Street (heart of Little Italy) • Alleva Dairy (where cheese has been made for a hundred years) • Italian American Museum (site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire) • Umbertos (site of the mob hit on Joe Gallo) • National Shrine Church of San Gennaro (story of the liquefaction of the saint's blood) • Opium den • Bloody Angle (Doyers Street) • Columbus Park (of Gangs of New York fame)

We start in Columbus Park, once known as Five Points, the battleground featured in Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York”. First, you'll enjoy handmade fried dumplings from a local hotspot.Next, you'll discover a Cantonese street food made popular in the 1930s. We'll pass through Chinatown's bustling streets and hear stories of the neighborhood's first Chinese-owned businesses and the notorious "bloody angle." We'll stop at one of the neighborhood's buzzing bakeries for an Instagramable sweet treat. In Little Italy, you'll visit one of the oldest family-owned Italian delis and sample artisanal cheese and cured meat. After which, you'll explore a legendary bar featured in several mafioso films and TV shows and have a slice of pizza fit for The Godfather, himself! And finally, you'll feast on a mini New York-style cheesecake. As with all our tours, there's also our delicious Secret Dish.  

Begin your stroll beside Green Street Park in Soho, where a remarkable assembly of cast iron buildings awaits your admiration. Prepare to immerse yourself in the captivating and intertwining history of immigration as you venture into the vibrant streets of Little Italy, unearthing the true origins of New York. Throughout this captivating tour, you will gain insights into the transformation of New York from a former suburban area into an industrial powerhouse, subsequently evolving into an abandoned refuge for impoverished artists, and eventually emerging as one of the most opulent and sought-after destinations worldwide. As you approach the conclusion of your journey in Chinatown, tantalize your taste buds with delectable, authentic Chinese cuisine, allowing you to grasp the widespread influence of Chinese culinary traditions across the entirety of the United States. Before bidding farewell, the tour makes a stop at Columbus Park, granting cinema enthusiasts the opportunity to explore the renowned Five Points. Rest assured, your knowledgeable guide will ensure that you receive insider information on the most intriguing and obscure locales for a memorable dinner, regaling you with tales of both criminal intrigue and legendary narratives woven within the fabric of Manhattan. Although these districts reside in the very heart of the city, countless individuals unknowingly pass them by, oblivious to the extraordinary history encapsulated within these extraordinary locales. HOW IS THE TOUR GOING — Stay flexible: join the tour whenever you want and explore the sights as long as you like. — Enjoy the tour even offline: all audio tours are tested for high quality and easy navigation.