Frequently Asked Questions
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TICKETS
THE FOOD
Enough food tastings are served that most people do not need lunch or dinner afterwards. And that is the truth! We have toured over 500,000 people and it’s very rare that anyone walks away hungry! We give you more food than most food tours in the country! In addition to making sure you’re well-fed, our goal is to introduce you to a variety of foods and establishments. Some foods might be familiar and other might be a new experience for you!
Vegetarian substitutions are available on all our tours. Specific meat substitutions can also be indicated when booking.
Nut-free tastings are available on all tours. We have not had any problems in the past, but we do warn of potential cross-contaminations and traces of nuts in the kitchens.
Gluten-free options are available only on the Original Greenwich Village Food Tour.
If you are vegan or have any other specific food allergies, we likely cannot provide suitable substitutions. However, if you feel you can still consume most of the tastings provided on the tour, we would be happy to have you. We won’t let you leave hungry!
Our Food Tours have been designed to highlight the best and most unique aspects of each establishment. Unfortunately, there isn’t always a “next best” food tasting option that also meets the special dietary needs of each of our guests. Since we have your health (and palate!) in mind, we truly appreciate your understanding on this issue.
Please contact us before purchasing tickets for any of our food tours if you are concerned about an allergy.
We recommend that everyone brings a reusable bottle of water. Water is the perfect beverage to cleanse the palate and stay hydrated. Our Nolita and Chinatown tours have water available throughout the tour, so an extra bottle of water is not necessary.
There is also a chance to purchase an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage on most tours. Your tour guide will keep you posted about these options and when is a good time to buy a drink. Our Nolita tour includes a glass of wine as part of the ticket! The wine can be substituted for a nonalcoholic beverage.
THE TOUR
Not more than you can handle! All our walking tours involve about a mile of walking with places to sit and rest in between over the course of 3 hours. We cover enough of a neighborhood’s food, history, and culture to satisfy everyone’s curiosity.
Please note that all tour routes include some stairs. If this poses a problem for you or any of your guests, please indicate that when you purchase your tickets so we can do our best to accommodate your needs.
Our walking and tasting tours are led by experienced and licensed Foods of New York tour guides. During our tours you will learn about the history and culture of a neighborhood while tasting delicious food specialties from mom and pop food shops, eateries, and restaurants.
What sets us apart from the others is that we give you more food than other food tours, and we include sit-down tastings to give a comfortable pacing to the tour.
We have toured over 500,000 people and it’s very rare that anyone walks away unhappy. In fact, more often people walk away having had the BEST experience of their whole NYC vacation. See why here.
The locations where we hold our tours are some of the oldest in New York City. This means that many of the sidewalks are narrow, the streets can have uneven cobblestone, and staircases leading to some of establishments are not conducive to strollers and wheelchairs. This does not mean that we don’t welcome wheels, it just means that some tours are going to be more accessible than others.
- For strollers, we recommend something small that folds up easily. An umbrella stroller usually works best. Many of our sit-down locations are very small, and trying to keep children in strollers can be a struggle. Having something to easily take your child in and out of will make it a much more pleasant experience for both child and parent.
- For wheelchairs, we have found that our Chelsea Market Tour is the most accessible as there are plenty of ramps and elevators. If the guest’s level of mobility includes being able to walk up and down a few stairs, with or without assistance, then the Original Greenwich Village Tour is going to be the next best option.
We want to do our best to accommodate whatever mobility needs you might have, so if you are interested in one of our tours not mentioned above, please feel free to contact us directly, so we may find the tour that works best for you!
16 people per tour is the perfect number! Our guides can manage 16 people with ease and still make sure that everyone gets a personalized experience.
We do not officially provide a waiting list. If a date is sold out, there is always a chance that we will add an additional tour. Please email us at [email protected] and let us know what date you are interested in.
Of course there are! Your tour guide will keep you very happy and comfortable and let you know when the next restroom opportunity is one coming up.
Luggage
Unfortunately, our walking tours travel to each stop by foot and dragging your around the sidewalks of NYC for 3 hours is never a relaxing situation.
We’ve partnered with Bounce.com to find luggage storage options in our neighborhoods. Use code FOODSOFNY to get a discount! Click below to find a secure spot for your bags.
Pets
Due to the various rules and regulations of the food establishments we visit and the possibility of allergies, pets of any kind are not allowed on tours.
The tours do not vary between timeslots. However, we change the tour slightly every six to eight months. Most of the tour remain the same, but we do our best to improve each tour as time goes on. Many people come back expecting the same exact tour, only to be pleasantly surprised with a new tasting or two!
Most of our tours have gone through major overhauls post-covid. If you have taken a tour before 2020, the same neighborhood today could give you a totally different experience!
Foods of NY Tours maintains a smoke-free environment to ensure that all guests have a pleasant experience during the tour. If you find the need to smoke during the tour, please step away from the rest of the group. In alignment with NYC smoking recommendations, we respectfully ask that smokers partake at least 20 feet away from the tour group. Thank you!
Please dress casually, comfortably, and appropriately for the different seasons in New York. We suggest layering no matter when you come. Establishments will have the heat on in the winter, and the a/c in the summer, so be prepared for changing temperatures.