What to Eat in Greenwich Village
Pizza
The New York slice is eaten folded in half. Joe’s Pizza on Carmine Street has sold it since 1975. John’s of Bleecker Street, open since 1929, bakes whole pies in a coal oven and sells no slices. The food walk’s slice comes from Bleecker Street Pizza.
Bagels and falafel
Both food walks include a bagel with cream cheese or schmear; on the 2.5-hour walk it is the first tasting. Mamoun’s has sold falafel on MacDougal Street since 1971 and is the city’s oldest falafel shop.
Bleecker Street’s Italian stretch
Faicco’s has been an Italian deli on Bleecker since 1900, and Murray’s Cheese has traded at 254 Bleecker since 1940. The food walk stops at Faicco’s for Italian specialities. The streets page maps where the counters cluster.
Coffee and cupcakes
Caffe Reggio at 119 MacDougal Street opened in 1927 and claims the first espresso machine in New York; its 1902 machine is on display. Magnolia Bakery at 401 Bleecker opened in 1996 and was made famous by “Sex and the City”. The food walk finishes with a cupcake at Molly’s Cupcakes.
Where the two food walks go
| Greenwich Village Food Tour | 6 Authentic Tastings | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Start | Bagel Bob’s, University Place | IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave |
| Bagel | With cream cheese, at the start | With schmear |
| Falafel | Mamoun’s | A falafel sandwich |
| Pizza | Bleecker Street Pizza | A fold-in-half slice |
| Also | Tacos at The Little Taco House, Italian specialities at Faicco’s | A gourmet cookie, a “secret dish” |
| Finish | A cupcake at Molly’s | A cupcake |
| Dietary | Vegetarian-friendly | Contact the operator in advance |
| Access | Stroller and wheelchair accessible | Not suitable for wheelchair users |
The food walk also passes Washington Mews, Washington Square Park, 23 Cornelia Street, the Perry Street stoop and the “Friends” building, and includes a bottle of water; tips, transport and wet-weather gear are not included. It runs in rain, hail or shine. The six-tastings walk excludes transport and tips; its guide holds an orange umbrella. Jonas (Sweden) called it a “very good combo of food and visiting historic/famous buildings”, and Jim (US) noted that Hannah checked the group’s gluten-free and vegetarian needs. The food tours page sets both out stop by stop, and the close-ups on the food walk and the six-tastings walk go further.
Food on the other walks
The four-neighbourhood walk includes food and drinks and gratuities, and continues past NoLiTa’s cafés, Little Italy’s pasta shops and Chinatown’s herbal shops and markets. The history, ghost and music walks include no food. Without a walk, a loop from Mamoun’s and Caffe Reggio on MacDougal to Faicco’s and Murray’s on Bleecker and Joe’s on Carmine Street covers the same ground at a walker’s own pace.
Carmine Street, home to Joe’s, also has the church of Our Lady of Pompeii, built in 1928.
Guides on the food walks are mentioned by name: Stefanie (US) found Seth funny and knowledgeable, Lori and Anne (US) wrote that Meri chose the food well, and Sharmila and Catriona (UK) described Nicky’s balance of facts and humour on the six-tastings walk.
Dietary needs go to the operator before the day on both walks. Danielle (UK) described six food stops and advised going hungry.
Frequently asked questions
What food is Greenwich Village known for?
The folded New York slice, bagels with schmear, falafel at Mamoun’s, the Italian delis on Bleecker Street, espresso at Caffe Reggio and cupcakes.
Is the Greenwich Village food tour suitable for vegetarians?
The 2.5-hour food walk is listed as vegetarian-friendly; on the six-tastings walk, dietary needs go to the operator in advance. See the food tours page.
Where is the oldest pizza on Bleecker Street?
John’s of Bleecker Street has baked in a coal oven since 1929 and sells no slices. The streets page covers the rest of Bleecker.