East Village Food Tour: Donuts, Pastries & Sweet Treats

Taste four stops of donuts and pastries while walking through the East Village's music landmarks

A two-hour food tour of New York's East Village begins at Donut Pub, a 50-year-old institution, then moves through the neighborhood sampling Italian bomboloni, viral cardamom buns, and seasonal artisan donuts. You'll walk past CBGB and Bowery Electric, hear about the area's role in music history, and pass McSorley's, the city's oldest Irish pub, while learning how immigrant communities shaped the streets you're walking.

Step-by-step itinerary

East Village Donuts and Pastries Tour

• Begin tour at Donut Pub
• Walk and explore Astor Place
• Walk through Bowery street
• Pass McSorley's Irish Pub
• Sample pastries at La Cabra
• Visit Russo's cheese and pasta shop
• Try choux pastries at Petit Chou

The experience

The tour starts at Donut Pub, where you'll sample flavors from over 50 years of the shop's reputation. From there, the route takes you through Astor Place and its theaters, then down the Bowery. The street itself is the landmark here, lined with the venues that made it a center of punk and rock music. You'll pass McSorley's and hear its history before arriving at La Cabra for Italian bomboloni and pastries.

Two more stops follow: Russo's, a cheese and pasta shop making fresh mozzarella and Italian goods by hand, and Petit Chou, a French bakery built around choux pastry. The base for eclairs, cream puffs and profiteroles. The guide walks you through the neighborhood's immigrant layers and the artists and musicians who lived here, pointing out colorful storefronts and murals as you go. You'll leave with insider tips on food, nightlife and other spots worth visiting later.

What’s included

• Insider recommendations for food, nightlife and attractions in the neighborhood.
• tastings of donuts, pastries and sweet treats at four stops.
• stories about the artists, musicians and visionaries who shaped the East Village.
• a walk past iconic streets and landmarks including CBGB, Bowery Electric and McSorley's.
• photos of colorful storefronts, murals and local landmarks.
• a live guide in English.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs Thursday to Sunday at 11:00 and 14:00, from US$ 75 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesThursday to SundayDepartures at 11:00 and 14:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 101 private ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (under 11)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Underground Donut Tour - Brooklyn, Downtown, Times Square, & East Village

Is this one for you?Two hours leaves room for another neighborhood or a meal elsewhere in Manhattan, but not enough for a full second activity. Book this if you want to taste your way through the East Village's food scene and music history without committing to a full afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 11).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is bomboloni and why is it on this tour?

Bomboloni is a classic Italian pastry: a fried dough ball filled with cream or jam. La Cabra serves traditional versions that the tour highlights as a taste of Italian baking done right, and it's a pastry most people outside Italy have never tried.

How much walking is involved on this East Village food tour?

The tour moves between four stops across the neighborhood over two hours, so you're walking the streets of the East Village between tastings. The route covers Astor Place, the Bowery, and the surrounding blocks, and it's suitable for all fitness levels.

Will I learn about the music history of the East Village?

Yes. The guide talks about CBGB and Bowery Electric as you walk past them, and explains the Bowery's importance to the neighborhood's music scene. You'll also hear stories about the artists, musicians and visionaries who shaped the area.

What's special about the cardamom buns at the third stop?

The cardamom buns at one of the tour stops became a viral sensation on TikTok, and they're a signature item worth trying. The tour highlights why they've become so popular.

Do the artisan donuts change, or is it always the same selection?

The artisan donuts at the final stop rotate seasonally, so what you taste depends on when you book. The tour ends with these seasonal offerings rather than a fixed menu.