NYC Mafia and Food Tour: NYPD Guides in Little Italy

Your guide is a retired cop who lived the streets the mafia ruled.

A 3.5-hour walking tour of New York City's East Village and Little Italy led by active or retired NYPD officers who grew up in or policed these neighborhoods, visiting sites connected to organized crime history while eating a full two-course meal of traditional Italian food. The tour begins at John's of 12th Street, the historic red sauce restaurant where a 1922 mafia assassination took place, and moves through the streets with personal stories from guides who witnessed this history firsthand. Food included is equivalent to a full dinner. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice.

The experience

The tour starts at 4:30 PM or 5:15 PM inside the back room of John's of 12th Street, an East Village institution that opened in 1908 and became a speakeasy during Prohibition. This is where the guide (a retired NYPD detective or active officer) begins the walk through the neighborhoods where New York's organized crime families operated. What separates this from a typical tour company is that your guide actually lived here or worked these streets as a cop, so the stories are firsthand accounts, not rehearsed facts pulled from a script.

Over the next 3.5 hours, you walk through East Village and Little Italy, stopping at locations tied to mafia history. The guide shares true crime stories tied to each place. The kind of detail that comes from having been there, from knowing people involved, or from decades of police work in the neighborhood. You're not standing outside taking photos. You're walking the actual streets where these events happened, with someone who can explain what you're looking at because they know the place.

Food is built into the walk: a full portion of old-school spaghetti and meatballs, plus a full-sized Sicilian cannoli at the end. This adds up to a two-course dinner equivalent, so you're not grabbing bites between stops. You're eating real meals. Vegetarian options are available if you request them in advance. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby. You'll need a moderate level of fitness for the walking involved.

What’s included

• A retired or active NYPD detective as your guide.
• insider stories from someone who lived or worked in these neighborhoods.
• a full portion of old-school spaghetti and meatballs.
• a full-sized Sicilian cannoli.
• vegetarian options available with advance request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 16:30 and 17:15

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Under 9: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 37

Live guideEnglish

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by NYPD Police Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want organized crime history told by someone who actually lived it: a retired cop or active NYPD officer who grew up in Little Italy or worked these streets, not a guide reading from a script. The personal stories and the guide's direct knowledge of the neighborhoods are what make this different from other mafia tours in the city.

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Top questions

What makes the guides on this tour different from other tour companies in New York?

The guides are active or retired NYPD detectives and officers who were born and raised in Little Italy or worked these streets as cops. They share personal experiences and firsthand stories instead of rehearsed facts, and the tour has been featured in the Washington Post and rated #1 for things to do in New York.

How much food is included in the 3.5-hour tour?

The tour includes a full portion of old-school spaghetti and meatballs and a full-sized Sicilian cannoli, which together equal a two-course dinner. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice, and drinks can be purchased on the day.

Where does the tour start and what is the significance of that location?

The tour begins at John's of 12th Street in the East Village, a red sauce restaurant that opened in 1908 and became a speakeasy during Prohibition. In 1922, a mafia hitman was assassinated there during a peace meeting, and the restaurant has been featured in shows like The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire.

What neighborhoods does the tour cover?

The tour walks through the East Village and Little Italy, visiting locations connected to organized crime history and stopping at sites the guide can explain from personal knowledge or police experience.

Do I need to be in good physical condition to do this tour?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness, as the tour involves 3.5 hours of walking. It is not recommended for travelers with leg or walking problems, though the tour is wheelchair accessible and public transportation options are available nearby.

What time does the tour start?

The tour begins at either 4:30 PM or 5:15 PM, depending on the departure time you choose at checkout.