About this tour
When Charlie from our team did this West Village walking tour, we got a proper feel for how Prohibition-era New York actually operated in the neighbourhood's crooked streets. You're guided through the laneways where 1920s rebels and speakeasies thrived, hitting landmarks like the Hess Triangle and the Stonewall Inn while picking up stories about the area's underground culture. The real draw is access to three bars steeped in gangster lore—including The 86, the former Chumley's where the phrase "getting 86'd" originated, and a hidden speakeasy tucked above a burger joint. It's a two-hour blend of neighbourhood history and drinking stops that reads like a proper piece of NYC's murkier past.
Highlights
- Three curated bars including mob-linked The 86 (former Chumley's)
- Art Deco Zinc Bar showcases period design and period-authentic atmosphere
- Exclusive access to secret speakeasy hidden above working burger joint
- Twisted West Village laneways reveal how 1920s rebels actually hid
- Stories about the 'Thinnest House' and Stonewall Inn's role in history
- Guides explain how streets' layout made speakeasies hard to locate
- Friends exterior spot familiar to TV fans mixed with genuine history
- Prohibition-era context makes drinking stops feel genuinely earned
What to expect
Charlie's experience started with a steady walk through West Village's deliberately tangled streets—the neighbourhood's layout was partly why speakeasies survived there. The guide unpacks real history: how the area became a rebel sanctuary, which buildings housed underground operations, and why the geography mattered to mobsters and outcasts alike. You'll stop at actual landmarks (the Hess Triangle, Stonewall Inn) and hear darker tales without it feeling theatrical.
Then you move into the bars. Each one has genuine history attached—The 86 is the real deal, a former speakeasy with actual mob connections and the origin point of a phrase still used in kitchens today. The secret speakeasy above the burger joint delivers on the "hidden" promise. The pace works: walking, talking, then a proper sit-down moment at each stop. It doesn't feel rushed, though two hours means you're not lingering long at any single bar.
What travellers say
- Genuine mob history tied to real buildings and actual business origins
- Exclusive bar access—The 86 and hidden speakeasy hard to find solo
- Guide knowledge goes beyond scripts; neighbourhood context feels earned
- Wheelchair accessible, pram-friendly, service animals allowed
- Pacing balances walking history with proper sit-down moments
- Drinks cost extra; Manhattan bar prices add up across three stops
- Under-21s excluded from bars despite historical narrative appeal
- Cobblestones and uneven pavements tough for some mobility needs
- Weekend crowds mean queues at popular speakeasy stops
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
If you're keen on NYC history that isn't sanitised, this hits different. The guide clearly knows the neighbourhood's actual past rather than tourist-board myths. Access to The 86 and the hidden speakeasy is genuinely hard to get otherwise—locals rate these spots. The walk itself is doable for most fitness levels because it's neighbourhood strolling, not hiking. Wheelchair accessible and pram-friendly.
Drinks aren't included, so budget for three rounds at Manhattan prices. Under-21s can't enter the bars, which limits who can join. West Village cobblestones and uneven pavements matter if you've mobility concerns. Peak times (weekends, evenings) will pack the bars—you might queue. The route's tight streets mean large groups feel cramped. Bring cash; some spots prefer it.
Two hours, walking tour mixed with three bar stops. Suitable for all fitness levels. Public transport nearby. Allow extra time on weekends.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.