The Beers and Burgers Crawl

New York’s oldest bar, a local-only watering hole with a Hollywood past, and a craft beer bar make up the backbone of this East Village food and drink walk. Guide Ben adds neighborhood stories, food talk, and plenty of humor as you move through three bars and two local dining stops.

I like the small group size, capped at 12, because it gives the evening a friendly, social feel without turning it into a noisy bar tour. I also like that the food is not an afterthought: you get a burger and a chicken sandwich along the way, rather than simply being pointed toward a menu.

The main thing to consider is the pace. This is a two-hour crawl, so you will not settle in for long meals or spend a whole evening at each bar. One drink is complimentary at McSorley’s, while the first drink is paid separately as explained for the experience, so budget for that small extra cost.

Key points to know before you book

• McSorley’s Old Ale House dates to 1857, making it the historical centerpiece of the evening.
• Three East Village bars are included, with stops at McSorley’s, 7B Horseshoe Bar, and Alphabet City Beer Co.
• Food includes a burger and chicken sandwich, served from two local dining spots during the walk.
• Guide Ben leads the tour, combining neighborhood knowledge with a clear interest in food and drink.
• The group is limited to 12 people, which suits solo visitors and small groups.
• The tour begins at 6:00 p.m. and lasts about two hours, ending on Loisaida Avenue.

Why this East Village crawl works

I like food tours that give you a reason to walk between stops. Here, the East Village is not just a backdrop for drinking. Ben uses the route to explain how the neighborhood changed from the Prohibition era to modern New York, while also telling the stories behind the food and drinks you try.

That mix gives the evening more shape than a simple bar hop. You are not only moving from one pint to the next. You are learning why the East Village has such a strong identity and how its taverns, restaurants, and local characters fit into the story.

The setting also helps. This is far from a Times Square sightseeing routine. The tour begins at 400 Lafayette Street and works east toward Alphabet City, finishing at Alphabet City Beer Co. at 96 Loisaida Avenue. You get a neighborhood walk, several drinks, and a meal-sized amount of food in one compact outing.

Ben is an important part of the experience. The strongest praise centers on his humor, local knowledge, love of food, and easy way with a group. That matters on a small tour. A guide who can keep conversation moving makes it easier for solo visitors to join in, while couples and friends still have room to enjoy their own evening.

Starting in the East Village at 6:00 p.m.

The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. on Lafayette Street, with an introduction to the East Village and the route ahead. The first portion lasts about 30 minutes, though the exact rhythm depends on the group and the stops along the way.

This opening walk gives you useful context before you enter McSorley’s. The East Village has a long connection to working-class life, old taverns, new restaurants, and changing city culture. Ben focuses on the stories that make the neighborhood distinct, including its Prohibition-era past and the people shaping its current food and drink scene.

I would book this early in your New York stay if you want to get your bearings in the area. The tour does not try to cover all of Manhattan. Instead, it concentrates on one neighborhood, which makes the history easier to connect with what you see around you.

Because the tour starts near public transportation, reaching the meeting point should be straightforward. You will want to arrive ready to walk from one stop to the next, with enough room for food and drinks rather than a tightly packed sightseeing schedule.

McSorley’s Old Ale House and a direct link to old New York

McSorley’s Old Ale House is the historical anchor of the experience. It opened in 1857 and is described as New York’s oldest bar. That alone gives this stop a sense of place that a modern pub cannot easily match.

Ben spends time explaining McSorley’s past, including its connection to the neighborhood and the changes New York has seen around it. This is the part of the crawl for visitors who want a story with their drink. You are not simply entering an old room for a quick photo. You are hearing why the bar matters.

A drink at McSorley’s is included, which adds value to the $75 price. The complimentary stop also gives the tour a clear centerpiece. You get one substantial historical bar visit rather than three interchangeable modern beer rooms.

Still, keep your expectations practical. The tour is only about two hours in total, and McSorley’s is one stop among several. You will not have unlimited time to linger, inspect every detail, or settle into a long session. The value is in the guided visit and the historical setting, not in spending an entire night there.

For many people, this will be the most memorable stop because it connects a famous New York institution with the neighborhood walk. If you care more about craft beer tasting than history, the later stop at Alphabet City Beer Co. may appeal to you more.

7B Horseshoe Bar, also called Vazacs

The next bar is 7B Horseshoe Bar, also known as Vazacs. It is presented as a true local bar with a Hollywood background, giving the crawl a different mood from McSorley’s.

That contrast is useful. McSorley’s is famous for its age and place in New York history. 7B offers a more off-the-beaten-track stop, the sort of bar you might not choose on your own if you were planning from a standard sightseeing map. Ben explains the local character and the Hollywood connection, adding another layer to the East Village story.

The bar portion lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough time for a drink and conversation, but not a long night out. The tour works best if you see the stops as samples of the neighborhood rather than full visits to each venue.

This is also where the small group helps. A maximum of 12 people is manageable in a neighborhood bar and makes it easier to hear Ben. Solo visitors can talk with the group without feeling stranded, while couples and friends can still enjoy the setting.

One point deserves attention: the overall experience is described as including drinks at each bar, but the first drink is paid separately as explained for the tour. Read the current booking details carefully so you know which drinks are included and which cost extra.

Burgers, chicken sandwiches, and the food between the bars

The food is one of the strongest reasons to choose this experience over a standard pub crawl. You receive a burger and a chicken sandwich from two local dining spots, with the food worked into the route rather than saved for a single restaurant meal.

That format gives you variety. You can try more than one style of casual food, hear about the people making it, and keep moving through the neighborhood. It also means you are not drinking on an empty stomach, which is a practical benefit on any evening crawl.

I would not book this expecting a formal dinner. The tour is designed around tasting and sharing food while visiting bars. One account describes the food as a burger and chicken sandwich, and another refers to the food as tasty and satisfying. The precise choices may depend on the day and the local spots being used, so anyone with dietary restrictions should check before booking.

The food also strengthens the local focus. You are not being handed a generic snack selected only for convenience. Ben talks about the food and the people behind it, which gives the meal a human side. That is particularly appealing if you like to understand how a place eats, not just where it drinks.

At $75 per person, the included food makes the price easier to justify. You are paying for a guide, neighborhood storytelling, several bar visits, a complimentary drink at McSorley’s, and food from two places. The value is strongest if you would otherwise spend the evening buying separate drinks and casual meals in the East Village.

Alphabet City Beer Co. finishes the route

The final stop is Alphabet City Beer Co. on Loisaida Avenue. This bar has a craft beer focus and also offers a useful wine selection, giving the evening a more modern finish after the old-world atmosphere of McSorley’s and the local-bar feel of 7B.

The stop helps show the range of the East Village drinking scene. You begin with a bar opened in 1857, pass through a neighborhood institution with a film connection, and finish at a place built around craft beer and wine. That progression is more interesting than visiting three venues with the same style.

The ending point is also practical. You finish at 96 Loisaida Avenue rather than returning to the starting point, so plan your next move from there. The tour does not provide a return transfer, and the experience is intended to end at the final bar.

If you are planning dinner afterward, remember that the food during the tour may already amount to a burger and chicken sandwich, depending on how much you eat. If you want a full sit-down meal after the crawl, leave time and budget for it.

What the $75 price includes

The $75 price is reasonable if you value a guided neighborhood experience rather than simply buying drinks. The package combines:

• A two-hour guided walk through the East Village
• Visits to three bars
• A complimentary drink at McSorley’s
• Food from two local dining spots
• A burger and chicken sandwich
• Stories about the neighborhood, its bars, and its food makers
• A small group capped at 12 people

The price is less attractive if you mainly want to drink at length. With only about 30 minutes assigned to each major stop, this is not a relaxed pub evening where you can order several rounds and stay put.

You should also remember that the first drink is paid separately, according to the tour details. That is not a major expense, but it is worth knowing before you arrive. The rest of your spending depends on whether you buy extra drinks.

I see the best value for solo visitors, couples, and small groups who want structure. You get a ready-made evening in an area where choosing bars and food stops can take time. The guide also removes much of the guesswork, especially if this is your first visit to the East Village.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would recommend the crawl to you if you like food, local bars, short neighborhood walks, and stories about the city. It suits someone who wants to meet people without joining a large bus tour.

Solo visitors should find the format welcoming. The small group and shared food create natural conversation, and Ben’s role is not limited to pointing out buildings. He keeps the evening social and gives the tour a clear personality.

Couples and groups of friends can also enjoy it, especially if you want a break from museums and major sights. The experience offers a ready-made evening without requiring you to plan three bars and two food stops yourself.

You may want to skip it if you prefer a long, quiet dinner, a serious beer tasting, or a tour with lots of time at each location. The pace is compact, and the experience depends on moving between stops. One less enthusiastic account found the evening too average and felt there was not enough time sitting down, which is a fair warning for anyone expecting a traditional pub tour.

Practical details for planning your night

The experience is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the tour is near public transportation.

Most people can participate, but you should be comfortable walking between bars and standing or sitting for short periods as the evening moves along. The group maximum is 12, and the duration is approximately two hours.

The cancellation policy is simple: you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 6:00 p.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, and the cut-off follows New York local time.

Because the crawl averages 17 days advance booking, reserve ahead if your schedule is fixed. That is especially sensible for a Friday or Saturday evening, though no specific day-of-week availability is provided.

Should you book the Beers and Burgers Crawl?

Book it if you want a social East Village evening built around local bars, casual food, and neighborhood stories. Ben’s humor and food knowledge are central to the experience, and McSorley’s gives the route a memorable historical anchor.

The $75 price works when you count the food, guided route, three bar visits, and included drink. Just keep the format in mind: this is a fast-moving crawl, not a long dinner or a beer seminar. You will taste several places rather than settle into one.

My call: book it for a first or second night in New York if you enjoy eating, drinking, and hearing how a neighborhood came to be. Skip it if you want a slow evening, a large meal, or more than a short stop at each bar.

FAQ

Where does the Beers and Burgers Crawl begin?

The tour begins at 400 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003, at 6:00 p.m.

Where does the experience end?

The tour ends at Alphabet City Beer Co., 96 Loisaida Avenue, New York, NY 10009.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

Which bars are included?

The route includes McSorley’s Old Ale House, 7B Horseshoe Bar, also called Vazacs, and Alphabet City Beer Co.

Is food included?

Yes. Food is included from two local dining spots, including a burger and a chicken sandwich.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded or accepted.