Private NYC Experiences, Handcrafted by a Local

I’m Nicky — a writer and East Village local with generations of family history in New York City. Join me on a bespoke, private tour to experience the city’s history, food, architecture, and culture like a local.

I’m Nicky — a writer and East Village local with generations of family history in New York City. Join me on a bespoke, private tour to experience the city’s history, food, architecture, and culture like a local.

A one-of-a-kind NYC experience — designed around you.

Private Walking Tours

Take advantage of your local, private guide to discover the real New York City on foot, away from the city’s crowds and tourist traps. From 4-hour Downtown and Midtown walking tours to 2-hour neighborhood walks, experience NYC like a real New Yorker on a private tour.

Private group pricing from $299

Food + Drink Experiences

Taste your way through NYC with a local, private guide, exploring the city’s best restaurants, secret speakeasies, and hidden gems. Savor four iconic slices on the NYC Pizza Tour, sample the Upper West Side’s top bites, and sip your way through downtown on the Cocktail & Speakeasy Experience.

Private group pricing from $299

Custom Itineraries

With a background in NYC culture, history, food, and nightlife, I’ve hosted corporate events for Fortune 500 companies, honeymoons for couples with multi-day itineraries, and 80-person school groups. Work with me to craft the ideal itinerary for your next NYC visit by contacting me today.

Contact for a quote

Group of seven people standing together on a city sidewalk in front of a large building with electronic signs and arched windows, some wearing jackets and backpacks.
The interior of the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York City, showing its vertical and horizontal neon signs with bright red, yellow, and blue lights, surrounded by tall modern skyscrapers.
Two women standing outside a pizza restaurant, one holding a slice of pizza on a white plate, both smiling and enjoying their meal.
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A monument with a golden statue of a woman holding a torch, surrounded by trees and tall modern skyscrapers in the background.
A young man with brown hair, beard, and light gray Carhartt sweatshirt pointing towards the Washington Square Arch in New York City with the Empire State Building visible in the background.
Stone lion statue in front of the New York Public Library building in Manhattan, New York City.
A park with leafless trees and a calm river, with rocks along the shore and a path on the right side, on an overcast day.
Grand central station interior with large windows, high green ceiling with constellation artwork, and a crowd of people walking on the marble floor.
Cityscape with tall skyscrapers and a cloudy sky, including a building with a flag on top.
The exterior of a restaurant with a sign reading 'RESTAURANT Superiority Burger'. Additional signs mention gelato, beans, focaccia, and sometimes. Neon signs inside the window display an Italian menu, including 'La Grotta' and 'Tequila Reposado'.
Street view of New York City with tall buildings, including the Chrysler Building, and a red banner for the New York Public Library.
A young man with wavy hair and a beard smiling on a city street corner, wearing a dark coat over a gray shirt, with cars parked along the street and leafless trees on a sunny day.
People ice skating at an indoor rink surrounded by tall buildings and a fountain with a golden sculpture in New York City.
A group of five people standing in front of the New York Stock Exchange building, which has tall columns, flags, and a detailed frieze at the top.
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All Private Tours

  • A row of colorful brownstone apartment buildings with fire escapes on a city street, cars parked along the curb, and people walking and biking. There are trees lining the sidewalk.

    Downtown Highlights

    Greenwich Village. SoHo. Little Italy. Chinatown. The World Trade Center. Wall Street.

    My part of town, your way.

    View Private Tour

  • NYC Pizza Experience

    "What's the best slice of pizza in New York City?" Find out for yourself.

    Four pizza stops. All inclusive.

    View Private Tour

  • West Village Backstreets

    A centuries-old farming village. In the heart of New York City.

    With the option for a curated food tour.

    View Private Tour

  • Upper West Side Food Tour

    Fine dining and high culture in an exclusive NYC neighborhood.

    Five all-inclusive stops amidst history and decadence.

    View Private Tour
  • East Village Food Tour

    East Village Food Tour

    New York’s foodie paradise just so happens to be my backyard.

    Local stops, insider knowledge, world-class eating.

    View Private Tour
  • Central Park private tour, top rated five stars

    Central Park Insider

    Discover the secrets embedded in New York's crown jewel on a guided stroll through the world's most famous public space.

    Escape the bustle like a local.

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  • Crowded Times Square with numerous electronic billboards and advertisements on tall buildings, American flags, and people walking across the street in New York City.

    Midtown Highlights

    Central Park. Fifth Avenue. Rockefeller Center. Grand Central Terminal.

    Postcard NYC at your pace.

    View Private Tour
  • Custom Tours

    Custom Tour

    Looking to combine tours into full or multiple days? New neighborhood you’d like to explore? Traveling with a large group?

    Work with me to craft the ultimate custom experience.

    Customize Private Tour
View All Private Tours

Meet Your Guide

Nicky Shapiro, your licensed NYC guide

After a lifetime spent living amongst city legend and lore, I served as a public school teacher in Harlem, backpacked around the world for a year with my surfboard, and became an officially licensed New York City tour guide after realizing the power of great local guides through my travels.

My endless curiosity for all things New York keeps me up to date with the city’s hottest restaurants, bars, and culture, and my boundless passion for history connects me with the city’s deep roots. 

Having taken dozens of tours all over the world, I understand that the key to a great tour is shaping it around each guest’s interests. Each of my tours is unique, specifically tailored to my audience—you—and my expertise is versatile enough to provide you with exactly the flexible tour you’re looking for. Interested in history? Architecture? Food? Culture? Nightlife? Sports? I've got you covered.