The Gangsters' New York Scavenger Hunt

Recommended by the New York Times and Time Out New York

Discover bygone clubhouses and battlegrounds as you roam the streets of Chinatown and Little Italy, where gangs ruled, tong wars raged, and wiseguys got rubbed out.

You’ll see locations featured in such movies as The Godfather and visit the notorious Five Points spot that inspired the book and movie Gangs of New York. You might even find Jimmy Hoffa.

But you’ll learn much more than gangster lore—you’ll also discover cafés, bakeries, teahouses, colorful stores, exotic sidewalk markets, historic buildings, and the streets where Irving Berlin sang, Christopher Walken’s goons had a gunfight, and the Sex and the City gals strolled.

You might answer such questions as…

Amble along Mulberry, Little Italy’s Main Street, and pause at the corner of Hester St. In 1972, mobster Joey Gallo was rubbed out at Umberto’s, a restaurant where Da Gennaro is now. He was shot inside, staggered outside and died on Hester. (As they say, “He ordered clams and got slugs.”) Now, fuhgeddaboud smoking guns. Where will you find hints of a smoking volcano?

If you don’t spot the answer, you can get a hint: Get a good look at restaurant signage. The answer? The sign at Caffe Napoli features a smoking volcano. (Mount Vesuvius famously erupts near Naples.)

No previous knowledge is required to answer the questions. You just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and good teamwork.

Explore twisty streets, find hidden history

As you might expect, these neighborhoods aren’t keen on putting up plaques telling you about bygone gangsters, so the hunt will give you the historical notes and tales that paint a vivid picture of the old days.

Part of the thrill of this hunt is that the streets are narrow and twisting and often confusing to most visitors—but with our clues, directions, and map, you’ll feel like a master navigator.

The Gangsters’ New York Scavenger Hunt is offered to the general public on select Saturdays, and to private groups any time. Click below to buy a ticket or contact us to learn more—and find more fun in downtown NYC!