Tours and Tickets by Ben's Bagel Tours
Grand Central: The Open Sesame Bagel Tour
If you’re in New York City and want to tick Grand Central Terminal off your list, it can be hard to see every detail of this station during it’s busy working hours. This Grand Central tour is perfect for anyone trying to get a closer look at the art, architecture, and history of NYC’s famous terminal. See its Tiffany clock and hidden Campbell Apartment, while hearing stories about the city’s golden age of rail.
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1 hour 30 minutes
Lower East Side Bagel Tour
New York City’s Lower East side is home to many cultures and plenty of good food. Focus primarily on this area’s Jewish culture during this food tour. Start your tour with NYC’s most iconic food—the bagel—and follow your guide to bakeries, delis, candy shops, and markets that celebrate Jewish heritage. Visit synagogues, museums and local landmarks to hear stories about daily life and traditions in this colorful NYC community.
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2 hours 30 minutes
The Ess-a-Bagel Making, Baking & Tasting Experience
There are a few secrets to a great New York bagel, and you can learn the tricks yourself on this private foodie-friendly bagel tour, where you learn how to make bagels. Visit the kitchen of a famous NYC bagel shop, and see the process yourself. Learn how to roll, boil, and bake a classic New York bagel. Reap the rewards by tasting a freshly baked treat, complete with spreads and maybe even a slice or two of lox.
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1 hour 45 minutes
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The tour was great. First we walked around Herald Square. I’d been there so many times, but had never heard the history of this little area of NYC. Then we learned the history of bagels. The best part was learning to roll the bagels. Ben the tour guide was great. Highly recommend it to bagel lovers and their friends.…
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Date of experience: January 2020
Helpful
Complete scam. Didn’t make bagels or even have really anything to do with bagels. Walked around midtown for an hour and then went to the back of the kitchen at ess a bagel where everyone was trying to work to watch a man roll out dough. Do not waste your money.
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Date of experience: December 2019
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Response from Benjamin W, Owner at Ben's Bagel Tours
Responded Dec 29, 2019
We are very sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy the tour especially since it was very specifically described as to what it would entail. We try very hard to create an experience where people learn about a very historic and interesting part of New York City as well as learn about and gain first hand experience about one of its most iconic foods. That said, we appreciate feedback – both good and not so good – as we always want to provide the best experiences that we can.
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To be honest, this was more ‘walk’ around and hear about Macy’s and other landmarks than anything else. We met at a bagel store and ended at a bagel store with 30 minutes cramped into a corner of back kitchen watching someone else make them, with walking around the streets being asked questions that clearly we did not really care about or know the answer to in between. I was lucky enough eventually to be one of 4 who got to roll some dough but I am no closer to making bagels myself than when I started. Over priced and over rated IMO.…
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Response from Benjamin W, Owner at Ben's Bagel Tours
Responded Dec 29, 2019
Thank you for your review, albeit certainly not what we ever like to hear. The Ess-a-Bagel Making Baking and Tasting Experience is for folks who not only want to learn more about the history and landmarks of the area that encompasses Penn Station, Macy’s and Greeley Square, but also about the history of bagels in NYC including about how they’re made. We’re fortunate to have Ess-a-Bagel as our base of operations for this tour, one of NYC’s foremost bagel purveyors, and we know people enjoy the behind the scenes experience of learning about and rolling the dough, as well as seeing how bagels are flavored and baked. And, of course, eating them. All of that said, your feedback is valued and we will take your comments into account for the future. Thank you for your review, albeit certainly not what we ever like to hear. The Ess-a-Bagel Making Baking and Tasting Experience is for folks who not only want to learn more about the history and landmarks of the area that encompasses Penn Station, Macy’s and Greeley Square, but also about the history of bagels in NYC including about how they’re made. We’re fortunate to have Ess-a-Bagel as our base of operations for this tour, one of NYC’s foremost bagel purveyors, and we know people enjoy the behind the scenes experience of learning about and rolling the dough, as well as seeing how bagels are flavored and baked. And, of course, eating them. All of that said, your feedback is valued and we will take your comments into account for the future.
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This was a cool tour. We came in expecting it to be about bagels, but it was more about the immigrant-filled history of the LES, old-time establishments and how they've stayed float. Ben was very knowledgable about the history of New York City.
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Review collected in partnership with this attraction
Date of experience: November 2019
Helpful
Response from Benjamin W, Owner at Ben's Bagel Tours
Responded Nov 13, 2019
Thanks for your nice review. Please shmear the word about my tours Ben Wagenberg Ben’s Bagel Tours
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Review of: Grand Central: The Open Sesame Bagel Tour
Growing up in the New York suburbs, living in Connecticut, working in NYC for a while, I have been in Grand Central Terminal countless times. This 90 minute tour was jam-packed with information I had never considered as part of the 700,000 people passing through the Terminal every day. Ben Wagenberg of Ben's Bagel Tours provided history, insights, cool facts and figures, all with the humorous edge of a true New Yorker. I have recommended it to numerous friends already. Our family is looking forward to joining Ben again for his tour of the East Side. Not to be missed!…
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Date of experience: October 2019
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Benjamin W, Owner at Ben's Bagel Tours
Responded Oct 31, 2019
Wow! Thank you so much! And thank you for Shmearing the word about Ben’s Bagel Tours
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