Private Harlem Soul Food and Jazz Evening Tour

Overview

Enjoy a tour of Harlem — center of jazz and bebop music — then dine on soul food and see a jazz show at a famous venue like the Cotton Club. After exploring the historical neighborhood with a professional guide, feast on mouthwatering cuisine such as crispy fried chicken, spicy ribs and cornbread at Sylvia’s restaurant. You’ll relive the high-stepping nights of the 1920s with a jam session at one of Harlem’s hottest clubs. There’s no better way to explore the full range of Harlem's diverse history, music and food!

City: New York City

Sun 22 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $627.00

Make a reservation

Sun 22 Dec

Starting at $627.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Knowledgeable and professional guide

Family-style Soul Food dinner

Two complimentary drinks at the club

Subway ticket and return by minivan

Cover charge for the Jazz club

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum drinking age is 21 years
Face masks required for travellers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Proof of vaccination is required.

What To Expect

Harlem

Come and relive the high-stepping, fun-loving nights of the 1920s! Join us for a great night out in Immortal Harlem. Tour the neighborhood with one of our professional city guides and learn about Harlem's role in the history of Jazz in addition to the roles of its most noted jazz musicians who gave New York its musical edge.

Cotton Club

See the site of the original Cotton Club, where Duke Ellington and Lena Horne spent hours wowing crowds from around the world. Drive past the site of the Savoy Ballroom where Benny Goodman and Chick Webb fought it out during their "Battle of the Bands," and where the Charleston, "Lindy Hop" and the "Big Apple" dances were firmly cemented into American culture.

Apollo Theater

Pass by the world-famous Apollo Theater, where Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald won the popular "Amateur Night" and Minton's Playhouse, where bebop was born and where Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk started the tradition of musical jam sessions.

Harlem

Discover one of Harlem's hottest clubs, where jam sessions and musical collaborations go on into the wee hours of the morning. On Mondays, swing dance the night away to the beat of a terrific, twelve-piece band. Free dance lesson included! We pick up the tab for your first two drinks at the Jazz club. On Thursdays, experience the essence of Harlem and enjoy the convivial atmosphere as you mingle freely with the locals, while enjoying the sounds of a jazz or rythm & blues band. We also pick up the tab for your first two drinks at the Jazz club. Dinner* is at Sylvia's legendary restaurant - "The Queen of Soul Food" (Family style dining).

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (110)

MARKLI

Dec 2019

This was $175 a PERSON ( $350 a couple) , and we were told that we would be taken by a bus from the meeting place on 8TH Avenue near 43RD street to Sylvia's at 126TH Street for dinner and be given a tour on the way by a knowledgeable tour director...from Sylvia's we were told that the bus would go to the Cotton Club...an historic site...this was in the beginning of December and traffic was heavy...we were supposed to be there by 7PM sharp....at 6:20 we were concerned that we might be delayed in holiday traffic and called them...we said it looked like we could be there at 7:15...they said they would not wait past 7...that is understandable...so we parked the car and ran the rest of the way arriving at just before 6:50...a little more than 10 minutes early...only to be told that they had left without us ( a party of 6) 5 minutes earlier.....they told us they went by subway...because there were only anther 5 people on the trip they were taking the subway instead of getting a bus...and that the leader had taken our subway passes with her.....we persisted and did get them to give us passes, but they had no idea where the subway station was...they gave us the cell# for the group leader, whom we called several times, but she was not answering her phone...she finally did call back about 45 minutes later with no explanation for leaving without us...dinner was ok...not bad, but not good either...from there we were to be driven to the Cotton Club...however we were told that the Cotton Club was not the destination for this trip...that we were going across the street to a different Jazz Club...this in itself was a big disappointment, as the only reason we went on this was to go to the Cotton Club...so the walk across the street turned out to be about 6 blocks away in 27* weather...I do have to say that the "tour guide" did point out 2 protestant churches that had been Jewish temples years ago..that was the extent of the tour...so now we arrive at a place that the Health Department should have condemned...the place was best described as disgustingly filthy ..the bathrooms were not usable, dead bugs on the flat surfaces and layers of dried out spilled drinks and sticky stuff all over... the musicians were stoned out and constantly going outside to smoke pot the smell of which was drifting inside the joint and their music sucked..there was a singer who seemed to forget the words to the songs that she was singing. the best entertainment was some drunken customer who did some karaoke for 1 song.....we were supposed to get drinks..but they did not have anything.that I asked for ( iced tea, tomato juice, club soda) ..and I would not have had anything to eat or drink from any dish or utensil in that place any way .....a bus did show up to drive us back downtown, but the driver did not seem to know where he was going ....on the way downtown the guide did point out a place where she thought that some event that she could not remember had taken place...as you can imagine ...I would never recommend this trip or the company ..I do not like to leave a negative review, but we did call the company to discuss at least a partial refund..as the trip was not as described verbally or its written information...they would not hear of it...This was so bad that I will be reporting them to the Dept. of Consumers Affairs.Clear case of overcharging and bait and switch

GERARD_C

Oct 2019

We were the group of four francophone people to participate in this activity. We were driven to Harlem by the subway, but we did not visit anything in this part of the city except for a station in front of the Apollo Theater. The speaker did not explain anything about Harlem's story, her sociology, or the jazz music that characterizes this mythical place. We have heard only a few anecdotes without interest and off topic for the most part. The meal was correct, but would not have exceeded 35 to 40 dollars per person if it had not been included. We arrived in the cabaret at 9:40 pm. We were particularly badly settled, tight in a room where it was very hot. The guide did not introduce us to the musicians. The band seemed very good but we only heard it for 30 minutes. 158 euros for so little, is abusive. We would not have needed a provider to book us a table at a restaurant in Harlem, or to attend a jazz concert. This is what we will now advise to our knowledge departing for New York.

782melodyb

Oct 2019

Extremely knowledgeable regarding Harlem; very pleasant personality; enjoyed the music and atmosphere; food excellent!

Response from Host

Oct 2019

Dear 782 Mel, Thank you for your excellent review of our Harlem Soul Food and Jazz tour. We are thrilled that you enjoyed the evening! Your vote means a lot to us. Best regards, Erika Elisabeth Vice President Harlem Spirituals / New York Visions