New York City is a vital part of Jewish culture. How many New Yorkers spit out the words schlep, oy vey or nosh, without ever having stepped into a temple? From the Lower East Side immigrant Jewish experience to Hasidic Williamsburg, the city teems with Jewish life. If you’re looking to be schooled on Jewish culture in this ethnically rich city, here are some spots to visit on your self-guided tour of Jewish New York.
Be sure to take this tour on an empty stomach to make room for the bialys, pickles and knishes you’ll be feasting on. But I promise, it’s not just about the food. And everything is just a subway ride away.
Lower East Side
At the turn of the 20th century, the Lower East Side was home to many Eastern European immigrant Jews living in tenements and shopping from pushcarts. Take a peek into an original tenement on a Tenement Museum tour. For a look at synagogue life in the same era, walk to the Museum at Eldridge Street to see the picturesque interior of this restored 19th century synagogue. The pushcart culture might be gone, but you can still buy a kosher pickle from The Pickle Guys. And don’t forget to pick up some fresh bialys at the legendary Kossars Bialys.
Brooklyn
In Crown Heights, kids can climb through a large plastic challah at an exhibit at the Jewish Children’s Museum, which offers families an interactive look at Jewish life and culture.
Further into Brooklyn, take a stroll down Avenue J, filled with kosher bakeries, and Judaica shops. Then head to the high-end supermarket Pomegranate, which is comparable to a Jewish Whole Foods.
Upper East Side
On Museum Mile, you can take in an exhibit or visit the permanent collection at The Jewish Museum. Peruse the museum at the historic Temple Emanuel. Then end the day with a production in Yiddish or English from The National Yiddish Theater; this historic theatrical company stages their shows at the Baruch Performing Arts Center.
Upper West Side
Pretend you’re George and Jerry on Seinfeld and have soup or an overstuffed sandwich at Mendy’s. For a dose of culture that goes beyond TV, the JCC offers a slew of Jewish cultural programs from arts to cooking.
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Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram