Harlem Walking Tour: Mount Morris Park Historic District W/ Lunch

The history of Harlem is diverse, having housed many cultures. It has more to offer than some may realize, and our guide, Carolyn, a native Harlemite, knows some hidden histories about this area. She was friendly and easy to talk with. I am a New Yorker who has lived here for many years, and I thought my sister from Ohio would enjoy the tour. We both had a great time!

Amazing tour that started at Mt Olive BC. Jonathan was very nice and knowledgeable about the Harlem area and history.

Interesting tour by an entertaining and well informed guide, Jonathan. Started with a vibrant gospel concert in the church, then a tasty generous brunch with a detailed briefing about the history of Harlem and then a walking tour of the neighbourhood.

Tour was advertised as being “immersive” but was anything but. Not as described. Avoid. Our guide was friendly, but had little to no knowledge of the area that we were visiting. The tour description promised a deeper insight into Harlem,NY, but we got nothing of the sort. In fact, the guide spent the majority of her time looking information up on her mobile! Why were we paying $$ for someone advertised as being well versed in the locations, information and history of Harlem who clearly did not have this knowledge. Instead it basically was what WE could have looked up on our own. We were quite literally watching the guide on her phone looking everything up! We hired and paid so we could learn, not stand on corners while guide looked up things on her mobile. (From their listing): This tour was described as being “a captivating journey through the heart of Harlem's cultural heritage, led by a local guide”. The description went on to say “Step into the world of literary giant Langston Hughes at his historic home, gaining insight into his profound impact on American literature.” (The guide had ever even heard of Langston Hughes) And: “Explore the cultural reservoirs of the Schomburg Center and the National Jazz Museum” (we did not make it to either of these places) Finally the description says: “This guided tour promises an immersive and enlightening experience, offering a deeper understanding of Harlem's rich tapestry of culture and heritage” No, there was nothing immersive OR enlightening about this. I can’t stress enough that the guide was looking everything up real time. Literally, this was ridiculous. Tour guide was friendly enough, but that is definitely NOT enough to make up for the misleading advertising. Get Your Guide should do a better job vetting new vendors. Their company’s guides seem to work primarily in Europe so perhaps that explains the lack of expertise here? However this doesn’t make up for my paying (x2 people) for this. When I shared this experience with get your guide, they refunded me 25% of the total. This was shocking to me that they would not stand behind the customer when the experience was clearly not as described. So the bottom line is: We didn’t get what was advertised, and after alerting the company they did not provide a refund or appear in any way interesting in the issue. Harlem is a beautiful place. I wish we had gotten more of what was promised.

The tour guide was very knowledgeable about Harlem. It was a solo adventure for me- with a group of four; however, they all made me feel apart of the group ! It was an amazing experience for me.

The local knowledge of the tour operators as people who have lived in the neighborhood their whole lives.

We loved Doris’s knowledge of Harlem. We saw and heard so much. It was very slow, but quite enjoyable.

Our tour guide, Mrs. Doris, was fabulous. She has been a local guide for the past 25 years and is incredibly knowledgeable. She shared captivating stories about the history of Harlem, the significance of its brownstones, and the vibrant music scene surrounding its artists.

Unfortunately this was just okay. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and VERY considerate, but the tour moved VERY slowly, lasting an hour longer than expected. We were out 4 hours but did not cover very much ground. The lunch spot staff were very considerate of our group. They clearly have a very good relationship with the tour group. The food was okay. I’m from GA and was raised on soul food. So I’m used to good soul food. Thanks for taking good care of me and my family including my 88 year old grandmother.

I would most definitely recommend this walking tour, excellent value for money with some gorgeous ‘Soul Food’ and delicious cake + a hot dog. I was lucky enough to the tour alone with the utterly charming Doris, who is obviously a Harlem Legend and deservedly so. I learned so many interesting and valued things on the area. Keep On Keeping On - Doris

What an amazing time with Carolyn. The tour was very informative and fun. We laugh and walked off a fee pounds. We traveled here from Birmingham, AL. What a great experience. We felt very welcomed here. We will be back. THANKS CAROLYN !!! YOU WERE EXCEPTIONAL!

This was a great experience in Harlem and our tour guide went above and beyond with us. Doris was so sweet and very knowledgeable with the history of Harlem. If you want to see and learn about this amazing place definitely take the tour.

Our walking tour in July was fantastic! The tour guide was a true treasure, having grown up in Harlem, and her knowledge of the neighborhood was incredible. We had a delicious soul food lunch, visited historic sites and heard so many stories about what had happened in the past, but also how the neighborhood is and has been changing. We learned so much. I would highly recommend this company and would like to sign up for the jazz tour next time we are in town.

I am grateful for the tour guide giving such a personal and in depth tour of Harlem. The guide shared sites, personalities and stories from the Roaring 20s, Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era up to the present day. The tour surprisingly included a buffet lunch and concluded with a slice of red velvet cake from a local baker, who actually holds a Guinness Record. The guide is clearly a fixture of the neighborhood and not a member of a large scale cookie cutter type tour company. This was evident by the many greetings we received from residents throughout our community walk. I would highly recommend this tour and will definitely return with friends in the future so they can also experience the true essence of Harlem.

We had a wonderful tour of Harlem that exceeded all our expectations. Our guide was incredibly well-traveled and knowledgeable, sharing fascinating stories and rich history about the area. Walking through the streets of Harlem while exchanging experiences made the tour even more enjoyable and educational. One of the highlights was when our guide took the extra effort to bring us to a delightful Ethiopian restaurant, where we savored a delicious lunch. This unique culinary experience added an extra layer of enjoyment to our tour. Overall, I would highly recommend this tour to anyone curious to learn more about the history and culture of Harlem. It was an enlightening and memorable experience that we will cherish for a long time.

Thanks Doris for a very enjoyable and educational tour. We will be back to dine at Red Rooster, Sylvia’s and to see the renovated Apollo.

The tour was absolutely fantastic. Doris is a wonderful tour guide. So knowledgeable and lots of fun. She seems to know everyone in Harlem & we felt very welcomed. She adapted the tour to include places we mentioned from books and soul & jazz music. I am a veggie and the cafe we visited was brilliant, no way I would have found it without Doris. We also filled up with a few lovely cake stops along the way. In the end we toured Harlem for 5 hours. Do not hesitate to book this tour its fantastic. Adam & Mary (Reading UK)

We’ve heard about the people and the area but to see it in person was amazing - the brownstones, churches, music venues, schools, and historic places were a great experience. And the local lunch was outstanding!

Carol can tell you a lot about Harlem, its developing community and important people who lived there. She also knows her neighborhood which made the tour more personal by saying Hi to people around. I had a lovely time and enjoyed the wonderful brownstones and her insightful knowledge!!

Went with friends to experience our first walking tour in Harlem..Our tour guide grew up in that area and was a wealth of interesting information...Brownstone history was amazing as well as Harlem Renaissance..I would highly recommend this tour

Joseph took us on a Music History and Black Renaissance Tour of Harlem. Not only did he we see the iconic locations of famous jazz clubs and speakeasies, but he showed us the former residences of many famous African American poets, essayist, writers, and civil rights activists. We also got to see two iconic music locations: Electric Ladyland Studios and the Apollo Theater. Joseph knowledge of jazz, blues, and rock genres was superb. While walking through Harlem and Greenwich Village, we bonded over jazz, R&B, and rock music. We finished our tour by having a delicious lunch at one the local restaurants in Harlem. He responded quickly to our questions, reached out to verify tour details the day before, and sent his ETA to our designated meeting place. When we return to the Big Apple, we will schedule another tour with Joseph.

Mrs. Dorris was amazing and so knowledgeable! We have always wanted to tour Harlem! What we received was a life experience and history lesson! Unmeasurable!! When we think of Harlem we will always remember Mrs. Dorris!

I was the only person on the tour so it was a real personal tour. My guide Caroline was fantastic. So much knowledge and so friendly. Being from Australia I had no idea what Harlem is like these days and the efforts the locals put in to restore it to its best. Great lunch as well, enough to fill me twice over. Highly recommended

Doris was a tremendous guide. She gave little tidbits of information which added to the history of the area. Eating at Jacob’s market was a total treat with delicious food. I would highly recommend to any of my family and friends.

Once I figured out I had to push for apartment #1 to alert the tour guide I was there away we went. Our guide was Doris and what a dynamo. An original resident of Harlem she led us through her neighborhood with first hand knowledge of how life was through the ages. The architecture the music, the civil rights icons, the jazz greats. It was like they were walking with us . Lunch was great and she even found us a piece of world famous Red Velvet Cake. We both came away with an encyclopedia of knowledge. A great tour. The best.

Great tour! Debbie, the guide, was very nice and she knew everything there is to know and more. We really enjoyed both the tour and the lunch.

Great way to see Harlem and understand it's rich history. Lunch was included and plentiful. Recommend it!

Doris was a great trove of information; she grew up in Harlem and knows the area and its people. The tour was especially nice because she was so knowledgeable and friendly. Lunch was delicious and there were MANY choices so we all ate our fill.

I couldn’t have asked for a more comprehensive and informative tour than I had with Doris. She was engaging and obviously has a personal knowledge of the area which she was proud to share. It was definitely a highlight of my visit.

It was not worth the money. We basically stayed on the same block and went into a hotel under construction and the gift shop at the Apollo theater. The guide only spoke of herself. I can honestly say I learned nothing about Harlem. Tour should make arrangements with theaters and churches to least allow group to look.

We had a wonderful time with Ms. Doris. She was beyond kind and generous during our tour. I was amazed at the amount food which was included in our tour.

Mrs Dorris is amazing, walked us through the history and growth of Harlem. It was an absolute pleasure to spend the day with her.

I highly recommend getting out of the touristy areas and venturing out on this tour. Debi, a Harlem resident, was a wonderful and informative guide who walked us around educating us on the history of Harlem.

The rich culture and history in Harlem is overflowing. The tour guide was born and raised in Harlem and she is an incredible source of information. The pace for walking and viewing while on the tour was great. Highly recommend

Doris was an inspiring person to talk to; almost 80 but she took us round for 4 hours without flagging. She had wonderful memories of Harlem as she grew up there. Very knowledgeable and interesting.

The tour was educational, fun and totally amazing. Our guide extremely knowledgeable. Harlem surprised us in so many ways; a close, friendly community with beautiful homes, friendly people from all over and a lot of interesting history.

This was my first trip to NYC and I knew that a tour of Harlem was at the top of my list. I’ve read about and written research papers on the Harlem Renaissance, so I’ve always been intrigued about Harlem. Doris was an AWESOME tour guide. She’s a walking history book! Please start recording her so we don’t lose the history and stories.

What a fantastic experience, very personalized, interesting, beautiful and informative! Can’t recommend this tour enough. It was my first time in Harlem, but won’t be my last!

Doris was a super guide. A life long resident, she knew the area very well. We loved her stories about growing up and who she saw, and knew, and what life was like in the 60s We would have benefited from understanding the history better ( we aren’t Americans and our son wasn’t alive) We would have liked a better understanding of the Harlem renaissance. It was hard to hear Doris at times over the sounds of the streets. Lunch was great Doris was lovely and answered all our questions with patience

There are not enough ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for my time spent with Doris my tour guide . From start to finish this tour was amazing. I learnt so much. I am already planning to do the Jazz tour also with Doris. I highly recommend this tour.

Our tour guide Doris was amazing. A walking encyclopedia who has lived in Harlem her whole life, Doris also works at the Schonberg and African Burial Grounds. She customized our tour to our interests, mixing literary history with music, neighborhood lore with architectural history. 5 out of 5. Highly recommend!

It was great. Our host was excellent very knowledgeable about the area and about the tour it’s self. As she lived and grew up through some of the events she pointed out.

Doris our guide was absolutely amazing. As my partner and I were the only in attendance for the tour, Doris led us on a lovely private tour. She spent extra time with us, took us to place not on the standard tour, and ensured we were entirely satisfied with our experience. We would highly recommend the tour to any visitor to NYC.

This was an AWESOME tour. Very informative. So much culture. Our tour guide( forgot her name) was great.She was very patient, answered questions and went the extra mile for us. The lunch we had was DELICIOUS.

Great guide, great tour. We enjoyed every minute. Highly recommended to anyone interested in this area of the city.

Wonderful, knowledgeable, friendly guide. We were on a very small group so it was almost like having a personal tour guide. Highly recommend.

Surrounded by the architecture of beautiful brownstones, Carolyn, our guide, shared many informative facts about Harlem and related the impact of historic events on this vibrant neighborhood. Our parting meal was a delicious soulful lunch, down the street for the Apollo Theater! We had a fantastic walk! Thank you, Carolyn!

The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was a great way to get more familiar with the vibrant neighborhood.

Our hostesses were pleasant , informative and welcoming. Learn a lot about landmark that could be easily overlooked without the tour