FNYC Standards21 places
Classic Bars, Taverns & Dives in NYC
Hand-picked by Gothamly and checked against each place’s own site. Nobody paid to be here.
- Since 1817
Ear Inn — Hudson Square
Pints in a Federal townhouse yards from the old shoreline — among the city's oldest bars
- Since 1829
Neir's Tavern — Woodhaven
One of America's oldest bars — the Goodfellas bar scenes were shot here
- Since 1847
Fanelli Cafe — SoHo
Serving on the corner of Prince & Mercer since before SoHo had a name
- Since 1854
McSorley's Old Ale House — East Village
Two choices, light or dark, served in pairs — sawdust floors and Lincoln-era walls
- Since 1864
Pete's Tavern — Gramercy
The city's oldest continuously operating bar-restaurant — O. Henry wrote in the second booth
- Since 1864
Julius’ — West Village
159 W 10th St · The city’s oldest gay bar and the oldest bar in the Village · site of the 1966 “Sip-In” · the burgers are the house secret
- Since 1868
The Landmark Tavern — Hell’s Kitchen
626 Eleventh Ave · Opened when the Hudson reached its door · the third floor was a speakeasy during Prohibition · kitchen noon–10 PM daily
- Since 1880
White Horse Tavern — West Village
Dylan Thomas's last barstool — literary ghosts and sidewalk tables on Hudson
- Since 1884
P.J. Clarke's — Midtown East
The quintessential saloon at Third & 55th — a bacon cheeseburger under the tin ceiling
- Since 1890
Sunny's Bar — Red Hook
A longshoreman's bar at the end of the world — bluegrass jams, cash only, worth the trek
- Since 1892
Old Town Bar — Union Square
Tin ceilings, dumbwaiter service, landmark 1910 urinals — order the burger
- Since 1895
Molly’s Shebeen — Gramercy
287 Third Ave · A bar first set up here in 1895 that sat out Prohibition as a grocery store · Irish pub fare, open late every night
- Since 1910
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden — Astoria
The city's last original beer garden — Czech lagers under the linden trees
- Since 1920s
Dublin House — Upper West Side
225 W 79th St · Opened during Prohibition, a legal pub since 1933 · the neon harp out front is the neighborhood’s beacon
- Since 1923
Yankee Tavern — South Bronx
The 'original sports bar,' two blocks from the Stadium — pre-game like it's 1950
- Since 1929
Marie’s Crisis Café — West Village
59 Grove St · The show-tunes piano bar where the whole room sings along, every night · cash only, two-drink minimum
- Since 1933
Rudy's Bar & Grill — Hell's Kitchen
Red duct-taped booths, cheap pitchers, and a free hot dog with every drink
- Since 1936
Peter McManus Café — Chelsea
152 Seventh Ave at 19th St · Four generations of the McManus family behind the bar · they call it the city’s oldest family-run bar
- Since 1940
Lee's Tavern — Dongan Hills
Staten Island's basement secret — the white clam pie
- Since 1971
Jimmy's Corner — Times Square
The boxing-shrine bar of trainer Jimmy Glenn — the most honest drink in Times Square
- Tribeca
Walker’s — Tribeca
16 N Moore St · The neighborhood’s corner tavern: burgers, weekend brunch and a bar that pours until 3 AM
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