NYC's most iconic bars

In a city where new bars and restaurants open all the time, the old, revered favorites take on a different meaning. Given the rate at which some of locals’ most cherished spots close — high rents, ownership changes and city bureaucracy issues — it’s especially important to value the longstanding places that’ve managed to stay afloat and weather the changes in a city that’s constantly shifting. Below, our list (in no particular order) of New York City’s oldest, most iconic bars. These are the dimly lit nooks, shiny bartops and cavernous corners we find ourselves returning to again and again. Old Town Bar Old Town Bar, which opened in 1892, has been a beloved gathering place for residents and visitors alike. Originally a German watering hole, the building stands nestled between Union Square and Gramercy Park, containing many of its original interior features, including the striking mahogany bar, behind it, a beautiful beveled mirror and soaring “tin” (actually pressed steel) ceilings. This institution’s charm is its patina – it’s worn and quirky. The creaky staircase leading up to the second-floor dining room is slanted, the lineup old-style urinals in the men’s room date from 1910, and the presence of a working dumbwaiter all add to the living history of the place. Old Town has been used as a filming location, for television (’80s Letterman), film (“The Last Days of Disco”) and music videos (House of Pain’s “Jump Around”). It has long been an unpretentious haven for artists and creatives from around the world. There’s a strong literary tradition, with regulars like poet Seamus Heaney and “Angela’s Ashes” author Frank McCourt, and multiple autographed and framed book jackets and other historical ephemera hanging on the walls. Gerard Meagher, Old Town’s owner and resident historian, says the bar “really thrived” during Prohibition, but that its most enduring attribute is its patrons’ sense of belonging and camaraderie. “Everybody feels comfortable here. And that’s very unique in New York these days.” —Brekke Fletcher Old Town Bar, 45 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003, +1(212)529-6732 The Campbell Grand Central commuters may have it better than any other commuters in the city. Instead of fighting the masses at Penn Station (is the surrounding area never not undergoing construction?), they have access to one of the city’s oldest and most beautiful bars right there inside the terminal. The central vein of transportation offers much more than just, well, transit access. Exhibit A: The Campbell Bar, formerly known as The Campbell Apartment. One of the oldest bars in New York City, it is also one of the most stunning. Before numerous signs on Vanderbilt, a tiny blink-and-you’ll-miss-it street parallel to Madison and Park Avenues, pointed the way to The Campbell’s hidden-away location inside the terminal, it was prized for being, among other things, a little hard to find. This made it a great first-date spot, but it also made it a chill respite from the chaotic hub just outside in midtown Manhattan. Even now, this is one midtown bar that downtown devotees will go out of their way for. Amble in for a cocktail or a nibble (or, as was the case on a recent brisk February afternoon, a currently-trending mocktail) before hopping a train out of the city or back to Brooklyn. The signature Manhattan is the best thing on the menu. Best ordered from Paris Durante, who has clocked 20 years behind this bar, the classic drink’s taste owes much to the mixing, according to Durante. “The key to making a great Manhattan is to stir it enough, but not too much basically. Most of the time they don’t stir them enough in busy bars.” Durante knows his stuff: when you take that first sip of the potent mix of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica here), and a dash of Angostura bitters, served up or over one oversized cube of ice with Luxardo cherries, you’ll be glad you found your way inside. —Stacey Lastoe The Campbell, 15 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017, +1(212) 297-1781 The Beer Garden at Bohemian Hall Grab a picnic table at this massive and boisterous Astoria beer garden, and you’ll see why Queens is recognized as one of the most diverse counties in the country. Many of the area’s Greek, Italian and Hispanic populations flock to the beer garden, and it’s a place for all ages too — you’re just as likely to see families as you are 20-somethings. The welcoming of children, however, comes with a warning: rowdy kids led to the bar’s implementation of a “no-kids-going crazy” rule, which stipulates children be within one foot of a parent’s reach at all times and gone from the premises after 9 pm. The Hall and Garden (the garden is open year-round for folks who don’t mind less-than-moderate temperatures) were originally built as a gathering place for the area’s Czech and Slovak immigrants, and this helps explain the menu’s Eastern European influence (though burgers and nachos can also be had). In 1892 residents formed the Bohemian Citizen’s Benevolent Society, and in 1910 raised funds to purchase part of an old farm plot. They built the hall and eventually the garden and opened both to the public. It survived prohibition, and today, the building and garden are still owned, managed and used by The Society for the preservation of their culture. The word “Bohemian” comes from a region in the Czech Republic known in medieval times as the Kingdom of Bohemia, but in Astoria, Queens, today, this word may best be used to describe the masses of hipsters who adore the beer garden. —Channon Hodge The Beer Garden at Bohemian Hall, 29-19 24th Avenue Astoria, New York 11102, +1(718)274-4925 Julius’ This corner pub has a storied past — and a legacy of inclusion and community. Operating in Greenwich Village on the corner of West 10th and Waverly for over a century and a half, Julius’s has had many iterations — though always a bar. It began in the mid-19th century, and like most bars open during Prohibition, it became a speakeasy. It transformed into a sports bar in the 1940s, emerging as a gay bar in the 1950s and 1960s. And Julius’ logo has been around since the 1930s. “Julius’ is a really important place related to LGBT history,” says Ken Lustbader, a co-director of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project. In 1966, three years before the Stonewall uprising, members of the Mattachine Society, a predominantly gay male organization, staged a sip-in. Modeled on the sit-ins of the black civil rights movement, this group of gay men traveled from bar to bar demanding to be served. The group wisely enlisted the press to follow along as they protested the state liquor authority’s practice preventing homosexuals from being served alcohol. The protest culminated at Julius’ and was captured in a now-famous Fred McDarrah Village Voice photograph. Nowadays, Julius’ is a home away from home for anyone who shows up. The interior is simple, a long bar with tables in the front and rear — the front tables feature antique wooden beer barrel’s from Ruppert’s, a former brewery that operated in the early 20th century. The bar is a celebrity in its own right, serving as a location for films like “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” about former Julius’ regular, Lee Israel, and the original as well as the forthcoming Netflix remake, “The Boys in the Band.” And actress Julianne Moore watched Super Bowl LIV there. But the real stars at Julius’ are the people, behind and in front of the bar. Daniel Onzo, who has worked as a bartender on and off for over 20 years and has been a regular for longer, is as much a part of Julius’s present as its past. “I want to drop dead right there. I want to be part of this till the last day. That’s how I feel about it.” He waxes poetic about bygone days, about the hustlers and bar fights and friends lost to AIDS, many of whose portraits hang on the walls. “The people who came here specifically because this was their home.” —BF Julius’, 159 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014, +1(212) 243-1928 Neir’s Tavern It is a paradox that one of the city’s oldest bars (190 years young!) is one of its least-known, despite its colorful history and a loyal local following. Neir’s Tavern, in the Woodhaven neighborhood in Queens, is about an hour by subway from Midtown Manhattan, which may be a part of why it’s not as recognizable as others on this list. As Neir’s proprieter (and New York City Fire Department lieutenant) Loycent Gorden said to Anthony Bourdain in a 2017 “Parts Unknown”episode centered on Queens, “It’s the most famous place you’ve never heard of.” Opened in 1829 as a tavern to cater to the patrons of nearby Union Course Race Track, the Neir family took ownership around the turn of the 20th century, calling it Neir’s Social Hall. Among its varying offerings at that time were a ballroom, hotel rooms and a bowling alley. Neir’s fame goes beyond its longevity. The bar’s website states that a young Mae West may have performed there. It was a featured location in the much-lauded 1990 Martin Scorcese film, “Goodfellas.” Firefighter Loycent Gorden took over in 2009, overseeing a careful restoration, but in early 2020, he nearly had to close the bar after an certificate of occupancy issue resulted in untenable rent hikes (it actually quintupled). Thanks to an outpouring of community support and the subsequent intervention of various members of city government, Neir’s was saved from closing, and the New York institution will live on. —BF Neir’s Tavern, 87-48 78th St, Woodhaven, NY 11421, +1(718) 296-0600 McSorley’s Old Ale House “Light or dark?” This is the question you’ll be asked when you approach the bartender at this 166-year-old establishment in Manhattan’s East Village. Many patrons opt for one of each of the house’s ales, and aside from a handful of nonalcoholic beverages that range from a can of Coca Cola to a can of Sprite, these are, really and truly, the only options, and there’s only one way the brew is served: in two eight-and-a-half ounce glass beer mugs. There’s a good half an inch of head in the not-quite-full half pints, and, for $6, it can all be had for less than the average price of a beer in New York City these days. It should come as no surprise, given the limited menu options (cheese plate options include cheddar or American), that McSorley’s is cash-only. Not a lot has changed inside since the ale house opened its doors in 1864, though the proprietors did install a women’s restroom 24 years ago — 15+ years after women were allowed inside McSorley’s. An anti-discrimination law prohibiting discrimination in public places on grounds of sex was signed by Mayor John Vliet Lindsay in 1970, but the bar was slow to embrace the change. The bartender on duty on a recent Wednesday evening estimates the bar goes through 60-70 kegs of beer each week. “We’re never slow,” she said, nodding toward the full but not too crowded front and back rooms. On any given night, it’s a mix of regulars bellying up to the bar — and they are literally bellying up to the stool-free bar — and double-fisting the signature brews over the casual conversational din. There’s a lot to take in for first-timers, with memorabilia dominating nearly every square inch of space. At McSorley’s, the sawdust beneath your feet, a staple of the tavern, feels fresher than anything else in the room. —SL McSorley’s Old Ale House, 15 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003 Dante The original Caffe Dante opened in Greenwich Village in 1915, an establishment frequented by the Italian immigrants who populated the neighborhood. The historic café was reopened in 2015 by its current owners, Australians Linden Pride and Natalie Hudson. Only a few years after its rebirth, Dante was named The Best Bar in the World – twice. A registered New York City landmark, the current bar (and restaurant) harks back to times gone by, with its subway tiles, painted tin ceilings and its location on Macdougal Street in the heart of Greenwich Village. Throughout its tenure, Dante has drawn luminaries and artists from all walks of life, the Lost Generation (Hemingway), the Beats (Bob Dylan), and now, the aperitivi crowd. Since Dante is so hot right now, getting one of its few bar seats is not always easy. But it’s been waiting for you to come for over a century – you can wait an hour. —BF Dante, 79-81 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012, +1 (212) 982-5275 White Horse Tavern Neither an upscale cocktail bar nor a straight-up dive, White Horse Tavern fits somewhere in the middle of the diverse spectrum of bar types. It’s old, of course, and on our list because it first and foremost meets this criteria, but it’s also a cool chameleon. On a brisk weeknight in winter, it’s welcoming but relaxed, with a game on the large TV hanging in the left corner of the bar. There’s no bouncer or huge throng of people to fight through to order a drink from the approachable-yet-no-nonsense bartender. But stop by late at night on a Friday or Saturday, and the vibe is decidedly different. It’s a place to party — not to ponder which of many gins you’d like with your tonic. Stick with a draft beer for about $7 if you’re trying to watch your wallet and know that if you order a top-shelf brand of booze, you’ll pay for it. No matter which White Horse you get, you’re guaranteed to get a strong drink and a side of history. It has the title “second-oldest continuously run tavern in New York City,” having opened in 1880. Welsh native Dylan Thomas was a regular, the Beats and Jack Kerouac patronized the bar — now a landmarked site on a corner in Greenwich Village — during its heyday. Floor-to-ceiling windows make White Horse excellent for people-watching, but you’ll want to take in the space’s original tin ceiling and beautifully maintained woodwork too. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore, say wistful longtime New Yorkers everywhere. —SL White Horse Tavern, 567 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, +1(212)989-3956 Bemelmans Bar Inside the tony Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side of Manhattan is the whimsically elegant Bemelmans. Since opening in 1947, the bar has hosted scores of the greatest jazz pianists, playing standards and contemporary pieces while patrons sip pricey cocktails. The room is adorned with murals by famed children’s book author and illustrator, Ludwig Bemelmans, who is best known for his “Madeline” kids’ book series – and, of course, being the bar’s namesake. Bemelmans’ murals, which were commissioned in the 1940s, depict the four seasons of nearby Central Park. There’s a quintessential New York elegance about the room, tables and banquettes surround a grand piano. Off to the side you’ll find a black granite bar and above you, a 24-karat gold leaf ceiling. For the little ones and their grown-ups, the bar hosts a Madeleine Tea every Saturday in November and December. In the evenings the bartenders are dressed to the nines, the drinks are expertly mixed and deferentially presented. The white table linens are thick (no paper cocktail napkins here) and the patrons have come to imbibe and celebrate. The air is full of music and memories of a time when New York City was synonymous with glamour and sophistication and it felt like the center of the universe. At Bemelmans, it still is. —BF Bemelmans Bar, 35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021, +1(212)744-1600 Fraunces Tavern In operation since 1762, Fraunces gets the notable distinction of hosting George Washington back in the day. Way, way back in the day. While it’s still primarily a bar and restaurant, history buffs will want to take note of the tavern’s collection of 18th century relics and artifacts housed in the two period rooms on the Museum’s first floor. Media contact Cian Lahart says the museum draws people in from all across the country, and beyond. But a tourist bar this is not. Located in the financial district, in the up-and-coming South Street Seaport district in Manhattan, Fraunces sees a lot of the post-work crowd. The locals know what’s up too: On any given night, craft beer aficionados may get lucky and find Fraunces serving The Alchemist’s Heady Topper. (A beloved beer from microbrewery in Stowe, Vermont, Heady Topper is brewed in limited quantities and distributed in an even more limited capacity outside of Vermont.) The tavern’s wide variety of options includes not just very good (and sometimes rare) beer but also a whole lot of whiskey. Over 400 varietals to be exact. Fraunces’ mission to be true to America’s forefathers, farmers who brewed their own beer and distilled their own whiskey, however, is still evident today. Lahart points to the Samuel Fraunces Ale on draft, which he says “evokes the kind of beer styles that existed in Colonial times.” Not a beer drinker? Try the tavern’s Presidential Punch, colonial-style punch created to honor President George Washington. —SL Fraunces Tavern, 54 Pearl St, New York, NY 10004, +1(212) 968-1776 The Brooklyn Inn On the surface, not too much has changed in this Boerum Hill bar’s 135-year-history. It’s still located in a cavernous corner space which manages to feel cozy in spite of atypically high ceilings and a long, wrap-around bar. Much of the woodwork in the spacious rooms are original, and there’s a lot in the details that evoke a 19th century American tavern. (The ATM in the back room is not one of them, but an important date is March 2, 2020 – when the bar will begin accepting credit cards for the first time in its history.) The Brooklyn Inn manages to be both comfortable and extremely fashionable without trying hard at all. Dark and decidedly laid-back in its demeanor, it is a local Brooklyn bar minus any new-Brooklyn pretension. There’s no food served here (but you can order in), and the drink list is short and to the point. It wouldn’t be a mistake to order one of the few cocktails listed on the backside of the laminated menu. The Brooklyn Manhattan, so named for its inclusion of not just any old bitters – but Brooklyn Hemisphere Rhubarb Bitters — suggests perhaps there’s a touch of hipster in this old-school bar after all. Just a little though: The garnish is a maraschino cherry — not to be confused with the high-brow Luxardo. —SL The Brooklyn Inn, 148 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11217 Chumley’s This landmarked spot was founded by Leland Chumley in 1922 as a private club for members of a socialist labor union. After the union disbanded, Chumley’s transformed into an illegal speakeasy during Prohibition. During that time, Chumley’s paid off the local police – thereby avoiding the raids that would routinely shut down other establishments. And, according to Jessica Rosen, the media representative for Chumley’s, “It is said that the term ’86’ was coined at Chumley’s.” Police would warn management that a raid was imminent and say, “86 your customers.” This mean to exit guests via the 86 Bedford Street entrance as the cops were going to enter through the now-closed side door. Notable writers from the early 20th century drank at Chumley’s, from poet Edna St. Vincent Millay to John Steinbeck and Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Their portraits, and those of old Hollywood movie stars like Humphrey Bogart, hang on the walls above glass cases that display book jackets, creating a salon-like, literary vibe. The current décor, including distressed leather banquettes and heavy, beveled glassware, along with a working fireplace, evokes the pub’s 1920s heyday. A 2007 construction accident caused Chumley’s to close for nearly 10 years, but it was thoughtfully renovated and refurbished by restauranteurs Alessandro Borgognone and Daisuke Nakazawa, who reopened Chumley’s in 2016. If you plan on visiting, a hint for finding it: there is no outdoor signage, just the number 86 on the door. —BF Chumley’s, 86 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014, +1(212)675-2081 The Ear Inn Established in 1817, The Ear Inn began as a watering hole for sailors and workers who toiled along the Hudson River. The Federal-style, landmarked James Brown House that houses the then-unnamed bar dates from the late 1700s. As shipping traffic increased, shores extended and commerce grew, the Ear Inn was a notorious den of iniquity – a place for men to drink, gamble and carouse – no women allowed. The Ear Inn is New York City’s oldest bar — and it hasn’t changed much since the first drinks were poured. As recently as the 1990s, the neighborhood where The Ear is located was shady, even dangerous, not the Soho adjacent, luxury-condo-laden locale that it is now. The bar remained nameless until the 1970s (though it was known as “The Green Door”), when the owners gave it its current moniker. According to its website, “They called it The Ear Inn to avoid the Landmark Commission’s lengthy review of new signage, simply covering the round parts of the long-standing neon “BAR” sign, leaving it to read “EAR.” These days, you’re more likely to see models and bankers than sailors. You can choose from a wide selection of beers and cocktails and soak it up with a damn fine burger. And when you walk through the door, it’s apparent that you’ll also be drinking in history. The Ear Inn, 326 Spring St, New York, NY 10013, +1(212)226-9060

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The oldest, most iconic bars in New York City