McSorley’s Old Ale House – E 7th St, New York

McSorley’s Old Ale House is a historic Irish saloon at 15 East 7th Street in Manhattan’s East Village, between Second and Third Avenues. From the sidewalk it is easy to spot: a black wooden storefront under a long green sign reading “McSorley’s Old Ale House – Established 1854,” with gold-lettered windows and green ale barrels lined up out front.

Irish immigrant John McSorley opened the bar in the mid-1850s, and it is often called the oldest Irish saloon in New York City. It famously admitted only men until 1970, when a federal court ruling opened its doors to women. Over the years the bar has welcomed everyone from Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt to John Lennon and Woody Guthrie, and writer Joseph Mitchell made it famous in his New Yorker essay “The Old House at Home.”

Step inside and little seems to have changed in more than a century. Sawdust covers the floor, a potbelly stove sits in the back room, and the walls are crowded with old newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia, including a pair of Harry Houdini’s handcuffs. The drinks menu is simple: McSorley’s own ale, ordered light or dark and served two mugs at a time.

Pair your ale with the classic cheese plate of sharp cheddar, saltine crackers and raw onion, or go for a burger or sandwich from the short kitchen menu. It is a cash-only bar, so bring bills, and expect a lively, standing-room crowd on evenings and weekends.

Good to Know

• Address: 15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003
• Hours: usually Monday to Saturday 11 AM–1 AM, Sunday 1 PM–1 AM (check before visiting)
• Payment: cash only
• Getting there: a short walk from the Astor Place subway station (6 train) and the 8th Street–NYU station (R/W)
• Website: mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc

Exploring the neighborhood? Browse more Eat & Drink spots on P6D, or pair your visit with a stop at Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side.

Features

• Alcohol

Location