Historic Bars in New York

The Charleston

Dive Bar / Historic Bar

Party Earth Review In the heart of Williamsburg’s ongoing transformation (de-evolution?) from grungy to chic, The Charleston remains proudly on the grungy side. Old chandeliers cast a dim glow over this rough-around-the-edges dive, creating soft shadows that hide the nicks in the ratty tables and checkered floor that have probably been there ... more

174 Bedford Avenue
New York, NY 11211

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McSorley's Old Ale House

Ale House / Historic Bar

Party Earth Review As much a historical landmark as it is a tavern, McSorley’s Old Ale House has welcomed such illustrious guests as Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt over its 150 years, and only started admitting women in the 1970s. Still in its original location, the bar nowadays is home to a loyal blue-collar crowd joined by a good showing ... more

15 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10003

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White Horse Tavern

Café / Historic Bar / Restaurant

Party Earth Review Built in 1880 and frequented by 1950s literary greats like Mailer, Ginsburg, and Kerouac, the White Horse Tavern still attracts the artistically inclined denizens of the West Village. Both day and night, would-be writers and college students settle into faded red-cushioned booths to scribble away, perhaps inspired by the ... more

567 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014

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Kettle of Fish

Historic Bar / Pub

Reviewed by Lauren C.

"Tucked away at the bottom of concrete steps under a little awning, Kettle of Fish may not reel you in at first glance. If you decide to duck in, you'l ..." more

59 Christopher Street
New York, NY 10014

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The Charleston - Dive Bar | Historic Bar | Live Music Venue in NYC

The United States doesn’t boast the same insanely long history as Europe, but that doesn’t mean its major cities aren’t home to a few watering holes that have stood the test of time, and that certainly applies to New York historic bars.

The good people of the Big Apple have been boozing it up since before this place was called New Amsterdam, and while the historic bars in NYC haven’t been around quite that long, there are still several long-standing institutions worth checking out.

Some, of course, haven’t weathered the ravages of modern development, such as Bill’s Gay Nineties, which first opened in 1924 during the heart of Prohibition and finally shuttered its doors after losing its lease in 2012. But others hold fast, and it would be hard to find an historic bar in New York that has welcomed as many illustrious guests as McSorley’s Old Ale House in the East Village. Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt are just two of the famous guests to drop in here during McSorley’s 150+ years of existence, and nowadays the bar is home to a loyal blue-collar crowd joined by a good showing of down-to-earth preppies and Irish natives who gather at the weathered wooden tables to knock back some famous ale served two ways – light or dark, two mugs per order.

That’s one of the benefits of being around so long, you see – the oldest bars in New York have got nothing to prove.