McSorley's Old Ale House

McSorley's Old Ale House is known as the oldest continuously operating tavern in New York City. Located in the East Village (at 15 East 7th Street) McSorley's was one of the last "men only" pubs until 1970 when they were legally forced to change.  Whether you live here or are visiting I’d highly recommending checking out the 150 years of history at McSorley's!

McSorley's began as a blue collar saloon where the beer was sold for pennies and cheese and the crackers were on the house! These days it's not much different...they still only offer two choices,  dark beer or light beer and no matter what they'll always give you two when you order one! Even the cheese and crackers are still around and are sold for only $3.00/plate!  

(don’t let the simplicity of this fool you...

the super spicy mustard (which is to die for in my book) 

with the raw onion, savory cheese, and the salty crackers, make a perfect bar snack!!!)

The floors at McSorley's are covered in saw dust and you'll notice there are a few bar fixtures missing…there are no stools so you must fight for your piece of standing room and there has never been, and most likely never will be, a cash register! 


McSorley's is covered with history... In both the front room and the backroom (where the ale flowed during prohibition) the walls are covered with aged photos, artifacts, and newspaper clippings! Among the artifacts are as Houdini's handcuffs, wishbones hung by those going off to World War I, an original wanted poster for Abe Lincoln's assassin, and the farewell from Yankee stadium photo that Babe Ruth donated!

Many other notable people have visited McSorley's, including Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Peter Cooper, Boss Tweed, and Woody Guthrie. Literary figures like Brendan Behan, Paul Blackburn, LeRoi Jones, Gilbert Sorrentino, George Jean Nathan and even the 1994 Stanley Cup Champs, the New York Rangers who took the cup to McSorley's and drank out of it! 


McSorley's is defiantly a cool spot with a great story and I hope its around for the next 150 years!

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