On my recent trip to NYC, I stopped back at McSorley’s Old Ale House, which opened in 1854 and is New York’s oldest continuously operated saloon. I hadn’t been there in over a decade, but it still looked exactly the same, sawdust on the floors, wishbones hanging above the bar and small mugs of the only two kinds of beer that they serve, light and dark. How often do you get to drink in a 150 year old bar were both Abraham Lincoln and John Lennon had beers? Here are a few photos of our visit.
Here’s the McSorely’s timeline, which indicates that women were not allowed in the bar until 1970. See the Wikipedia article on McSorley’s for more on this historic bar.
photos by Scott Beale
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
When I was there back in 2001, they told us it was a favorite of Joe Kennedy back in the day as well. What a great bar!
When I was 19, I read a book called Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell.
He is one of the most magnificent biographer/descriptive observers I’ve ever read.
He did an entire portion of his mixed-collection book on McSorley’s that left an impression indelible enough, that when I saw your post, I KNEW it was the same place. After 9 years, it is still etched in my brain.
Here’s a link to the book.
You may want to check out that chapter. Since you’ve been there…
http://brothersjudd.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/reviews.detail/book_id/970
Cheers
Tom Lucier
tomlucier.wordpress.com
shanetom.com
phoglounge.com
What’s kinda sad is that when I tried to go a month ago, there was a line of frat boys out the door. :/
Jeff, exactly, that’s why I went during the day.
As frequented by Cassidy the shiftless Irish vampire in the Preacher comic, if I remember rightly
Thanks for the post – really makes me miss the NYC. Don’t fall for the “oldest bar” trap, however. Dig this:
http://nymag.com/nymetro/nightlife/barbuzz/11924/
“How often do you get to drink in a 150 year old bar…” (OK Lincoln and Lennon didn’t drink in them)
Quite often. I live in the UK :)
Ah, that really looks nice. And I hope that one day I’ll get the chance to see New York live!
McSorley’s reminds me of Heinold’s First and Last Chance in Oakland at Jack London Square, opened in 1883. The decor is very similar, except that Heinolds isn’t on the level.
http://www.heinoldsfirstandlastchance.com/
Great atmosphere but it’s too bad the beer tastes like ass.