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McSorley's Old Ale House

Pub$$$$

East Village, New York

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8.9^/10

2,096

ratings

Ranked #8 for cheap drinks in the East Village
The folks at The New Yorker and Food Network like this place. Would you agree?
"Light or dark beer 🍺 Always a great time!"(15 Tips)
"Literally a spit and sawdust place"(11 Tips)
"... dark beer, loved the light beer-- can't go wrong with your beer choice here"(11 Tips)
"Oldest bar in NYC! Definitely worth a visit"(6 Tips)

443 Tips and reviews

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TomMarch 5, 2013
As a visiting Brit, was amused to see how very american this place was. Dont try to pay at the bar (the brit/irish way of paying for drinks), it just confuses the staff. Good service and cheap drinks!
Alessandro OltramariMay 9, 2013
cheap in-house beers (only), great snacks like cheese and onion platter! A must-see in NY.
ChrisJuly 23, 2018
Old school Irish pub. Excellent spot to get a beer.
Royce FullertonAugust 6, 2014
Good value, you have to pop in at least for a quick beer if you are near. It's like stepping into a time capsule.
Carson NevadaSeptember 21, 2013
Been here 5+ times
On busy nights you're forced to sit with strangers. Which make for an even better night than you'd originally planned.
Matt EdwardsJanuary 5, 2016
Hope you like light or dark beer. You should, they're both delicious. Get both.
Ashley DickinsonJanuary 14, 2013
There are 2 choices: light and dark beer. Order one of each, end up with 4 glasses in front of you. I don't ask questions.
Simon VreemanMay 4, 2019
An old bar with sand on the floor and only light or dark beer. Nice and simple!
prince of ArroganceMay 12, 2014
Fantastic place! A real old school tavern with great beers and a super atmosphere
Lisa LAugust 9, 2014
Touristy, but a must do! go in the day time for less of a crowd. 2 small beers for $5.
Elaine EnglundSeptember 16, 2014
If you order "two beers" and they ask you "for how many?", and you answer "two people". You'll get 4 glases of 1/2 pints. 5$ = 2 beers 🍻
Ryan EickSeptember 15, 2018
An institution of NY drinking. Visit at least once
Martina CarusoNovember 27, 2017
THE BAR of New York. There is so much history and cool happenings connected here. Look at the walls and ceilings. And remember: with one beer order you get two small pints!
Erik JacobsJanuary 19, 2018
Bring your cash and choose from light or dark beer. And you will love it.
Heidi EisenbeisSeptember 10, 2016
Loooove this place! Great vibe, fantastic customer service. Cash only.
SatishDecember 16, 2012
Oldest Irish Tavern in Manhattan dating back to mid 19th century. Visitors said to have included Abraham Lincoln, Boss Tweed, and Woody Guthrie (NYT)
Vincent HayesMarch 23, 2019
Been here 10+ times
Both light and dark beers, love the cheese and mustard
LindsDecember 28, 2011
Can be crowded during peak hours, but just ask the staff for a table. They are great about helping you find seating.
Jimmy LawlorOctober 6, 2010
The food is good too! Great burger and steak fries. Love there cheese plate: white Irish cheddar, fill sleeve of saltine's, and a sliced white onion. Great!
Tamara HJune 11, 2012
"Notable patrons such as Joseph Mitchell, e.e. cummings and Brendan Behan, not to mention two presidents (Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt), also got two mugs of ale." (via @ShelfAwareness)
Nash PleasantSeptember 11, 2018
Get the dark beer. An NYC institution of drinking. Not much has changed over the years and that’s the way they should keep it
Andrew ProtoJune 7, 2011
Been here 10+ times
Come here in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. Whatever the daily lunch special is that day: have it! It'll be delicious.
Bachelor10April 6, 2011
As long as you’re drinking, you can stay. Once you take a breather, your butt will be on the street to make room for a fresh supply of thirsty patrons. Read more
Kirsten AlanaDecember 6, 2011
Been here 10+ times
Light or Dark beer. Cash only. Sawdust on the floor. Get something you can smear the spicy mustard on. It's hella good.
Rich GallagherJuly 12, 2011
Been here 10+ times
Not much has changed at McSorley's over the years (no ladies until 1970), but that has created NYC's best drinking experience. Order a round of light and darks, bring cash and "Be Good or Be Gone".
Mike KirwanSeptember 1, 2013
excellent bar and very very old school...saw dust still on the floor, old fashioned "speakeasy" in NYC
Justine D'AmourOctober 14, 2011
The grey-suited Brendan has been working there since the dawn of time - check out his presence in the old newspaper clippings around the place. DARK ALL THE WAY!
Vanessa RuedaOctober 23, 2014
this is one of the truly hidden gems in nyc. Every detail has a story.
Shailesh MishraSeptember 8, 2013
More than a century and half old! Not for the fancy types but definitely one for the beer lovers!
Daniel BarrettMay 15, 2012
The smell of 150 years of beer on wood is like nothing you've ever smelt. Also, the bathrooms open straight onto the room with a swing door...enjoy looking at bar patrons while you pee!
Alex HayworthJune 19, 2017
Oldest Bar in NYC...I think. Only two types of beer - light and dark. E. E. Cummings wrote a poem about this place.
Ed CigarApril 27, 2011
delicious beer at NYC's oldest, manliest, and possibly Irish-est pub. i prefer the dark but you can't go wrong either way.
Nate FolkertFebruary 21, 2017
departing soldiers leaving for war would leave a turkey wishbone hanging on the lamp rail. http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-wishbones-of-mcsorley-s-old-ale-house
IFCJune 7, 2010
McSorley's was one of the last "Men Only" pubs in Manhattan and the musky walls and sawdust floors are doing their best to uphold that odiferous tradition. - IFC Staff
Bobby CollinsAugust 26, 2010
The oldest bar in New York try a mix of the light and dark, can you drink them both at once? Check out the wishbones on the anchor above the bar maybe a local will tell you the story!
Larry LaBurrJuly 21, 2015
What it says on the tin - a pub serving only two types of beer at crazy low prices
Frank BanisiAugust 12, 2011
might be the best dark ale I've had. a bit too crowded but worth stopping by, drinking quickly and moving on.
Nitzan BMarch 4, 2017
Oldest bar in manhattan. Only beers, no fuss and you sit where the old man tells you to 😁
MichelleFebruary 29, 2012
2-4-1 beers: Light or Dark. Simple. Tip well. Awesome bartenders, greal ambiance. Super rad.
nils jansonJanuary 24, 2015
Make sure to look up at the chandeliers to see decades-old wishbones with attendant dust collection.
The Corcoran GroupApril 23, 2010
When at McSorley’s remember to order the Light or Dark beer in even numbers. It’s cash only.
Mike RyanJuly 11, 2013
This place is beer drinkers heaven. $5.50 for 2 beers as great (simple) food.
Georgiana EliseSeptember 7, 2010
The mustard is crazy spicy.. almost deadly! Great atmosphere! It's a great place to chill out, drink some beers, and meet a bunch of new people
Louis MendezJune 10, 2021
Love the history and vibe at this landmark. Bartender add some spunk to the experience.
Nope MayvilleFebruary 24, 2012
There is a secret way to order your rounds. Tell the bar tender to do the @jessebrightman jig and you and your friends will drink free.
Ryan WarrenderJune 13, 2016
Dusty, old, and epic. Ask the bartenders how to properly order a round.
💎TAugust 7, 2015
Fantastic beer selection. They've got so many IPAs!
Claudia FilthMarch 21, 2016
Two types of beer, sawdust on the floor and real Irish bar staff.
Matt ClineDecember 14, 2014
Been here 5+ times
The cheese plate is the best in the union.
KFebruary 4, 2016
An absolute fav and must. Ask for 2 light and 2 dark!

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McSorley's Old Ale House

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