New York, NY - Urban Archive

South of Union Square

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A Very Old Manhattan Pub Crawl

New York has always been a great place to enjoy a pint (or three). A rare class of the city’s taverns date to Prohibition days or earlier, and each carries decades of local history: from the Revolutionary War to the gay rights movement. Starting with the Old Town Bar on 18th Street, take a loop through downtown Manhattan, and pay a visit to the dives that have withstood the test of time.

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Urban Archive

9 stops•7.0km•1h 25min

1

White Horse Tavern

White Horse Tavern

Among the notable patrons of this venerable West Village watering hole was Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet — and prodigious drinker — who was a frequent visitor right up until his death in 1953 (two days after he is said to have ordered eighteen whiskeys at the White Horse).

2

Julius'

Julius'

During the 1950s, Julius’ became known as a gathering place for gay New Yorkers, despite its management’s harassment of gay customers. In 1966, a group of gay men who had been denied service successfully challenged the New York State Liquor Authority in court, winning a ruling that guaranteed gay New Yorkers the right to peaceful assembly.

3

Old Grapevine Tavern

Old Grapevine Tavern

In a house built in the 1700s, this Tavern was a regular haunt for lawyers politicians of the day. Moreover, legend has it that it was the originator of the phrase "heard it through the grapevine" that was immortalized in Marvin Gaye's classic song.

4

Old Town Bar and Restaurant

Old Town Bar and Restaurant

The Old Town Bar and Restaurant has been in continuous operation since 1892, and still has its original marble and mahogany bar, and one of New York’s oldest operating dumbwaiters.

5

Pete's Tavern

Pete's Tavern

This 1829 building has been home to a tavern since at least 1864. In 1899, the bar was purchased by Tom and Jon Healy, who opened Healy’s Cafe, a regular haunt of the short story author O. Henry, who lived nearby.

6

Scheffel Hall (17th Street entrance)

Scheffel Hall (17th Street entrance)

O. Henry was also said to patronize Scheffel Hall, an 1890s era German beer hall.

7

McSorley’s Old Ale House

McSorley’s Old Ale House

McSorley’s Old Ale House is the oldest “Irish tavern” in New York City, though its claim to have been established in 1854 is questionable.

8

Bridge Cafe

Bridge Cafe

Originally home to a “grocery and wine and porter bottler,” the Bridge Cafe building's 19th century tenants included a variety of alcohol-serving establishments and a brothel, matching the area’s reputation for vice and depravity.

9

Fraunces Tavern

Fraunces Tavern

The Fraunces Tavern, built in 1719 as a mansion for the family of Stephen De Lancey, was opened as the Queen’s Head Tavern in 1762.

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