McSorley's Ale House in New York City, New York Takes the Cake

15 East Seventh Street

New York, NY

I won't lie - I enjoy a beer or two or three in a bar that has a great atmosphere. And I'm always on the lookout for a new bar to enjoy my brews in. So, I was on the prowl this past week, while I was visiting the Big Apple and boy, did I hit the Mother Lode.

I visited McSorley's Old Ale House, which is located in the East Village at 15 East Seventh Street. From the outside, it didn't appear to be much - a hole in the wall really. But once you got inside, it was something completely different.

McSorley's, by way of a history, is the oldest Irish tavern in New York City, having opened its doors to patrons in 1854 (although some say it was really 1862). Regardless, it's a pretty old Irish pub in New York. Women were not allowed admission until 1970 when two lawyers from the National Organization of Women took the case to court and won.

McSorley's serves two ales - a light and a dark - and you pay $4.50 for two. The pints are not true pints in the sense that we know them. They are each half a pint, so you get a full pint for $4.50, which, for New York, is quite a steal. The beers are amazing in taste - I do not necessarily like dark beer but I would highly recommend it. The inside is dark, with wood paneling and sawdust on the floors. There is memorabilia on the walls which, reportedly, have not been removed since 1910.

Not only did I love the beer, but the atmosphere is phenomenal. The waiters are all Irish born and bred. They are crude and funny and just all around wonderful. The place is steeped in history - as noted above with the memorabilia. That memorabilia included a bust of John F. Kennedy and real John Wilkes Booth wanted posters. It also included copies of Civil War armistice posters and you can see the carved initials of past Presidents on the walls. The sawdust on the floor is delivered fresh daily and the smell flirts with your nose.

The one thing that I would suggest is that you get there early. We got there at around 2 on a Saturday afternoon and had to wait approximately thirty minutes before gaining admission because the bar itself is very, very small. This is a bar that I would completely recommend going to and experiencing for yourselves. Make sure that you bring a group of friends with you!

McSorley's Ale House

15 East Seventh Street

New York, NY