McSorley’s Old Ale House: New York City’s Oldest Continuously Operated Saloon
McSorley’s opened on East 7th Street in 1854 and has barely changed since — sawdust on the floor, gas lamps overhead, and walls so thick with framed photographs, yellowed clippings and memorabilia that they’ve become a kind of accidental museum. Among the artifacts: wishbones hung over the bar by soldiers leaving for World War I (never collected), and a pair of Houdini’s handcuffs. It bills itself as the city’s oldest continuously operated saloon, and the claim is hard to argue with.
Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Woody Guthrie and John Lennon have all passed through the swinging doors. Woody Guthrie is said to have worked on the union movement from a front table, guitar in hand. The draw isn’t the drink — it’s the 170-plus years of New York packed into one low-ceilinged room.
The Ale
The menu of drinks is exactly two items long:
- McSorley’s Ale, light or dark — the only alcohol ever served here
- Two at a time — order one and you get two small mugs; it’s tradition, not a typo
- Cash only — there’s no happy hour and no card machine; bring bills (an ATM is outside, not in)
The ale is fine — pleasant, easy, nothing to write home about. That’s not the point. The point is drinking it here.
The Food
Simple and built to keep you drinking: the famous cheese-and-cracker plate with sharp cheddar and raw onions (a signature for over a century, no longer free), plus burgers and a few straightforward sandwiches with fries at fair prices. Fish and chips appear on Fridays. Locals will tell you to order the dark and a large cheddar.
The Room
Low ceilings, worn wood, sawdust underfoot, and history patched across every inch of wall. It gets crowded and loud at peak hours, the bartenders are famously no-nonsense, and strangers end up talking to strangers — it’s that kind of place. Step in for a trip back through Old New York; just know it’s first-come, first-served and there’s no table service to speak of.
A Note on History
McSorley’s was men-only for most of its life — one old slogan ran “Good Ale, Raw Onions and No Ladies.” That ended in 1970, after attorneys Faith Seidenberg and Karen DeCrow took the case to court and won; women were finally admitted that year. It’s a living landmark, equal parts bar and historical site.
Who McSorley’s Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| NYC history | The city’s oldest saloon, essentially unchanged since 1854 |
| Out-of-town visitors | A genuine New York institution, not a recreation of one |
| A simple ale | Light or dark, two mugs at a time — no menu to deliberate over |
| Cheese & onions | The century-old cheddar-and-raw-onion plate is the order |
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McSorley’s FAQ
Does McSorley’s have a happy hour?
No. McSorley’s has no happy hour and no drink specials — and serves only its own ale, light or dark, two mugs at a time. It’s cash only.
Where is McSorley’s?
15 East 7th Street in the East Village, between Second and Third Avenues — a short walk from the 6 at Astor Place and the F at Second Avenue.
Is McSorley’s really cash only?
Yes — cash only, no reservations, first-come, first-served. There’s an ATM outside, but no card machine inside.
What are the hours?
Open Monday–Saturday 11am–1am and Sunday 12pm–1am. No kids after 6pm.
Details last verified June 2026. McSorley’s has no happy hour and is cash only — bring bills, and expect a wait at peak hours.