Molly’s Shebeen: A Gramercy Irish Pub With Sawdust Floors and a Perfect Pint of Guinness
Molly’s Shebeen is that rarest of New York animals: an “Irish pub” that is an actual Irish pub. It’s been pouring on Third Avenue near 23rd Street for decades — the bar carved from Honduran mahogany, an original wood-burning fireplace still in place, sawdust on the floor, and Tudor styling that dates to a 1964 redesign. It’s been voted the most authentic Irish bar in New York, with the best Guinness and the best burger to match.
The vibe is country pub west of the Shannon, not Manhattan bustle — a hand-painted sign still promises “Hot Food, Cold Ale,” and the bartenders, many with the accent to prove it, keep that pledge every shift.
The Bar & the Pour
This is a pints-and-whiskey pub, and the Guinness is the headline.
- Guinness poured the slow, two-part way — settled to a photo-ready dome before it reaches your hand
- Rotating drafts — seasonal taps beside staples like Smithwick’s and Magners
- Whiskey — Irish and American bottles tiered across the back bar
- Daily specials at reasonable prices — ask the bar for the day’s deal
Molly’s doesn’t post set happy-hour times, but it’s long been one of Gramercy’s better-value pints.
The Food
The kitchen follows the same no-nonsense ethos. Shepherd’s pie arrives bubbling under buttery mash, the Irish lamb stew is a winter staple, corned beef comes on rye with briny house pickles, and the towering Molly’s Burger with Irish cheddar earns repeat orders. There are labeled gluten-free options, the full menu runs until midnight, and weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 11am–4pm) is a neighborhood institution.
The Room
Wood smoke, soft amber light, and a vintage mahogany bar set the unhurried pace. The crowd mixes finance interns, neighborhood stalwarts and the occasional tourist, all dropping to the same easy tempo. The playlist skews trad-folk and acoustic rock — The Pogues sliding into Van Morrison — and hushes when live fiddlers appear on selected Thursday nights. Conversations roll off the wood paneling without ever tipping into a sports-bar roar.
Who Molly’s Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| A proper pint | Some of the best, slowest-poured Guinness in the city |
| Comfort food | Shepherd’s pie, lamb stew, and a burger people come back for |
| Fireside winter drink | An original wood-burning fireplace and country-pub warmth |
| Weekend brunch | Saturday and Sunday, 11am–4pm, in a true Irish pub setting |
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Molly’s Shebeen FAQ
Does Molly’s Shebeen have a happy hour?
Molly’s offers daily drink specials at the bar but doesn’t publish fixed happy-hour times — ask the bartender for the day’s deal. It’s long been known for affordable, well-poured pints.
Where is Molly’s Shebeen?
287 Third Avenue in Gramercy, near East 23rd Street — about two blocks from the 6 train at 23rd Street.
What is Molly’s best known for?
Its Guinness and its burger — it’s been voted the most authentic Irish bar in NYC — plus Shepherd’s pie and Irish lamb stew.
What are the hours?
Open daily from 11am until 4am, with the kitchen serving a full menu to midnight and brunch Saturday and Sunday, 11am–4pm.
Details last verified June 2026. Molly’s doesn’t publish fixed happy-hour times — confirm the day’s specials with the bar before visiting.