New York’s Irish pubs aren’t just bars—they’re raw, pulsing altars of defiance, where the ghosts of Irish immigrants roar through the concrete jungle.
Every pint of Guinness is a fist raised against the mundane, every fiddle tune a battle cry, every whiskey-soaked tale a thread in the tapestry of a city that never bows.
If you’re chasing the best Irish bars in New York, you’re not looking for a drink—you’re hunting the soul of Ireland, alive and kicking in the heart of the Big Apple.
From the sawdust-strewn floors of McSorley’s Old Ale House, the oldest Irish pub in New York, to the world-shaking swagger of The Dead Rabbit, these are no mere watering holes—they’re arenas of joy, where the craic burns brighter than a Molotov cocktail.
Whether you’re after Irish bars in New York with live music, a dive where the bartender’s brogue cuts like a Galway gale, or the most famous Irish pub in New York, this city delivers. New York’s Irish spirit isn’t just surviving—it’s a wildfire, and these pubs are its fuel.
Below, I’ve torn into the heart of New York’s Irish pub scene, dragging out 10 of the fiercest spots that embody the Emerald Isle’s unbreakable spirit. I’ve also tackled the questions scorching your mind: What’s the best Irish bar in the US? What’s the most Irish town in New York? Where’s Little Ireland? And more. This isn’t a list—it’s a love letter to the places that make New York howl with Irish fire. Let’s charge in, hearts ablaze.
For more Irish pub adventures, check out our guide to the best Irish bars in Boston.
Why New York’s Irish Pubs Are a Breed Apart
New York’s Irish pubs aren’t just bars with shamrocks and green paint—they’re carved into the city’s soul, born from the blood and dreams of Irish immigrants who flooded these streets in the 19th century, escaping famine and fighting for a foothold. With over 1.2 million New Yorkers claiming Irish blood, these pubs are more than drinking dens—they’re cultural fortresses where history and rebellion collide.
From the best Irish pubs in New York with live music to gritty dives where stories are currency, these spots carry the weight of the past and the spark of now.
What makes them epic? It’s the authenticity—the bartenders pouring pints with the precision of a poet, the trad sessions that erupt like a storm, the menus that evolve from bangers and mash to Irish tacos, screaming Ireland’s modern soul.
Whether you’re in the most Irish town in New York or prowling Downtown Manhattan, you’ll find a pub that feels like home, even if Ireland’s just a whisper in your heart. Let’s rip into the best of them.
The 10 Best Irish Bars in New York: Where Legends Are Forged
1. McSorley’s Old Ale House – The Oldest Irish Pub in New York
McSorley’s Old Ale House in the East Village isn’t a bar—it’s a cathedral of grit, claiming the title of oldest Irish pub in New York since 1854 (let the historians squabble; the vibe doesn’t lie). The Maher family, guardians since 1977, keep it frozen in time—sawdust floors, ancient posters, a stovepipe older than sin. Women weren’t allowed until 1970, and the only drinks are McSorley’s light or dark ale, served two mugs for $5.50. Burgers and sandwiches are cheap and fierce, and the motto—“Be good or be gone”—is a warning and a promise.
Why it’s epic: McSorley’s is the most famous Irish pub in New York, a time machine where every pint is a pact with history.
Address: 15 East 7th Street, East Village, Manhattan
Source: The Guardian, May 2017
2. The Dead Rabbit – The World’s Best Bar
The Dead Rabbit in the Financial District is a revolution in a pint glass. Opened in 2013 by Belfast natives Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon, it was named World’s Best Bar in 2016 by Drinks International. This best pub in New York Downtown serves the city’s finest Guinness, boasts over 180 Irish whiskeys, and dishes out lamb stew ($22) and braised rabbit ($21) that hit like a punch. The upstairs Parlour’s cocktails—Switchblade, Hush Money—are poetry in liquid form. It’s fierce, romantic, and rewriting the Irish pub playbook.
Why it’s epic: It’s a global titan, blending old-school hospitality with modern fire, a contender for the best Irish bar in the US.
Address: 30 Water Street, Financial District, Manhattan
Source: Eater NY, August 2025
3. Swift Hibernian Lounge – The Literary Renegade
Swift Hibernian Lounge in NoHo is a rebel with a cause. Opened in 1995 by County Laois’ Danny McDonald, it’s named after Jonathan Swift and spits in the face of shamrock clichés. No TVs, no leprechauns—just a timeless vibe and a backroom pulpit from Swift’s County Meath church, hosting everything from Frank McCourt readings to DJ nights. Tuesday’s live music in New York’s Irish bars and corned beef tacos keep it fierce, with Guinness and Irish whiskey cocktails flowing.
Why it’s epic: Swift kicked off a new era, proving Irish pubs can be literary, cool, and authentic as hell.
Address: 34 East 4th Street, NoHo, Manhattan
Source: The Guardian, May 2017
4. Molly’s Pub and Restaurant Shebeen – Gramercy’s Eternal Flame
Molly’s Pub and Restaurant Shebeen in Gramercy Park is a 1950s Irish shebeen teleported to Manhattan—whitewashed walls, sawdust floors, a fire that warms your bones. County Meath’s Peter O’Connell says, “We don’t change,” and that’s the magic. The staff, many here for decades, pour 20oz pints of Guinness, Murphy’s, and Harp to Irish standards. Shepherd’s pie and 10oz burgers ($14) are served late, fueling the craic.
Why it’s epic: Molly’s is a stubborn bastion of tradition, as warm and unyielding as a Donegal winter.
Address: 287 3rd Avenue, Gramercy Park, Manhattan
Source: The Guardian, May 2017
5. Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar – Kips Bay’s Soulful Haven
Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar in Kips Bay is a slice of Galway’s wild west in Manhattan. Opened in 1986 by Cavan’s Steve Duggan and folk legend Paddy Reilly, it was once the world’s only all-Guinness draught bar. Now with rotating taps, it’s still a shrine to live music in New York’s Irish bars, with nightly trad and bluegrass sessions. You might spot a celebrity or a kid belting out “The Wild Rover.” The upholstery’s worn, the craic’s electric.
Why it’s epic: It’s raw, real, and a musical heartbeat of Ireland in NYC.
Address: 519 2nd Avenue, Kips Bay, Manhattan
Source: The Guardian, May 2017
6. The Late Late Bar – Lower East Side’s Bold Maverick
The Late Late Bar in the Lower East Side is a fearless reinvention of the Irish pub, named after Ireland’s iconic chat show. Dublin’s James Morrissey opened it in 2014, channeling a kitschy 1960s Irish home with Virgin Mary statues and Tayto crisp sandwiches ($8). Guinness gets a minty twist, and the Jameson Black Barrel Irish coffee ($14) is a revelation. The basement club pulses late into the night.
Why it’s epic: It’s a modern, edgy take on Irish soul, unafraid to break the mold.
Address: 159 East Houston Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
Source: The Guardian, May 2017
7. Mr Dennehy’s – West Village’s Sports Sanctuary
Mr Dennehy’s in the West Village is where Irish heart meets American sports fever. Cork’s Donal Dennehy runs this buzzing spot, with six screens for Premier League matches and full Irish breakfasts ($15) for early risers. Shepherd’s pie ($16) and Guinness-battered cod ($17) pack a punch, and the outdoor café—“Mr Dennehy’s backside”—is a summer haven for Everton fans and craic-seekers.
Why it’s epic: It’s a rowdy, heartfelt blend of Irish spirit and sports passion.
Address: 63 Carmine Street, West Village, Manhattan
Source: The Guardian, May 2017
8. The Four-Faced Liar – Greenwich Village’s Gritty Gem
The Four-Faced Liar in Greenwich Village is a near-dive bar with a heart of fire. Named after Cork’s Shandon clock, Cork native Conor O’Sullivan keeps it raw with tin ceilings, mahogany tables, and no food—just killer Guinness and occasional live music or poetry. It’s unpretentious, nestled between a tattoo parlor and a sex shop, and loved by locals who live for the craic.
Why it’s epic: It’s a dive with soul, where the stout and stories flow freely.
Address: 165 West 4th Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Source: The Guardian, May 2017
9. The Landmark Tavern – Hell’s Kitchen’s Historic Titan
The Landmark Tavern in Hell’s Kitchen is worth the trek. Opened in 1868, this former speakeasy and dock workers’ haunt, run by Cork’s Donnchadh O’Sullivan and Tipperary’s Michael Younge, boasts a mahogany bar, tin ceilings, and gastropub fare like bangers and mash ($15) or Long Island duck breast ($24). Monday’s trad sessions in the back room are a pilgrimage for music lovers.
Why it’s epic: It’s a historic gem with modern flair, a time capsule with a pulse.
Address: 626 11th Avenue, Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan
Source: The Guardian, May 2017
10. Peter McManus Café – Chelsea’s Family Legend
Peter McManus Café in Chelsea is a family-run titan since 1936, with roots to 1911. Justin McManus, great-grandson of County Longford’s Peter, keeps the flame alive with a tin ceiling, Tiffany stained glass (one with a 1970s bullet hole), and award-winning burgers ($11.25). Guinness, Magner’s, and house ale flow, backed by a deep Irish whiskey selection. It’s warm, gritty, and eternal.
Why it’s epic: It’s New York’s oldest family-run bar, a living piece of Irish history.
Address: 152 7th Avenue, Chelsea, Manhattan
Source: The Guardian, May 2017
The Irish Pub in New York: A Battle for Survival and Revival
One New York Irish pub—The Dead Rabbit—has been crowned the world’s best, its name echoing from Manhattan to London’s bar scene. Yet, the old-country boozers, those gritty, shamrock-free sanctuaries, are under siege. Gentrification’s rent hikes, the rise of craft beers, and the shift to gastropub menus threaten to snuff out the traditional Irish pub. Some say they’re fading, relics of a bygone era; others see a fierce new generation rising from the ashes, redefining the craic for a modern age. We raise a glass to the classics—McSorley’s, Molly’s—and to the rebels like The Late Late, who keep the fire burning. The Irish pub in New York isn’t just surviving—it’s fighting, and it’s glorious.
Frequently Asked Questions About New York’s Irish Pubs
What Is the Best Irish Bar in the US?
The fight for the best Irish bar in the US is a bare-knuckle brawl, but The Dead Rabbit in New York’s Financial District takes the crown. Named World’s Best Bar in 2016 by Drinks International, its 180+ Irish whiskeys, flawless Guinness, and innovative menu make it a global legend. Best Irish bars in New York Reddit threads also shout out McSorley’s for its historic grit and The Dubliner in Boston for its modern flair, but The Dead Rabbit’s fire is unmatched. Eater NY, August 2025
What Is the Most Irish Town in New York?
Woodlawn in the Bronx is the most Irish town in New York, a beating heart of Irish culture known as “Little Ireland.” Pubs like Rory Dolan’s and Gaelic sports clubs keep the craic alive, fueled by a tight-knit community and direct Dublin flights. Pearl River in Rockland County also vies for the title with its Irish shops and St. Patrick’s Day parade. The Crazy Tourist, 2025
Which Irish Pub in NYC Is Known for Its History?
McSorley’s Old Ale House is NYC’s most historic Irish pub, claiming to be the city’s oldest since 1854 (though some debate the date). Its sawdust floors, century-old memorabilia, and “Be good or be gone” ethos make it a living legend. The Landmark Tavern, opened in 1868, is a close second with its speakeasy past. The Guardian, May 2017
Where Is Little Ireland in New York?
Little Ireland in New York is Woodlawn in the Bronx, a neighborhood pulsing with Irish pride. Centered around Katonah Avenue, it’s home to pubs like Rory Dolan’s, Irish bakeries, and Gaelic sports. Once, the Lower East Side held the title in the 19th century, but Woodlawn is today’s beating heart of Irish New York. The Crazy Tourist, 2025
Why Are There So Many Irish Bars in NYC?
New York’s Irish bars are legion because of its massive Irish population—over 1.2 million claim Irish ancestry, rooted in 19th-century famine immigration. Pubs became sanctuaries for community, music, and craic, from Woodlawn to the Lower East Side. Despite craft beer trends and gentrification, the hunger for authentic Irish experiences keeps bars like Molly’s and Paddy Reilly’s alive. Ireland.com, 2025
What Is the Most Irish Town in the US?
Breezy Point, Queens, is the most Irish town in the US, with over 54% of residents claiming Irish ancestry. Known as the “Irish Riviera,” this beachside enclave hosts Irish festivals and pubs like Kennedy’s. Boston’s Southie and Woodlawn in the Bronx are close contenders, but Breezy Point’s Irish density is unmatched. The Crazy Tourist, 2025
Why These Pubs Are New York’s Heartbeat
New York’s Irish pubs aren’t just places to drink—they’re where the city’s soul catches fire. They’re where immigrants found refuge, where locals still raise glasses to love and loss, and where visitors taste the raw, unfiltered spirit of Ireland. From the oldest Irish pub in New York, McSorley’s, to the world-beating The Dead Rabbit, these bars are stories, fights, and dreams poured into every pint.
Craving the craic? Head to Swift for a literary pint, Paddy Reilly’s for a trad session that’ll break your heart, or The Late Late for a modern twist. Best Irish bars in New York Reddit threads echo these names—Molly’s, Mr Dennehy’s, The Four-Faced Liar—because they deliver the real thing. New York’s not just a city; it’s a rebellion, and these pubs are its beating heart.
Grab a pint, raise a glass, and let the craic consume you. These are New York’s best Irish bars, and they’re waiting to carve your story into their walls. For more Irish pub adventures, check out our guide to the best Irish bars in Boston.
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