This is McSorley’s Old Ale House—New York City’s oldest continuously operated bar since 1854. 🍺
Join me, Todd Newton (The Tattooed Traveler & author of CHUG & CHOW), as I visit this legendary East Village institution that has been serving just two options—light ale and dark ale—for over 170 years. McSorley’s is a living museum of New York history, where sawdust still covers the floors, gas lamps light the room, and the walls display artifacts from nearly two centuries of operation.
What makes McSorley’s legendary:
✅ NYC’s oldest continuously operated bar (since 1854)
✅ Only serves two drinks: light ale and dark ale
✅ Historic sawdust-covered floors and gas lighting
✅ WWII wishbones memorial from soldiers who never returned
✅ Served presidents, poets, writers, and working-class New Yorkers
✅ Women weren’t allowed until 1970 (forced by court order)
✅ Featured in artwork, literature, and countless stories
✅ Operating in original location for 170+ years
McSorley’s maintains traditions that have remained unchanged since before the Civil War. The two-ale system is simple: you order light or dark (or both), served in small mugs. Behind the bar hang wishbones left by young soldiers heading off to WWII—those who never returned home left their wishbones as a permanent memorial. The walls are covered with historical photographs, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia that tell the story of old New York.
Light ale or dark ale? Which would you choose? Comment below.
📍 Location: East Village, Manhattan, New York City
📅 Established: 1854 (170+ years)
🍺 Menu: Light ale and dark ale only
🪖 Memorial: WWII soldiers’ wishbones (permanent tribute)
📜 History: Served Abraham Lincoln, Woody Guthrie, and countless others
Learn more about McSorley’s and hundreds of other legendary American bars in my book CHUG & CHOW—available on Amazon and at chugandchow.com.
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