McSorley’s Old Ale House

McSorley's Old Ale House has been pouring on East 7th Street since 1854 and calls itself New York City's oldest continuously operated saloon. Stepping through its swinging doors feels like stepping back a century or more: the walls are crammed with yellowed newspaper cuttings, photographs, portraits and memorabilia, sawdust covers the floor, and the tables and chairs have been worn smooth by generations of drinkers. The bar says that everyone from Abraham Lincoln to John Lennon has passed through.

For most of its history McSorley's admitted men only. That changed in 1970, after the civil rights lawyers Faith Seidenberg and Karen DeCrow took their case through the courts, and women have been drinking here ever since. The history is part of the experience, and regulars and staff are happy to point out favourite pieces on the walls.

The drinks list is famously simple: McSorley's own ale, served in small glass mugs, usually ordered two at a time, in light or dark. There is no cocktail menu, and that is the point. A short food menu offers daily specials and long-standing pub dishes, which help soak up the ale. Prices are low for Manhattan, and the turnover is fast; servers move quickly, so have your order and cash ready.

McSorley's is cash only and does not take reservations; seating is first come, first served, and you may well end up sharing a table with strangers, which is how it should be. It opens at 11am from Monday to Saturday and at noon on Sunday, closing at 1am every night. Afternoons are calmer and better for looking at the walls; evenings and weekends get loud and crowded, especially with students and groups. T-shirts are sold at the bar for anyone wanting a souvenir.

The bar is at 15 East 7th Street, between Second and Third Avenues in the East Village. Astor Place station on the 6 line is about five minutes' walk, and the 8th Street–NYU station on the N, R and W lines is close by. St. Marks Place, the Cooper Union building and the East Village's restaurants are all around the corner, so it works as a first stop on an evening out.