New York’s Historic Dive Bars (And Who Drank at Them)

Two types of people go to dive bars: the ones who go even though they’re dive bars, and the ones who go because they’re dive bars. The first type endures the cramped spaces, low lighting, and interesting bathrooms for the sake of affordable drinks. For the second type, those same features are part of the charm.

With New York gentrifying at a rapid pace, it hasn’t been easy to keep dive bars open. Many have been lost and replaced with more upmarket and less interesting places. But many more are still running and keeping their stories alive–or at least the stories people still remember the next morning.

Jimmy’s Corner, 140 West 44th Street

The owner of Jimmy’s Corner is boxing trainer Jimmy Glenn, and it’s a rare beacon of light in Times Square–cheap, welcoming, and not a tourist trap. The bar is liberally decorated with Christmas lights, posters of boxers, and photographs, not to mention the dollar bills that are used to line the wall behind the bar.

The final scene of Raging Bull, the Martin Scorsese classic, was shot at Jimmy’s Corner–so if this bar sounds like a movie set, that’s because it actually was.

Nancy Whiskey Pub, 1 Lispenard Street

One of the biggest achievements of Nancy Whiskey Pub is continuing to exist. Located a stone’s throw from Taylor Swift’s $20 million Tribeca apartment in one of the most upscale neighborhoods on earth, Nancy’s Whiskey Pub began life as a diner, but really hit its stride when it became a bar back in 1967. The décor is classic Irish–it’s a small, narrow space stuffed with memorabilia, although they also found room for a shuffleboard.

You can order heroes, fries, pizza, and burgers at the bar. The pub itself doesn’t dish on celebrities who’ve visited, but one long-time bartender claims the list includes Billy Joel and Scarlett Johansson. And if cheap drinks in Tribeca aren’t enough, go Monday to Thursday, 4-7pm.

Rudy’s, 627 Ninth Avenue

Your first encounter with Rudy’s is with the giant pig statue standing at the door. Allegedly once a speakeasy, Rudy’s has been a legitimate establishment since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. The bar has incorporated some decidedly non-divey elements over the years, like booths and wall mosaics, but the free hot dogs keep the place close to its roots.

Rudy’s takes pride in its storied history. Its mahogany bar is original and was made in the Bowery, and security was once provided by a pair of German shepherds. Among the celebrity drinkers over the years was the writer Norman Mailer. One bartender reminisced: “The saddest night I ever had in this bar was when I had to tell Drew Barrymore she couldn’t come back ’til she was legal. I hated to do it because she was so nice.”

Milano’s, 51 East Houston Street

The Bowery was once home to many bars that served New York’s struggling and homeless, with customers who would drink by cashing government checks. Now the only one left is Milano’s. It’s opening date was 1880, and its closing time is 4am.

The bar is a stable presence in a much-changed neighborhood. There are photos of regular clients and a pressed-tin ceiling, and the railroad layout makes even other dive bars look luxurious. Like the Depression-era drinkers, the identities of the patrons have disappeared over time, although it’s rumored to be a watering hole for famous magicians.

McSorley’s, 15 East 7th Street

McSorley’s got a mixed write-up in the New Yorker: “It is equipped with electricity, but the bar is stubbornly illuminated with a pair of gas lamps, which flicker fitfully and throw shadows on the low, cobwebby ceiling each time someone opens the street door. There is no cash register.” That was written (a) in 1940, and (b), well before women were welcome at McSorley’s.

McSorley’s is said to be the oldest bar in New York, opening its doors in either 1854 or 1862. It offers two kinds of beer, light and dark, and the floor still has a coating of sawdust. The Health Department has required a couple of redecorations–the cat is gone, as are the wishbones that decorated a gas lamp over the bar, which are thought to have dated back to the First World War.

Should you decide to visit these bars, be sure to drink responsibly–even if the cheap drinks make that hard!

About the Author
Luxor Limo helps passengers get the most out of New York City with its range of high-end cars and limousines, offering superior service, professionalism, and comfort. Visit us at: http://www.luxorlimo.com/.