Walk into any wood-paneled bar in Lower Manhattan and you’ll likely hear a regular claiming they’re sitting in the oldest tavern in NYC. It’s a classic New York argument. One guy points to the sawdust on the floor at McSorley’s, while another swears by the Dutch roots of a spot in the Financial District. But if you actually look at the property records and the fire maps, the answer gets messy.
History isn't a straight line. It's a series of fires, tax evasions, and creative renovations.
The title of the oldest tavern in NYC usually ends up in a fistfight between Fraunces Tavern and The Ear Inn. Then you have McSorley’s Old Ale House sticking its head in the door to claim it’s the oldest continuously operating spot, though even that is debated by historians who point out they didn't actually let women in until a court order in 1970.
If you want the technical winner, Fraunces Tavern at 54 Pearl Street usually takes the crown. But it’s not exactly the same building that stood there in 1762.
Why Fraunces Tavern Owns the History
Samuel Fraunces bought the building in 1762. Back then, it was the Queen’s Head Tavern.
Samuel was a fascinating guy—a Black heritage entrepreneur of West Indian origin who became George Washington’s steward. You can’t talk about the oldest tavern in NYC without talking about the Revolutionary War. This wasn't just a place to get a pint; it was basically the high-stakes boardroom for the birth of the United States.
The Chamber of Commerce was founded here in 1768.
But the big moment happened in 1783. Peace was finally a reality. Washington gathered his officers in the Long Room to say goodbye. He was exhausted. The war was over. According to the memoirs of Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, Washington was so moved he could barely speak, eventually telling his men, "I cannot come to each of you, but shall feel obliged if each of you will come and take me by the hand."
It’s heavy stuff. You can still stand in that room today, though the building has been through hell and back.
The Ship of Theseus Problem
Here is the thing about NYC real estate: nothing stays the same.
Fraunces Tavern was hit by multiple fires in the 1800s. By the early 1900s, it looked like a standard, run-down tenement building with a flat roof. It didn't look "colonial" at all. The Sons of the Revolution bought it in 1904 and hired architect William Mersereau to fix it.
Mersereau had a problem. There were no original blueprints.
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He basically had to guess what a 1760s tavern looked like based on similar buildings in the area. He used yellow bricks from Holland and red bricks from Baltimore. Some historians call it a "highly speculative reconstruction." So, is it the oldest tavern in NYC? Technically, the site is. The basement and some walls are original. But the iconic yellow-and-red exterior you see on Instagram is a 1907 "reimagining" of the past.
It’s still worth the trip for the pot pie alone.
The Ear Inn: The Scrappy Contender
If Fraunces feels like a museum, The Ear Inn feels like a bar.
Located at 326 Spring Street, the building dates back to 1770. It was built for James Brown, an African American veteran of the Revolutionary War who allegedly served alongside Washington. It didn't become a tavern until later, which is why Fraunces usually wins the "oldest tavern" debate while The Ear Inn wins the "oldest building that contains a bar" debate.
It’s located right near the Hudson River. Back in the day, the water came right up to the door.
Sailors would stumble off ships and straight into the bar. It stayed a bar through Prohibition, masquerading as a "restaurant" while serving booze out the back. They changed the name to "The Ear Inn" in the 1970s to avoid the bureaucratic nightmare of getting a new sign approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. They just painted over the curved parts of the "B" in "BAR" on the neon sign.
B became Ear. Genius.
The McSorley’s Controversy
Then there’s McSorley’s Old Ale House. Since 1854. Or is it?
For decades, every piece of McSorley’s branding said "Established 1854." It’s the place with the "Be Good or Be Gone" motto and the wishbones hanging over the bar (placed there by soldiers heading off to WWI who never came back to collect them).
However, a few years ago, historian Bill Wander did a deep dive into census records and city directories. He found that John McSorley didn't even arrive in the US until 1855, and the building wasn't a bar until much later—possibly 1860 or 1861.
Does a six-year discrepancy matter when the ale is that cheap? Probably not.
But in the world of the oldest tavern in NYC, those years are the difference between a gold medal and a "thanks for playing" trophy. McSorley’s still feels the most "authentic" to many because it hasn't been "restored" to death. The dust on the chandeliers is probably from the 1920s.
Comparison of the Heavy Hitters
- Fraunces Tavern (1762): The heavy hitter. Most historically significant. Massive museum attached.
- The Ear Inn (1770): The sailor’s haunt. Less polished, more "Old New York" grit.
- Neir’s Tavern (1829): Located in Queens. Often ignored by Manhattan-centric lists, but it’s incredibly old and was a filming location for Goodfellas.
- Old Town Bar (1892): Not the oldest, but it has the oldest dumbwaiter in the city and original 19th-century urinals that are basically works of art.
The Social Fabric of the New York Tavern
Taverns in the 1700s and 1800s weren't just for drinking. They were post offices. They were courtrooms. They were places where you’d go to hear the news because you couldn't just check Twitter.
In the 1760s, if you were at the oldest tavern in NYC, you were probably discussing the Stamp Act. By the 1860s, at McSorley's, you were discussing the Draft Riots. These buildings have absorbed the anxiety and the celebrations of every generation of New Yorkers.
That’s why people get so protective over these dates. To claim your bar is the oldest is to claim your bar is the foundation of the city itself.
How to Actually Experience These Places
Don't just walk in and order a Heineken. That’s a waste of a trip.
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If you go to Fraunces Tavern, go upstairs to the museum first. It’s a $10-15 ticket, and you get to see the actual Long Room. Then, head down to the Porterhouse Bar (the modern taproom inside the building) and order a local craft beer or their signature pot pie. It’s cozy, especially in the winter when the fireplace is going.
At The Ear Inn, look at the floor. It slopes toward the river. You can feel the age of the timber under your feet. It’s one of the few places where you can still feel the "West Side Waterfront" vibe before it was all glass condos and High Line tourists.
Pro tip for Neir's Tavern: It’s out in Woodhaven, Queens. It’s a trek. But they nearly closed down in 2020, and the community rallied to save it. It’s the "most famous bar you’ve never heard of." They have a burger called the "Goodfellas Burger." Eat it.
Actionable Insights for the History Hunter
If you’re planning a crawl to see the oldest tavern in NYC and its rivals, follow these steps to avoid the tourist traps:
- Check the Hours: Fraunces Tavern is often booked for private events on weekends. Always check their website before trekking to the tip of Manhattan.
- Bring Cash: McSorley’s is cash only. Don't be the person at the front of the line fumbling for a credit card while a cranky bartender glares at you.
- Look Up: In these taverns, the history is in the ceiling. The Ear Inn has artifacts tucked into the rafters. McSorley’s has the wishbones. Fraunces has period-correct crown molding that tells the story of 18th-century craftsmanship.
- Ask the Bartender (Quietly): If it’s not slammed, ask the bartender about the "ghosts." Every one of these places claims to be haunted. At The Ear Inn, it’s "Mickey," a sailor who was hit by a car in front of the bar and supposedly still waits for his drink.
- Respect the Vibe: These aren't sports bars. Don't go in screaming at a TV. These are places for conversation, which is what a tavern was always meant to be.
The "oldest" title might be a moving target, but the experience of drinking in a room that existed before the lightbulb was invented is pretty much the same everywhere. It’s about the wood, the dim light, and the feeling that you’re just one in a long line of people who came there to forget their troubles for an hour or two.
Start at Pearl Street, work your way up to Spring Street, and finish in the East Village. You’ll have walked through three centuries of New York history before you even hit your third pint.