Walk up 2nd Avenue around 85th Street and you’ll see it. It doesn’t scream for attention with neon "Instagrammable" signs or a velvet rope. It just sits there, looking exactly like a corner pub in Yorkville should look. Five Mile Stone NYC is a bit of a survivor. In a neighborhood that is rapidly being sanitized into a collection of high-rise condos and juice bars, this spot feels anchored. It’s heavy on the wood, low on the pretension, and surprisingly deep on the whiskey list.
You've probably passed it a dozen times if you live uptown.
Named after the historic sandstone markers that used to line the route from City Hall to Harlem—specifically the 18th-century milestone that stood right nearby—the bar leans into that old-world Manhattan DNA without feeling like a dusty museum. It’s a craft beer hall. It’s a cocktail den. It’s where you go when you want a burger that actually drips down your wrist. Honestly, it’s one of the few places left in the area where the person next to you might be a surgical resident from Mount Sinai, a construction worker finishing a shift, or a writer nursing a single neat pour for three hours.
The Vibe Shift: Why This Isn't Your Average Irish Pub
People get Five Mile Stone NYC wrong all the time. They see the brick and the dark wood and think "standard Irish pub."
It’s not.
While it has that warmth, the beverage program is way more intentional than your typical neighborhood local. We’re talking about a curated list of over 90 whiskeys. The draft lines aren't just rotating through the big-box domestics; they actually source interesting stuff from New York State breweries and beyond.
The layout matters here. You have the main bar area which gets loud—properly loud—on Thursday and Friday nights. Then there’s the upstairs. If you’re looking for a spot for a birthday or just a place to actually hear your date speak, the second floor changes the game. It’s got that "living room in a brownstone" energy.
What to Actually Order (and What to Skip)
Let’s talk about the food because bar food is a minefield in NYC. At Five Mile Stone, they do the classics, but they do them with a bit of a chip on their shoulder.
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- The Burger: Get the Five Mile Burger. It comes with caramelized onions and a specific type of funk from the cheese that works. Don't overthink it.
- The Wings: They are crispy. That’s the baseline, right? But the sauce isn't just vinegar and red dye. It’s got depth.
- The Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Usually, I’d say skip the "healthy" stuff at a bar, but these are charred enough to basically be a vegetable-shaped indulgence.
The cocktail list changes seasonally. It’s surprisingly sophisticated for a place that also serves a lot of Guinness. If they have a spicy tequila drink on the menu when you visit, order it. They don't shy away from the heat.
The price point is very "Upper East Side reasonable." You aren't paying West Village "I just paid $24 for a thimble of gin" prices, but you aren't at a dive bar either. You’re paying for quality ingredients in a zip code where rent is astronomical. It feels fair.
The Whiskey Problem
Most bars claim to have a whiskey "library." At Five Mile Stone NYC, it’s more of a well-edited collection. They have the heavy hitters—Pappy if you've got the ego and the wallet for it—but the bartenders actually know the mid-shelf gems. If you’re bored of the usual suspects, ask them for a recommendation on a high-rye bourbon. They won’t just point at the most expensive bottle. They actually give a damn about what’s in the glass.
Why Yorkville Needs This Right Now
Yorkville is changing. Fast.
The Q train arrival a few years back accelerated the "gentrification of the gentrified." Old-school haunts like Elaine’s are long gone. In their place, we get sterile, bright, "lifestyle" concepts. Five Mile Stone NYC feels like a middle ground. It’s clean and the service is professional, but it has soul. It’s the kind of place where the staff remembers your name if you show up three weeks in a row.
There's something deeply comforting about a bar that knows it’s a bar. It isn't trying to be a nightclub. It isn't trying to be a Michelin-starred restaurant. It’s a public house in the traditional sense.
Weekend Brunch: A Survival Guide
Brunch in NYC is usually a nightmare. It's a sea of bottomless mimosas and screaming. Five Mile Stone handles brunch a bit differently. It’s still lively, but the food is the focus. Their Eggs Benedict variants are legit. They use real hollandaise, not that powdered stuff that tastes like lemon-scented plastic.
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Pro tip: If the weather is nice, try to snag a spot near the front windows. The people-watching on 2nd Avenue is some of the best in the city. You get the full spectrum of Manhattan life walking past those glass panes.
Navigating the Crowd
Timing is everything.
If you show up at 11:00 PM on a Saturday, expect a crowd. It’s a popular spot for the post-college crowd that moved to the UES for their first "real" jobs. It gets high-energy.
If you want the expert experience, go on a Tuesday at 6:00 PM. The lighting is low. The music is at a volume that allows for actual human connection. You can sit at the bar, talk to the bartender about the New York Rangers or the latest micro-distillery out of Brooklyn, and just breathe.
The Logistics You Actually Need
Address: 1640 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028.
Cross streets: 85th and 2nd.
It’s an easy walk from the 86th St Q or 4/5/6 stations.
They do take reservations for larger groups, which is a godsend. If you’re trying to organize a group of ten people in Manhattan on a Friday night without a reservation, you’re basically asking for a headache. Use their website or give them a call. They are actually responsive.
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Actionable Insights for Your Visit
To get the most out of your night at Five Mile Stone, don't just walk in and grab the first table you see.
Check the draft list on the chalkboard first. They often have limited kegs that don't make it onto the printed menu. If you’re a whiskey fan, ask for the "off-menu" pours—sometimes they have a bottle tucked away that isn't for the general masses.
For a quieter vibe, head straight upstairs. It feels like a completely different bar.
If you’re planning a weekend visit, aim for the "lull" between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. You’ll get the best service and your choice of the prime real estate by the windows.
Skip the standard domestic beers and try a local NY craft. The prices are usually only a dollar or two different, and the quality jump is massive.
Final word of advice: The UES has a lot of "flash in the pan" spots. Five Mile Stone has stayed relevant because it does the basics better than everyone else. Don't expect a revolution. Expect a really good drink, a solid meal, and a place that feels like it belongs in the neighborhood. That’s more than enough.