5 Best Pubs in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

New York's busiest pubs have collected over 26,000 Google reviews between them, and the ratings barely separate, 4.4 to 4.7, which says less about the beer than about how differently each one runs its floor. One still serves ale in two glasses at a time and takes cash only; another books out its upstairs parlor weeks ahead for cocktails.

Short answer: The most-reviewed pub in New York is McSorley's Old Ale House (4.7 stars, 8,862 reviews), tied on rating with The Dead Rabbit (4.7, 8,525 reviews) and Brickyard Craft Kitchen & Bar (4.7, 1,179 reviews). Expect roughly $15 to $60 per person, more at the cocktail-forward spots.

Jump to a business

1. McSorley’s Old Ale Hou…
2. The Dead Rabbit
3. O'Hara's
4. The Irish American Pub
5. Brickyard Craft Kitche…
Get listed

New York's Top Pubs, Compared

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	McSorley’s Old Ale House	4.7 ★	8,862	Historic dive / cash only	View ›
2	The Dead Rabbit	4.7 ★	8,525	Cocktails / upstairs parlor	View ›
3	O'Hara's	4.6 ★	5,794	Financial District / big portions	View ›
4	The Irish American Pub	4.4 ★	2,247	Live sports and events	View ›
5	Brickyard Craft Kitchen & Bar	4.7 ★	1,179	Sports bar / craft beer on tap	View ›

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

McSorley’s Old Ale House

4.78,862 Google reviews

McSorley's Old Ale House is Manhattan's oldest continuously operated saloon, open since 1854 in the East Village, with sawdust floors and over 170 years of memorabilia covering the walls. The menu is deliberately narrow: light or dark ale, served two mugs at a time, and it is cash only with no reservations. It carries the most reviews of any pub on this page.

What people praise

Genuine 19th-century atmosphere reviewers say lives up to the history
Reasonable prices for the area, even with the crowds
Fast, unpretentious service despite how busy it gets
A simple two-beer menu that reviewers appreciate for its lack of pretense

Worth knowing

Cash only, and no reservations, so expect to queue at busy times
Seating is limited and first-come, first-served

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume8,862 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · hours

Rating breakdown82% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most-reviewed pub on this list and the pick for anyone who wants New York's oldest bar experience exactly as it's always been. Bring cash and expect a wait.

Website Directions

15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003

#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

The Dead Rabbit

4.78,525 Google reviews

The Dead Rabbit is an Irish pub in the Financial District split across a downstairs Tap Room and an upstairs cocktail Parlor, known for award-recognized bartending alongside Irish pub food and Guinness. It runs a busy walk-in bar downstairs and a reservation-only cocktail lounge above it. It ties for the highest rating on this page.

What people praise

Bartenders repeatedly praised as knowledgeable and professional even when packed
Upstairs Parlor offers a quieter, sit-down cocktail experience
Guinness and Irish pub food both called out as standouts
Reservations for the Parlor are described as consistently worth booking

Worth knowing

The downstairs Tap Room gets loud and crowded on busy nights
The Parlor requires a reservation, which can book out in advance

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume8,525 · 92th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown79% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Tied for the top rating here, and the pick if you want a proper cocktail program alongside pub classics. Book the Parlor ahead if you want a quieter seat.

Website Book now +1917-540-5228 Directions

30 Water St, New York, NY 10004

#3🕑 Open 7 days

O'Hara's

4.65,794 Google reviews

O'Hara's is a pub-restaurant in the Financial District near the 9/11 Memorial, known for its hand-written menu and portions reviewers routinely describe as oversized, including a burger several say they couldn't finish. It draws a steady flow of visitors coming from the Memorial and Museum nearby.

What people praise

Portion sizes repeatedly called out as unusually large for the price
Reasonably priced given the neighborhood and location
Reviewers highlight a fun, personality-filled space with wall memorabilia
Vegetarian options available without an upcharge, per one reviewer

Worth knowing

Gets busy right after Memorial and Museum visiting hours
Some fried sides, like the standard fries, rated only middling

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume5,794 · 87th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown74% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A solid stop if you're in the Financial District and want a filling meal at a fair price. Come hungry, since the portions are the main draw.

Website Book now +1212-267-3032 Directions

120 Cedar St, New York, NY 10006

#4🕑 Open 7 days

The Irish American Pub

4.42,247 Google reviews

The Irish American Pub is a John Street pub in the Financial District running daily happy hour, live sports viewing, karaoke nights and a full Irish-leaning food and drink menu until 1am. It draws a mixed, international crowd, especially around major sporting events like the World Cup.

What people praise

Handles a packed, high-energy crowd during big events, per reviewers
Food praised as fresh and well-prepared, beyond typical bar snacks
Draws a genuinely international mix of regulars and visitors
Daily happy hour and weekend brunch on offer

Worth knowing

Service can lag when the room fills up during big matches
Noise levels climb fast on event nights

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume2,247 · 82th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown60% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick for watching a game with a crowd rather than a quiet pint. Expect noise and a wait on marquee event nights.

Website Book now +1646-414-6223 Directions

17 John St, New York, NY 10038

#5🕑 Open 7 days

Brickyard Craft Kitchen & Bar

4.71,179 Google reviews

Brickyard Craft Kitchen & Bar is a Tribeca-area sports bar with what it describes as the longest bar table in New York City and ten video walls for watching games. It runs a full food menu alongside a wide beer selection and ties for the highest rating on this page.

What people praise

Staff repeatedly named and praised for attentive service during packed matches
Wide beer selection with pizza and wings called out as standouts
Servers proactively communicate wait times during busy stretches
Ties for the top rating among every pub on this list

Worth knowing

Gets extremely crowded during major sporting events
Smallest review base of the group, though the rating holds steady

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume1,179 · 71th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown89% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Ties for the best rating here on a smaller review base, and it earns it with consistently attentive service even when packed for a game.

Website Book now +1646-449-0826 Directions

23 Park Pl, New York, NY 10007

Your business here

Get listed on this page, in front of local customers already searching for you.

Claim this spot ›

Watch: 5 Best Pubs in New York (2026)

How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the pub’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them, ranked against other New York pubs. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.7 from thousands of reviewers carries more weight than the same score from a few hundred. Recency reflects how recently people are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a pub cost in New York? (2026)

Pricing swings a lot between a cash-only dive and a cocktail-forward Irish pub. Figures below come from price-per-person ranges reported directly in customer reviews on this page.

Job	Typical price
Beer and a bar snack (per person)	$10 to $30
Full pub meal with a drink (per person)	$20 to $50
Cocktail-focused dinner (per person)	$50 to $80

Ranges compiled July 2026 from price-per-person figures reported in customer reviews on the businesses’ own Google listings.

Serving Manhattan

The pubs above span the East Village and the Financial District and Tribeca area, all reachable by subway within Manhattan. Searching for a pub near me in New York? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can find the closest option fast.

What to ask before you head to a pub

Do they take reservations, or is it walk-in only?
Is it cash only, or do they accept cards?
Will there be a wait during peak hours or big sporting events?
Do they have a kitchen open late, or does food service stop early?
Is there a quieter area if you want to avoid the loudest part of the room?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these pubs?

We started from pubs in New York with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (July 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Which of these pubs is cash only?

McSorley’s Old Ale House is cash only and does not take reservations. The other pubs on this page accept cards.

Which pub is best for watching a big game?

Brickyard Craft Kitchen & Bar and The Irish American Pub both draw large crowds for major sporting events, with Brickyard built specifically around its video walls and long bar.

The bottom line

McSorley’s is the safe default for the classic New York pub experience, while The Dead Rabbit is the pick if you want real cocktails alongside it. Bring cash if you’re heading to McSorley’s, and book ahead for The Dead Rabbit’s upstairs Parlor.

Best Drinks Bars And Pubs in other cities

More categories in New York

Own one of these businesses, or want to be here?

Claim your spot on this page: Basic listing $50 or Premium $100 for the top spot, held a full year. Both include a permanent link to your site.

Get listed See pricing