Entry No. 10 — the New York City file — filed under: haunted
McSorley's Old Ale House
New York's oldest Irish saloon, pouring since 1854 and a men-only bar until a lawsuit forced it to admit women in 1970. The walls are caked in memorabilia untouched since 1910, including Houdini's handcuffs chained to the bar rail after the magician, a regular here, slipped a cop's cuffs in the early 1900s. Wishbones hung above the bar by WWI soldiers who never came home still dangle there, and regulars say a cat in the window means Houdini's ghost has come back.
The story
You walk into 15 East 7th Street and step directly into 1854—or at least 1910, which is roughly the last time anyone gave the memorabilia on the walls a serious dust-down. New York’s oldest continuously operating Irish saloon famously barred women from entering for more than a century until a court battle finally forced the doors open in 1970. Before that, it was strictly a male retreat where politicians, literary figures, and neighborhood laborers drank house ale over sawdust-covered floorboards.
Look up at the ironwork and light fixtures above the central bar to find the bar's most grimly poignant relics: a cluster of grease-blackened turkey wishbones. World War I soldiers heading off to the trenches hung them there before shipping out to Europe, planning to collect them for a celebratory meal upon their return. The bones still dangling are the ones left behind by doughboys who never came home. Nearby, Harry Houdini’s actual handcuffs remain locked to the bar rail—left behind from the early 1900s when the escape artist, a regular here, demonstrated slipping out of a police officer's cuffs.
There are no cocktail menus, craft IPAs, or mixologists standing behind the wood. You get two choices—light or dark—and every order lands on the table in a pair of foaming mugs. If you spot a cat sleeping in the front window pane, don't just write it off as a pub mascot; local lore insists it means Houdini's spirit has dropped back in for a drink.
What it's like
Expect sawdust sticking to the soles of your shoes, heavy wooden tables carved with generations of initials, and zero patience for indecisiveness. On weekend nights the front room turns into a packed, roaring crush of tourists and college crowds; hit it on a rainy weekday afternoon instead to hear the floorboards creak and catch the details on the walls. Bring physical cash—credit cards aren't accepted—and when the bartender walks up, simply say 'light' or 'dark.' You’ll instantly be handed two heavy glass mugs sloshing with house ale, because ordering just one mug isn't an option.
The move: Order the only two choices (light or dark ale, served two mugs at a time) and hunt the ceiling for Houdini's cuffs and the dead soldiers' wishbones.
📍 Before you go Cash-only historically; gets packed and rowdy on weekends. The only drink choice is light or dark house ale, served in pairs.
- 📍 East Village, Manhattan
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 15 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Jim Power's Mosaic Trail — Step back out onto 7th Street to spot Jim Power's intricate mosaic-tiled lampposts just steps away in the East Village.
- Please Don't Tell (PDT) — Trade 19th-century sawdust and mugs of ale for a hidden phone-booth entrance inside a hot dog shop three blocks east.
- The Office of Mr. Moto — Contrast McSorley's raw 1854 tavern grit with a Victorian-themed speakeasy nearby where entry requires decoding a secret cipher.
Good to know
Can I pay with a credit or debit card?
No. McSorley's is strictly cash-only, so hit an ATM before pushing through the door.
What drinks can I order at the bar?
Your options are limited to house ale in two varieties: Light or Dark. Drinks are served strictly two mugs at a time.
Where are Houdini's handcuffs and the WWI wishbones located?
Both hang directly above the main bar structure—the wishbones dangle from the overhead light fixtures, while Houdini's handcuffs are chained to the bar frame.
When did McSorley's begin allowing female patrons?
The bar operated as an all-male saloon from its opening in 1854 until 1970, when a gender discrimination lawsuit compelled management to admit women.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Atlas Obscura · Time Out · Official site
last checked: 2026-06-23