Check out eight dive bars in New York that feature affordable drinks and an old-school ambiance.
If you and your wallet are still recovering from “Knicks in 5,” the World Cup, and the U.S. Open, you’re not alone. According to The Liquor Bros, New York City has the third-highest average price for a cocktail at $19. Going out and socializing with friends doesn’t have to cause a dent in your wallet, though, as because plenty of New York dive bars offer reasonably priced drinks. As a bonus for history buffs, many of these dive bars have preserved their longstanding New York roots.
Rudy’s Bar and Grill in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan
Anyone familiar with Hell’s Kitchen has walked past the iconic six-foot fiberglass pig statue guarding the front of Rudy’s Bar and Grill. You may not know that the pig is named “Baron Von Swine,” and the bar boasts a fabled history with plenty of celebrity sightings and visits from infamous public figures.
Legend has it that the bar was already pouring as early as 1919 and ran as a speakeasy through Prohibition, with Al Capone among its visitors. In 1933, the state of New York granted Rudy’s one of the first post-Prohibition liquor licenses. Since then, the bar has hosted James Gandolfini, Paul McCartney, Halle Berry, and many more big names.
It’s not just celebrities that frequent the bar, though. A group of progressive socialites called “Drinking Liberally” has been congregating regularly since 2003. The group now has more than 300 chapters all over the country, with the NYC chapter meeting every Thursday night to talk politics over a pint of beer.
Pints of beer cost as low as $4, and you even get a free hot dog with every purchase. Just don’t tell Baron.
Old Town Bar in Flatiron, Manhattan
Established in 1892, Old Town Bar still retains a rustic charm reminiscent of Old New York; it has a “55-foot mahogany bar” with a marble countertop, beveled mirrors, mosaic floors, and a beautiful pressed-tin ceiling. The wooden booths the bar uses to seat groups originally had “secret compartments used to hide liquor” during the Prohibition Era.
It’s the perfect place to catch up with friends as the bar doesn’t have TVs or blast music. So you won’t have to scream to be able to have a conversation—a rarity in Manhattan these days.
Cocktails are just under the $19 average price for a standard NYC mixed drink, and bottled beers are available for as low as $8 each. Eater highly recommends the crowd-favorite Hamburger Platter, which consists of “rare-cooked patties,” lettuce, tomatoes, onions, your choice of mustard or mayonnaise between two sesame seed buns.
The bar also boasts two NY politicians’ favorite dishes: former Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s favorite hamburger and former Governor George Pataki’s favorite sandwich: sautéed mushrooms and Munster Cheese on Pumpernickel Bread. Make sure to leave room for dessert, as the Warm Strudel with a side of vanilla ice cream is too good to pass up.
Baird’s Tavern in Warwick
True to its name, Baird’s Tavern is a bar with a rich history. Located in Warwick, the bar has colonial roots—it was “built in 1766 by Scotch-Irishman Francis Baird” from “locally quarried limestone transported by stone sleds.”
During the American Revolution, travelers passing through King’s Highway would stop by for a drink. Some of their most famous patrons include George and Martha Washington, America’s first president and first lady. In fact, it’s believed that Martha slept over in one of the bedrooms on the second floor.
The building has gone through various iterations over the centuries, from being a law office to being a Red Cross office during a war, and is now under the Warwick Historical Society. Nearly 10 years ago, John Barounis, a local resident who has leased that part of the building, restored the lower level to its original tavern. The upper floors, which include bedrooms and a ballroom, are historically preserved to “reflect their 18th century roots.”
The tavern regularly hosts trivia nights and concerts that you can enjoy with cocktails and beer. If you get hungry, you can purchase food from nearby food spots and bring it to the back of the tavern.
Parkside Tavern in Pearl River
Open since 1963, Parkside Tavern is a family-owned tavern decorated with wallpaper and retro photos of the town. The community watering hole mixes in modern-day live music, late-night bar food, and leagues for darts and pool. The bar’s specialty is its pizza menu, boasting 12 different pies that are all $10 to $12.
Make sure to check out the tavern’s happy hour, which runs weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Neir’s Tavern in Woodhaven, Queens
Neir’s Tavern opened in 1829 near a horse racetrack and was known as the Blue Pump Room at the time. It claims to be the oldest continuously running bar in NYC, having hosted dance recitals by Mae West and even appearing in the movie “Goodfellas.”
Menu highlights include draft beers, pub-style burgers, and cocktails. From Monday through Friday, 2 to 6 p.m., you can even get a $1 discount on draft beers and $5 mouthwatering appetizers, such as the Specialty Nachos Supreme and Hot Bavarian Pretzel.
The tavern also centers community activism through its Ambassador Program, which recruits volunteers to help preserve community landmarks and mentor local students.
Johnny’s Bar in West Village, Manhattan
Johnny’s Bar is a quintessential neighborhood bar, having been named after a well-liked community member who passed away. While the West Village has many bars, you can’t miss this one—literally—with a giant neon sign spelling “BAR” hoisted above the entrance.
When you walk in, you’ll notice string lights, license plates, stickers, witty dive bar signs, and handwritten notes from patrons over the decades—the latter of which are all displayed on the bar’s Facebook page and worth the read. The layers of stickers act like a time capsule, which highlight common phrases and idioms of the various eras.
The bar features vinyl floors, wood panels, and interior brick. Enjoy music from the jukebox after ordering the bar’s trademarked “Shot of the Day,” a discounted shot deal that rotates daily.
The Irish Haven in Sunset Park, Brooklyn
If you’re a Martin Scorsese fan, you may recognize The Irish Haven from its appearance in the Academy Award-winning film “The Departed.” Located inside a 1911 building, the bar opened in 1964 and features a dark interior with wood panels, a nostalgia-inducing phone booth, and a jukebox.
According to the bar’s Facebook page, it has a jukebox, dart board, and pool and foosball tables. The spot also regularly hosts live music, karaoke nights, beer pong tournaments, and “an annual prom.” Enjoy cheap drinks served by friendly Irish bartenders while jamming out to Celtic and rock tunes on the jukebox.
South Gate Tavern in Highland Falls
South Gate Tavern is a 107-year-old Irish tavern situated near the Hudson River. Close to the West Point gates, the bar features a variety of global memorabilia, a jukebox, and a Led Zeppelin pinball machine. South Gate Tavern also regularly hosts trivia nights and live traditional Irish music.
Just make sure to stop by the ATM before heading to this cash-only bar, then relax and enjoy the tavern’s specialty pizzas.
Honorable Mention: Local 42 Bar in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan
Although Local 42 is a relatively new dive bar that opened in 2023, it honors Hell’s Kitchen’s historic legacy in championing labor rights. Co-owners Stephane Bibeau and Adam Schop asked David Tousley, a United Scenic Artists union member, to design the new bar’s logo.
Tousley noted they didn’t have a name yet and decided to honor the spot’s history as “a union-friendly bar” by calling it Local 42. True to its name, the bar features union stickers and nods to the neighborhood’s history. Hard hats are decorated throughout the bar, and there is an installation of “legs of workers reading newspapers” above a steel beam, reminiscent of the famous “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” photo of ironworkers eating lunch on a beam above Rockefeller Center.
The specialty dish, Salchipapas, is a fan-favorite South American fast-food dish made of pan-fried sausages and French fries, served with two sauces. The bar also offers an “all-day happy hour” where drinks are priced at general happy hour prices from opening to closing.
