Wednesday, February 17th, 2010—Bar 38

Day 38—Tuesday, February 16th

Pete’s Tavern
Okay, any New York bar crawl has to include Pete’s Tavern. Its doors opened in 1864 and its been in business ever since and they lay claim to being the oldest bar in New York City. (It made it through the Prohibition disguised as a flower shop. It had the happiest daisies in Manhattan.) So it would be bar blasphemy not to include it. So tonight we drink at Pete’s Tavern. Sherman, set the Wayback Machine for 1864!

Here we are at the legendary Pete's Tavern.

There's a lively crowd in here for a Tuesday night.

Mike the bartender pours me a cold Budweiser before I even sit down in the barstool. Cheers!

Seated next to me were two stunning blondes, Mia and Julie. Naturally I asked to take their picture. They said okay and then Tom, sitting at a table behind us offered to take a photo of the three of us. Who was I to decline?

But then I had to return the favor and take a picture with Mia and Julia with Tom (left) and his buddy Mike. Thanks for being such good sports, Mia and Julie!

Memorabilia and photos decorate the wall's at Pete's Tavern.

Kegs of Pete's 1864 Ale hang over the doorway.

Just a few of the many beers on tap at Pete's Tavern.

Like I said, a good and lively crowd for a Tuesday night.

Some of the bar specials available at Pete's.

Michael and Kathy were seated next to me at the bar. Kathy had newspaper experience and we chatted about freelance work.

The colorful and well-stocked bar at Pete's Tavern.

There's a dining room in the back of the tavern.

Author O. Henry wrote The Gift of the Magi right here in Pete's Tavern...

Seated here at this booth. Testaments and memorials to the author hang on the walls.

And there's huge bowls of free popcorn on the bar! Woo hoo!

One of the many things i love about Pete's is that it's about five minutes walking distance from where I live. Goodnight everybody!

Review

Pete’s Tavern has such an old-school New York atmosphere and charm it’s been used as a backdrop on TV shows such as Seinfeld, Law and  Order, Sex and the City and it was featured on the Food network. Movies have also utilized this historic tavern and its been featured in Ragtime, Endless Love and Across the Sea of Time among others.

Legend has it that author O. Henry wrote The Gift of the Magi within the wooden walls while seated at his favorite booth near the front door. Walking into the tavern is like walking back in time. Wooden booths line the walls and the long wooden bar is a crowded after work favorite with the locals in the neighborhood. Vintage lighting fixtures hang from the walls and there’s memorabilia and photos lining the walls.

There’s a full lunch and dinner menu and Saturday’s and Sunday’s brunch is also available. Pete’s has an Italian fare menu with a large pasta selection including, Spaghetti a la Pete's, Linguine with Clam Sauce, Homemade Meat Lasagna and Three Cheese Manicotti. The menu also features 10 oz. burgers, an open shell steak sandwich and a grilled chicken breast sandwich. There’s nightly dinner specials and 16 beers on tap to wash the food down with. And there’s free popcorn! Stop in and enjoy a cold beer and a slice of New York tavern history.

Pete’s Tavern
129 East 18th Street @ Irving Place
212-473-7676