Friday: Historic Pubs and a Comedy Club
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old town bar
STOP 1: OLD TOWN BAR
Frank McCourt once called Old Town Bar the "King of New York Bars," an appropriate accolade given the majesty of the place. With soaring 16 foot tin ceilings dating back to 1892, Old Town Bar is a magnificent space and it can be difficult to decide where to stake your claim and post up for the evening.
16 foot ceilings at the downstairs barroom.
You could pull up a stool at the original fifty-five foot marble and mahogany bar, where conversation comes easy and friendly regulars grabbing a post work whiskey are happy to chat about everything and nothing. There are usually a few seats available around dinner time, but the bar can become somewhat congested, as young professionals and a handful of tourists gather to kick off the weekend.
If bar dining isn't your preferred setting, head to the rear of the restaurant, where you will find a few tables lining the walls. Better still, hold court in one of the throne-like, wooden booths opposite the bar, upholstered in green leather and sporting beautiful antique mirrors on the back rests. These regal benches also feature secret compartments once used to hide hooch during the days of Prohibition, when Old Town operated as a speakeasy under a different name, supported by the patronage of politicians from nearby Tammany Hall.
2nd floor dining room at old town bar
large wings at old town bar
The last dining option is upstairs, as is the women's lavatory, an architectural remnant from when the bar floor was for men only. Not quite as impressive a space as the lofty barroom downstairs, the second floor dining room still has its charm and is a much more subdued experience. The kitchen is also located upstairs and serves diners on both floors via the oldest active dumbwaiter in the city. The food won't blow you away and the beer list is nothing special, but the burgers and wings are really solid and the bartenders can nail a classic cocktail.
Wherever you decide to sit, Old Town Bar is a fantastic option for a casual Friday night dinner without the headache of a wait or the need for a reservation.
STOP 2: THE STAND
The Stand is a relatively new venue in the New York comedy scene, opening in 2012 and earning the distinction of "Best Comedy Club" by New York Magazine the following year. Located downstairs from the restaurant sharing the same name, The Stand continues to showcase top tier talent, as well as up and coming acts. A major draw here is its atypical policy of no drink minimums. The beverages are reasonably priced and the cocktails are a step above, and more inventive than, those served at other comedy venues.
Friday evenings feature shows at 8:00pm and 10:00pm and the cover for a set is $20 per person.
STOP 3: PETE'S TAVERN
pete's tavern barroom
Like Old Town Bar, Pete's Tavern boasts a literary past, its awnings proudly claiming O. Henry as a regular at the turn of the 20th century. Established in 1864, Pete's Tavern also insists that it is "the oldest continuously operated bar & restaurant in New York City," an oft disputed declaration by several other establishments with equally ambiguous origins.
Regardless of its historical pedigree, Pete's maintains a wonderful "old New York" atmosphere with a beautiful rosewood bar, pressed tin ceilings and high back booths. While the interior is not quite as handsome as Old Town Bar, one feature that Pete's Tavern does have over its neighbor is the seasonal outdoor seating.
RECAP:
- Old Town Bar: Stunning, historic bar dating back to 1892 with two floors featuring tons of original details, including a fifty-five foot marble and mahogany bar. Good burgers and wings.
- The Stand: Newish comedy club with no drink minimum and above average cocktails.
- Pete's Tavern: Another historic bar from the Civil War era with three beautiful rooms for drinking and dining.
ESSENTIAL INFO:
-Old Town Bar is located at 45 East 18th Street. The Stand is located at 239 3rd Avenue. Pete's Tavern is located at 129 East 18th Street.
-Total Cost: About $100 per person for dinner and drinks at Old Town Bar, tickets for the show and drinks at The Stand and post-show beverages at Pete's Tavern. Tax and tip included.
-Fellas, be sure to swing by the men's room at Old Town Bar at least once to check out the massive Hinsdale urinals that date back to 1910 and which could probably provide sufficient cover for a nuclear blast should the situation arise.
-Buy your tickets for the comedy show in advance at The Stand website. Seating is first come, first serve, so you should arrive about 15 minutes early to avoid sitting on the banquet lining the back wall, unless you want to have your elbow in someone else's drink. The tables in the front offer the most room, but of course you run the risk of being singled out by the comic; if you do sit there, you better laugh at everything and NEVER cross your arms. Tables with the best balance of space and distance from the performer are along the far wall perpendicular to the stage.
-At Pete's Tavern, Friday evenings are pretty low key in the summer. But, come winter time, when the bar puts up one of the more impressive holiday light displays in the city, it can become very crowded. If you want to avoid the crowd, you can try to sweet talk your way to a table in one of the two back dining rooms, but you may have to order a few snacks. The food is thoroughly mediocre, but a few orders of fries just might do the trick.
