Old Town Bar near Union Square has poured Bass Ale from a 55-foot mahogany bar in New York City since 1892. Tin ceiling, tile floor, the room Mad Men shot the pilot scene around.
Food program: Burgers and pub food
Tip: Sit in the upstairs dining room for the burger; the bar is for the draught and the bar food. Cash preferred.
Address: 45 East 18th Street, New York, NY 10003, New York City
White Horse Tavern on Hudson Street has poured Guinness in the West Village, New York City since 1880. Dylan Thomas drank 18 whiskeys here in 1953; the room has not changed.
Signature drink: Guinness draught
Food: Burgers and pub food
Tip: Sit in the front room; the back is reserved for diners. The burger is the second order after the first pint.
Amor y Amargo on East 6th has poured bitters-forward cocktails in the East Village, New York City since 2011. Ten-seat bar, no spirit lighter than amaro, no sweetness.
Signature drink: All-bitters cocktails
Food: Snacks
Tip: Tell the bartender you want a base spirit; they build around the bitter. Two drinks is the right ration.
Jimmy's Corner near Times Square has poured cheap beer and bourbon to off-Broadway crowds in New York City since 1971. Boxing photos on the walls, jukebox, no cocktail list.
Signature drink: Cheap beer and bourbon
Food: None
Tip: Cash only. The bar takes Bud, Bass and Bourbon orders. Sing along with the jukebox.
Ear Inn on Spring Street has poured pints to dockworkers in SoHo, New York City since 1817. The B in BAR fell off in the 1970s and stayed off; the bar took the name Ear.
Signature drink: Draught beer
Food: Pub food, oysters
Tip: Sunday afternoon jazz from 14:00. The room is small and loud; the oysters are surprisingly good.
Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel has poured cocktails under Ludwig Bemelmans's Central Park murals in New York City since 1947. Live piano from 18:00 nightly.
Signature drink: Old Cuban
Food: Hotel-bar snacks
Tip: Walk-ins after 18:00 carry a $35 minimum per person music charge. Earlier visits skip the charge but miss the piano.
KGB on East 4th Street runs a Soviet-themed second-floor bar in the East Village, New York City. Free reading series Mondays and Tuesdays, red walls, communist memorabilia.
Signature drink: Russian Standard vodka
Food: None
Tip: Reading series start at 19:00. Climb to the third-floor speakeasy The Red Room for the bar without the readings.
