The Best Bars of Lower Manhattan
One peculiar trait of the great Lower Manhattan bars is that they’re pretty well-kept secrets. Ryan’s Sports Bar, on Gold Street, is no exception. In a small alleyway off bustling Fulton Street, and just a couple of blocks for the tourist-crazy South Street Seaport and Fulton Fish Market, Ryan’s is a cozy little Irish pub that caters not only to the after-work crowd but to tourists and wanderers alike who happen upon their door. Marked by an Irish clover above the door, Ryan’s is otherwise only slightly identified. Once inside, you’ll be amazed to find lush hardwood booths available; this is no dive. The bartenders are friendly, and the beer is some of the cheapest in this part of town. Pitchers of Miller Light are $9, which is a steal considering you’d pay $5 or more for a pint at a lot of establishments in Manhattan. Televisions hang from most of the walls, and you can count on the local sports teams always having their games broadcast. The Yankees and Mets are staples in the summer, and Knicks games crowd the bar during winter. Get a taste of the local crowd, which is always a grab bag – summer internships on Wall Street even bring a little bit of a college crowd in. Whatever reason you’re in the area, Ryan’s is definitely worth the visit for a cool-down at the end of the day.
Much like Ryan’s, Amarok Bar is tucked away in an alley off Fulton Street. Another Irish Bar and restaurant, Amarok also prides itself on the service of its kitchen, which serves original dishes until around midnight. The Spicy Pig Burger will satisfy your craving for meat, piling pepper jack cheese and spicy bacon atop a huge beef patty. It comes with an overabundance of Amarok’s spicy curly fries, and it’s great for a meal or whether you just have the late-night munchies. If you wander into Amarok for the late-night happy hour, however, you’re likely to find free pizza served up by the kitchen. They come out one at a time, so if it’s crowded you might have to fight for your slice, but it’s definitely a nice little treat from Amarok to its loyal patrons. After 11:00, pints of Bud and Bud Light are just $2, which is just about the cheapest in Manhattan. Other drink specials are available as well, with a shot of Jack Daniel’s and a Budweiser checking in at $5 – a great way to get your night started if you’re going to do some bar-hopping. Tuesday nights are Karaoke night, which is when the fun really begins at Amarok. Even the bartenders join in; the lovely and talented Christine has been known to do a few oldies. On other nights, the karaoke DJ clears out, and a beer-pong table takes his place. Plastic cups are available for this frat-house favorite pastime, and at $8 per pitcher of Bud, it’s easy to get pretty sloshed pretty fast. For Wall Street types or travelers just dropping in at the end of the day, the 5pm-7pm happy hour offers the same specials as late night, minus the hijinks. And of course, if you’re just stopping by to catch the game, there are plenty of flat screen TVs broadcasting the local teams. Be warned, though, that Amarok is home to a little bit of New York blasphemy: bartender Lauren is a devout Red Sox fan. That said, she makes a fine Surfer on Acid (Jaegermeister, Coconut Rum, & Pineapple Juice), and if you’re nice, she might let you try one on the house.
Perhaps the most raucous, probably the longest-standing, and definitely the most original bar in Lower Manhattan, Jeremy’s Ale House is an establishment that you absolutely must visit if you’re visiting the city. Now in its fourth location (all within a few blocks), Jeremy’s looks out on Front Street with a corner view of the Brooklyn Bridge. The brick interiors, low ceilings, and plastic chairs let you know that this place is definitely a dive, but the service is so great, the atmosphere so quintessentially local, and the prices just so cheap that you’ll never find Jeremy’s empty. Autographed bras and panties from Jeremy’s more devout patrons hang from the ceiling, and the centerpiece of this bar is a huge five foot by seven foot projection screen television, which hangs here specifically for the purposes of broadcasting games and movies. That’s right, movies. Every Sunday night at Jeremy’s is movie night; check the board by the door for the schedule. Sit down with a beer and enjoy the free hot dogs and popcorn that the staff brings around, while enjoying such low-brow classics as Smokdy and the Bandit and Me, Myself, and Irene. It’s great fun, and it’s a local tradition participated in by a mostly regular crowd. During football season, Monday nights at Jeremy’s of course play host to Monday Night Football, and if the Jets or Giants are playing, you can count on the joint being filled to capacity. The same is so in the summer when the Yankees are playing the Red Sox. Just make sure you don’t walk into the place wearing a Boston jersey. Perhaps Jeremy’s biggest claim to fame is its huge selection of beers on draft – and all available at a discount in HUGE 32 oz. styrofoam cups, starting at about $4.50 for Coors and stretching to around $7 for a Sam Adams. That’s a quart, if you weren’t sure. Stop by Jeremy’s and see how high the Wall Street crowd can stack their cups before the bar shuts its doors – at an extremely early 11:00pm. If you’re hungry, there’s no shortage of fried seafood on the menu at Jeremy’s. The clams are the specialty, and the quality is better than you’d expect from a place that epitomizes the phrase “hole in the wall”. Breakfast is served at Jeremy’s as well, with a full menu available as well as an “Eye Opener”, a quart of Coors for just $2. If you’re hearty enough to take it at 8am, that is absolutely the cheapest beer in town.
Whatever reason you find yourself in the financial district, you should definitely take the time to stop in at any of these fantastic locations. They are the color of downtown New York, the landmarks that keep the country’s biggest city running. And so far, they’re pretty off-the-map. Stop in and have a beer, watch the Yankees (and don’t cheer for the other team), chat with the bartender, and you’re guaranteed to have a great time.
Ryan’s Sports Bar & Restaurant
46 Gold Street
New York, NY 10038
(212) 385-6044
Amarok Bar & Grill
32 Cliff Street
New York, NY 10038
(212) 227-4933
Jeremy’s Ale House
228 Front Street
New York, NY 10038
(212) 964-3537
