Greenwich Village is home to a number of excellent Irish pubs. The Village, as it’s most commonly referred to as by ‘true’ New Yorkers, is not known particularly as a rowdy part of New York City nor as a place with as many bars as you might find in midtown or in a neighborhood such as Murray Hill, it does place a premium on community and authenticity. Its Irish pubs reflect that. The following list contains the five best Irish pubs in Greenwich Village, along with reviews and descriptions for each.
Fiddlesticks Pub and Grill 56 Greenwich Avenue Greenwich Village, New York
Fiddlesticks is not entirely authentic; in fact much of the decoration and decor seems just a bit contrived. But that’s the worst thing I have to say about this place. Overall, it is a very fun place, with friendly bartenders, gruff but well meaning bouncers and a festive crowd. The layout itself is interesting as there are more nooks and crannies than any place I have ever been to, and it adds to the experience. Each time I turned a corner, there was another hidden chamber and it adds somehow to the sense of adventure and fun.
The crowd is a bit younger than most places in the area, but it’s not a frat house vibe really. They have limited outdoor seating during nice weather. The food here is solid Irish pub fare, with bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie both well done. The weekend brunch is typical and good, but the real standout is the TWO complimentary drinks that go with it. Mr.
Dennehy’s 63 Carmine Street
Greenwich Village, New York
Mr. Dennehy’s might be one of the most authentic pubs in all of New York City. There is nothing ‘put on’ here; it is truly an Irish pub with a great relaxed vibe, a slightly older crowd (early to mid thirties is probably the average age) and food that is definitely pub food, but the quality is far above what you might expect. Both the burger (served on an English muffin) and nachos (with homemade chili) are outstanding.
Mr. Dennehy’s offers a private party room available for reservation. There is a wide selection of beers and alcohol, with Guinness being a predictably popular choice. There are also plenty of televisions here and football (or soccer) being a very popular choice and one of the main contributing factors to its enduring popularity.
The Four Faced Liar 165 West 4th Street
Greenwich Village, New York
Some Irish pubs do everything they can to remind you that they are Irish pubs and other Irish pubs simply are Irish pubs in everything they do. The Four Faced Liar doesn’t try too hard, it just is one of the most authentic and relaxed Irish pubs anywhere. They take particular pride in their Guinness and offer just enough table games to provide entertainment and fun without distracting others. This is often Irish music playing and Premier League Football is a popular attraction. The Four Faced Liar does not serve food, but nearby restaurants deliver.
99 Below 99 MacDougal Street
Greenwich Village, New York
99 Below is in many ways on the other end of the spectrum than Mr. Dennehy’s and the Four Faced Liar. This is a place that is promotion heavy, has a younger crowd and is the place to go not for a creamy Guinness necessarily, but for the ‘meat market’ feel and wide drink selection. Now, that’s neither good nor bad, but it is different and it depends on you and your mood more than anything. The food is pretty good, though not really heavy Irish aside from a few standard dishes. They often have a DJ playing and it’s a nice added touch.
Slane 102 Macdougal Street
Greenwich Village, New York
Slane is an Irish pub because it says it is. While that might be overstating the case a bit, it is fair to say that Slane is as much an NYU meeting place and borderline nightclub at times than it is an Irish pub. Why then is it on this list? The fact is that Slane works very hard to keep its customers happy and coming back and by day it is much more of a lower key place.
The food here is surprisingly good; try the herb crusted salmon and you will be pleasantly surprised. Their brunch menu on the weekends is quite popular as well, particularly among the ‘recovering’ set from the night before. Slane offers a lot of live music and is a very popular happy hour place. In fact, it offers a happy hour special for larger groups, which includes discounted drinks and free appetizers.
