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Pete's Tavern

3.6 (854 reviews)
Open • 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

Pete's Tavern Photos

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PETE'S TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Pete's Tavern

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Spicy tuna chips
Dogba B.

Apparently Mom and Dad took me out for Saturday night drinks at a former Prohibition-era speakeasy and neglected to mention this rather important detail to the Research Department. Pete's Tavern has been serving New Yorkers since 1864 and has a pretty incredible history. During Prohibition, the tavern reportedly disguised itself as a flower shop while people who knew the password could sneak through a dummy refrigerator door to get to the bar. Even better: the hinges from that secret door are apparently still inside. So naturally, nearly 100 years later, I arrived openly through the front door area wearing a harness. Progress. We sat outside, where Pete's has a huge seating area wrapping around the corner. There was plenty of room for me to stretch out on the seat next to Mom, which I appreciated. For a Manhattan restaurant, the amount of outdoor space is a big plus. There's no dog menu and nobody offered me a water bowl, so I'd classify Pete's as dog-friendly rather than dog-focused. Bring your own water and bowl. Mom ordered the spicy tuna chips--three little crispy bites topped with spicy tuna and greens--and a Hugo Spritz. Dad ordered the steak bites and a Stella. Neither shared. Which is particularly troubling considering this establishment managed to secretly distribute alcohol during Prohibition but apparently cannot covertly distribute a steak bite under a table in 2026. Dogba's Verdict Historic NYC institution? Dogs welcome outside? Huge corner patio? Secret Prohibition flower shop? Hidden refrigerator entrance? Dog water bowl? Steak smuggled under the table? 4 paws out of 5. Pete's successfully concealed an entire bar from the authorities during Prohibition. Mom and Dad could not conceal one steak bite in my direction. Amateurs.

Spicy tuna tartare on corn crisps
Meredith R.

As a child you likely read "The Gift of the Magi," a classic story of an impoverished couple and their selfless acts of love. ANYWAY ... O. Henry wrote it here, the site of NYC's oldest continuously operating bar and restaurant. The building dates to 1851. I made 6:30 reservations at Pete's -- and boy, the place was jumping. There's seating outside -- the waitlist was long -- as well as the bar area and dining room. Noisy no matter where you are. The $45 three-course Restaurant Week menu includes appetizer, entree and dessert. $7 Belgian Pilsner, $12 cocktails, $30 bottles of wine. I have mixed feelings. Our appetizers were great (spicy tuna tartare on corn crisps and watermelon & feta salad.) The desserts we shared were stellar, particularly their key lime pie. If you like fudgy chocolate, go for the budino, and the warm peach tart with ice cream is like a cobbler. Our entrees would have been delicious if cooked as requested. (The waiter actually asked our preference when taking our orders which apparently were disregarded.) I had Faroe Islands salmon, which was way over-broiled. It was plated with an interesting succotash. The other two got chargrilled burgers, a far cry from "medium rare." What saved the burgers was the seasoning. Very flavorful. After dinner we strolled through Gramercy Park. A beautiful area, stately old buildings where only residents can access the park. I was told they still have to pay $100,000 for the key! Check out Pete's, check out the neighborhood and if you don't mind waiting on a ridiculously long line, go across the street to Caffe Panna for ice cream.

John L.

"Here's to feeling good all the time" What I thought was a small little charming pub, the oldest in NYC, revealed room after room of more. Casual, upscale, unpretentious place with different rooms depending on needs. Service is attentive, aware, friendly and respectful. Come for the Seinfeld filming location, stay for everything else.

JiHae L.

Wow!! I never realized Pete's Tavern has been around since the 1800s. What an iconic NYC spot! Seeing all the photos of famous visitors and people dining here over the years really makes the experience feel special. I'm glad that I was finally able to eat here even with the below average reviews I had to check it out. We came on a Sunday afternoon for brunch, and it was bustling. I say make a reservation if you're coming with a large group of people. The location is super convenient too. Regarding what I ordered, it was from the brunch menu. It was $21 which includes tea or coffee. A great deal. I went with the Croque Monsieur, which included mesclun greens and fries. It was very well balanced, filling and tasty. Overall, great food and history here. Definitely worth a visit if you're a local or a tourist.

Note - both of these drinks were $21. The pink one with liquor. Hot chocolate had no liquor.
Beth A.

I completely understand why people recommend Pete's Tavern during Christmas. The history, the decorations, and the overall holiday ambiance are beautiful, and I really appreciated that they do not charge an entry fee like some other heavily decorated NYC spots. You can make a reservation, but they also keep a few tables open for walk ins. We came a little before the dinner rush and were able to get a table with a time limit, which was totally fine since we mainly wanted to eat, take a few photos, and move on. Unfortunately, the service and food were a letdown. We never had a single point of contact as a server. Every interaction was with a different person, from water to drinks to food to the bill, which made everything feel disorganized and slow. It took about fifteen minutes just to be acknowledged, and while I understand it was the Christmas rush, not having one server made the experience frustrating. My pasta dish was honestly inedible. The pasta was extremely overcooked and mushy, and the chicken was very gristly. I barely touched it. My mom's steak appetizer was good, so maybe my dish was just a miss, but for the price, it was disappointing. Drinks were fine, but pricing felt off. My alcoholic drink and my mom's plain hot chocolate were both $21, which felt excessive, especially when the hot chocolate was very small. For comparison, you can get a massive frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity for less. I would recommend Pete's Tavern for the Christmas ambiance only. Go to the bar, grab a drink, take some photos, and enjoy the decorations. I would skip dinner entirely and eat somewhere else where the food and service match the prices.

Ilana Z.

Came for drinks on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Able to snag a table. Waiters were attentive and drinks were great! I really enjoyed my dry martini. Good Guinness pours too. Whisky flight was good too, and well priced. Would come back during the holiday season / for dinner to try their burger!

It's old :)
John Z.

Fun, funky place. Kind of more upscale than divey. We had drinks there but weren't able to get a seat for dinner. I've heard that their food is quite good, but we'll have to try next time.

Chicken parm with meatballs
Cesar Q.

We came for restaurant week and they had a great special! Spend $30 on an entree and side and get a bottle for $30. This place apparently has been here a while (1800's) it's safe to say it's cemented in the Gramercy Park neighborhood. We had the chicken parm with meatballs and enjoy some rose, the rose had a cork! Yay! The chicken parm was great the meatballs came out of a bag but still tasted delicious. Our server was awesome, she came by a few times and was super patient when we couldn't decide what to eat. Will definitely be coming back and ordering off their regular menu.

Reuban Sandwich,  I took a bite of it then took the picture.
Frank M.

Amazing pub in NYC. The oldest pub in NYC Actually. Great food, lots of history. Lots of historic pictures on the walls. Friendly staff. You feel like you walked into 1800s New York

Shepherd's Pie
Jeff M.

Pete's Tavern 129 E. 18th St. New York, NY 10003 Boneless Wings Shepherd's Pie Located in Gramercy Park is one of the oldest bars in Manhattan. I decided to explore a 2-course meal at this historic tavern. Boneless Wings: This popular appetizer was smothered in house made buffalo sauce. You won't find any bones, but you will find tender, white meat. Also included was celery sticks and blue cheese dipping sauce. Shepherd's Pie: Hidden beneath this heaping mound of slightly charred mashed potatoes are hearty chunks of ground lamb and beef. You are guaranteed a mouth full of meat in every bite. The shepherd's pie also has its fair share of veggies. And speaking of veggies, a side of brussells sprout is included. Aside being impressed with the nostalgic atmosphere with a full size bar, I couldn't help but notice the vintage decorations in the dining area. If you like these artifacts, you are going to love the mementos about O. Henry. The late author was sitting at a booth in this tavern when he wrote "The Gift of the Magi." You will easily recognize the props and illustrations from the short story, such as the Della's mirror and Jim's pocket watch. O. Henry put this tavern in the spotlight. And speaking of fame, several celebrities ranging from actors to athletes have explored this location. This was a flawless dining experience because I got a taste of great comfort food as well as a taste of New York City history. #petestavern #gramercypark #oldestbarinmanhattan #ohenry #shepherdspie #brusselsprouts #bonelesswings #nycfoodie #FoodStagram #localspots #giftofthemagi #mirror #pocketwatch

Giseli C.

We wanted to experience some Christmas bars in the city and this one came highly recommended, we went in to try and honestly they did a good job decorating but now really over the top . The staff is a little slow and I feel like the place was wayyyyyy overcrowded . Not my favorite :(

Outside
Taylor K.

Such a vibe and definitely the move during the holidays. Slight wait to get in but the bouncer was super efficient with getting patrons in as quickly while also safely as possible. Lines were long to actually order at the bar but to be expected. Didn't really matter because the vibes were so great! Definitely check out vs other holiday bars in the city that are much more packed.

Egg nog with rum. I wanted it hot though
Marissa N.

Burger bun was too stiff for my liking. I love the Christmas decoration though! So nice! Burger to pricey. Maybe because I'm a student but I can get better burgers cheaper. Excellent service though.

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28 days ago

I've been here 100 times, but Jesus somehow made today even better. Such a great waiter. Can't wait to see him at @petes soon!

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A perfectly nice happy hour spot with good food, drinks, and prices. It's you're in the area, this is a convenient place to stop by.

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1 year ago

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Pete's Tavern Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Pete's Tavern

When I reserve on Resy, only curbside is open. Is that outside in the winter or is it heated somehow?

Yes, there are heated tents

Would my dog be allowed to sit with us at an outdoor table?

Yes your dog is welcome in the outdoor café ( the board of health has FINALLY lifted its ban of dogs in restaurants outdoor areas)

Has the prime rib been dropped from the menu? I don't see it listed on the menus on the website, and several Yelpers have commented on there no longer being a prime rib.

Hello No we still have prime rib on special. Thank you Joe

Any gluten free options?

The answer is no

Do they keep the Christmas decorations up through the end of the year?

Yes indeed ... they will stay up till around about January 9th

Do you need a reservation if you're just coming in for drinks?

No.

Ok for young kids?

Yes it is we have two dinning rooms for family dinners.

Are the Christmas decorations up yet?

Yea they are.. please come in to see them!!

Did E. A. Poe write poems there?

so they say

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Pete's Tavern - bars - Updated November 2026

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