Walking into a bar with a sign that says “Established in …” instead of ruby red ropes and flashy new interiors always makes me feel like I’m not just drinking a beer, I’m drinking in history. While every major metropolis has its “it” bars, nightclubs, and eateries to see and be seen in, there is something about drinking a cold ale surrounded by rich history that’s much more alluring to me.
Whether it’s the oldest bar in town, or the historic spot where great politicians, authors, and celebrities have tippled, these are a few of my favorite “old” watering holes that make me feel like I’m not so old after all … at least for a night.
1. John Barleycorn
658 West Belden, Chicago, IL
Photo source: johnbarleycorn.com
John Barleycorn, the name a personification of alcohol, garnered its historical significance during Prohibition. In the 1920s, the rear dining room of the restaurant doubled as a Chinese laundry and a front for bootleggers, who could bring liquor through the laundry to the bar’s basement. Patrons would enter here too, and head upstairs to the saloon. Famous drinkers include the bank robber John Dillinger, who used his illicit earnings to buy rounds on the house. While the clientele may have changed and the bar expanded with two new locations, you can still get a drink and a meal in the original building, built in 1890, without having to enter through the basement.
2. Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon
56 Jack London Square, Oakland, CA
Photo source: heinoldsfirstandlastchance.com
Jack London aficionados are well familiar with Heinold’s Saloon, which is referenced at least seventeen times in his memoir, John Barleycorn. London was friends with the bar’s owner, Johnny Heinold, and spent a good deal of time in the tiny wooden establishment, penning such greats as Call of the Wild and The Sea Wolf.
The name of the bar is due to its location, in the Port of Oakland. During the 1920s, it was the first and last chance for servicemen and ferry passengers to get a drink and the nickname stuck. While in the bar, you’re likely to feel tipsier than normal because the floors, made from an old whaling ship, are permanently sloped from the 1906 earthquake. There’s a full bar and a few beers on tap; on warm nights tables are set up outside to accommodate local drinkers, myself usually among them.
3. White Horse Tavern
567 Hudson St., New York, NY
Photo source: wikipedia.com
While many bars have hosted their share of literary greats, the White Horse Tavern, open since 1880, has had many brilliant butts on their bar stools. Norman Mailer, Anais Nin, Hunter S. Thompson, Ginsberg, and Kerouac all drank there, though the most recognized regular patron was Dylan Thomas, whose photos grace the wood walls. Though it’s rumored that a heavy evening of whiskey drinking at the White Horse contributed to Thomas’ premature death (he was thirty-nine), one can’t say for sure. What is certain is that these days, you’re less likely to find a literary great and more likely to find a standard bar menu and stiff drinks.
4. McGillin’s Olde Ale House
1310 Drury St., Philadelphia, PA
Photo source: mcgillins.com
McGillin’s, which opened for operation the same year Lincoln was elected president, is Philly’s oldest operating tavern. Originally owned by William McGillin, an Irish immigrant who raised his twelve kids above the bar, McGillin’s descendants still run it today.
A popular gathering spot then and now, the bar has hosted such patrons as Will Rogers, Tennessee Williams, and Ethel Merman. They have home brewed beers on tap and claim to be the best Irish pub in town.
