Founded in 1854, McSorley’s boasts that it is the “oldest continuously operated saloon” in New York. Walk through the doors and history just pounces on you through the hallowed walls and sawdust covered floors. Such notables visited, from Lincoln through Lennon (John, that is) but if you happened to be a woman, you were not allowed entrée until the year 1970!

It is said that Woodie Gurthrie began the movement to organize unions at a front table with nothing but his guitar and inspiring words, while feisty civil rights lawyers Faith Seidenberg and Karen DeCrow brought old McSorley’s all the way to the Supreme Court just to get inside the joint.