VIBE

From its start in the 19th century, this broody watering hole attracted a tough crowd of dock workers. But that all changed in the 1950s, when it gained bohemian street cred and poets and artists (including, as so often recounted, the likes of Dylan Thomas) began dropping by. Nowadays, the dark, portrait-littered interior is crowded with local yuppies and curious tourists, all teetering on mahogany bar stools and boozing the night away. Though it has since slipped slightly into tourist trap territory, White Horse no doubt remains as much of a neighborhood fixture as it was in 1880.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

It’s a neighborhood bar, so pretty much anything goes here.

GO HERE WITH

A group of friends; literature buffs; NYC first-timers

CROWD

Neighborhood locals, regulars, and tourists looking to booze.

WHY WE LIKE IT

The history, of course. Besides the Dylan Thomas lore, the architectural history is cool, too: this late 1800s structure is one of the few remaining wood frame structures in Manhattan.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The overwhelming crowds have been known scare off would-be regulars, which can slightly cheapen the atmosphere.

GOOD TO KNOW

Apart from Thomas, other famous patrons include Hunter S. Thompson, Anais Nin, James Laughlin, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan, and Frank O’Hara. Sidewalk seating is available during warmer months, though drinking at the bar is the real reason to come. This place accepts cash only, so be sure to stock your wallet before heading in.

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