A standard Irish bar with a long bar, where you can chat with friends in a relaxed atmosphere and have a beer (or some standard, not the most sophisticated cocktail). Everything is very cheap, angry and without aggressive loud music. And the crowd is absolutely diverse: from students to guys from Walt Street. The White Horse Tavern is quite popular among the locals, so there is a risk of not getting killed here on a weekend night.
The history of the pub is intertwined with the history of New York. Bridge Street is one of the oldest neighborhoods in New York City, dating back to the first Dutch settlement in the 17th century. The Dutch loved their beer, and in the area where we are now located, the Dutch West India Company built a brewery to supply the small city of New Amsterdam with their favorite beverage.
A few steps away, fur trader Philip Gerardy became the first private tavern owner in the new world, opening the Wooden Horse Tavern in 1641. The name of the tavern, named after a torture device of the time, caused controversy, so Geraerdy changed it a few years later to the White Horse Tavern, which etched the name of the White Horse into New York history.
The current building dates from the mid-19th century, reflecting the architecture of New York’s mercantile era. During this period, cotton merchants, commissions, and a fashion handbag factory operated here, and in the early 20th century, US Congressman Jefferson M. Levy was among the owners.
Only after prohibition was lifted in 1933 did a pub revive in this building. Named the White Horse after the original Geraerdy’s Tavern, it has been a part of the financial district community ever since, a classic authentic pub for gathering, celebrating and commiserating.
It has been our family’s livelihood since 1976, and we invite you to join us and experience our hospitality!
