New York City’s Upper East Side (UES) is overlooked by beer snobs. For years, it has quietly been one of the city’s best beer neighborhoods. That is if you’re not just looking for the hype stuff.*
The UES showcases traditional and modern beer. It’s this mix that makes it shine. And the fact that the neighborhood is somewhat off the NYC beer radar helps create a laid-back, local, and more intimate community. This sentiment is echoed by Andrey Malinin, General Manager Jones Wood Foundry, who tells me “the scene on the UES seems to be much more of a neighborhood vibe.” It’s a great place to put the phone down and forget about checking in a rare Hazy IPA, and instead spend some time eating, drinking and socializing. Here are some places worth checking out.
The Traditional/Restaurants
Several notable restaurants reside in the UES that represent cultures with strong beer traditions. Most have a bar that you can simply go and drink at, but the food at all the places discussed below is excellent. Not surprisingly, the beer goes well with the dishes. Sit. Eat. Drink.
The upper east corner of the Upper East Side once had a sizeable German population (in this area, 86th Street was referred to as “Sauerkraut Boulevard”). A remnant of that era is found at the iconic Heidelberg. The menu is traditional with standards like wursts, schnitzels and spätzle. Likewise for the beer. Though you can find the trendy Rothaus and popular Andechs (you can even get Berliner Weisse with syrup (mit Schuss), it’s primarily standards like Bitburger, Spaten and Hofbräu.
You can get your moules frites and Trappist beer fix at B.Cafe. It’s a Belgian restaurant with all the classic Belgian beers. At one time, there was a pull-down map behind the bar. The bartender would show you where your beer was from and give you a little beer-geography lesson. Sadly, the map has been removed, but the food and beer are still excellent. As with most Belgian bars/restaurants, nearly every beer will be served in a corresponding branded glass. Aside from the classics, a few other not as expected beers include Poperings Hommelbier, Duchesse De Bourgogne, and Hoegaarden served with a splash of frambois.
Bottles and glassware on display at B. Cafe.
A super refreshing glass of Hoegaarden with a splash of framboise at B. Cafe.
Jones Wood Foundry (401 E 76th Street)
The English-style pub the Jones Wood Foundry is one of the few places in New York, heck, in the United States, where you can enjoy a properly served pint of cask ale. That has been made possible, in part, by the select few brewers located in the northeast that have been able to supply good real ale. Their packaged and standard draft beer selection has historically been comprised of the usual suspects (e.g. Fuller’s, Old Speckled Hen, Boddington’s), but that has been expanding. Though I’m not particular, you will mostly find cask ale served without a sparkler here. If you don’t know what that means, click here.
Beyond the bar, the design of the Jones Wood Foundry is pretty cool with little spaces tucked away here and there. And you can find classics like bangers and mash, fish and chips and Scotch eggs.
A pint of traditional English IPA being pulled from a hand pump at the Jones Wood Foundry.
Bohemian Spirit (321 E 73rd Street)
Speaking of great spaces, there’s an abundance of brewerania on display at Bohemian Spirit, a Czech restaurant located within the Czech Republic’s consulate building. Again, standards. Goulash, utopenec, and schnitzel. The beer is also very standard. And very limited. But that’s fine because when you’re here, you don’t really need more than a perfectly poured mug of Pilsner Urquell from a Lukr faucet.
And yeah, they’ve heard of that milk pour all the cool kids talk about, and they’ll pour it for you, but it’s not really a thing here. FWIW, the prior restaurant in this location, Hospoda, was serving Czech lager from Lukr faucets, boasting different pours, way before it was cool.
A Pilsner Urquell poster at Bohemian Spirit.
A pint of Pilsner Urquell, poured from a Lukr faucet, into a Pilsner Urquell glass and served on a traditional ceramic coaster at Bohemian Spirit.
Some brewerania on display at Bohemian Spirit.
Cafe D’Alsace (1703 2nd Avenue)
Cafe D’Alsace serves excellent brasserie fare, which you may not associate with beer culture. However, they have one of the most impressive beer menus in the city. The restaurant name might imply a German influence, but their beer leans heavily on Belgian/Belgian-style beers and includes one hundred different bottles and cans and a handful of draft selections. You’ll find a lot of the usual Belgian brews, and some more coveted one like Blaugies, Fantome, and 3 Fonteinen. Closer to home there are Belgian-inspired breweries like Allagash and Jester King. It’s not just Belgian-style beer though. You might find Kölsch on tap, a local IPA like Other Half, and others. On my last visit, I paired duck and Riesling-braised sauerkraut with a couple of hoppy saisons by Brasserie Thieriez.
A hoppy saison by Brasserie Thiriez at Cafe D’Alsace.
Schaller & Weber Stube (1652 2nd Avenue)
Though not a real beer destination, the Schaller & Weber Stube is worthy of mention. Situated between the sausage maker’s historic retail location and Heidelberg (see above), this “stube” takes some of Schaller & Weber’s excellent sausages and creates delicious sandwiches. There are always a couple of excellent beers on offer. It’s small and doesn’t have a big beer menu, but if you are craving a fantastic bratwurst and a German beer, this place is a big win. If you’re not a traditionalist, they’ve got options like a buffalo chicken brat.
The traditonal bratwurst served on a pretzel bun at Schaller and Weber Stube.
Irish pubs – The Irish pubs in the UES are worth mentioning. Generally, they’re nothing to write home about, but they’re numerous and embedded in the neighborhood’s culture. If you’re looking for a spot to eat wings and watch a game with a cold one, it’s hard to walk a couple of blocks in this neighborhood without finding an Irish pub to scratch that itch.
One worthy of mention is Ryan’s Daughter at 350 E 85th Street. It’s a beautiful bar and you’ll get a properly served pint there. Dan McLaughlin of the Pony Bar says it has the best Guinness on the Upper East Side.
A perfectly poured pint of Guinness at Ryan’s Daughter.
Contemporary Bars/Pubs
The Pony Bar (1444 1st Avenue)
Pony Bar owner Dan McLaughlin says the neighborhood has come a long way since they opened in 2012. Several people in the industry did not think it was a wise decision to open a beer bar here. Places selling craft beer were limited, and the ones that did had few offerings.
Ten years later, the Pony Bar is an institution. It’s kinda the perfect New York beer bar. A place for everyone with a warm and welcoming vibe and excellent pub food.
While there’s a great selection of beer, Dan tries to keep the menu accessible. He sees the Pony Bar as a neighborhood pub, recognizing the predominantly residential character of the area. The menu isn’t meant to draw in outsiders, but the welcoming atmosphere is undoubtedly luring.
You can’t see the sun set from the Upper East Side real good, but you won’t care when you’re having a good time at The Pony Bar.
I love this glass at The Pony Bar.
The Jeffrey (311 East 60th Street)
The Jeffrey speaks to the local sentiment with the message “The Neighborhood Joint” on their website. It’s one of a few establishments under the Beerly Legal Group in NYC. Others include Fool’s Gold, a pub on Houston Street, and Alewife, originally a bar in Long Island City and now a brewery in Sunnyside.
In addition to a regularly rotating lineup of great beer, The Jeffrey also has excellent cocktails and food. It’s also located near the Roosevelt Island Tramway. I think it’s worth the swipes of your MetroCard for the quick ride over the East River and back if you’ve never done it before.
Treadwell Park (1125 1st Avenue)
Treadwell Park is a sleek and spacious (for Manhattan, at least) beer hall. You can count on a diverse, well-curated beer menu. It’s not excessive, which hopefully means there’s good turnover. The food menu teeters towards elevated pub food. This includes Junior’s Cheesecake on the dessert menu, with house-made Lindeman’s framboise Lambic compote.
Bondurants (303 E 85th Street)
Bondurants is a great neighborhood bar that serves great craft beer. The cozy space has an excellent food menu if you’re hungry, and a notable whiskey menu.
Stores/bars
City Swiggers (320 East 86th Street)
Several beer shops have come and gone over the years in the Upper East Side. Open since 2011, City Swiggers has proven to be enduring. Like many of the other craft beer shops in New York City, City Swiggers allows on-site consumption. The selection is diverse. They’ve got all the hip stuff, but there’s also a great selection of imported traditional styles. You’ll find stuff here that you won’t find in anywhere else in the city. The space (including an excellent collection of glassware on the walls) and atmosphere are welcoming for shopping, drinking, or both. It’s no surprise it has become a lasting staple for the neighborhood.
A small portion of the imported beer selection a City Swiggers. What would you grab?
Craft + Carry (1630 2nd Avenue)
Craft + Carry currently has eight locations in New York City. I appreciate their message on the website, which states “Craft beer fans, not snobs.” The retail/bar hybrid keeps an interesting beer selection, but it’s not a place that gets too particular about details that may be off-putting to general patrons. The sizeable location is accommodating if you’re looking to have a few drinks with friends, or if you’re just grabbing some beer on the go. And it has skeeball.
Craft + Carry’s Upper East Side shop is one of several locations around the city.
*I stuck with the traditional boundaries of the Upper East Side. However, there are several notable beer spots in Harlem, north of 96th Street. Perhaps that’s for a future post.