The best Guinness in NYC comes from pubs that pour it with care: a two-part pour, a proper settle, and a clean tulip glass. Here are seven places to try, starting with our pub in Hell’s Kitchen.
Disclaimer: No bar is paid to be included, and the other entries are in alphabetical order, not ranked. Details come from each bar’s own website. Please drink responsibly.
Key Takeaways
- Hibernia Bar at 401 W 50th St in Hell’s Kitchen tops our list.
- Six more NYC pubs follow, across Manhattan and Brooklyn.
- A proper Guinness pour takes about 119.5 seconds, according to the Guinness Storehouse.
- Look for a two-part pour, a settle, and a creamy domed head.
What Is a Perfect Pint of Guinness?
A perfect pint of Guinness is poured in two stages into a clean tulip glass, left to settle, then topped up until a creamy head domes just above the rim. The Guinness Storehouse puts the whole pour at about 119.5 seconds.
Here is what to watch for at any bar, based on the Guinness Storehouse pouring guide:
- The first pour stops at the top of the harp logo.
- The settle lets the cloudy surge clear before the top-up.
- The head is dense and creamy, with a slight dome.
- The temperature sits at 5–7°C, about 41–45°F.
For each stage in detail, read our guide on how to pour Guinness the right way.
The Best Guinness in NYC: 7 Pubs Worth the Trip
These seven pubs give you options across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Hibernia comes first because it is our pub, and the rest follow in alphabetical order.
| Pub | Where | Borough | Worth knowing |
| Hibernia Bar | 401 W 50th St, Hell’s Kitchen | Manhattan | Irish pub and sports bar, Steelers game days |
| Grace’s | 252 West 14th Street | Manhattan | Modeled after traditional Irish pubs |
| Hartley’s | 14 Putnam Ave | Brooklyn | Traditional Irish session on Mondays |
| Molly’s Shebeen | 287 3rd Ave, Gramercy | Manhattan | Irish pub and restaurant |
| Swift Hibernian Lounge | 34 E 4th St | Manhattan | Established in 1995 |
| Tara Mór | 150 West 30th Street | Manhattan | Near Penn Station and Madison Square Garden |
| The Dead Rabbit | 30 Water Street | Manhattan | Opened in 2013 |
1. Hibernia Bar, Hell’s Kitchen
Hibernia Bar is a neighborhood Irish pub and sports bar at 401 W 50th St, on the corner of 50th Street and Ninth Avenue. Guinness is on draft, and the game is on the screens.
If you want the best Guinness in Manhattan with the game on, Hell’s Kitchen is an easy place to start. Here is why it leads our list:
- Guinness on draft at a neighborhood Irish pub.
- Game days with a crowd, including the fans behind our Steelers bar in NYC.
- A central address on the corner of 50th and Ninth, with directions to our Hell’s Kitchen Irish pub a tap away.
Read more about how we serve it on our Guinness bar in NYC page, or call 212-969-9703 to ask about game days and groups.
2. Grace’s
Grace’s sits at 252 West 14th Street in Manhattan. The pub says it is modeled after traditional Irish pubs built on warmth, hospitality, and community. Its drinks list covers local beer, cocktails, premium whiskey, and plenty of stout, with Guinness on the menu, which makes it an easy West Side stop on 14th Street.
3. Hartley’s
Hartley’s is at 14 Putnam Ave in Brooklyn, in the Clinton Hill, Fort Greene and Bed-Stuy area. It calls itself Brooklyn’s homiest Irish bar and a cozy shebeen where neighbors meet and chat. Guinness is on draft, Guinness stew is on the food menu, and a traditional Irish session runs every Monday at 8 PM.
4. Molly’s Shebeen
Molly’s Shebeen is at 287 3rd Ave in Gramercy. It bills itself as the most authentic Irish bar in New York City, and its website says the building first operated as a bar in 1895 before taking the Molly’s Shebeen name in 1991. The site also quotes a guest calling its Guinness a thing of beauty.
5. Swift Hibernian Lounge
Swift Hibernian Lounge is at 34 E 4th St, between Bowery and Lafayette, in Manhattan. It describes itself as an Hibernian lounge, established in 1995. In its history, Swift says it became known for its attention to detail in pulling the perfect pint of Guinness, which makes it a natural stop for anyone comparing pours downtown.
6. Tara Mór
Tara Mór is at 150 West 30th Street, near Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. The bar says it stores its Guinness in a temperature-controlled fridge under the bar, pours every pint with a two-step technique, and serves it in classic tulip glasses. The location makes it handy before a game or a train.
7. The Dead Rabbit
The Dead Rabbit is at 30 Water Street in Manhattan and opened in 2013. Its tagline, fáilte abhaile, translates as welcome home, and its website says the bar pours over 250,000 pints of Guinness every year. It sits near the southern tip of Manhattan, a long way downtown from Hell’s Kitchen.
How to Choose a Guinness Pub in NYC
The best Guinness in New York is the one poured well at a pub you enjoy being in. Start with location, then judge the pint in front of you. These four steps work at any bar on this list or off it.
- Pick a pub close to where your night already is.
- Watch the bartender for the two-part pour and the settle.
- Check the head for a dense, creamy dome.
- Take a sip, then decide whether you would order it there again.
Where to Find the Best Guinness in Hell’s Kitchen
Start your search for the best Guinness NYC has to offer at our corner of Hell’s Kitchen. Find Hibernia Bar at 401 W 50th St, get directions in Google Maps, or call 212-969-9703. Sláinte.
Where is the best pint of Guinness in NYC?
Good pints turn up across the city, so the best pint of Guinness in NYC depends on where you are. Our list starts with Hibernia Bar in Hell’s Kitchen, then covers Grace’s, Hartley’s, Molly’s Shebeen, Swift Hibernian Lounge, Tara Mór and The Dead Rabbit.
What is a perfect pint of Guinness?
It is a pint poured in two stages into a clean tulip glass, left to settle, then topped up to a creamy dome. The Guinness Storehouse puts the full pour at about 119.5 seconds and recommends serving it at 5–7°C, roughly 41–45°F.
Why does Guinness taste better in Ireland?
Plenty of drinkers say it does, though taste is personal and no single cause is confirmed. What you can check anywhere is the handling: clean lines, the right temperature, and a patient two-part pour. A New York pub that gets those right pours a pint worth ordering again.
What temperature should Guinness be served at?
The Guinness Storehouse recommends 5–7°C, which is about 41–45°F. The glass should feel cool in your hand rather than frosted. A pint that arrives far colder or warmer than that has been kept outside the serving range Guinness sets for its stout.