DRINK: IRISH BARS RETURN TO WEST HARLEM

Most New Yorkers do not know that Harlem had an Irish community which thrived on the west side from the mid 1800s up until as late as the 1970s.  Uptown demographics have always been way more complex than reported in most media outlets and Irish Harlem in latter decades centered around the City College blocks called Vinegar Hill which still has a sign up today on West 135th Street.  With all that said, some of the Irish have been returning to the neighborhood and several bars have opened in the past couple of years.  Below are the establishments that have Irish owners through lineage that are shaking up the scene in Hamilton Heights:


Harlem Public  3612 Broadway just west of 149th Street.  The one that started everything up on Broadway is still a great local tavern to catch sports and some of the best pub grub in town.  Full on comfort food with a hip edge perfect for a night out drinking: LINK

At The Wallace, 3612 Broadway, just west of 149th Street. Harlem Public became popular quite quickly and just was always at full capacity.  The solution was obviously to open a companion bar next door which has more games like giant Jenga and a huge space for thirsty uptowners: LINK

The Grange, 1635 Amsterdam Avenue at the corner of 141st Street.  Great brunch, lunch or dinner spot with live jazz on Sundays and always a great crowd.  Somehow this New American spin on an Irish pub gets it right with a proper mix of casual and formal: LINK


Hogshead Tavern, 126 Hamilton Place south of 143rd Street.  Our top bar pick for 2014 has the coolest interior uptown but still gives a nod to a bit of history.  With 20 different craft beers along with prosecco on tap and small dishes such as Korean tacos or pork belly grilled cheese on hand, this new gem offers up something different to the neighborhood: LINK


Grill on the Hill 1624 Amsterdam on the corner of 140th Street.  This spacious new spot is the City College neighborhood's answer to a good old sports bar with lots of television screens to keep the drinking crowd entertained on any given night of the week: LINK