Pete's Tavern

"The lore of Pete’s runs deep and smells like roses. Founded as a “grocery & grog” store, the bar survived Prohibition as a fake flower shop with a speakeasy in the back. Seinfeld filmed here. O.Henry wrote a classic in a booth. And the burger is very respectable. Stop by at Christmas when the place is lit up like a house in the suburbs." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah

"The Deal: $30 Lunch, $45 Dinner Eavesdropping at Manhattan's most ancient tavern is a good way to spend a random Wednesday. The Gramercy spot has a big sidewalk seating area and burgers topped with fried onions and O. Henry sauce. For an extra $6, you can get steak frites with blue cheese butter, which feels like a worthy use of funds to us." - bryan kim, willa moore, sonal shah, neha talreja, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick

"Pete’s Tavern is getting festive with toys, trinkets, and an absolutely bonkers amount of ruby red Christmas lights. The bar’s tin-pressed ceilings and rosewood booths have been around since the 1800s, and even the silver bells lining the shelves in the bar room have been part of their holiday decorations for decades. Covered in a trillion neon strings, it feels like you’re in some kind of Marty McFly spaceship traveling between two time periods—or just incredibly cheerful. If you’re hitting the Union Square Holiday Market, this is a good place to relax with a beer and a burger afterwards. " - neha talreja

"At the end of the night, you don’t want a bartender to judge you or tell you to remember to drink water. You want one who’ll take your drink order and then pretend you don’t exist until you ask for another round. Pete’s is an old-school tavern (it opened in 1864) in Gramercy, and neither the bartenders nor the long-time regulars will pay you much attention as you drink a house beer or whiskey-neat at the bar. If you decide you do need some food after all, you can get a big burger or some fried calamari." - matt tervooren

"This place is old. We’re talking built-in-1864 old. So that whole throwback vibe they’re giving off is not a facade. This is a tavern, plain and simple, and there’s a chance that it’s survived so long because there are few other good options in the Gramercy area. On the plus side, it’s also useful, unpretentious, and a good place to relax. If you’re in the area and you just want to get a beer with friends (and maybe watch game on TV), Pete’s gets the job done." - bryan kim