Desmond Nicholson

A surprising gem near Union Square, nice and cozy bar with great bites, drinks and ambiance, a must visit.

Andrew J.

Christmas time they are all decked out. The steak fries was amazing and the house ale was good also. Make sure to get reservations during the holiday season!

Mark Snyder - Realtor

Pete's Tavern is a must stop during the holiday season and beyond. Be sure to try the fried zucchini appetizer. Take a look at the photos of all the celebrities that have visited over the years.

+11

Rachel Braddock

Pete’s Tavern never disappoints! The steak frites were absolutely phenomenal, and the drinks were just as impressive. We can’t stop thinking about that incredible gravy! Right now, the entire place is decked out in festive Christmas decor, making it even more charming. 10/10 recommend stopping by this season!

Alpay Ozbay

We recently visited Pete’s Tavern and had a great time. The first thing that stood out was their house ale — really smooth, full of flavor, and easily one of the best I’ve had in a long time. The place was packed, and yes, it gets very loud, but the energy is contagious in the best way. It feels like everyone is there to have a good time, and the atmosphere just pulls you in. Since we went during the holiday season, the Christmas decorations were a huge bonus — absolutely beautiful, cozy, and a bit over-the-top in a fun way. It almost feels like stepping into a classic NYC holiday scene. If you’re looking for a calm and quiet dinner, this isn’t the spot, but if you want a lively, historic tavern with a great vibe, solid drinks, and festive charm, Pete’s Tavern is definitely worth a visit

Saul Roman

Amazing experience from the waiters to the GM, the food was excellent, the beer was top notch, a great atmosphere of what a tavern is with lots of picture of famous people attending such a great tavern. If i come back to NY i would definitely eat again in Pete's Tavern.

Toby Williams

Walking up 18th St towards Union Square found this awesome place, Pete’s Tavern. One of the coolest places I have ever just walked up on in NYC. The food was good and so was the service. We ate inside in one of the cozy booths but they also have outdoor seating.

+2

Extremely good lunch. My waiter Sean was extremely attention. Food was also great. \n\nManager Gary, was very attentive and personally assured I had a great outting.

Extremely good lunch. My waiter Sean was extremely attention. food was also great. \n\nManager Gary, was very attentive and personally assured I had a great outting.

Extremely good lunch. My waiter Sean was extremely attention. Food was also great. \n\nManager Gary, was very attentive and personally assured I had a great outting.

Such a vibe and definitely the move during the holidays. Slight wait to get in but the bouncer was super efficient with getting patrons in as quickly while also safely as possible. Lines were long …

The ambiance here is fantastic. They had all their Christmas decorations up which are beautiful. Lots of animated decorations and the lights are epic. The food was delicious and servers were very f…

Pete's Tavern is a true NYC classic. The moment you walk in, you feel the history -- cozy, lively, and full of charm. I had an espresso martini and the penne alla vodka, both excellent. Service was…

This place is legendary! Lily was our server. She anticipated our needs before we had to place our order. We had the steak, Halibut, fries, plus a filet mignon, which was perfectly medium rare cook…

I visited Pete's in July 2025 with family members. It was fairly crowded. We did not have reservations, but we were seated promptly. The waiter was friendly, polite, and prompt. The food was excell…

The other night we had some drinks and had a blast ,Roary is the best !made it realy fun and he was a bomb ,I wish I was living closer so I could come here every night ,great atmosphere

Visited from Philly. Family of 5 had a fantastic time here. Filet Mignon was A+. The fish in the fish & chips was the best I’ve ever had! Huge fresh portions of fish. Perfect batter. Booth was…

Visited from Philly. Family of 5 had a fantastic time here. Filet Mignon was A+. The fish in the fish & chips was the best I’ve ever had! Huge fresh portions of fish. Perfect batter. Booth w…

Pete’s is on our annual visit list - made a reservation for Friday night dinner - already decorated for Christmas - beautiful - sat in the second dining room at a small table for 2 - good service -…

Pete’s is on our annual visit list - made a reservation for Friday night dinner - already decorated for Christmas - beautiful - sat in the second dining room at a small table for 2 - good service -…

We visited on Christmas Eve 2024! We had a amazing time! We had the perfect table (hope we can get again) the food was perfect. The atmosphere was so NY being from Houston. My daughters we so happy…

We visited on Christmas Eve 2024! We had a amazing time! We had the perfect table (hope we can get again) the food was perfect. The atmosphere was so NY being from Houston. My daughters we so happy…

Love the experience! The place is beautiful. Sandy was our waitress who has been with Pete's for 48 years. Way to go Sandy and thank you PT for knowing when you have a good employee and keeping …

Pete's Tavern is so nice, they are so friendly. The Atmosphäre is so nice. drinks and food are so dilicious We came back :)

My friend and I came here back in January and the waitress was so kind and sweet and the food was sooooo good! We loved it so much we are coming back this weekend again while we visit the city! Can…

We got there a few minutes before opening for lunch on a very cold Friday. We did have a reservation for a table in the bar room. When we got in, we were shown to a table next to a door. We were fr…

Visiting Pete's Tavern was high on our list to visit in New York City. We were not disappointed. We arrived a couple of hours earlier than our table reservation for dinner, and we had a great chat …

Wonderful Pub near Union Square. A traditional English/Irish style Pub that also has very good food. The beer variety is first class, they have a couple of their own Ales/IPAs, and the service is t…

Friendly service, very good food, reasonable prices in a historic building and lovely part of the city.

Great bar with indoor and outdoor seating nr Gramercy Park. Food was excellent and service prompt and efficient price wise comparable to other places on the area.

Haven’t been here in 15 years. Food was good. Not outstanding, but good. I wouldn’t go back for the food alone. Perhaps we ordered the wrong things. Drinks were good. Staff was very attentive and prompt. Mozzarella en carozza was very good.

Lucy Bennett

Beautifullly decorated bar and restaurant. Gets incredibly busy, book ahead if you want to eat or sit! We got lucky and snagged stools outside. Lovely drinks options and a real old school new York feel.

+1

Jeff T. Critic

Pete’s Tavern 129 E. 18th St. New York, NY 10003 Boneless Wings Shepherd’s Pie Located in Gramercy Park is one of the oldest bars in Manhattan. I decided to explore a 2-course meal at this historic tavern. Boneless Wings: This popular appetizer was smothered in house made buffalo sauce. You won’t find any bones, but you will find tender, white meat. Also included was celery sticks and blue cheese dipping sauce. Shepherd’s Pie: Hidden beneath this heaping mound of slightly charred mashed potatoes are hearty chunks of ground lamb and beef. You are guaranteed a mouth full of meat in every bite. The shepherd’s pie also has its fair share of veggies. And speaking of veggies, a side of brussells sprout is included. Aside being impressed with the nostalgic atmosphere with a full size bar, I couldn’t help but notice the vintage decorations in the dining area. If you like these artifacts, you are going to love the mementos about O. Henry. The late author was sitting at a booth in this tavern when he wrote “The Gift of the Magi.” You will easily recognize the props and illustrations from the short story, such as the Della’s mirror and Jim’s pocket watch. O. Henry put this tavern in the spotlight. And speaking of fame, several celebrities ranging from actors to athletes have explored this location. This was a flawless dining experience because I got a taste of great comfort food as well as a taste of New York City history. #petestavern #gramercypark #oldestbarinmanhattan #ohenry #shepherdspie #brusselsprouts #bonelesswings #nycfoodie #FoodStagram #localspots #giftofthemagi #mirror #pocketwatch

+1

Lyuba Lyubov

Pete’s Tavern combines rich history with a great location near Union Square. it offers a true old-school vibe with vintage decor and literary roots. It is a perfect spot for classic pub food, drinks, and a taste of New York’s past, definitely worth a visit.

Met old friends for dinner. Didn't know it was still Restaurant Week(s). In the back room we could tak, but it was a little tight - two of us were over 6'. But the food was great. We did the specia…

Wow!! I never realized Pete's Tavern has been around since the 1800s. What an iconic NYC spot! Seeing all the photos of famous visitors and people dining here over the years really makes the experien…

Great holiday decorations! I had a beet and feta cheese salad. It was ok. Nothing special. Gets very busy so make reservations. !

burger bun was too stiff for my liking. I love the Christmas decoration though! So nice! burger to pricey. Maybe because I'm a student but I can get better burgers cheaper. Excellent service th…

Fun, funky place. Kind of more upscale than divey.\n\nWe had drinks there but weren't able to get a seat for dinner. I've heard that their food is quite good, but we'll have to try next time.

Great food and festive atmosphere with all the Christmas decor and music. Total worth the wait.

Really enjoyed the food, was very tasty and freshly cooked. We had booked a table, arrived on time and we were seated right away. It is beautifully decorated and the staff were really attentive and…

Really enjoyed the food, was very tasty and freshly cooked. We had booked a table, arrived on time and we were seated right away. It is beautifully decorated and the staff were really attentive and…

Brought a friend here on Saturday for a birthday lunch. The bar was crowded and noisy, but the dining room was nice and felt like an old club. Booths are really uncomfortable, but we were re-seated…

31.5 dollars for a halibut and lemonade and Stella we then sat outside and had to move after 2 to 3 minutes as the outside area was closing overpriced and not a match to many like for like superior…

We came in one evening for drinks and sat at the bar. It was quite busy but there were plenty of seats inside and outside. The decor is lovely and we liked the look of the dining room so decide…

We had dinner on a Tuesday evening. Very helpful and friendly staff, but food was terrible. The chicken burger was very dry and not eatable. French fries sooked in oil. If you see the great his…

Nice place near Gramercy Park where to eat an hamburger with fries and have a beer. The location is historical, and you see it from the furniture. Better to reserve because it is always full of p…

Elizabeth Angel

I completely understand why people recommend Pete’s Tavern during Christmas. The history, the decorations, and the overall holiday ambiance are beautiful, and I really appreciated that they do not charge an entry fee like some other heavily decorated NYC spots. You can make a reservation, but they also keep a few tables open for walk ins. We came a little before the dinner rush and were able to get a table with a time limit, which was totally fine since we mainly wanted to eat, take a few photos, and move on. Unfortunately, the service and food were a letdown. We never had a single point of contact as a server. Every interaction was with a different person, from water to drinks to food to the bill, which made everything feel disorganized and slow. It took about fifteen minutes just to be acknowledged, and while I understand it was the Christmas rush, not having one server made the experience frustrating. My pasta dish was honestly inedible. The pasta was extremely overcooked and mushy, and the chicken was very gristly. I barely touched it. My mom’s steak appetizer was good, so maybe my dish was just a miss, but for the price, it was disappointing. Drinks were fine, but pricing felt off. My alcoholic drink and my mom’s plain hot chocolate were both $21, which felt excessive, especially when the hot chocolate was very small. For comparison, you can get a massive frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity for less. I would recommend Pete’s Tavern for the Christmas ambiance only. Go to the bar, grab a drink, take some photos, and enjoy the decorations. I would skip dinner entirely and eat somewhere else where the food and service match the prices.

Magdalena K OMahony

Visited over the weekend since I read about their Christmas decorations. We dropped in for desert and coffee. The place was a bit chaotic. Service was great, our waitress was very friendly. The desert was ok, nothing special, and they did forget the ice cream. The decorations were nice but not worth going the distance. I would like to go back to try their food as they place was really busy.

I completely understand why people recommend Pete's Tavern during Christmas. The history, the decorations, and the overall holiday ambiance are beautiful, and I really appreciated that they do not …

Very crowded and food looked good. Lots of beautiful Christmas decorations and lights. Too long of wait 45 minutes. So we went to a less crowded delicious Italian eatery half a block away. came bac…

Very crowded and food looked good. Lots of beautiful Christmas decorations and lights. Too long of wait 45 minutes. So we went to a less crowded delicious Italian eatery half a block away. came bac…

its been years since i've been here. i really loved how they decorated it for xmas. my meal was pretty good but not as good as the first time. i had the burger and fries. cheese was very melty that…

Very cool historic bar. Didn't like that is so was dark in there at 3pm on a sunny day. Beyond burger was way over cooked. Service was decent. Good neighborhood spot but nothing crazy

Kimberly Cates-Meraz

The drinks were good and the atmosphere great, but the food was terrible and terribly overpriced. We were very hopeful when we stumbled upon this spot that I’d recently read about, the Christmas decorations did not disappoint. However, this spot needs to focus on beverages because the food is tasteless, tough, and expensive. We like to eat out, we love quality food, and we’re willing to pay for it too. We asked our server about two dishes and she recommended both of them, so my partner ordered the steak frites and I ordered the chicken pot pie with a side of roasted brussels sprouts. The steak frites came out in one piece on top of a mound of fries. The steak was so tough my partner could barely cut it. We asked why it was served whole instead of sliced and the server said that’s just the way they serve it. Instead of sending it back, we asked to have it bagged up and my partner ordered a burger. Did you know a burger could be tough and flavorless? No seasoning, no flavor, and chewy, she continued to add salt to try to help it, but left half of it. My pot pie was also beyond bland, I also had to add copious amounts of salt…there was absolutely NO seasoning or herbs in the pot pie. The brussel sprouts were overcooked and kind of soggy instead of crispy. I also left half my food. This spot needs a kitchen overhaul. We actually decided to leave the steak frites we had asked to have bagged because we didn’t think we could salvage it.

Rude! We made a reservation for 9:00 Pm and we were asked to leave because we weee only ordering espresso martinis and desert. Tables are for dinner only. Then they should say that when we called t…

Yes, the Christmas decorations are great but food is disgusting and service is horrible. Our waitress never checked in on us, god forbid we wanted a second round of drinks. \nCheck your bill, pri…

Yes, the Christmas decorations are great but food is disgusting and service is horrible. Our waitress never checked in on us, god forbid we wanted a second round of drinks. \nCheck your bill, price…

Bartender was the worst, rude and just completely miserable. There were 7 of us that wanted to stay because we loved the DJ & the crowd was fun but we left after an hour because the women behind the…

Stephanie Ram

I understand that this is a very touristy restaurant however because it is touristy, I would think that the treatment would be a lot more catering. I have never been to this establishment, and I brought my cousin who is visiting to Pete's. We were sat adjacent to a large group. My cousin's husband is claustrophobic, and he started to feel overwhelmed, because the couple that was sitting in front of our table had their chairs all the way back to our table. I went over to the hostess to explain. She was very snide. It seemed like I was asking for a free meal because she was so reluctant to understand what I was saying. She then gave me one of those "It doesn't matter where I sit you it's going to be full". I explained it's not a matter of where we are sitting. Unfortunately, it's the people that are leaning into our table. Nevertheless, after having a severe attitude we were moved. No biggie. We were excited for the food. Within a half an hour of being there, a food was brought out. We never received our appetizers. They basically threw the food in our face. Then, all of a sudden, the waiter that we had over explained that it was the kitchens fault. I'm not sure why he was throwing them under the bus you are one establishment. He then offered us a comp appetizer after we were given our main meal. We declined however, we did say that we were going to order the hot chocolate and he then said he would comp that. Based on the pictures that we saw the hot chocolate comes with whip cream, he basically gave us four cups with hot chocolate and that's it. Then my husband asked, is it possible to get some whip cream and then he brought out the can and decided to squirt, whip cream in our drinks. I am really, embarrassed that I brought my cousin here. The only positive interaction and why I will rate this place a one is that there was with a tall, younger brunette waitress, who wasn't even our waitress, but checked in on us. Even the manager gave me a dirty look when I was trying to figure out seating, and never even apologized about the appetizers. This place is a cash cow and it's not a real authentic holiday experience. They are pumping out generic, basic food, with poor customer service. Go anywhere else.