I've never been to Ireland, but McSorley's doesn't seem like the type of place to lie to a man - this is the real deal. It feels like it's been around since the Depression; that it's still here should say something about the authenticity of the place. This is a pub to the third letter, the sort of place that deals in regulars.

There's sawdust on the floors, haggis on the menu and two types of drink to order - their own brew of dark and light. Get the former or risk the ridicule of Tommy, the type of bartender who practically comes with a place like this - the guy's all-parts fighting Irish and looks like he was around to see the steel go up on the Empire State Building. You came for the whole package, anyway.

$4 gets you a pair of half-pints that go down much faster than they should, which makes it all deceptively cheap - but there's no better spot in the area to send a couple of runners, grab a table and show up in the largest group you can imagine.

Just be sure that you can make it to the 6 train when you finally stand up.