Video edited by Viktoria Majcher
Molly’s Irish Pub, located in Manhattan’s Gramercy neighborhood, has been an Irish staple in New York City since 1895. Since then, the bar has gained a reputable reputation for its food, continuity and preservation of Irish culture.
Peter O’Connell, owner of Molly’s since 1991 and “long-suffering bar owner,” envisioned the location as a place where patrons could be immersed in the traditional culture of an old-style Irish pub, similar to the bars he saw growing up in Ireland.
“We’re not a sports bar,” he said. “We try to keep the sound off as much as possible, and be a conversation bar. I think it works very well here.
“Everybody can sit around a table and hear and engage without music playing or television blaring in the background,” he continued. “That’s the culture we’re trying to preserve here.”
Another way Molly’s immerses patrons into Irish tradition is through their food. Their Michelin-recommended menu features Irish staples, including corned beef, shepherd’s pie and chicken pot pie, what O’Connell believes to be the “standard” in “all authentic Irish bars.”
He also believes the bar has succeeded this long due to its continuity—stepping into the bar is like reuniting with an old friend. The majority of staff have worked at the bar for over two decades, O’Connell says. “You can come back after 10 years and see the same people you saw the last time.”
The owner even shared fun facts about the bar, including a table regarded as the “best place to have an affair in New York State,” because “when you walk in the door, nobody sees you.”
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, O’Connell spoke about many of his favorite past celebrations, including the time when comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Fallon bartended and serenaded patrons at the bar last year. He also recognizes the global embrace of the holiday and believes it’s a “great compliment to our [Irish] culture”
“Life is about sharing. Every nationality is Irish that day,” he said. “I’m grateful for Americans’ appreciation of Irish culture and the support they give Ireland.”
While many establishments make changes to preserve and advance, O’Connell says he’ll change nothing. “Let everybody else change, and you stay unique,” he said.
For Molly’s, authenticity and tradition isn’t just about remembering the past, but a guiding light into the future.
