Irish Bank

www.theirishbank.com

This bar stands like a little island within the busy Union Square neighborhood. Hidden down an alley not far from the Chinatown gate, they need a sign on Bush Street to point to the entrance otherwise everyone would just walk by. The seclusion helps with adding to the pub vibe.

The Irish Bank bills itself as an authentic Irish Pub and it totally has the feel. The decor and atmosphere definitely lend to the authentic feel. Lots of beer offerings and they have an excellent whiskey list that tilts unsurprisingly towards the Irish whiskeys. They have a hearty menu of pub offerings for food.

They have always had a large outdoor seating area even before COVID and because it sits inside a tight alleyway, it was almost always comfortably shady in the summer. On the weekends it seems to be a popular resting place for tired Union Square tourists and shoppers.

Back when I first came here many years ago, I recalled that they were the only place that had those jet blast hand dryers in the restroom instead of those useless slow blowers. Now everyone has them but they were ahead of their time.