| Pete's Tavern | |
|---|---|
 Pete's Tavern in 2007 | |
 Interactive map of Pete's Tavern | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Food type | American, Italian |
| Dress code | casual |
| Location | 129East 18th Street (at the corner ofIrving Place) inGramercy Park,Manhattan,New York City,New York, 10003,United States |
| Coordinates | 40°44′12″N73°59′12″W / 40.73653°N 73.986746°W /40.73653; -73.986746 |
| Website | https://www.petestavern.com |
Pete's Tavern, located at 129East 18th Street on the corner ofIrving Place in theGramercy Park neighborhood ofManhattan,New York City, is apub food restaurant and the oldest continuously operating restaurant and bar in New York City.[1]
The building that houses Pete's was built in 1829, and was originally the Portman Hotel;[2] liquor may have been sold there as early as 1851[3] or 1852[4] – when it was a "grocery & grog" store[3] – and the first official drinking establishment founded by 1864. It was bought in 1899 by Tom and John Healy, and became Healy's.[4] Duringprohibition, when selling alcohol was illegal, the bar continued to operate disguised as a flower shop.[3][4]
The writerO. Henry lived down the street at 55 Irving Place from 1903 to 1907,[4] and Healy's appears in hisshort story "The Lost Blend" under the name "Kenealy's".[4] Local legend also has it that he wrote his well-known story "The Gift of the Magi" in Healy's second booth from the front, but this appears to be apocryphal.[2]
The present name dates to the purchase of the establishment by Peter D'Belles in 1926.[5]
Although the tavern claims to be "an official historical landmark", it is neither adesignated New York City landmark nor is it on theNational Register of Historic Places. It does, however, lie within theGramercy Park Historic District designated by theNew York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966.[6] Gary Egan is proprietor of Pete's Tavern and has been General Manager of the restaurant for over 30 years.
Pete's Tavern has appeared in numerous films and television programs, includingTwo for the Seesaw,Seinfeld,Ragtime,Endless Love,Law & Order,Nurse Jackie,Spin City,Sex and the City,Across the Sea of Time,The Guru,Blue Bloods,The Blacklist, and more recently,Fleishman is in Trouble. It has also been used as a location for television commercials such asMiller Lite ads with Ben Davidson andTony Esposito, as well as print advertisements.[7]
