McSorley’s Old Ale House

No matter how long you’ve lived in Fun City, you can’t really claim residency until you’ve helped out a carful of Jersey kids demanding directions to “Mig-sahw-leez!” Like most Fodor’s-approved destinations, this ancient taproom’s modest appeal has been eclipsed by its resolutely un-hip reputation. Mugs of house-brand ale are served in pairs for the price of one — one light, one dark (with your eyes closed, they taste identical). If you order anything off the spartan menu, make it the cheese-and-onion plate: The big slice of raw onion and hunks of sharp cheddar will arm-wrestle your senses to a draw, overpowering even the bouquet of more than a hundred years of spilt ale soaked into everything.