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White Horse Tavern

567 Hudson St., New York, NY, 10014
at 11th St.
212-989-3956

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"Mixed Reviews"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

47% would go back.

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Displaying 1-10 of 15

Before Dylan Thomas There was Charles Laughton

By cdorrell2 on 2/22/2013

Overall Rating: 8
Yes, I would go back!

Historical note. Charles Laughton made the place famous before Dylan Thomas found it. It was a wonderful, quiet pub with good beer, a small keg of "stock ale" on the bar when the weather was right, and fabulous roast beef sandwiches for 35 cents. And a cribbage board on the bar so you could play the bar tender for drinks. Laughton loved the place, and one night just before he was going to catch a liner to England, he decided it needed some publicity. He bought 300 of the white horse mugs and passed them out the next day on board ship. That did it. The people to whom he gave the mugs weren't interested in a village pub, but they wanted to see where Laughton drank, and then they told their friends about it, and soon the place went to hell. I think it was about three years later that Thomas arrived.

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6 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Before Dylan Thomas There was Charles Laughton

By cdorrell2 on 2/22/2013

Overall Rating: 8
Yes, I would go back!

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5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Brilliant experience in the Tavern

By spawnyruud on 11/16/2011

Overall Rating: 10
Yes, I would go back!

My girlfriend and I were in NYC for the weekend visiting from London. We wanted to get away from the really touristy spots and experience a real bar. This place was awesome. We sat at the bar and chatted with barman Bob (who is a legend by the way). Well worth a visit!

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32 out of 64 people found this review helpful.

Not always like that...

By JpRAustin on 8/29/2011

Overall Rating: 8
Yes, I would go back!

Very sad to read all of the negative comments about my old favorite watering hole. I lived around the corner on Greenwich Street during most of the 1980's and ate many an evening meal @ the first table on the right, just inside the door...perfect seat for watching a game on the tv up in the corner. Oh well, hope they get their act together in the near future.

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34 out of 62 people found this review helpful.

Not for a younger crowd

By Sjboatwright on 7/12/2011

Overall Rating: 1
No, I would not go back!

I planned to visit the taver with my girlfrepiend and her friend who was in town visiting, just to be turned away at the door because I'm "only" 23. The bouncer rudely pointed to a printed sign in the window stating that visitors must have ID proving they are 25. I don't know whether to blame the NYU students or the tavern, but either way it was a disappointment.

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46 out of 80 people found this review helpful.

A truly great Village saloon.

By Cookied on 4/23/2011

Overall Rating: 10
Yes, I would go back!

If you truly want a feel for the Village of the 50s and 60s then spend some time, preferably at the bar, at the White Horse. There are plenty of "old timers" to chat with and share memories. The day bartenders are very good, especially Bob on the weekends. It does get a bit noisy at night but I guess tourists and the younger crowd need their chance to get honest drinks and a good selection of beers. It comes as close to a London pub as any place in the city.

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54 out of 94 people found this review helpful.

Not Great

By barfly on 9/22/2010

Overall Rating: 4
No, I would not go back!

Our table was so close to the next that my friend had to stand on his chair and step over our table to extricate himself from his seat. He was promptly ejected. The White Horse is no user friendly.

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55 out of 120 people found this review helpful.

Still the Best Bar in Greenwich Village

By grampyjwilson on 7/11/2010

Overall Rating: 10
Yes, I would go back!

Ever since early 1957, either by myself or with old friends from the University of Delaware Class of 1956, I've been dropping by the White Horse for several Black and Tans in the afternoon or evening, or for lunch, both inside and outside (in good weather), where I usually order the Shepherd's Pie). Contrary to several of the comments above, and (along with the "55" at 55 Christopher Street in the Village) It has remaind today virtually unchanged for the past 53 years.

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82 out of 149 people found this review helpful.

I don't think good tradition is to be treated like garbage

By proflacurtis on 3/19/2010

Overall Rating: 1
No, I would not go back!

They treat customers with such indifference at best, rude, nasty assults, at worst, that it's amazing anybody still packs in there!! I have seen such poor service, a myriad of times, & such a nasty tone from the staff, showered upon nice, civil, people (whom had class & were not acting badly at all.) that it was beyond words! I'm sure if Dylan Thomas came in there today, they would insult him & kick him out for taking the wrong table to drink & write at!

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104 out of 197 people found this review helpful.

You can't sit here.

By luxeboheme on 10/20/2009

Overall Rating: 1
No, I would not go back!

I want to like Whitehorse. Unfortunately, the staff make that impossible. I arrived last night to have a drink- all but one table in the bar area was open, and there was no waitress to be seen. I ordered a drink, and proceeded to sit down at one of 6 empty tables, and was promptly told to remove myself. Wanting to sit, my friend and I proceeded outdoors to sit on one of the 10 empty benches, only to be told the outside was closed. We returned indoors and requested more information from the waitress, who was busy watching baseball, as to why we could not sit if the place was empty, "It's policy. It's not my policy". Employees should be impowered to make decisions regarding the comfort of their customers. I think I'm less of a bother sitting down than standing up in the middle of the bar.

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127 out of 229 people found this review helpful.