Malachy's Donegal Inn New York

Pint-sized Irish bar, UWS

Geoffrey from New York

""Malachy's Donegal Inn" is an Irish bar in New York city that's a survivor. There's an ingrained (or ingrown) sense of comfort, 'cares abandoned'..."

Outside, a sand-filled bucket sprouts dead cigarette butts; inside, the sticky floor and CRT TVs have been updated, sort of. Malachy's opens at noon; happy hour begins immediately and lasts for eight hours.

There is an old photograph of Duke Snider (who played for the Dodgers) but it is a Yankees bar described as "great, hands down best, solid, cheap, awesome gem, just like yesteryear, with ‘heavy hand’ drinks" and "a classic dive bar". These descriptors could apply to almost every Irish Bar, survivors of a day when there were Irish Bars galore, lots with long steam tables keeping hot tubs of soups, corned beef, roast beef, cabbage, mashed potatoes, gravies, every kind of fatty food. Many were first set up during the 1930s and 40s, some survive in their original locations.

When I write Yankees bar, I mean Yankees bar. Don't go on about the Metropolitans or any other team, and don't contradict the faulty logic of the ill-informed patrons whose ideas about baseball strategy come from well, Ireland, I suppose. It gets ridiculous, but it's well-intentioned.

There’s an ingrained (or ingrown) sense of comfort, 'cares abandoned', laughter, and greasy glasses, extant or not.

Malachy's is a decent 'period-at-the-end-of-the-sentence' following a trek to Central Park: visit Strawberry Fields — the 'Imagine' mosaic — then cross the street to visit the site of John Lennon's murder at the entrance to his former home, The Dakota, then a block along 72nd Street to Columbus Avenue and Malachy's, for a memorial toast.

Bars

Restaurants

This week 25% off

with the code fall25

*on our yearly membership

New York Spotter Geoffrey

About me I travel to discover how people elsewhere live, how they manage living with low incomes in expensive cities, how they grapple with hard times and failing economies, how they deal with ageing or crumbling families and how they themselves age and adapt. Knowing and loving New York comes from having lived through many of its manifestations while witnessing its changes. Why New York I love New York because of its broad cultural spectrum realized in all forms of the arts, food, technology, politics and transportation, and its easy access to the beautif...

About this spot

West 72nd Street 103

Bottle of Bud:

US$

Website

2128744268

Social

Oct 11, 2025

Our New York City Guide

Find your way with 308 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our New York guide.

Loved it? Join us!

Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in New York

The Old Print Shop

Flatiron District Gallery

"The Old Print Shop" in New York is my hands-down, hands-on museum/gallery of choice. I love mid-twentieth century 'industrial' or 'city' art...

Art & culture

Shopping

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 23, 2025

Sea & Sea

Fried fish takeout

"Sea & Sea " in NYC is a traditional-looking fish shop with wet, tiled floors, cool air, grated ice on every hand, busy with customers from near and far...

Restaurants

"Sisters Uptown Bookstore" in NYC is a hidden shop/cultural center w/ an eye-opening trove of books by African diaspora authors. A true neighborhood spot!

Art & culture

Shopping

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 18, 2025

Grandma's Place

Inclusive Books and Toys

I stumbled across a store about which I had read but never visited—the very inviting and colourful playground of Dawn Harris-Martine), retired teacher, now famous—named Grandma’s Place.

Art & culture

Shopping

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 18, 2025

Color World

Curb Side BBQ

Color World sets up on the corner of 116th and 2nd Avenue, rain or shine. There they serve beef, pork, goat, oxtail, and chicken for $10 a plate.

Snacks

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 17, 2025

Don Alejo Coffee

Coffee, toasts and burritos

Their prices are in keeping with the neighborhood: a plate of two eggs, two pancakes, 'home' fried potatoes and your choice of sausages or bacon, is $12.