Looking for a meal so good it’s to die for? With regulars returning from beyond the grave, these haunted bistros are sure to satisfy. According to local lore, historic eateries throughout New York City are crawling with the specters of long-gone artists, sailors, and soldiers of New York past. Located in buildings over 300 years old, it’s no wonder these bistros have collected a spirit or two. Despite paranormal patrons, however, these restaurants remain very much alive, serving droves of city locals, history enthusiasts, and tourists, alike.
Here are the top 5 ‘haunts’ of New York City for those hungry for a bite and a fright.
Fraunce’s Tavern
Established in 1719 and located within the financial district, Fraunce’s Tavern proudly boasts its title as the oldest standing structure in Manhattan. The building began as a dance hall and space for imported goods before eventually opening as a tavern in 1762. During the Revolutionary War, it hosted the US Sons of Liberty as well as George Washington on the celebration of Evacuation Day, when British troops finally vacated New York City. Following the war, the tavern withstood two bombings as well as a series of fires. What more, a murder-suicide is even rumored to have occurred just outside the tavern. Today, Fraunce’s Tavern is a beloved restaurant and historic site, drawing in many tourists intrigued by its longstanding history. It is also believed to harbor quite a few spirits with staff reports of phantom footsteps, jingling keys, and slamming doors.
One if by Land, Two if by Sea
Today, One if by Land, Two if by Sea, has laid claim as a West Village date-night destination, one ensuring a romantic evening filled with glowing chandeliers, a baby grand piano, and a crackling fireside. However, frequent paranormal activity disrupts this charming façade, a near constant reminder of the restaurant’s dark past. Originally serving as the carriage house of former vice president Aaron Burr in 1767, One if by Land, Two if by Sea has since endured years as a brothel, saloon and even as a possible part of the underground railroad. A suspected 20 entities are thought to inhabit the building: flickering lights, breaking plates, and tilting picture frames. Specifically, ghosts of Aaron Burr and his daughter, Theodosia, known for stealing the earrings of female patrons, supposedly haunt the restaurant to this day.
The Ear Inn
The Ear Inn, located in Hudson Square and established in 1817, is best known for its time as a no-frills bar for sailors arriving on the nearby Hudson River. However, the building’s roots extend to 1770 as the home of former slave and revolutionary war aide James Brown. While multiple sightings of ghosts have been reported, one especially bold spectral sailor, Mickey, has been a regular since his death in 1920. Mickey the sailor is known to swig patrons’ beer, pursue women at the bar, and even snuggle beside those staying overnight. Today, the inn maintains its status as a local favorite, where patrons can guzzle beer like sailors. That is, if Mickey doesn’t beat them to it!
The Waverly Inn
While The Waverly Inn was born in the 1920s, its building originated in 1844. It served as a brothel and later tea house poet Robert Frost is said to have frequented. Today, this West Village eatery is a central fixture of the downtown scene, especially known for its regular celebrity sightings. Though, these are not the only sightings to occur at the inn. Staff report paranormal activity including kitchen disturbances, moved furniture, and a strange fire of unknown origin. Despite its chilling spirits (and prices), The Waverly Inn has managed to retain its longstanding charm and allure, boasting uneven wooden floorboards and red booth seats all too fitting for a ghoulish guest.
White Horse Tavern
The White Horse Tavern is best known for its stint as a Greenwich Village bohemian grove in the 1950s, attracting celebrated creatives like beatnik poet Jack Kerouac and musician Bob Dylan. The tavern first opened in 1880 catering mainly to Irish immigrants of the surrounding working-class neighborhood before yielding to a more left-leaning crowd in the 1930s. Today, the White Horse Tavern remains a treasured local hub as well as a must-see site for those interested in its literary legacy. As for hauntings, the ghost of welsh poet Dylan Thomas, once a White Horse Tavern regular, has been claimed to still linger in his favorite booth. Thomas is also known to occasionally pour himself mugs of beer that appear inexplicably upon the bar counter.
If you’re daring enough to dine with the dead, check out these local ‘haunts’ for an evening you won’t soon forget.
