I travel to New York City a few times a year for work, and whenever I do I always make it a point to swing by The Ginger Man in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood. The dimly lit beer bar is located on East 36th St., just off of busy Fifth Ave and a couple of blocks from the Empire State Building. And it’s probably my favorite New York bar.
The dim barroom is large, and it’s cast in a slightly orange light thanks to its many tinted lamps and chandeliers. The bar itself is made of glossy, dark wood, and it’s complimented by matching wooden tables and chairs scattered throughout. There are also a number of easy chairs and padded couches in the front and rear areas of the Ginger Man, which makes the bar feel a bit like a loud, dark coffee shop.
The New York Ginger Man was opened in 1996, a decade after the original Ginger Man opened its doors in Houston, Texas and quickly become a well-known beer nerd haven. The bar is named after the popular 1950s J.P. Donleavy novel.
The Ginger Man has 70 taps, and a bottle list with about 160 interesting options. I visited two days in a row this week, and I had a bottle of St. Louis Kriek, and Rodenbach Grand Cru, Vicaris Tripel Gueuze, Bahnhof Berlinerweisse drafts. I’ve never tried the food there, but the menu’s composed of typical pub appetizers, salads, sandwiches, hot dogs and sausages.
The bartenders are knowledgeable, if slightly standoffish at times. Some of the beers are rather pricey, but that should be expected due to its location. Overall, I’m a big fan o’ The Ginger Man. If you’re ever in Midtown Manhattan doing the tourist thing and you need a quality brew, you’d do well to swing by The Ginger Man.
UBN
