Reporting by Jeanne Muchnick, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
I’m a sit-at-the-bar kind of gal. I like the banter, the faster drink service you (usually) get and the camaraderie of meeting other diners.
But at The Ambleside Pub in Mount Kisco, one of my favorite Lower Hudson Valley bars, there’s no sitting at the bar. That’s because this classic British tavern has been created to emulate what you’d find in England: no bar stools and a lower-than-usual counter height to what you’d find in the U.S.
Here, you order your drinks and food; then chat while standing. Or, have your food delivered to a cozy nook.
This feeling of having crossed the pond to another world is why I chose the husband-and-wife owned pub for my USA TODAY “best bar” pick (there are 38 nationwide to try).
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As always, it was a tough job narrowing the field to just one as there are so many great Lower Hudson Valley bars. Sports bars. Cocktail bars. Speakeasies. Neighborhood watering holes. Restaurant bars. And, of course, dive bars.
I stand by the seven I selected last year — choices that included Run & Hide Brewing Co. in Port Chester, The Blind Pig of Westchester in White Plains, The Local in Nyack and Beekman Ale House in Sleepy Hollow (among others) — as well as the standout of Horsefeathers in Tarrytown.
There’s also Saints & Scholars in Yonkers, which I picked in 2024.
All of those notwithstanding, if I were allowed to choose more, the following six would get my vote.
Set Back Inn, Tarrytown
You can tell a dive bar’s the real deal when it keeps popping up in movies and TV shows as that bar. Welcome to the Set Back Inn, a cash only/drinks only Tarrytown staple that’s been around for generations, dating to the late 1890s.
Run by Scott Toth (Toth’s grandparents bought it from the previous owners in 1959 before turning it over to Toth’s now-deceased dad), it recently appeared in an episode of “Law & Order: SVU” and has been featured in movies such as “Henry’s Crime,” “The Good Shepard,” and “Mona Lisa Smile.”
What’s behind the lure? It’s “set-ready”(no pun intended re: the name Set Back) ambiance complete with the original wood bar, a jukebox and a comfy old school vibe that, no matter if you haven’t been in 50 years or 10, still feels the same. Whether you’re nursing a beer, catching the game, shooting pool, or throwing darts, the easygoing atmosphere has a way of keeping you around longer than planned. Added bonus: there’s live music most weekend nights. There’s also an on-premise ATM. 33 Main St., Tarrytown, 914-631-9740, setbackinn.com.
Beechmont Tavern, New Rochelle
In business since 1928, this longtime college hangout (near Iona University) strikes the perfect balance of catering to students as well as local families with its array of American classics (wings, burgers, salads). It also wins points for being a favorite of singer/songwriter Don McLean, a New Ro native who made the bar famous in his iconic “American Pie” album.
His framed album hangs in the bar area. And there’s a sandwich named after him: The Levee wrap (as in “drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry”) stuffed with Buffalo or barbecue chicken cutlet, bacon and mac and cheese. (The “levee,” according to lore, was the tavern). In another nod to history, the walls are covered in old photos of the tavern. 750 North Ave., New Rochelle, 914-636-9533, beechmonttavern.com.
Pete’s Saloon & Restaurant, Elmsford
There’s 49 years of history at Pete’s, which is known for its throwback charm, live music, and traditional American classics (think burgers and sandwiches). It’s nothing fancy; just a simple neighborhood pub, which is what makes it so endearing.
Plus, hello? How can you not love a $15 lunch deal featuring half a sandwich and your choice of either a cup of soup or side salad? Or a kids eat free Tuesday promotion starting at 3 p.m. (with purchase of adult entree) that goes till 10 p.m.? 8 W Main St., 914-592-9849, petessaloon.com.
The Brazen Fox, White Plains
If it’s good enough for “Your Friends & Neighbors,”— the drama starring Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn, films there a lot — it’s good enough for me. Plus, the wrap around bar is super big so there’s plenty of room to spread out and meet your friends (or just chat with someone new).
Pair that with lots of local events, 40 draft beers, a late night menu till 2 a.m., and a variety of specialty martinis, and you’ve got your next go-to spot. 175 Mamaroneck Ave., 914-358-5911, thebrazenfox.com.
1840 Tavern, West Nyack
Give me a place with an outdoor area where I can sit with a cold beer while basking in the sun and I’m happy. I also like a spot that feels like a time warp to another era. This place, and the bar in particular, harks back, as its name clearly states, to 1840 when Thomas Warner built the Clarkstown Hotel on the site of a former distillery. It soon became a hub of social life as well as a stopping place for stagecoaches. It apparently also hosted farewell balls for recruits during the Civil War.
Later, according to historical accounts, it became Knapp’s Hotel, part of the bustling Clarksville Corners that also included a variety of stores. Now, thanks to the friendly hospitality of Irish-born owner Kieran O’Gorman who took over in 2019, it’s simply a place to grab a pint, enjoy a Bavarian pretzel, gab over Guinness pot pie or indulge in a slice of Hudson Valley apple crisp. 1 Strawtown Road, 845-675-8550, 1840tavern.com.
The Old ’76 House, Tappan
As the nation celebrates its 250th, there’s something special about sitting where history happened, taking it all in, and lifting a glass to the American story. Which is why there’s no better restaurant bar than the one at this historic tavern where you can rest your elbows on the same railing George Washington did — and drink his favorite beer. The Tavern Keeper’s Ale, now brewed by Tom’s River, is sold to go and is the exact same recipe Washington enjoyed.
It’s not a large bar, but from this vantage point, you can survey the various rooms, each filled with a host of mementos and documents showcasing the restaurant’s Revolutionary War history. Built in 1686 and expanded in 1755, the tavern is where British Army Officer John André was held prisoner after negotiating with Continental Army General Benedict Arnold to secretly turn over control of the American fort at West Point to the British.
It’s also where Washington and other pivotal military leaders dined and drank, among them Nathanael Greene, Major General William Alexander (aka Lord Stirling), Brigadier General John Glover, Baron von Steuben and The Marquis de Lafayette. Alexander Hamilton, a two-year boarder who lived upstairs, was also a tavern regular. 110 Main St., Tappan, 845-359-5476, 76house.com.
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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland-Westchester Journal News.
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