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History Abounds at the Ear Inn NYC

In celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of the Independence the Ear Inn, the famous New York bar that has been serving drinks continuously since 1817, is in the building that was constructed by James Brown an African American Revolutionary war veteran who served as an aide to General George Washington and is believed to be pictured in the iconic painting of Washington crossing the Delaware River.

Brown had a lucrative career in the tobacco trade, affording him the fashionable townhouse just down the street from Washington’s Richmond Hill Estate, which later housed John Adam’s and Aaron Burr.

Timber found in the attic sparked rumors that this bar was built using leftover lumber from the Great Fire of 1776 which destroyed 10-25 % of the buildings in New York’s City.

After Brown’s passing, the building sold home-brewed beer and crocks of corn whiskey to a constant wave of sailors. At the turn off the century the brewery morphed into a restaurant and a dining room was constructed where the backyard and outhouse used once stood.

The upstairs apartment has worn many hats over the years as a boarding house, smugglers den, brothel and doctor’s office. The lady-free clubhouse for sailors to eat, drink, gamble and be merry brought business from all over the world.

The bar was given the name Ear Inn to avoid the landmark commissions lengthy review of new signage, simply covering the round parts of the long standing neon “BAR” sign and leaving it to read “EAR” and a modern legend was born.

This cozy historic and unpretentious pub with dark wood, brass and maritime décor is a slice of old New York City.

Have a beer and a burger and soak up this uniquely contagious atmosphere.

There’s live music on the weekends with the Ear Regulars who have been playing Sunday nights at the bar since 2007.

David Garland Apr 18, 2026 New York NY Back in Time Bars History

Location: 326 Spring St, New York, NY 10013

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