McGeary's Pub. Albany, New York.

4 Clinton Square

Guinness Tag: $8.00 | Overall Rating: 8.05

Today's Dedicated Pint: DeWitt Clinton | Darcy's Ass

McGeary's Curb Appeal in Albany, New York

This bustling little Pub sits in a neat area in Albany, just a short walk to the Hudson River. Albany is the longest running Charter City in the USA, and the fact that it hugs the Hudson means you can quite literally travel from Dublin, Ireland to McGeary's so long as you have a flotation device. Thanks to DeWitt Clinton, former NY Governor and NYC Mayor, you can now travel the Erie Canal from Albany to the Great Lakes, which means I can swim from Cincinnati, Ohio to Dublin, Ireland with a pitstop at McGeary's along the way. I'm going to pass on the swim, though. My bones are getting weak.

Clinton Square, Albany, NY

The curb appeal is strong and inviting, and it sits right across the street from The Palace Theatre. It's actually just a few blocks away from the Irish American Heritage Museum as well, which I was a bit bummed being that they were closed as I arrived! As soon as you step foot within eye-distance of the Pub, it lures you in with its big patio and charming entryway. The entire building is painted in green and white with a swanky awning attached to it. It's one of those moments that make you think, "That place looks like a good time, we should go in for one and check it out." I hope everyone goes in for one, because I'm sure they'll end up staying for two or five. I like McGeary's, and I wasn't expecting to like Albany as much as I did as well. Albany has a really old charm to it with venerable architecture, steep hills, beautiful mountain & river views, and even better; it houses a fun little Pub for the hardworking locals to forget about life for a while. If I had to choose between an afternoon in either Buffalo, Syracuse, or Albany, I'm choosing Albany quicker than you can say Jiffy Lube. (The best Pub is in Buffalo, though). The Banshee.

As soon as you walk into McGeary's, you are enamored with impeccable lighting, a heavy dose of patina, and a horse's ass above your head. It could be a donkey's ass, I don't know. The ceiling is crafted neatly with a hammerhead shark and a sun with a face. There are some really fun high-top tables created with tiles that overlook the bar on one side of the room, where we sat today, and it was a great way to enjoy the entire setting and people watch. The bar itself holds a mere 30 ass cheeks, a few TVs, and an old wooden fridge that looks like it's been through a few life cycles. As you sit and watch TV and look around, you'll also find some old cereal boxes like Flutie Flakes. Flutie Flakes was a cereal that debuted in 1998 for Buffalo Bills quarterback, Doug Flutie, and all of the cereal's proceeds went toward the fight against autism, which Doug's son had been diagnosed with. Over 2.3 million boxes were sold in its first year, absolutely obliterating expectations.

The first half of the building is the bar area, and the second half is the dining room and music stage. I really like how the host stand is located in the middle of the room, instead of right at the door, allowing guests to determine what they want to do at their own leisure rather than being greeted by someone asking them a few questions within the first 3 seconds of walking inside. Sometimes people need to ponder about whether or not they want to sit down and eat vs having a quick drink at the bar. McGeary's is the furthest thing from being pushy, but they'll deliver the hospitality when you're in need of it.

I won't say it's my favorite thing about the place, but I always get amped whenever I find a trough to pee in. The men's room has a trough, and it's flippin' awesome. My favorite things about McGeary's are the cozy light fixtures above the liquor bottles, the healthy amount of mirrors, and the size of the place. This is a perfect neighborhood hang out, and if I had lived nearby you could bet your ass I'd be sipping on some High Lifes every couple of days. I didn't see a dart board while I was here, but had they housed one, then I'd probably be here 4 days a week if I was a local.

McGeary's hits the spot, offering live music every week, a healthy draft beer selection, craft drinks, and (what looks like) really hearty food. I wouldn't go as far as to recommend driving all the way out to Albany for this place, but if you're a local and haven't been here in a while then I'd essentially tell you to show face here sometime soon, because if you don't then we're not going to be friends.

Next stop: Boston. I'm off to another barstool, and I hope to see you there! Slainte.