Pig n Whistle

While the name has been part of New York’s pub landscape since 1969, the rhythm at this 36th Street location is often dictated by international time zones. It is one of the few places in Midtown where you might find a crowd gathering at 6 a.m., provided there is a major rugby match on the screens. The pub takes its reputation as a rugby headquarters seriously, drawing expats and fans who pack the room for the Six Nations and other overseas tournaments. The setting is textbook Irish pub, defined by dark oak paneling, a substantial bar, and a layout that encourages standing shoulder-to-shoulder when the tables fill up. The space spans two floors, with the upstairs level offering a bit more breathing room and a balcony that looks out over the street – a useful escape when the main floor gets dense. Because of its location near Madison Square Garden, the atmosphere often shifts based on the event calendar, swelling with ticket holders before concerts or Rangers games. The menu is built to sustain this kind of high-volume traffic, sticking to sturdy standards like shepherd’s pie, chicken pot pie, and fish and chips. You will see plenty of burgers and plates of Jameson chicken moving from the kitchen to the tables, usually trailed by pints of Guinness poured with the efficiency required of a fifty-year-old operation.