The Best Bars Near MSG: Where to Drink Before and After a Show
Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous arenas on the planet. Knicks, Rangers, Bon Jovi, Rosalía, Phish, if something is happening at MSG, the stretch around 30th Street is buzzing. And when the show ends, or when you need a drink before the doors open, where you land matters.
This is that guide.
The Problem With Drinking Near MSG
Anyone who has been to a show at MSG knows the drill. The closest bars fill up an hour before doors. You pay $18 for a domestic beer inside the arena. Post-show, the immediate vicinity turns into a queue-heavy mess of tourists and ride-shares.
The answer has always been to go one block further. Or in our case, two minutes south to Penn Station.
Tara Mór: The Best Bar Near MSG
We are biased. We should say that upfront. But we are also right.
Tara Mór sits at 150 West 30th Street, two minutes from Penn Station and about five minutes from Madison Square Garden on foot. We opened as a contemporary Irish bar with one clear ambition: bring the warmth and quality of a proper Dublin pub to Midtown Manhattan.
Here is what that looks like in practice.
Guinness poured correctly. This is not a small thing. Most bars in New York pour Guinness like it is any other draught. It is not. We follow the two-part pour, give it the rest it needs, and serve it right. If you want to know what a great Guinness tastes like in NYC, this is the place.
The Spice Bag. If you have never had an Irish spice bag, it is the street food that defines late-night Dublin, crispy fries, sautéed peppers and onions, a signature spice blend that hits differently after a couple of pints. We spent months perfecting ours, including a 24-hour buttermilk-soaked chicken tender add-on that has become a talking point. It is the best thing to eat before or after a show in this part of Midtown.
Space. We have a full ground floor bar, a mezzanine, and the Off the Record private space downstairs. On a big show night, you can actually get a seat and hold a conversation — which is not something you can say for every bar on this stretch.
Happy Hour. Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6:30pm: Aperol Spritz at $10, Midtown Mule and Margarita at $12, house wine at $12, all draft beer at $8. If you are coming in for an evening show, this is worth knowing about.
What's On at MSG This Summer
The MSG calendar does not slow down when the sports season ends — it just changes shape. Bon Jovi has seven nights booked through July. RÜFÜS DU SOL has four. Bruce Springsteen has two in May. Rosalía, Phish, Kid Cudi, Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato, the Pussycat Dolls, the summer run at the Garden is as packed as any playoff stretch.
On top of that, the FIFA World Cup is coming to the United States this summer, with MetLife Stadium in New Jersey hosting key matches including the final. MetLife is a direct NJ Transit train from Penn Station — which puts Tara Mór right on the route for anyone travelling in from out of town for a match day.
The summer of 2026 is going to be a big one for this part of the city. Plan accordingly.
An Honest Guide to the Area
Since this is meant to be useful, a few honest observations about drinking near MSG.
Directly outside MSG — The bars on 7th and 8th Avenue closest to the arena are fine for a quick drink but fill fast before major events. Expect crowds, noise, and prices to match. They serve a purpose if you need somewhere immediate.
The Penn Station corridor (29th–31st Street, 7th–8th Ave) — This is the better zone. Less tourist-facing, more regulars and commuters who know the area. Tara Mor is here. The quality across the corridor varies considerably, but you are generally in safer territory than the block right outside the Garden.
Further into Chelsea or Hell's Kitchen — Good options exist, but if you are headed to a show and need to be back at Penn Station afterward, adding 15 minutes of walking each way cuts meaningfully into the night.
FAQs: Bars Near Madison Square Garden
How far is Tara Mór from MSG? About a five-minute walk. We are at 150 West 30th Street, two minutes from Penn Station and a short walk south from the Garden entrance.
Do you show sports and have screens? Yes, 16 screens across multiple floors. We show Premier League, NFL, NBA, GAA, and major international fixtures. Sound on for every game.
Is there happy hour before evening shows? For any show that starts at 7pm or later, you will catch happy hour in full (Monday–Friday, 4pm–6:30pm). Draft beer at $8, cocktails from $10.
Can we book a table for a large group before a show? Yes. Email info@taramornyc.com or use the reservations link on our website. We have the main bar floor, the mezzanine, and the Off the Record room downstairs for private groups.
Will you be showing World Cup 2026 matches? Yes. With MetLife Stadium hosting key fixtures and Penn Station as the primary transit hub, we are expecting large match days through the summer. Follow us on Instagram for the schedule as fixtures are confirmed.
Come In
You will find us at 150 West 30th Street, Midtown Manhattan — two minutes from Penn Station, five from MSG. Next time you are on the hunt for the best Irish bar in NYC, you know where to find us in Midtown.
Reservations and private events: info@taramornyc.com
Our Sister Venues
Tara Mór is part of a small group of bars across New York, each with its own character.
Tara Rose — Our sister Irish bar in Murray Hill. Same Spice Bag, same standards, east side of Midtown. If you are closer to 3rd Avenue, Tara Rose is your spot.
Tara Rose — On Bleecker Street in the Village. Three bands a night, a proper football-watching setup, and a Greenwich Village institution worth the trip.
The Ellington — A New York bar with a different energy, worth knowing about when you are exploring beyond Midtown.