Marathon Night at Westland Roe: The Upper West Side’s Newest Bar

There isn’t a more joyous day on the Upper West Side than Marathon Sunday—perhaps with the exception of the Thanksgiving Day Parade as a close second. Endorphins are flying as runners from around the world strive toward a shared goal, with thousands of enthusiastic spectators cheering them on, often sporting clever signs. The atmosphere is brimming with positive energy; I wish every day could be like Marathon Sunday.

Advertisement

But since it’s not, I decided to extend the good vibes by heading to Westland Roe, the new Irish pub at 174 West 72nd Street (between Amsterdam and Broadway), named after a street on the south side of Dublin.

This was a cause for celebration one way or another, as the building’s ground floor retail space had been vacant for over a decade. In 1919, the bottom level housed the Piccadilly Tea Room. Later, it became a pharmacy and, for many years, was home to another Irish bar, Donohue’s, followed by P.D. O’Hurley’s, which closed in 2013 after 15 years due to rising rent.

“Lookin’ Out My Back Door” by Creedence Clearwater Revival was playing when I walked in. It was quiet at Westland Roe, but a bartender told me the place had seen a lot of action since opening on Saturday. They had hoped to do a soft launch on Friday, but things were delayed. There was no delay for my order of Guinness on tap and a shot of Jameson.

Advertisement

ALSO READ: Bustan Owner Plans New Restaurant at High-Turnover Space on 83rd and Amsterdam

Westland Roe’s layout is glorious. Art Deco designs pulse from the ceiling and the walls, and the long bar provides plenty of room to move around, with additional space visible in the back. Considering how busy West 72nd Street can be, this feels like a quality place to barrel into after a long day. There’s even an old framed photo of the building by the door, showing what the area looked like when Rand’s Five-Cent Hamburgers was next door.

The team was still working on printing the menus, as food won’t be available for another week or so, but I got a sneak peek at what they’re working on. There are about 15 beers on tap, most priced at $9 a pint, with selections including Bronx Pale Ale and Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner. Guinness is the only one priced at $10. There’s also a nice Roe House Cocktails list: the “Uptown Girl” mixes smoky mezcal with bitter Aperol and tropical pineapple ($17); the “Dirty Dancing Martini” combines vodka with zesty pickle brine ($18); and the “Westland Roe Irish Coffee,” made with rich coffee, Irish whiskey, and sweet crème fraîche ($15), sounds like something we’ll need to try next time.

Advertisement

ALSO READ: Monday Morning at La Farine, the Newest Bakery on the Upper West Side

You can also order white or red wine by the glass or bottle, along with sparkling and rosé wines, as well as bottled and canned beer. Popping open a bottle of Sanfeletto Prosecco di Treviso for $52 seems like a nice post-Marathon beverage for the crew.

The food menu staff members shared with me featured chicken drumsticks Irish style, beer-battered fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, a breakfast burrito and steak frites, to name a few. They’ll have flatbreads, salads, apple pie and brownies. Brunch starts at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and food is available until 3 a.m. every night. They’re open at 11 a.m. from Monday through Friday.

With Gray’s Papaya no longer operating 24 hours a day, it looks like Westland Roe will become the new corner lookout over the block. See you out there.

Have a news tip? Send it to us here!