The rain couldn’t keep us away from last call at St. James Gate, the Irish bar and restaurant located at 441 Amsterdam Avenue and West 81st Street. The bar held its final night on Wednesday, December 18. Opened in 2007, it was beloved by both locals and out-of-towners for its strong sense of community among patrons.
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There was no Guinness left on tap, and tin signs were coming down off the walls for employees or devoted patrons to take home when we arrived around 10:30 p.m. The place was packed, but a couple leaving opened up a table for us to sit. You could feel the love in the room as the staff hugged their guests and sat down to offer long farewells, with some exchanging contact information if they hadn’t already. Much of the room was on a first-name basis with one another. Someone even came over to say hi, recognizing me from the closing night at The Avenue, another recent Upper West Side Irish watering hole that shut down in August 2024.
“It means more to people than you can comprehend unless you know it,” said Meghan Monteverdi, from New Jersey. She was introduced to St. James Gate through her best friend, who worked nearby, and this became their local spot. “The people, the comfort food, the hospitality,” Meghan said about what she loved most about the place. “If it’s late at night, they’ll open the door just for you to have a glass of red wine. They know you, they love you.” She’d been coming through the gate for six years.
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Monteverdi believes St. James Gate is one of the last bars that truly cares about its customers. Even after her best friend passed away, she continued to return, celebrating her friend’s birthday with regulars and the owners, Siobhan and Paul. Her favorite dishes included the shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and curry fries. “This cannot be duplicated,” she said of the unique culture fostered at St. James.
Our waitress, Eimer, moved to the Upper West Side two and a half years ago, and her first job was at St. James Gate. “It’s sad,” she said of the closing. Though she’s unsure of her next steps, she wants to stay on the Upper West Side. When she told me the Guinness was out and I paused, wondering what to switch to, she suggested Smithwick’s, an Irish red ale—an excellent call. Thanks, Eimer.
At 11:37 p.m., the room erupted into a sing-along to “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper. Some danced in a sweet embrace at the front of the room. Another group sing-along followed after midnight, this time to “No Scrubs” by TLC. “The Sign” by Ace of Base also got the gate rocking. Much of the music from the ’80s and ’90s filled the playlist.
Danny, 47, a born-and-raised Upper West Sider, said the closing would be a relief for his liver. “This is a real loss for the neighborhood.” He praised the eclectic group of people who brought diverse perspectives to the bar, creating a positive environment that made St. James Gate so special. “Some of the smartest, most interesting people you’ll ever meet,” said Danny, who had only been coming for a few years. He had moved away from the area, but when he returned after the COVID lockdown, he didn’t like the other bars in the neighborhood—this spot just felt right.
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By 1:30 a.m., Christmas music started playing, beginning with “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (1984 version) by Band Aid. Classics like “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee and “Carol of the Bells” by John Williams brought back memories of the movie Home Alone, where both songs appear on the soundtrack. The gallery was beginning to thin out, with more hugs and well-wishes being exchanged.
Both Siobhan and Paul declined to comment on the closing of their bar, which we first got wind of about a month ago, but employees and regulars told ILTUWS it was due to ballooning rent. A common theme in the room was that there is no replacing St. James Gate, so the community fostered there might very well close with it.
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Yep, absolutely hands down one of the biggest losses for this neighborhood….been going there for 15 years… never once did I run into any a*holes (ok well maybe once or twice – but they were shown the door immediately) – always a fun time, great food, great people, great music – unless the owners reopened somewhere near by – this bar and the people that went to it regularly are irreplaceable…
sad to see my favorite goat too go away is the cheers bar where everyone knows your name. My favorite Takeaway is a wonderful memories of the beautiful people in the community as New York definitely is melting pot. For many, the hinges of our friendship will never rust.
Great Place – Great Hosts – Will be sorely missed. Best – Ron & Leo
Sadly, for many reasons, NYC is no longer “the city that never sleeps.”
Erin Go Bragh!
St. James Gate was one of those rare spots where life became art and art became alive. It was a great part of my recovery from a devastating personal loss, and I’ve made treasured friendships that will remain for years to come. Thanks to Paul and Siobhan for providing a warm and treasured home for all of us.
It will be missed
Slainte
So sad to see St. James Gate has closed. My partner and I have only lived in NYC for or just 3 years and we visited St. James Gate so many times!! The food was always amazing, the staff and other patrons are so warm and friendly.