Guinness History Tour: From Dublin to New York

The story of when Guinness first reached New York, how it entered the U.S. market, and why the city became important to the brand’s growth

At Castle Clinton, guests will stand at the gateway where millions first entered New York before Ellis Island opened. Here, they’ll imagine the hope and uncertainty felt by newly arrived immigrants — including many Irish — stepping onto American soil.
This stop connects the journey of Guinness to the journey of the people who carried it with them, showing how immigration helped shape the demand for Ireland’s most famous stout in New York and also view The Statue of liberty and Ellis Island from battery Park

At the South Street Seaport, guests will step into the heart of old New York’s waterfront, where ships once unloaded goods — and people — from across the Atlantic. It was along these docks that barrels of Guinness would have arrived, carried into a growing city hungry for a taste of home.
We’ll picture the busy harbor, crowded with sailors, merchants, and longshoremen, and explore how New York’s booming port helped transform Guinness from an Irish import into a staple of the city’s taverns and saloons. Plus, enjoy the perfect photo opportunity with the iconic Brooklyn Bridge as your backdrop.

At the Edward Mooney House, guests will step back into the era of one of New York’s earliest Irish saloons, once operated within this historic 18th-century home. Here, we’ll meet the colorful characters who gathered inside — politicians, laborers, immigrants, and neighborhood personalities — each playing a role in shaping early Irish New York.
This stop reveals how saloons like this became community anchors, where stories were shared, deals were made, and Guinness found a loyal following among those seeking both opportunity and a taste of home.

At Five Points, guests will stand at the crossroads of one of New York’s most infamous and influential neighborhoods. Once crowded with newly arrived Irish immigrants, Five Points was a place of hardship, resilience, and powerful community ties.
Here, we’ll explore the lively streets filled with dance halls, boarding houses, and saloons — where Guinness became part of daily life. Amid the struggle and spirit of the neighborhood, the stout found loyal drinkers who helped weave it into the social fabric of early Irish New York.

At our stop on the Bowery, guests will step into the very streets where Irish New York once pulsed with energy, politics, and pints of stout. You’ll stand where Guinness Show character Byron Hedges first arrived in New York, imagining the grit, excitement, and opportunity that greeted generations of newcomers.

We’ll explore how the powerful political machine of Tammany Hall shaped life in the neighborhood — influencing everything from local businesses to the way Guinness was distributed and sold along the Bowery. Through this story, guests will see how politics, immigration, and Ireland’s most famous stout became intertwined in one of New York’s most storied streets.

We’ll finish at Sláinte Bar & Lounge, one of New York’s legendary Irish bars, where the spirit of Ireland is still alive and well. Surrounded by warm wood, lively conversation, and the hum of the city, guests will experience the modern chapter of a story that began centuries ago.
Here, you’ll take part in a masterclass on how to properly pour a perfect Guinness — learning the famous two-part pour and the patience behind that iconic settle. And of course, the best part… enjoying your perfectly poured pint at the end. Sláinte!