A running scorecard of where to get a properly poured Guinness in New York — the two-part pour, the surge, the creamy dome, the right temperature. Rated out of 5. Tap the stars to add your own verdict.
A great Guinness is built, not poured. Four things separate a proper pint from a sad one:
Two-part pour at 45°, filled to ¾, left to surge, then topped with a slight dome.
A tight, creamy half-inch dome that lasts to the last sip and leaves lacing.
Served around 6°C — cold enough to refresh, not so cold it kills the flavor.
Was it given the full ~119.5 seconds to settle, or rushed across the bar?
Know a NYC bar that pulls a proper pint — the patient two-part pour, the creamy dome? Suggest it and we'll go check it out for the Index.
Featured venues are personally vouched for or recommended by folks who know their pints. Sub-scores are editorial starting points; star ratings are shared by everyone who visits. Settle for nothing less than a proper pour.