The historic Ear Inn is a designated Landmark of the City of New York and on the National Register of Historic Buildings of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The house was built sometime in the late 18th Century for a certain James Brown, reputed to have been an aide to George Washington during the Revolution. Brown was successful enough to move to the suburbs near the village of Greenwich and build this fashionable Federal townhouse. The site was only five feet from the original shoreline of the Hudson River.

At some time mid 19^th century, the building became a spiritual establishment;  it was a speakeasy during Prohibition. The upstairs apartment was variously a boarding house, smuggler’s den, a brothel, a home and an office.  In 1977, new resident-owners christened the place the “Ear Inn.” The new name was chosen to avoid the Landmark Commission’s lengthy review of any new sign. The neon’ BAR sign was painted to read EAR, after the musical Ear Magazine published upstairs.

A ton of history, potables and victuals, The Ear Inn is a perfect place for an olde New York night of festivities.