Historic Princeton Tavern Earns Spot Among America’s Top 25 Classic Bars
The nation’s 25 oldest taverns, pubs, and speakeasies include Princeton’s Nassau Inn’s legendary bar. It was national news. Located below the Nassau Inn. Yankee Doodle Tap Room was recognized one of America’s most culturally significant bars by Historic Hotels of America.
Nassau Inn guests have experienced American history since 1756. Yankee Doodle Tap Room’s vintage vibe is wonderful. Behind the bar is Norman Rockwell’s 13-foot picture. In American Revolution clothing, Yankee Doodle rides his pony. Room staples like the painting make it patriotic.
Customer carvings decorate solid wood tap room tables. Legend has it that Einstein scratched his name into a table. Photographs of Princeton University graduates decorate the arena. Antiques, warm wood tones, and old furniture make it feel like a bar.
Historic Hotels of America awards prioritize preserving these sites. Colonial structures rarely have bars. Many national list bars are in former hotel rooms. Yankee Doodle Tap Room is distinctive because to its art heritage, local culture, and long history as a social hub.
In recent years, the tap room has been meticulously renovated to enhance its decor while preserving its legacy. They found the Rockwell picture in a stone wall that couldn’t be relocated during bar construction. They eliminated later alterations, replaced the U-shaped bar with a longer line, added twice as many beer kegs, and added a copper bar top. The region was redesigned to match its historical with present client needs.
The tap room serves weekend American pub food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Live music. Locals, Princeton students, visitors, and history buffs visit. Many individuals can visit the historic site because it’s open daily from dawn to sunset.
The Nassau Inn joined Historic Hotels of America in 2024 and this is another milestone. American history and society buffs should frequent Yankee Doodle Tap Room. Recognition makes it a Princeton landmark even more treasured.
Sources
Historic Hotels of America announcement
Palmer Square site information
Daily Princetonian retrospective
Architects + Artisans restoration feature
Wikipedia – Nassau Inn
