A Legacy Behind the Bar: Teresa Maher de la Haba at McSorley’s

For over 170 years, McSorley’s Old Ale House has stood as a fixture of the East Village, defined by its sawdust-covered floors and a strictly limited menu of light and dark ales. Today, that tradition is maintained by Teresa Maher de la Haba, who holds the distinction of being the first woman to serve as a bartender at the historic establishment.

Her presence behind the counter marks a significant evolution for the bar. Until 1970, the venue maintained a men-only policy, a practice that ended only after a legal challenge brought by attorneys Faith Seidenberg and Karen DeCrow. The subsequent ruling by Mayor John Lindsay, which prohibited gender-based discrimination in public establishments, fundamentally altered the trajectory of the tavern.

Maher de la Haba’s connection to the site is deeply personal. Her father, Matthew “Matty” Maher, began his tenure at the bar as a bartender before eventually managing and owning the business starting in 1977. Growing up, Maher de la Haba viewed the bar as a second home rather than a famous institution. She officially joined the staff in 1994, initially working in the kitchen before transitioning to the bar counter—a move she admits she had not originally envisioned for herself.

Reflecting on her role, Maher de la Haba describes her work with a pragmatic, matter-of-fact perspective. While some might view her position as a symbolic shift in the bar’s gendered history, she characterizes her career as a commitment to her family’s business. She took over ownership of the establishment six years ago following her father’s passing at age 80.

Today, the family tradition continues with the next generation; her 21-year-old son, Sebastian, works part-time at the bar. Despite the passage of time and the changing landscape of New York City, the interior of McSorley’s remains largely unchanged, with walls still adorned with the same historical photographs and memorabilia that have defined the space for decades. For Maher de la Haba, the focus remains on the daily operations of the house, continuing the work her father established nearly five decades ago.