WOODHAVEN, QUEENS · HISTORIC PUB · FILM LOCATIONS
By Zvi Zidon and the CenterNYC editorial team · Checked October 13, 2026
Some New York film locations ask you to recognize a doorway and move on. Neir’s offers a better proposition: step inside, take a seat, and let the building be part of your evening. The Goodfellas connection might bring you to Woodhaven. The appeal is finding a neighborhood tavern behind the movie reference.
At a glance: Neir’s Tavern is a historic bar at 87-48 78th Street in Woodhaven, Queens. It opens at 2 p.m. Monday–Thursday and noon Friday–Sunday, closing at 11 p.m. Allow roughly an hour for a casual stop, plus travel. This is a pub visit, not a kosher restaurant recommendation.
A movie connection, a neighborhood address
Neir’s traces its history to 1829. Its own history page connects the tavern to Goodfellas and Tower Heist, and that gives film fans an unusually tangible reason to venture beyond Manhattan. You are visiting a working business, however, not walking onto a preserved film set.
That distinction makes for a better visit. Look at the entrance and historic marker before going in; once seated, give the room more attention than the photo you came to take. The tavern describes an old mahogany bar as part of its character. You do not need to settle every “oldest bar in New York” argument to appreciate a place with such a long story.
For a first trip packed with museums and Broadway, this is a deliberate excursion rather than an essential box to tick. For someone returning to New York, staying in Queens, or following the city’s screen history, the detour makes more sense. A local pub also asks for a different kind of curiosity: come interested in the neighborhood, not expecting it to perform a movie scene for you.
Hours, reservations and what to budget
| Detail | Plan around this |
|---|---|
| Address | 87-48 78th Street, Woodhaven, Queens, NY 11421. This guide concerns the Woodhaven tavern, not the JFK Airport outlet. |
| Opening hours | Monday–Thursday 2–11 p.m.; Friday–Sunday noon–11 p.m., according to the official site. |
| Reservations | Reserve through the link used by Neir’s. Ask about the arrangements for a drinks-only visit if reserving a table. |
| Price context | Google Maps shows $10–50 per person, reported by 60 visitors. This broad spending range is not a drinks menu or an all-inclusive quote. |
| Published special | The official menu lists $8 selected happy-hour cocktails and $1 off draft beers, Monday–Friday 2–6 p.m. These establish price context; they are not kosher drink recommendations. |
| History tour | The venue links to a separate tour booking page. Choose a listed date and read its price and terms before building the day around it. |
| Children and access | Confirm the venue’s admission and step-free arrangements directly if either determines your visit. A bar listing alone does not establish either policy. |
For a short stop, decide your drink budget before you order and leave room for tax, tip and the journey. The official menu and specials page is more useful than an old photograph of a menu. A tour or special event is a different purchase from dropping in for a drink.
Open the Woodhaven tavern in Google Maps and set your actual starting point. Queens is large: a Queens hotel, airport arrival or museum visit does not automatically put you nearby. Include the return journey when deciding whether this is a comfortable evening.
The crowd likes the history; read the branch carefully
Google: 4.7/5 from 1,120 reviews. Tripadvisor’s restaurant listing: 4.1/5 from 27 reviews. Checked October 13, 2026. Tripadvisor’s sample is below our 51-review threshold, so these remain separate scores rather than an inflated “combined” rating.
The recent Google reviews reproduced by Trustindex include September comments praising the old-time pub character, history, coziness and service. Trustindex repeats Google reviews; it is not a second independent audience. A longer Tripadvisor review also describes friendly locals and a warm atmosphere, but dates from 2023.
There is one practical wrinkle: a complaint visible on the Woodhaven Google listing explicitly describes food bought at JFK Airport. That is a reason to read the words, not simply count the stars. We have not treated that airport experience as a report on this dining room.
Kosher planning: eat elsewhere, choose a drink deliberately
Neir’s is not presented here as a certified kosher establishment. Its historical appeal does not change the food or drink requirements you follow. Arrange a certified meal separately; our kosher restaurant guides are a starting point, and the current certificate must cover the branch you choose.
For drinks, use current guidance for the exact product, such as the cRc liquor guidance, and discuss ingredients, preparation and glassware according to your practice. “Beer,” “whiskey” or a familiar brand name is not enough to establish every variant. A sealed, appropriately certified drink can make the conversation simpler; availability still needs confirming.
Our suggested visiting window for Shabbat-observant readers is Sunday–Thursday. That leaves the tavern stop separate from Friday preparations and Shabbat travel.
Make it a Queens evening, not a race across the borough
Set aside about an hour for the pub itself. That is an editorial planning allowance, not a reservation slot. If the film history is your main interest, the venue’s tour may be the better starting point: book that first, then arrange food and travel around it.
A daytime visit to the Queens Museum or a walk through Flushing Meadows Corona Park can form another part of a Queens day, but both require a separate transfer to Woodhaven. Do not combine several far-apart stops simply because their addresses all say Queens.
If you would rather keep a historic-pub evening in Manhattan, compare McSorley’s and the White Horse Tavern. Neir’s earns its place through its film connection and neighborhood setting, not by being the easiest option from every hotel.
A photograph worth taking before you go inside
Frame the corner entrance together with the historic marker, rather than isolating the sign. The surrounding building helps explain what makes this a neighborhood place. Stand on the sidewalk without blocking the door, and ask before photographing people or making an interior photograph the purpose of your visit.
A short film before your visit
HuffPost’s archival film, The Fight To Be The Oldest Bar In New York City, explores the historic-bar debate. The Guides Association of New York City includes it in its Neir’s profile. Treat the film as historical background, not current prices or visiting information.
Play the 10-minute historic-bar film
Frequently asked questions
Where is the original Neir’s Tavern?
This guide covers 87-48 78th Street in Woodhaven, Queens. It does not cover the JFK Airport outlet.
Was Goodfellas filmed at Neir’s?
Yes. The tavern’s official history identifies it as a filming location for Goodfellas and Tower Heist.
Is Neir’s a kosher restaurant?
No kosher certification is established in this guide. Plan a certified meal elsewhere and choose drinks according to your own kosher requirements.
Do I need a tour ticket to plan a visit?
The official site offers table reservations and a separate history-tour booking link. Choose the experience you want and confirm its terms; do not assume a casual reservation includes a tour.
Sources checked October 13, 2026: the official venue site, its history, menu and booking links, Google Maps and Tripadvisor. Route ideas and visit length are editorial suggestions. This guide does not describe a personal visit by Zvi.