For those of us who came of age in the MTV era, there was no bigger band than Van Halen. Like many of us, they’ve had their ups and downs over the course of the past several decades. The band makes a triumphant return to Madison Square Garden for two shows on 2/28 and 3/1.

A few weeks ago, the band released its 12th album, A Different Kind of Truth, featuring vocals by David Lee Roth, his first album since he returned to the group in 2006.

“Truth” has received flattering reviews, and its first single Tattoo quickly climbing the charts. USA Today called it the “true kick in the butt that arena rock desperately needs.”

If you have tickets for the show, you may be wondering, “what are the best restaurants near Madison Square Garden?”  To which, of course, we’d answer “Tir na nOg.” Our range of menus, from a traditional bar menu with chicken fingers and sausage rolls to an upscale casual dinner menu and extensive wine and craft beer list, means there is something for everyone.

We look forward to greeting you before and after the shows!

This weekend, we look forward to greeting our favorite group of alumni: the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

As one of the best Irish pubs in NYC located across the street from Madison Square Garden, Tir na nOg has a long history with Notre Dame and its alumni. We’re expecting a sea of Notre Dame fans at Tir na nog as they do their own “pre-game warm-ups” in anticipation of the team continuing its torrid hot streak that has it own track for a low seed in the NCAA Tournament.

So put on your finest greenery, come over for the best Irish and American craft beers in NYC, and a marvelous brunch menu that includes traditional Irish Breakfast and Irish Cheddar Omelet with Bacon Rashers. We’ll also be showing 6 Nations Rugby and other European sports on television.

Flogging Molly is one of three great bands teaming up to play Hammerstein Ballroom on February 22. Its Green 17 offers fans what Indie Online calls “the full-on Molly experience of Celtic rock, razor-wire punk and rousing lyrics both triumphant and defiant.”

Tir na nOg is right near Hammerstein Ballroom at 33rd and 8th, and our range of menus, from a traditional bar menu with chicken fingers and sausage rolls to an upscale casual dinner menu and extensive wine and craft beer list, means there is something for everyone. Make no mistake: Tir na nOg is one of the best restaurants near Hammerstein Ballroom.

We offer a wide range of beer, wine, and cocktails – from rotating drink specials like $5 craft beers, to libations as upscale as you want to go, including our famous Champagne Cocktails.

So before or after the show (or both!), walk just around the corner from Hammerstein Ballroom and spend the evening with us at Tir Na Nog!

Sesame Street Live…1-2-3, Imagine!  is about to begin a ten-day stay at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Featuring Elmo and and the whole gang, this show is a joy for kids and grown-ups alike.  This year’s edition will transport audiences to faraway places including the African rainforest and the high seas – meet the characters here and check out this recent video for a sneak peek!

For the first time, the show also features the Play Zone, where your kids can sit in Big Bird’s nest, visit Elmo’s World and much more. The Play Zone opens an hour before the show, and is free with your ticket to the show.

Tickets are still available here, along with a full list of available showtimes (there are many to choose from!).

Once you have tickets, you’ll want to know the best family friendly restaurants near Madison Square Garden. The area around the Garden is chock full of gigantic sports bars, some of which kids should not be walking into, with or without a parent. There is also the usual assortment of soulless franchises that kids love, but parents abhor.

Skip them, and come instead to Tir na nOg – the “Land of Eternal Youth.” We offer a kids’ menu for the little ones, and savory fare for mom and/or dad.

Read the many flattering reviews of Tir na nog, then come by before or after the show to see why Tir na nOg is a family friendly restaurant near Madison Square Garden.

Looking for a great family outing this month? Sesame Street Live 1-2-3 is back at Madison Square Garden! Starting Thursday February 16th, and running until February 26th, this always popular show features all of our favorite Sesame Street characters – Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and more!

New this year is the addition of the Play Zone Experience at MSG, which gives your kids the chance to interact with Sesame Street itself as if they were part of the cast! Pop up out of Oscar’s trashcan and more in this unique interactive experience. For a truly comprehensive experience, check out the Sunny Seat package with VIP seating, a Meet and Greet with Elmo, and a pre-show family photo opportunity! Tickets are still available for many shows here. Get excited with a sneak peek from last year’s show here!

Planning your trip? Want to grab some food while you’re in the city, without being subjected to chain restaurant food and prices, but looking for a family-friendly location? Tir Na Nog is just around the corner from MSG, and we welcome families and kids. No subpar chain food here either – the kids can enjoy their chicken nuggets and fries, while you enjoy a craft beer from our extensive beer list, along with upscale meals from our dinner menu or a snack from the bar. Since we’re right around the corner from the Garden and Penn Station, it’s easy to get in and out, and we have plenty of room, so you won’t have to worry about a wait. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

The RBS 6 Nations Rugby tournament began last week. Tir na nOg is one of the only restaurants in New York City showing all of the 6 Nations Rugby games.

6 Nations is a prestigious tournament that generates intense interest among fans in the participating nations. Each teams plays every other team over the course of five, non-consecutive weeks, with a point system determining the winner.

Here is the current schedule.

With all of the matches on the weekend, and most beginning early NYC time, it’s a perfect excuse to try the best brunch in NYC, with several European favorites, such as traditional Irish breakfast or our Irish cheddar omelet with bacon rashers.

We look forward to seeing you for all the games!

To some, “gluten-free” may seem like the latest “diet craze” that will soon join the scrap heap of gastronomic history alongside the “low-carb” and “lemon juice” diets.

However, medical experts have for decades recognized that Celiac disease – a condition in which the body reacts to gluten in a way that damages the intestine – is very real, and affects approximately 1% of the population. It is especially prevalent in people of Irish descent. Furthermore, roughly 6 times that number of people have a sensitivity to gluten, even though they test negative for Celiac.

Dietician Manuel Villacorta explains, in a Huffington Post article, that sensitivity to gluten runs the full spectrum, from those who appear to be totally unaffected by it to those who are completely intolerant of it. Most people fall somewhere in between. His advice? He believes that everyone should eat a widely varied diet, in which you get your carbs from many different sources, and not overload on gluten.

He notes that it can be quite difficult to find gluten-free foods, particularly ones that are not highly processed.

Not at Tir na nOg. Our menu offers a rich array of fresh, local foods, many of which contain no gluten. We are often asked which of our menu items are gluten-free, particularly because we are very popular with Irish tourists and ex-pats. To make this easy to determine, we now offer a separate, gluten-free menu.

As you’ll see, eating gluten-free does not mean you won’t eat well. Not with choices that include our legendary Smoked Salmon appetizer, Potato Leek soup, Sauteed Grouper and our Cider-Brined Thick Cut Pork Chop. Of course, we also offer a wide range of wines, as well as Magners Cider, both in bottle and on tap/

Come enjoy this rich array of gluten-free food at Tir na nOg!

Romeo Santos, Latin music’s newest heartthrob, is climbing the charts — and he’s coming to New York for three shows at Madison Square Garden! Or, we should say, he’s coming back to New York. The Bronx native, born to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother, is known for his rhythmic Latin music, which has quickly been crossing over to top the pop charts.

Romeo was originally part of Bachata, and just went solo with his new album “Formula Vol. 1″, which has dominated Latin billboard charts for months. Next? He’ll reportedly be starring in a Will Smith-produced comedy on ABC, playing the role of a Dominican American walking the line between tradition and modern ideals of success.

Romeo will be playing MSG on three nights this month: 2/11, 2/23, and 2/24. The first two shows are sold out, but there are currently a handful of tickets available for the third. And, if you’re loving the Latin music, Ricardo Arjona will be up at MSG next, on 2/26.

What to do after (or before) the shows? Come see us, just around the corner, at Tir Na Nog, one of the best bars near Madison Square Garden. We’ll keep the party going all night in a fun, laidback atmosphere, super convenient to the Garden. Check out this drink list! Oh, and our bartender Kevin is pretty easy on the eyes, ladies! Romeo crooning, followed by Kevin pouring drinks all night? How’s that for a ladies’ night?!

Whether you first heard of it with the movie “Best in Show“, or if you’re a showdog aficionado or handler, you’ve got to love the Westminster Dog Show. This classic NYC event, held at Madison Square Garden, will welcome 2000 dogs of varying breeds, to compete for Best in Show and Best of Breed awards on Monday-Tuesday, February 13-14.

Held by the Westminster Kennel Club, this event is one of the longest-running sporting events in NYC, and has been running since the 1870s (and first televised in 1948)! It predates many other NYC and American classics, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the invention of basketball, and the Washington Monument! New Yorkers have welcomed the club and the event with more than open arms, with the Empire State Building even lighting up in the Westminster purple and yellow during the event.

Heading to watch or participate? Come see us at Tir Na Nog while you’re enjoying the dog show. We are located just around the corner from Madison Square Garden, and we’re one of the few places in the area where you can get a quality, affordable meal and a craft beer – try our Sauteed Grouper, Cider-Brined Thick Cut Pork Chop, or other American classics from our dinner menu. Bring the kids, or bring a date – everyone is welcome, and we’ve got room for all!

Tens of millions of people watch the Super Bowl every year. Many of them pack into large sports bars where they stand four deep at a bar, chest-bumping and high-fiving after every big play. There’s a fair bit of beer spilled, and maybe in the second half someone gets sick. Often there is a fist fight or two. For the privilege of all this, you might pay a package fee of $75 to $100.

Sounds like a great way to catch the game, right?

We don’t think so, either.

On the other hand, with the NY Giants playing in the Big Game for the fifth time in 25 years, do you want to watch it at a staid home party with a handful of friends, most of whom are just looking for an excuse to go off their diet for the day, and extend the talk about their drama from Saturday night?

We don’t think so, either.

You want to be in a civilized atmosphere, and yet amongst real fans who share your passion for the game. When the Giants win their fourth ring, you’ll certainly want to be in midtown Manhattan to celebrate, and not racing off to the train to show up an hour late.

May we suggest a middle ground?

Tir na nog has plenty of televisions, outstanding bar food, the best European and American craft beer in New York City, all of which we offer at our regular prices, and a civilized crowd. Everyone should have their own seat, and yet you’ll be among a fair-sized group of enthusiastic Giants fans who understand the dynamics of an onsides kick and why Coughlin decides to go for it on Fourth and One.

Tir na nog is especially popular with European sports fans who love a good match. We’re the best sports bar near The New Yorker Hotel and Hotel Pennsylvania.

Call us today at 212-630-0249 to book your table!