BRONX. This traditional Irish pub between Greystone and Waldo Avenues doubles as an Irish grocery. Step inside and you'll feel as though you've been swept off to the Emerald Isle ­ mahogany accents and bar, candles, and various pictures and mementos that share an "all things Irish" motif. An Beal Bocht serves several Irish draughts as well as a full pub menu, including delicious corned beef and cabbage. If you're lucky, the night you stop in will feature live folk music or maybe even a poetry reading ­ what better way to get a feel for the Bronx? TRAIN: 1, 9 to 238th St

BROOKLYN. Locals cherish this corner dive for its casual atmosphere, impressive beer selection and top-flight juke box, alone worth the train ride to Boerum Hill. Dark and pubby, the place has been the preferred haunt of many British expats since it first poured a pint. In fact, the long-running rumor is the inn itself is an immigrant, disassembled, shipped and reassembled in the decade following the Civil War. Legends and rumors aside, the fact remains that, like the pubs in London, the Brooklyn Inn is the type of place that helps distinguish its neighborhood, serving as a sort of friendly, after-hours visitor center. TRAIN: F, G to Bergen St

EAST VILLAGE. Styled after an English ale house, this Alphabet City watering hole has become a well-adored gathering spot for two main reasons: First, from regional microbrews to little known imports, the selection of beer is astounding (basically, you can order 100 times and taste something different each round). Secondary to the brews, they have strategically placed TVs so that you to see whatever game's on from just about anywhere (bathrooms excluded). And just in case the point wasn't clearly made above: Croxley's has a lot of beer. And it's all good beer, too. TRAIN: F, V at Lower East Side-2nd Ave

HELL'S KITCHEN. It might not be located in the middle of well-known bars and restaurants, but this Irish pub will not disappoint you with its style and casual atmosphere. You might find a group of after-work professionals at the bar rubbing elbows with blue-collar workers. Whatever the type of crowd, the reasonable prices and elegant but comfortable decor insure a return visit. A great variety of beers and stouts are featured. TRAIN: C, E, 1 to 50th St

UPPER EAST SIDE. A true, fun-loving Irish sports pub, Kinsale takes very little about itself seriously. That is to say, folks from all walks of life are welcome to stop by here, grab a stool, order a pint and watch whatever closed circuit action's on the tube ­ Premiership matches, hurling, Gaelic football, rugby, and even college or NFL football. They complement the sports with great selections of whiskey and beer culled from all corners of the British Isles. For an especially fulfilling day, stop by on Sunday for their Irish breakfast, which many regard as one of the best in town. TRAIN: 6 to 96th St; 4, 5 to 86th St