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The building that houses Foley's is one of historic significance. As far back as 1913, the building was leased to the Cafe Rhein Restaurant Company, and in 1916, the building housed the Annex Cafe and Restaurant. Throughout the decades, establishments have come and go, but the interior of the restaurant still dates from 1910-1915 and has a definite "turn of the century" sensibility. The mahagony walls are original to the interior, and the floor is original...over 120 yrs old. The urinals and the tiffany glass at the back of the restaurant came from the Waldorf Astoria which was where the Empire State Building currently stands.
Historians have been impressed with the quality of the workmanship of the bar and have noted that the etching of the glass on the back bar is matched to that on the men's room door. The men's room itself has been called "magnificent" and is reminiscent of 19th century London. The stained glass murals (seen above) have an Egyptian theme that reflects the motif of "things Eastern" that was popular for men's bars in the early 1900's. Stop by Foley's for a meal and take in the history and beauty of an original interior that has the look and feel of another era in New York City history.
 View of the Empire State Building, across the street from Foleys. |