Summer Weekend Guide: Red Hook
Bars
On the off-chance the tastings didn’t knock you out. Or even if they did! Get one of those crazy little cheese sandwiches and hop back to it. Even with beloved local watering hole Sunny’s still out of commission after the storm, there are a lot good places to sit and have a drink after a fruitful day of eating sight-seeing. For a tried and true dive full of locals, there’s Red Hook Bait and Tackle, and if your tastes lean a little more pub-y, Brooklyn Ice House and Rocky Sullivan’s are both more than solid options for sitting in a cool, dark room with a cool, dark beer.
If you’re looking for something a little more interesting, though, let’s not discount the aforementioned Fort Defiance. We waffled about including them in the food category—it’s a great burger-and-beer joint, and the entire menu is quite good—but what they’re really known for is a stellar, seasonal cocktails. Fancy-nouveau-speakeasy-level cocktail quality, without any of the suspender-laden nonsense. Everything here is exactly as it should be.
Red Hook Bait and Tackle, 320 Van Brunt St.
Rocky Sullivan’s, 34 Van Dyke St.
Brooklyn Ice House, 318 Van Brunt St.
Fort Defiance, 365 Van Brunt St.
Follow Virginia K. Smith on Twitter @vksmith.