Brooklyn Drinking Guide: Where to Drink Wherever You Are
The Brooklyn Bar Guide:
WHERE TO DRINK ,
WHEREVER YOU ARE
ICONS KEY
BAR LUNATICO
486 Halsey Street, Bed-Stuy
Eugene & Co
397 Tompkins Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Beast of Bourbon
710 Myrtle Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Brooklyn Stoops
742 Myrtle Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Project Parlor
486 Halsey Street, Bed-Stuy
Project Parlor
486 Halsey Street, Bed-Stuy
Brooklyn Tap House
590 Myrtle Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Black Swan
1048 Bedford Avenue, Bed-Stuy
One Last Shag
348 Franklin Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Tip Top Bar & Grill
432 Franklin Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Dynaco
1112 Bedford Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Doris
1088 Fulton Street, Bed-Stuy
Stop Time
1223 Bedford Avenue, Bed-Stuy
C’Mon Everybody
325 Franklin Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Chilo’s
323 Franklin Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Moloko
705 Myrtle Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Fancy Nancy
1038 Bedford Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Glorietta Baldy
502 Franklin Avenue, Bed-Stuy
Moot Bar
579 Myrtle Avenue, Bed-Stuy
KeBeer
1003 Brighton Beach Avenue, Brighton Beach
The Velvet Rope Lounge
3212 Coney Island Avenue
The Freak Bar
3006 W 12th Street, Coney Island
Ruby’s Bar & Grill
1213 Boardwalk West, Coney Island
Peggy O’Neill’s
1904 Surf Avenue, Coney Island
Margarita Island
1105 Bowery Street, Coney Island
Draft Barn
317 Avenue X, Gravesend or 28 Dooley Street, Sheepshead Bay
Brass Rail
2123 Avenue Z, Sheepshead Bay
Bossa Nova Civic Club
1271 Myrtle Avenue, Bushwick
Sunrise/Sunset
351 Evergreen Avenue, Bushwick
Bootleg Bar
1438 Myrtle Avenue, Bushwick
Bizarre
12 Jefferson Street, Bushwick
Lone Wolf
1089 Broadway, Bushwick
Industry 1332
1332 Halsey Street, Bushwick
The Evergreen
109 Moffat Street, Bushwick
Birdy’s
1215 Myrtle Avenue, Bushwick
Happy Fun Hideaway
1211 Myrtle Avenue, Bushwick
Bushwick Public House
1288 Myrtle Avenue, Bushwick
Gotham City Lounge
1293 Myrtle Avenue, Bushwick
Looking Glass
1087 Broadway, Bushwick
Left Hand Path
89 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick
Heavy Woods
50 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick
The Rookery
425 Troutman Street, Bushwick
The Cobra Club
6 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick
Montana’s Trail House
455 Troutman Street, Bushwick
Bodega
24 St Nicholas Avenue, Bushwick
Pearl’s Social & Billy Club
40 St Nicholas Avenue, Bushwick
The Narrows
1037 Flushing Avenue, Bushwick
Pine Box Rock Shop
12 Grattan Street, Bushwick
Arrogant Swine
173 Morgan Avenue, Bushwick
Union Pizza Works
423 Troutman Street, Bushwick
Northeast Kingdom
18 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick
The Johnson’s
369 Troutman Street, Bushwick
983: Bushwick’s Living Room
983 Flushing Avenue, Bushwick
Boobie Trap
308 Bleecker Street, Bushwick
Old Stanley’s Bar
226 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick
Yours Sincerely
41 Wilson Avenue, Bushwick
Dear Bushwick
41 Wilson Avenue, Bushwick
Cafe Ghia
24 Irving Avenue, Bushwick
Mominette
221 Knickerbocker Avenue, Bushwick
nenzo’s
19 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick
The Sampler Bushwick
The emphasis at The Sampler is to let patrons try–sample, if you will–quite a few beers. Their extensive tap beer list is constantly rotating, as is the size and pour of the brew in question, and the bartenders are extremely knowledgeable about their wares. A bar that will keep the serious beer drinker and their whiskey-inclined companion, very happy. And if you overimbibe, try the pickles.
Lot 45
Lot 45 is a dark bar with huge chandeliers, and while that’s not the most original presentation, it’s still a damn good one. It’s the kind of place where you can get anything from $1.50 oysters, to a whole bottle of Bloody Mary (to get a sense of the size, a glass is $9, a bottle $35), to a take on a Pimm’s cup that’s topped off with Red Bull. Basically, it’s the perfect balance of classic elegance and millennial cheekiness. Yes, you read that right: millennial.
Miles
For the neighborhood, Miles is what would be considered an upscale cocktail bar, and it would certainly be in the upper echelon of bars regardless of location. Their menu features drinks that incorporate unwieldy spirits like oolong whiskey or chipotle tequila into cocktails that sound—and taste!—lush and appetizing. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, go for the Woodbury Campfire, a drink that combines bourbon, scotch and Lillet into one glorious, fiery concoction.
Hi Hello
Hi Hello is fairly new to the area, it opened in spring of 2015, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a staple for drinks and decadent sandwiches. The owners also run Momo Sushi Shack, so you can trust that the environment is very relaxed, and that they know how to put ingredients together. The bar itself stays open till 2am, offering reasonably priced cocktails ($10 for most) with unexpected combinations, like the Fizzy Cola, a blend of Ramazzotti, lime juice and soda.
The Three Diamond Door
Housed in a converted Kennedy Fried Chicken–yes, that’s a KFC knockoff brand–the Three Diamond Door converts nicely into a 1950s-styled speakeasy. There’s prosecco on tap, beer and shot specials, and a four hour happy hour from 4-8pm that’ll get you a dollar off well drinks, tap beers, shots and wine. The main appeal here, though, are the cozy vintage booths, that give this place a retro feel that isn’t over-the-top.
Central Station
With a huge backyard and a kitchen that stays open until 1am, Central Station offers two things this somewhat secluded area of Bushwick needs: late night eats and the space to do it in. The emphasis here is beer and classic cocktails–nothing fancy–and the small plates and other food items are divided into sections named for transportation-related terms. That should tell you a lot about the vibe in question, and if it you like that kind of humor, then you’ll probably like this place a lot.
Forrest Point
In possession of what is easily one of the most beautiful backyards in Brooklyn (it feels like you’re in Fern Gully!), Forrest Point has an impeccable craft cocktail menu, featuring several amazing renditions of milk punch (our favorite is the Silken Road, redolent of bourbon, lemongrass, lychee, and coconut milk), and a great food menu, with great snack food and more hearty fare like a delicious quinoa salad (yes, quinoa can be good!). Eat and drink outside under the strings of fairy lights, surrounded by tables fashioned from stumps and adult-sized swings.
Gottscheer Hall
Gottschee is a region of Europe so old it precedes nation states, and so distinctive that its culture has outlasted the many border and naming changes. The German-speaking region is located in modern-day Slovenia, but the chaos of both world wars led to the vast majority of Gottscheer people to emigrate to America, specifically New York. All this to say, Gottscheer Hall is a bar with a long memory, and an even longer pedigree, and you can feel both of these things when you enter the bar, which turns 92 years old this year. It’s got a long walnut bar in the center, and a mix of round, dinner-table style and taller tables scattered throughout. There’s three German beers on tap, along with standard bottom shelf brews like Coors Light and Budweiser, a jukebox lurks in the corner and the food menu contains German classics like spaetzle, wursts, and big, fluffy pretzels. All this is well and good, but it’s the history that makes this bar special, some sort of spirit hangs thick in the air, almost like a noise, like the clattering of empty steins past. Sometimes the age of a place is a feeling, not a function.
Onderdonk & Sons
Onderdonk & Sons is relatively new the the Ridgewood area–as are a lot of bars in this neighborhood–but the cozy, well-decorated bar still manages to feel like it’s been a neighborhood staple for decades. They don’t serve any real liquor and focus much more on a rotating list of tap beers, but thanks to the help of liqueurs, beer, wine and Soju, you can still grab a makeshift cocktail if your heart desires. The Negroni Incorrect is especially appealing with a smooth mix of Cappelletti, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Sparkling Wine. Venturing out of Brooklyn’s pricier neighborhoods is always a relief, too; mixed drinks will run you $7 and as little as $5 during the notable happy hour from 4-7 on weekdays, 12-7 on weekends. That’s also when you grab a burger, fries, and a beer for the minimal $11. Long live Quooklyn.
Milo’s Yard
Milo’s Yard does indeed include an ample yard, with long, clean wooden picnic tables and ample room for smokers and non-smokers alike. However, it’s the pinball games indoors that might end up garnering more attention in this converted Butcher Shop bar operated by the same couple who own Happy Fun Hideaway. It’s right off the Seneca M stop and features a dollar off all drinks during the 4-8pm happy hour. They also offer an eclectic food menu that features a Chicago hot dog alongside a Chinese pork buns, vegetarian samosas, and Jamaican beef (or veggie) patties.
Bierleichen
This massive, concrete beer hall is big enough to host the beginning of your Ridgewood bar crawl, or collect everyone in your rolodex for one enormous rager. Old films are projected on the back wall, and the beer list is extensive and eclectic enough to please even your snobbiest brew-obsessed friend. There’s foosball tables to boot, bratwursts, and four kinds of grilled cheese including a yummy muenster & jalapeño sandwich.
June
One of June’s claims to fame is that it’s so tightly packed into Ridgewood’s commercial strip that the looming 99 cent store sign almost eclipses this quiet, unassuming bar. But no marquee can overshadow June’s much-needed presence on a still-developing block. The three-hour happy hour from 5-8pm gets you a $2 draft beer with the purchase of a Cheddar ($4) or Provolone and Prosciutto ($6) grilled cheese.
Julia’s Beer and Wine Bar
Denise Plowman and Crystal River Williams opened Ridgewood’s beloved Norma’s Cafe in 2012, and the coffee shop quickly grew to become an essential haven for residents new and old. Two years later, they crowdfunded another neighborhood spot: a much-needed casual hangout spot called Julia’s Beer and Wine Bar. Beers are around $5, local wines by the glass all under $10, and there are several delicious beer and wine cocktails as well, like a stunning stout and sparkling wine concoction called the Black Velvet. You can also grab a beef turnover or a cheese plate to balance out the booze. Julia’s is great because it has all the charm and appeal of being at home without the cleanup.
The Ridgewood Ale House
The Ridgewood Ale House is one of those big, comfortable bars that you associate more with the suburbs than Brooklyn. It’s got enough TVs to qualify as a sports bar–as in there’s a screen in every booth–and there’s also karaoke. There’s absolutely nothing about this bar that says “hipster” or “Brooklyn,” and some nights, that’s just what you need.
Glenlo Tavern
Glenlo Tavern is one of those bars that’s been happily serving alcohol to local Ridgewood residents long before “Quooklyn” was even a twinkle in a Times editor’s eye. It’s a spacious bar on the otherwise nearly bar-free zone of Fresh Pond Road–we’re talking deep Ridgewood here–and one of the primary draws are their dart boards. That should tell you a lot about what to expect.
Queens Tavern
In 2013 this bar changed hands, and Caskey’s Tavern became Queens Tavern. Currently, the bar is most notable for hosting music video events like Wu Tang Wednesday, regular karaoke nights and movie nights. It’s the kind of place that fosters a close knit neighborhood community out in a hood that most of Brooklyn is still discovering exists.
The Monk
This bar is unabashedly about beer, specifically, Belgian beer. There are no TVs or other newfangled contraptions to distract the avid drinker from focusing on a frothy, rare brew. Featuring extensive selection of both bottled and on tap options, The Monk is a discerning outpost for those who crave Brooklyn’s cutting edge discernment, but find themselves off in Queens.
The Keep
Walking into this bar is like walking into an antique shop that sells alcohol. Seriously, the air of history–specifically one person’s eye for it–hangs as heavy in the air of the Keep as a sense of neighborhood camaraderie. It’s one of the last outposts before the neighborhood turns into a wasteland of loading docks and abandoned factory buildings, and it functions as such, keeping stragglers and neighbors from feeling like they live too far out. Amid the many old chairs and tables, a suit of armor, a motorcycle, and the legendary bulletholes in the walls from past inhabitants, you’ll find old guard New York happily mingling with newcomers–there’s absolutely no sense of hierarchy in a bar this noble.
Paradise
There’s Christmas lights up year round in this quiet, dark Ridgewood watering hole. It’s a neighborhood staple for those who want a quick beer and a chance to zone out post-work. Or, it can easily contain an all-nighter within its dingy, simple confines. There’s nothing remarkable about the place at all, which ends up being one of the features most people appreciate about it. Paradise is only trying to be exactly what it is: a bar. That’s what makes it so goddamn heavenly.
Nowadays
Perhaps the title gives it away, but Nowadays is a seasonal bar that’s only open during New York’s signature humid summer months–and even then, only when it doesn’t rain. Sporting a gigantic outdoor area with colorful picnic tables and enough of a lawn for both kids and dogs to enjoy, this far Ridgewood bar is family-oriented in a way that many aren’t able to be. Nowadays serves drinks as well as food, and also provide games, so on a sunny day in Brooklyn, there’s absolutely no reason to leave.
282 Burger
As you may surmise from the name, this is a good spot to get a solid, no-frills burger. But “no-frills” doesn’t mean low quality: 282 uses grass-fed beef from local butcher Los Paisanos. There are 10w burger variations including a particularly delish vegetarian option coming with grilled onions and roasted poblano chips—all to be washed it down with a nice, foamy beer while you people watch through the glass façade onto Atlantic Avenue. 282 opens at noon every day, so if you happened to be hungover and craving, say, a burger topped with a fried egg and melted cheese, right here would be your saving grace. Hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, and a kids’ section round out the menu, as well as a nice list of house cocktails. For something unique, try the Across Smith Street, with Smith and Cross rum (don’t be fooled, it’s bottled in London, not on Smith Street), Velvet Falernum, lime and pineapple.
Saint Gambrinus
Beer nerds flock here to sample cult brews like Barrel Aged Evil Twin by the bottle and on draught—the latter to be taken home in growlers. Take your flights and snacks out to the garden, open from April through November, or enjoy them at the bar or tables near the front. It’s fun to crane your neck to browse the various obscure bottles of beer stacked alongside the wall. There’s cider, too, not quite as nerdy as the beer selection but still good. The best part is that the staff is helpful rather than snobby. Stop here on your way to the Barclay Center, a short walk.
Bar Tabac
Every neighborhood’s got to have its classic, casual French bistro, and Bar Tabac has long held the designation on Smith Street. A great spot for casual weekday lunch—try the Croque Monsieur made with country-style bread, ham and Swiss cheese, served with fries, or an expertly prepared omelette with a side of mesclun greens—as well as a great date spot any night of the week, Bar Tabac excels at simple and delicious food. In terms of drinks, you’ll find the French version of “happy hour” here: the aperitif, featuring light and refreshing spirits like Cocchi Americano on the rocks, and supremely classic French drinks like the Kir Royale, made with crème de cassis and sparkling white wine. The wine list is French (duh), tidy, user-friendly, and affordable. Bring your mom, your second date, your coworker—it’s easy to have a good time. Brunch, especially, is a fun affair, featuring live music. Don’t miss the cheese plate.
White Oak
There’s a whole host of reasons locals love this place: for the beautiful, quiet, wooden patio out back; for the calm, exposed brick interior inside; for the fresh oysters and raw bar; for decadent bites like filet mignon sliders, or a fried egg-topped bacon cheeseburger with fries, or the duck confit grilled cheese; for the rotating selection of beers on tap. Wine and beer lists here are fairly low-key, but the cocktail menu is on the adventurous side—for example, try the Blackberries and Smoke, a concoction of Pisco, Laphroaig, blackberries, lemon juice and pomegranate juice. Service here is attentive and inviting, revealing White Oak to be a true neighborhood restaurant.
61 Local
This is a reliably good bar where you can stroll in with half your department and find a place to stand with a draught beer in your hand and make conversation. The 30-beer draught list is always changing, and the wine program emphasizes interesting local (hence the bar’s name) producers like Brooklyn’s own Red Hook Winery and Brooklyn Oenology. Order up some charcuterie and cheese board, throw in some smoked almonds, marinated olives, and Brooklyn Brine pickles and you’ve got a spread. There are larger plates, too—mac ‘n cheese, and a wild mushroom and lentil shepherd’s pie. Although 61 Local is an excellent spot to gather some boozehounds, it’s also not too loud and totally decent for a date or hanging with just one friend at the long wooden bar. And uniquely, 61 Local offers low-ABV soft cocktails, as well as house-made ginger ale and local kombucha, so you can invite your friends who are “cleansing.” 61 Local also hosts a free monthly comedy-music show called “Politics and Pints.”
Boat Bar
When you just want to grab a cheap beer or late-night whiskey, play a few songs on a juke box, and make out with someone in low lighting, Boat is your destination. It’s exactly what a bar should be—a place to sit and drink—and not much more. Bartenders are nice, the vibe is relaxed, you might end up talking to the couple next to you at the bar, that sort of thing. There’s a killer happy hour–$3 beer, booze, or wine until 8pm, every day.
Camp
Deer heads and canoes on the walls, a working fireplace, board games—as befits the name in both senses, this bar is campy and makes you want to camp out for hours, drinking craft beer or Hot Toddys and lounging just like you did in your college dorm. You’d be well advised to share an order of s’mores with your buds: they come in a basket with a little gas flam, ready to take you back to your Scouts days. There is even, steady yourself, a Girl Scout Martini coming with a chocolate covered marshmallow. Karaoke night is bound to be wild.
Building on Bond
This may be one of the most versatile—and most beloved—bars in Brooklyn. You could have a daytime meeting here, or a casual happy hour date, or meet some friends for a drink and let it turn into a full-on dinner. The dinner menu features New American classics like kale salad (it’s charred, though, adding a unique touch), flatiron steak, a supremerly good veggie burger, and salmon. The décor, with wood-slab tables and quirky abstract paintings, makes you feel immediately at home—one reason this spot has been called a “living room” for locals. With several rotating beers on tap, and innovative seasonal cocktails like the vodka-spiked strawberry basil lemonade (in summer) or a classic Dark and Stormy (in winter), you can’t go wrong. Choose from five different Bloody Marys to go alongside your Eggs Benedict at weekend brunch. Swing by on Tuesdays for trivia night.
Brooklyn Inn
Dating back to the late 19th century, when the surrounding brownstones were just being erected, this is one of these super old-school, institutional bars that you absolutely have to experience. The woodwork is original, and when you enter and look up at the vaulted ceilings, you feel transported to another era. The décor is kept minimal with just a few mirrors on the walls, and a long one elegantly placed behind the bar. This approach could be done pretentiously but it’s the opposite—relaxed and inviting. Grab a Brooklyn Lager or a neat whiskey and bunker down for a long conversation with a good friend, or grab your date and sidle up to the pool table in the third room.
Fawkner
Fawkner is a top-notch gastropub with good beer, classic cocktails, and a relaxed atmosphere, from the people who opened the Bell House, Floyd and Union Hall. Everything is affordably-priced and well-executed. If you’re hanging with a group of buddies, grab one of the booths set into wooden caves, and dig into a bowl of cheesy Poutine doused with New England style brown gravy, and some sweet, savory, or spicy beer nuts. Don’t miss the fried chicken sandwich, made with a lightly breaded thigh and topped with relish, corn pudding, and fried onions (good luck getting it all into your mouth). Snuggle up with your date on the couch in back, where several antique couches and lowlighting create a nice mood in front of the working fireplace.
Clover Club
One of the iconic bars of the mixology movement, this is a well-established, award-winning destination cocktail bar. You could have the most perfect Sazerac of your life here, prepared by an expert bartender wearing a smart vest, or try one of seven variations on an Old Fashioned. To experience the cutting edge approach here, opt for the Eastward-leaning Kafka on the Shore, featuring the Indonesian sugarcane spirit Batavia Arrack, shitake-infused Japanese whiskey, Cardamaro, Carpano Antica, and crème de cacao. All cocktails here are mercifully under $15, despite the bar’s renown. If you’re not feeling cocktail-y, there’s beer and wine, and an especially good selection of sparkling wines and Champagne. Food is satisfying and New American, ranging from oysters to salads to steak tartare to a scrumptious lamb burger. Brunch here is an delightful affair with a special menu of fantastic daytime cocktails—of course Bloody Marys, but also Collins and Fizzes, Sours, uber-sophisticated variations on the Mimosa, and more to keep you saucing long into the afternoon.
Verde
Northern Italian cuisine made with fresh, high-quality ingredients is the attraction at Verde, a beautiful and casual neighborhood spot. It’s ideal for catching up with a friend, a group birthday brunch, or a simple date. Start with baked clams stuffed with garlicky, buttery, oregano-flecked breadcrumb filling; then have the crispy gnocchi with sausage and broccoli rabe or a 20-oz Angus rib-eye with polenta and spinach—in other words, a solid meal. The wine list is nearly all Italian, with excellent variety and reasonable prices. There is bottomless brunch on weekends, including all the Bellinis and Mimosas you can drink. A very likely candidate if you’re looking for a reliable go-to restaurant that’s strong in hospitality and cuisine alike.
Battersby
Plush leather banquettes set against exposed brick walls, with distressed wood paneling, set the scene at Battersby for lingering with friends or loved ones over interesting, contemporary food and a bottle or two of wine. Created by two chefs who met working at Alain Ducasse’s Essex House, this is a fresh and seasonal approach to Italian cuisine, with small and tasty first courses like octopus with butter beans, a second course of house-made pastas, and many well-prepared mains like heritage pork atop a sauce of farro, cauliflower and raisons, or braised short ribs with sunchokes and carrots. To sample the best of the chef’s offerings, there are two tasting menus—either five courses for $75, or seven for $95—for which you can make a reservation. The cocktail list here is very succinct—just three house drinks—but it is good, and the wine list is particularly stand-out, featuring top Old World producers and a few exciting New World options, all skewing “natural,” meaning organic vineyards and a traditional, minimalist approach in the cellar.
Zombie Hut
Tiki at its finest is what you’ll find at Zombie Hut, where people gather on the ample back patio to sip tropical drinks garnished with plastic creatures like a green monkey. Try a sugar-rimmed Frozen Zombie, a Bacardi-based slushi, or a Long Island Iced Tea, which nobody will judge you for ordering because it’s a tiki bar. Get everybody nice and hammered with a pitcher of the $26 “Scorpion Bowl,” a concoction of Bacardi, brandy and juice, coming in a pretty painted bowl with several straws and a flame in the center for an impressive presentation. Spend an afternoon here sipping on Mai Tais and playing Jenga, kicking your feet up on the patio, and living your best life. Stagger out like, well, a zombie.
Ravioli Wine Bar
277 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens
As you may discern by the name, pasta is served here, as well as wine. Carroll Gardens has long been an Italian neighborhood, and these guys are keeping the tradition alive with their fresh, house-made pasta dishes and Italian wine list. Regarding the latter, Ravioli has some particularly interesting options on its thoughtful and well-organized wine list; nearly all bottles are served by-the-glass, and highlights include rare treats such as Barolo and Brunello from 2010 (just about ready to drink), and a 2007 Montepulciano. There are just two beers here—both from Forst, an Italian brand—so come thirsty for fermented grapes. Aside from delicious pasta dishes like pumpkin ravioli smothered in a butter, sage, and Parmesan sauce, there is also house-made Minestrone that rivals your Nonna’s. Ravioli is closed Monday and Tuesday, but opens at 11am for lunch all other days.
Bar Great Harry
280 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens