The Best Bars with Backyards in Brooklyn Right Now

Grab a jacket and your crew and test out some of the more exceptional Brooklyn bars with yards we've lounged in lately

The city may have robbed us of some of our favorite outdoor dining experiences this past summer, but it was Mother Nature that pulled off the cruelest heist, barely ever providing meteorological conditions reasonable enough to mourn them. July was too hot, the bugs in August were too bold, but this fall couldn’t be more perfect for sitting layered and leisurely in the backyard of a bar, nursing a brew, old-fashioned, or mocktail of choice.

Cue: a requisite seasonal dispatch, gathering some of the best backyards we’ve had the pleasure of spending a few hours sipping and toasting in under string lights and/or canopies. We should note, this list is in no way meant to suggest the other great taverns and taprooms with big, beautiful patios spotted in previous entries (see: Prima in Fort Green, Frog in Bed-Stuy, Bouquet and Million Goods in Greenpoint, and Kissa Kissa in Crown Heights), have lost favor, or even a step, since they were featured—only that there’s a time, place, and space for all of it.

With that in mind, grab a jacket and your crew and test out some of the more exceptional Brooklyn bars with yards (or is it yards with bars?) we’ve lounged in lately. See them all below.

The backyard at Rude Mouth wine bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Courtesy of Rude Mouth

Rude Mouth
59 Metropolitan Ave.
What began as an Instagram account dedicated to decluttering the wine world, Rude Mouth morphed into a wine club, then popped up in a series of locations before Ava Trilling, formerly of Four Horsemen, opened a proper brick-and-mortar in Williamsburg. A far cry from the chaotic Havermayer intersection, Rude Mouth is beautifully designed and has a huge, very clean backyard, where you can find two-tops and a big communal center table, great for date night or a late night with friends. The light, both inside and out, is immaculate. And, as you’d expect from a Horsemen alum, the music is great—loud enough to notice you like the song, but not in a way that detracts from your conversation.

The backyard at Threes Brewing, a bar and brewery in Gowanus, Brooklyn

Photo by Matt Furman for Threes Brewing

Threes Brewing
333 Douglass St.
Burgers and brews in a backyard make Threes’ Gowanus location the quintessential brewery vibe. Approachable and interesting house beers are largely offered on tap, but they also serve wine and craft cocktails alongside a full food menu (the chicken sandwich is great), and you’ll probably hear Nelly and other early-2000s hip-hop played at some point during your visit.

The 3,200-square-foot backyard (it’s big) has its own bar and a 12-foot steel trellis where hops, English Ivy, and climbing wisteria make for a very green setting. There’s also plenty of seating, which makes it an ideal destination to hang with a crew.

The backyard at Turtles All The Way Down, a bar in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Courtesy of Turtles All The Way Down

Turtles All The Way Down
236 Malcolm X Blvd
Is a gimmick a gimmick if it works? Turtles All The Way Down, not at all a new spot on the block, has, you guessed it, turtles that race monthly. Yes, you read that right, but more often than not, the hard-shelled reptiles are just chilling in their tanks watching a crowd indulge in a nearly all-day happy hour Monday to Friday, from noon to 7 p.m., which knocks $1 off draft beers and well drinks. Indoors, there’s a dive-y, vintage feel, while out back, their patio appears to be an attempt at tiki-themed. And, they have this killer, very boozy, frozen coffee drink. No, none of these sentences really make sense together, but they do all exist at Turtles.

The backyard at Elsa, a bar in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

Courtesy of Elsa

Elsa
136 Atlantic Avenue
Named to honor Elsa Schiaparelli, a famed dressmaker in the 1920s who was a Salvador Dali collaborator and an alleged competitor of Coco Chanel (CHIC!), Elsa is an Art Deco cocktail bar nodding to the late seamstress and the era. Classy-ish but not stuffy, it gets pretty lively on weekends, and they have a great mix of classic cocktails, as well as more experimental ones. Their Tuesday-to-Friday Happy Hour has very reasonable prices until 7 p.m., which is the perfect time to sit under their string lights as the sun sets.

The backyard at Zombie Hut, a bar in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Courtesy of Zombie Hut

Zombie Hut
273 Smith St.
The more committed to the bit, the better. And Zombie Hut is a tiki bar top-to-bottom and front-to-back, with an outdoor space that won’t disappoint. Scorpion bowls, tiki masks, bamboo, and other knick-knacks fill the bar. The staff is friendly, the drinks are cheap, and it’s a great spot to bring a group, especially on days that seemingly demand a Piña Colada on the patio.

The backyard at Cafe Erzulie, a bar and venue in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Courtesy of Cafe Erzulie

Cafe Erzulie
894 Broadway
Cafe Erzulie can be kind of a mixed bag, but it all goes down out back under its big covered patio space. You can go there for delicious Haitian food during cafe hours; they have a weekly jazz night outdoors on Thursdays; and on weekends, it’s a full-blown club. While you may wait in line (and it can definitely get a little chaotic at the door), you can expect people cutting it up beneath the awning (and above that, the J/M/Z line) at just about any hour Friday through Sunday, embodying the Haitian voodoo spirit of love, beauty, and dance the spot is named for.

The backyard at Tradesman, a bar in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Courtesy of Tradesman

Tradesman
222 Bushwick Ave.
Tradesman puts the backyard to work. They regularly have summer cookouts and a full schedule of interactive food pop-ups. Whether it’s an Independence Day Weekend potluck BBQ or a chili cook-off, you don’t need to just pull up to drink and eat. You can get involved. There’s trivia every Sunday, happy hour lasts until 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and you’ll likely find some dogs on the patio. Head out for cocktails, craft beers, natural wine, and lots of good boys and girls.