536 Driggs Ave. (between N. 7th & N. 8th)
PHONE: 718.599.4400
HOURS: Daily, 3pm-4am
CARDS: Cash Only
GAMES: Pool, Big Buckhunter 2, Ms. Pacman, MegaTouch
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri, 3pm-8pm; $1 off all drafts; 2-for-1 bottled beer and house drinks; $4 wine
Sun, 3pm-8pm; $3 Stella; $8 Guiness plus shot of Jameson
Sat, 3pm-8pm; 2-for-1 Yuengling and Budwiser
DIRECTIONS: Exit the back of the train at Bedford Avenue. Make a left on Driggs, The Abbey is on your left.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Trian to Bedford Ave
POTTY GIRL BATHROOM REPORT: Click here
WE SAY: A non-touristy staple. It has a maroon pool table, a pinball machine, and a an occasionally used DJ's booth populate the back. It is a largish space, and the air conditioning rocks in the summer. Beers start at $4 or so and the bartenders are always competent and often quite friendly. Small but solid tap selection (Guinness, Brooklyn Beers, etc.) and in general, no b.s. or hassles. Definitely worth visiting and the growing gay scene at The Abbey makes this bar even more appealing whether you are straight, gay, or undecided. Plus the jukebox will pleases fans of early 90's indie.

Continue reading "* The Abbey" »

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609 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 718.384.9802
HOURS: Daily 5pm-4am
CARDS: All Major
GAMES: Pool, Megatouch, Ms. Pacman
HAPPY HOUR: $1 off drinks
Sun-Thur: 5:00 – 9:00PM
Fri-Sat: 3:00 – 9:00PM
EVENTS: Click Here for shows, etc
DIRECTIONS: Walk east 3 blocks on Union Ave. (Kellog's Diner will be on your right). Take a left on Grand Avenue and walk a block. Art Land will be on your left.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Lorimer
MYSPACE: Click Here
WE SAY: We love this place. It's dark and out of the way. It has Ms Pacman and a nice pool table. And best of all, it has a real neighborhood bar vibe. Don't go, we want to keep it for ourselves.

Continue reading "* Art Land" »

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c/o Flickr

388 Union Ave (Cross Street: Between Powers Street and Ainslie Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 718.302.6464
HOURS: Mon-Sat 5pm-4am, Sun 5pm-2am
CARDS: MasterCard, Visa
GAMES: Dozens of vintage arcade games including Asteroids, Rampage, Moon Patrol, 1943, Tempest, Tapper,
Dig Dug, Donkey Kong, Gyruss, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, Rolling Thunder, Super Mario Bros, Crystal Castles,
Arkanoid, Out Run, Zaxxon, Smash, Gauntlet, Star Wars, Frogger, Tetris, Galaga, Ms. Pacman, Rock Field, Centipede, Berzerk, Rush 'N Attack
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri, 5pm-8pm; $1 off tap beers, $1 off well drinks, $6 Fisherman's Brew and shot of Jim Bean
Mon-Thu, 2:30am-3:30am; $1 off tap beers, $1 off well drinks, $6 Fisherman's Brew and shot of Jim Bean
DIRECTIONS: Walk east 2 blocks on Union Ave. (Kellog's Diner will be on your right). Barcade will be on your left.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L at Lorimer; G at Metropolitan
WEBSITE:: www.barcadebrooklyn.com
MYSPACE: Click Here
WE SAY: A fabulous bar with tons of classic arcade games like Moon Patrol, Centipede, Frogger, and Donkey Kong,and Zaxxon. Plus, there are a dozen beers on tap and its spacious. Barcade rules.

Continue reading "* Barcade" »

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81 South 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (at Berry Street)
PHONE: 718.387.5389
HOURS: Mon-Thu, 7:30pm-4am; Fri-Sun, 7pm-4am
CARDS: Cash Only
MUSIC/EVENTS: Click Here
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: J, M, Z at Marcy Ave. ; L at Bedford Ave.
WEBSITE:: http://bembe.us/
NY Mag Review: Alongside the Williamsburg Bridge, Bembe is a world apart from its concrete, industrial environs. Inside, the bi-level lounge feels more like Miami or a steamy, fun-loving Latin American hotspot, with a tropical drinks menu—mojitos, rum punch, a tasty vodka concoction marinated in and served from an actual watermelon—and an airy, island-like décor of exposed brick and blonde wood. (The slightly exotic, accented bartenders, both male and female, lend another degree of authenticity.) But more than anything else, it's the sexy, ethnically-diverse crowd dancing (some expertly, some not) to vibrant Latin music, spun by a DJ but sometimes accompanied by live drummers, that really makes you feel like you're on vacation. Be warned: These booty shakers move with an enthusiasm and determination—sans attitude—that's contagious.

Continue reading "* Bembe" »

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579 Meeker Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11222
between N. Henry St. and Monitor Ave.
PHONE: 718.389.3252
HOURS: Daily, 3:30pm-4am
CARDS: Discover, MasterCard, Visa
GAMES: pool
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: G to Nassau Ave.
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/boulevardtavern
NY MAG SAYS: Despite the fresh paint and free wi-fi, this pub is in truth a Greenpoint relic. Opened in 1928, the bar weathered most of the last century as J & D's before giving up the ghosts (more than one owner has died on the premises) just after the new millennium. A few years later, the owners of East Village bohemian bar Raven pried off the boards to find a diamond in the rough: To the original high tin ceilings and extra-long, dark wood bar, they've added high-backed wooden booths, a pool table, a jukebox and a majestic 12-beer tap that makes it clear that—neon signs and reasonable prices notwithstanding—this is not a dive. When rock bands aren't throwing after-parties, bemused retirees who still call the joint by its former name make neighborly conversation with the latest 24-year-old graphic designer who thinks he knows better. The bar's owner, Harold David Kramer, is himself a slice of NYC history, since he's the grandson of the owners of the Thunderbolt, the beloved, vine-covered Coney Island rollercoaster that was torn down in 2000.

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image c/o Eater

20 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (nr. Kent Ave)
PHONE: 718.384.2800
HOURS: Wed-Sun, noon-midnight; Mon-Tue, closed
MENU: Click Here
CUISINE: mainly a wine bar but Italian & Spanish Tapas are available
SUBWAY: J, M, Z at Marcy Ave.; L at Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click Here
WEBSITE: http://www.bridgevineyards.com
WINE PRICES: $6-$12
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
BOOZE: Beer and Wine Only
RESERVATIONS: Not Accepted
NY TIMES SAYS: Greg Sandor and Paul Wegimont, the owners, have opened Bridge Vineyards Urban Winery and Tasting Room, an industrial, brick-walled space nudging the Williamsburg Bridge. Their wines and others are available for tasting with small plates of wine-friendly food ($4 to $10). Come fall, they hope to start using the stainless steel tank on the premises for blending wines and bottling, too.

Continue reading "* Bridge Vineyards Urban Winery" »

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image c/o flickr

103 Berry St. (between N. 7th & N. 8th
PHONE: 718.302.9811
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 3pm-4am; Sat-Sun, noon-4am
CARDS: All Major
GAMES: Pool, Darts
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri, 3pm-9pm; $2 domestic bottled beer, $4 imported bottled beer, $3 well drinks, $4 20oz drafts
EVENTS: click here
DIRECTIONS: Walk on north Bedford Ave. to North 8th Street. Take a left on North 8th and walk another
block. Brooklyn Ale House is on the left corner.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford Ave.
WEBSITE:: Click Here
MYSPACE: click here
WE SAY: One of our favorite Bedford-stop bars. Brooklyn Ale House is completely lacking in pretense and attracts a surprisingly hipster-free and tourist-free crowd. The beer selection is great and the vibe reminds us of the neighborhood circa 1995. Dog lovers especially like Brooklyn Ale House since the bar is dog-friendly.

Continue reading "* Brooklyn Ale House" »

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79 North 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (between Wythe & Berry)
PHONE: 718.486.7422
HOURS: Fri, 6pm-11pm; Sat, noon-5pm
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
HAPPY HOUR: Fri, 6pm-11pm; $3 beers
EVENTS: Tours every Saturday from 12-5pm on the hour. For more events Click Here.
DIRECTIONS: From Bedford L Train, walk north on Bedford Avenue four blocks and
take a left on North 11th Street. Walk a block and a half. Brooklyn Brewery will be on your right between Berry and
Wythe Avenues.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford Avenue
WEBSITE:: www.brooklynbrewery.com
CITY SEARCH SAYS: In a neighborhood that once housed a pre-Prohibition "Brewers Row," this big-name beer company founded in 1987 does right by its craft and community. Friday nights, the brewery opens up its 300-seat tasting room for happy hour, pouring Brooklyn Lager, Pilsner and up to 10 other varieties, including such seasonal brews as Blanche De Brooklyn. On Saturday's free tours, visitors learn about the company, walk through the brewhouse and receive a free beer.

Continue reading "* Brooklyn Brewery" »

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618 Grand St. Brooklyn, NY 11211
(Cross Street: Between Leonard Street and Lorimer Street)
PHONE: 718.388.2114
HOURS: Mon-Fri 5pm-4am, Sat-Sun 4pm-4am
CARDS: Visa & MasterCard
GAMES: Makeshift miniature golf
HAPPY HOUR: During the daily happy hour (until 8pm), it's buy one, get one free on pitchers. Pitchers of beer, from PBR to Red Tail, run $15 to $17.
EVENTS: Click here
DIRECTIONS: Take the Metropolitan exit and walk 4 blocks down Lorimar to Grand Street, make a left on Grand Street and we're across the street on the corner of Grand and Leonard.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L to Lorimer, G to Metropolitan
WEBSITE:: www.bushwickcountryclub.com
WE SAY: A beautiful addition to the new Grand Avenue bar scene. The restored oak bar will make you feel like you should wear a smoking jacket. The tiny makeshift miniature golf course in the backyard will make you wish you had worn your Seersucker. Several beers are on tap and a full liquor bar is available. Definitely worth a visit.

Continue reading "* Bushwick Country Club" »

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image c/o Flickr

264 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (at Roebling Street)
PHONE: 718.387.9617
HOURS: Daily 2pm-4am
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
GAMES: None
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri, 2pm-8pm; $1 off liquor, wine, and draft beer, $3 Pints
EVENTS:
DIRECTIONS: Walk south on Bedford Ave. seven blocks and take a left on Grand Street. Go two
blocks down to Roebling Street and Clem's will be on the right-hand corner.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train Bedford Ave.
NY MAG SAYS: At his day job as a sculptor, owner John Clement renders sinuous shapes in rough industrial materials, but the design touches in his railroad barroom are non-ostentatious: Just a few antlers and antique beer cans adorn the slate-grey walls. A possibly overly generous happy hour special encourages drinkers to be serious about their craft, which they practice at the sidewalk seats during the summer, at the people-watching-perfect window perches, or at the bar where unharried attendants custom cater drinks such as a peanut-butter and jelly shot (Stoli raspberry and Frangelico) and dole out beers from the esoteric and often-changing varieties on tap. Bargain-hunters choose sides between two long-running specials: The Patriot is a PBR can and a shot of Jim Beam while the Federale pairs Tecate with a Sauza shot.

Continue reading "* Clem's" »

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66 Greenpoint Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11222
between Franklin and West Sts.
PHONE: 718-389-1531
HOURS: Daily, 4pm-4am
GAMES: Pool, darts
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 4pm-8pm; $3 drafts beers, $4 mixed drinks
CARDS: all major
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: G train to Greenpoint Ave.
NY MAG SAYS: Elements of this stylish Greenpoint bar's former incarnation as a wood shop are still evident: Old window frames now line the rugged pressed-tin walls and the ceiling beams are used as benches. The industrial double doors, concrete floor, and raised loading dock entrance were left untouched by the co-owner, who uses the high-end chocolate in martinis such as the spicy Screaming Mozart, a combination of chili-infused vodka and hot cocoa. In the front room, after-work regulars line the chic metal bar that glows with red candles or gather around one of the polished black zinc tables lit up with embedded light strips. The best seat in the house is a table behind the DJ booth—they spin every Friday and Saturday—that's warmed by a fake fireplace and watched over by a lone piece of kitsch, a porcelain good luck cat. The atmospheric back room provides more seating between turns at the dart board or at the pool table that basks under an enormous and ornate round skylight

Continue reading "* CoCo66" »

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image c/o Flickr

437 Graham Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
between Frost and St. Cono Strada Streets
PHONE: 718.609.6388
HOURS: Daily, 5pm-4am
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
GAMES: Ms. Pacman, Emerald, Pinball
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 5pm-9pm; $3 Brooklyn Lager, $2 Miller Lite; $1 off all other drinks
DIRECTIONS: Take L to Graham, exit and walk north 6 blocks on Graham (towards the BQE). Daddy's will be on your right.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L to Graham Ave.
NYMAG SAYS: Famously owned by the almost-famous band The Rogers Sisters, Daddy's has quickly become a neighborhood institution, thanks mostly to its market-cornering location, pointedly eclectic jukebox (Royal Trux, vintage country), and college-wallet-friendly prices. (Sorry, they don't accept Campus Cash.) It’s a great place for prospective market researchers to go on a trend-spotting safari—many experts believe that the vintage-boots-over-jeans thing was born here. With cozy booths and a wide, horseshoe-shaped bar, Daddy’s is nevertheless spacious enough to comfortably support rival cliques...and an Elvis pinball machine. The beer and the liquor selections are limited but for those who overindulge in hard drinking, Daddy's is kind enough to provide hot/tofu dogs to absorb any excess booze.

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image c/o NY Mag

43 Franklin Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Between Calyer Street and Quay Street
PHONE: 718.383.5030
HOURS: Tue-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri 5pm-2am, Sat 2pm-2am, Sun 2pm-1am
CARDS: Visa/MasterCard
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: G at Greenpoint Ave; L at Bedford Ave
CITY SEARCH SAYS: The owners of this Greenpoint bar are pushing the doctrine of "session beers," that is, beer that one can drink multiples of and still win at the shuffleboard table. So, strong ales like the dark bottled Oerbier from Belguim are on the menu alongside lighter tastes like the Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted from Scotland. Beer fans--especially of U.S., Belgium, German and English brews--can make friends at the bar, bring their own to the table seating, or shoot Quiots (NYC-sized horseshoes) in the backyard garden. Why the glittery interior and Van Halen on the juke box? The owners have a penchant for "Diamond" David Lee Roth. Sometimes the bar holds "vintage" tastings, which means that you can taste a 1998 version of a beer alongside its 2006 counterpart.

Continue reading "* The Diamond" »

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image c/o noahkalina.com

83 North 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(Cross Street: Wythe Street)
PHONE: 718.963.1925
HOURS: Mon-Thu, 6pm-midnight; Fri-Sat, 6pm-1am
CARDS: Cash Only
HAPPY HOUR: No
DIRECTIONS: Walk north on Bedford Avenue to North 8th Street. Take a left on North 8th and walk
two blocks to Wythe Avenue. D.O.C. is on the far right corner.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford Ave.
WEBSITE:: www.docwinebar.com
WE SAY: A small, warm wine bar with delicious cheeses. D.O.C., as you may know, stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata. It's a phrase one often finds on the labels of Italian wines and it means "controlled place name." When one sees D.O.C. on a bottle of wine one's confidence is boosted: it means the wine within comes from a legally defined wine region where producers must watch the quality of their wines lest they face governmental wrath.

Continue reading "* D.O.C. Wine Bar" »

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28 North 3rd St., Brooklyn, NY 11211 (at Kent Ave.)
PHONE: 718.302.0411
HOURS: Daily, 6pm-4am
CARDS: Cash Only
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 6pm-9pm; $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon
DIRECTIONS: Take the L Train to the Bedford Avenue Station at the corner of North 7th and Bedford Avenue. Walk 4 blocks south on Bedford Avenue to North 3rd Street. Turn right and walk 3 blocks to Duff's Brooklyn on the Southwest corner of North 3rd and Kent.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L to Bedford Ave.
WEBSITE: www.duffsbrooklyn.com
MYSPACE: Click Here
NY MAG SAYS: When the Misfits sang about a "hybrid moment," they might have been referring to the perfect combination of Bellevue Bar's seedy Hell's Kitchen ambiance and Williamsburg's gritty waterfront that has resulted in the birth of Duff’s. Bellevue Bar was a dirty, red-lit den with pin-up murals and dusty horror artifacts sharing shelf space with the bottles. Owner Jimmy Duff has moved his collection of baby skulls and taxidermy, along with his staff of inebriation specialists, to a former check cashing store on the other side of the river. He's also added a nice big patio with built-in grill, and kept the metal-heavy jukebox and cheap drink specials that made Bellevue a dive cum laude. Patron hygiene ranges from "fashionably unkempt" to "possibly homeless"--yet another sign that Jimmy Duff hasn't left Port Authority too far behind--but the bar and its bathroom are surprisingly clean. And though Bellevue regular Dancing Dominick won't be frequenting the new space (he passed away after a full life of shimmying for drinks), he won't be forgotten: A cut-out photo of his manic grin adorns CDs in the jukebox. Look out for free hot dogs in warmer weather when Duff's occasionally fires up their outdoor grill.

Continue reading "* Duff's" »

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560 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11222 (at Driggs Ave.)
PHONE: 718.349.3859
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 5pm-4am; Sat-Sun, 10am-4pm
Dinner - Daily, 6pm-10pm
Brunch - Sat-Sun, 10am-4pm
CARDS: MasterCard, Visa
GAMES: Ms. Pacman/ Galaga
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 5pm-7pm; half-off beer and well drinks
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: G to Nassau, L Trian to Lorimer or Bedford Ave with a long walk
WEBSITE:: http://enids.net
POTTY GIRL BATHROOM REPORT: Click here
WE SAY: Since July 1999, many in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg area have adopted Enid's as a home away from home. From young hipsters to Polish Seniors, laptop junkies to dogs, this spacious bar takes all and is never too crowded. From 5pm -4am, seven days a week, Enid's serves up the sauce with great atmosphere and no pretense-- and at half price during happy hour (5-7). Boasting eight taps, eleven bottled beers, wine, standard liquors, and of course The Harrison-- Enid's house special, loaded with tequila and juices packed into a hefty pint glass-- Enid's leaves no one thirsty. (Unless you drink Coors Light.) Dinner is served nightly, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm Enid's is packed for brunch, offering hearty, home-style plates with a southern twist and weekly pancake specials. DJs spin toward the end of the week, Mondays and Tuesdays host movie nights, and Sunday evenings wind down with Degrassi High up on the screen. A great juke box, Ms Pacman/Galaga, and a photobooth should keep you busy otherwise. So eat brunch, put a couple back, hit the photobooth and send a saucy pic home to mama.

Continue reading "* Enid's" »

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image c/o Flickr

188 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(Cross Street: Between Seventh Street and Sixth Street)
PHONE: 718.384.9539
HOURS: Sun-Thu 9am-2am, Fri-Sat 9am-4am
CARDS: None
HAPPY HOUR: All times: $3.50 Bud 32oz styrofoam contanter, $4.50 Becks 32oz styrofoam container
DIRECTIONS: 1/2 block South of L Train Stop at Bedford Avenue
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford
CITY SEARCH SAYS: Once a regular old-neighborhood hangout, this congenial bar has been steadily usurped by the cool youngsters who pile in every weekend. White Christmas lights and strings of seasonal decorations create a festive spirit in an otherwise plain room, which is furnished with red booths and bar stools, and a jukebox filled with rock-and-roll and retro standards. Despite the changes in clientele, the biggest draw remains the 32-ounce Styrofoam cup of Bud for $3.50.

Continue reading "* The Greenpoint Tavern" »

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Image c/o Gothamist

(Bowling Alley)
200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
between Wythe and Berry
PHONE: 718.387.3585
HOURS: Mon-Thurs 4pm-4am, Fri-Sun noon-4am
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford, G to Nassau
WEBSITE: www.thegutterbrooklyn.com
GOTHAMIST SAYS: The first bowling alley to open in Brooklyn in (we can't even believe this) nearly 50 years is about to open up! The Gutter is new...but the feeling old. Brought to you by two of the same people who brought you Barcade, expect a similar vibe. There's a Schlitz globe spinning over the shoe counter, vintage bowling items adorning the bar, old lamps throughout, and even some TVs with rabbit ear antennas.

You won't find flashy flatscreens displaying your scores and advertisements hanging above the lanes. The scoring machines are straight out of the past, and the only advertisements are on the pin clearing machine. Those ads are likely for establishments in a town far far away, however -- as the equipment was all purchased from an old bowling alley in the midwest.

THRILLIST SAYS: The most notable throwback's the price: $6 games ($7 on weekends) and $4 shoes -- which everyone will steal, forcing Gutter to reticently inaugurate this cash-cow of ill repute: "Taking Care of Business Tuesdays (Now With Lasers!)".

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image c/o Noah Kalina

82 Berry Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
(Berry & North 9th)
PHONE: 718.387.1945
HOURS: Sun-Thu 5pm-2am, Fri-Sat 5pm-3am
CARDS: All Major
ALCOHOL: Full Bar (including fancy, top dollar concoctions)
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford Ave
SHECKY'S SAYS: Tired of waiting three hours for that text that reveals you finally scored a table at Milk and Honey? Now that even the most snobbish city dweller knows that Brooklyn has more to offer than dive bars and seedy one night stands, why not head to Williamsburg for your fancy cocktail fix? You'll be kickin' it with a more sophisticated set (i.e., actual cool people) that prefers the Last Word (gin, maraschino, chartreuse, and lime, $9) to a watered down whiskey. While the front room, with its marble topped tables and shelves of liquor that the bartender reaches by ladder, is the main hub of activity, the side rooms are just as intoxicating. Order a Corpse Reviver No.2 and you'll find out just how invigorating it is to be in the 'Burg.

Continue reading "* Hotel Delmano" »

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image c/o noahkalina.com

769 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
(Between Graham Avenue and Humboldt Street)
PHONE: 718.388.6870
HOURS: Daily 12pm-4am
CARDS: Cash Only
GAMES: None
HAPPY HOUR: Brooklyn beers are $3 from 4pm to 8pm daily
DIRECTIONS: From Graham Ave. L Train - Walk away from the Williamsburg bridge on Metropolitan one block. The bar will be on your left, just before the White Castle.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Graham Ave
CITY SEARCH SAYS: Elusive Pencil Factory co-owner Sean O'Rourke and partners knocked down the Blue Lady Lounge and handbuilt a spacious bar that's rich with rough-hewn planks and polished dark barstools. The largely unpretentious artists of Williamsburg's Italian section are sweet on the place's regional microbrews, among them a well-rounded local selection from the Brooklyn, Six Points and Ommegang breweries. In addition to the 20-seat bar and a number of group tables inside, the back patio stays open all night. Brooklyn beers, which normally go for $4 (a buck less than other pints here), are $3 each from 4pm to 8pm daily. Though beer is the focus, single malts, Irish coffee and hot toddies are a winter signature. Eight wines are served by the glass.

Continue reading "* Harefield Road" »

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image c/o NY Mag

588 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
between Leonard and Lorimer
PHONE: 718.218.8555
HOURS: 4pm-4am every day
CARDS: all major
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Lorimer
WEB: www.huckleberrybar.com
MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/huckleberrybar
EATER SAYS: Bars are a dime a dozen in Williamsburg, but the pedigree of the team behind Huckleberry Bar sets it apart from the pack (two clichés in one sentence!). Owners Stephanie Schneider and Andrew Boggs and chef Seth Johnson have all done time in one or more of Danny Meyer's joints. They are offering, per Lady Strongbuzz, 'well-valued wines by the glass, inventive seasonal cocktails and carefully chosen imported and domestic beers' as well as small plates (natch). It all seems a bit fancy for East Williamsburg, but hey, if Wombat can survive over there...

Continue reading "* Huckleberry Bar" »

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image c/o NYMag

108 N. 6th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 718.599.5959
HOURS: Daily, 3pm-4am
CARDS: All Major
GAMES: Skee-Ball, Big Buck Hunter, and a photo booth
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri, 3pm-8pm; one dollar off drafts, 2 for 1 well drinks and bottles
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L at Bedford Ave.
MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/hugsfolife
NY MAG SAYS: Hugs is huge. Like, airplane-hanger huge. The cavern's arched, cracked-plaster ceiling is supported by black-and-white smeared columns and is lit by a soft, pink-neon glow, giving it a cool, postindustrial feel. A long bar runs down nearly the entire length of the place, all the way down to the leather booths lurking in dim lighting. The owners—the same consortium that owns the Abbey, Alligator Lounge, and Crocodile Lounge—pull out some of their old tricks: A rec room has Skee-Ball, Big Buck Hunter, and a photo booth. The rotating U.N.I.T.Y. party rallies the nostalgic for early-nineties jams (who can resist “Push It”?); the rest of the time, resident D.J. Carrie Whitenoise, along with a rotating cast of hipster hip-hop types (tight jeans, big Jordans) take you back to the future

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180 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
(between Bedford & Driggs)
PHONE: 718.384.5008
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 2pm-4am; Sat-Sun, 7am-7pm; Sat-Sun, noon-4am from June-August
CARDS: Cash Only
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 2pm-7pm; reduced prices for all drinks
DIRECTIONS: From the Bedfrod Ave L, walk south on Bedford Avenue several blocks until you reach Grand Street. Take a left on Grand and the bar will be on your right.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Trian to Bedford Ave
WEBSITE: http://ionabrooklyn.com
NY MAG SAYS: At last: an Irish-like pub for people who generally hate Irish-like pubs, Iona's sprightly young staff (and their accents) couldn't be more appealing; they want you to pick your favorite wooden bench and stay a while. Inside this former candy store things are dim and spare, and don't expect to see gimmicky leprechaun figures or posters bearing limericks. Instead, you'll hear drum-and-bass mixes or classic rock--and not too loud, either. A little back alcove is perfect for late-night snogging, and the fact that the bar's not filled with lecherous old Irishmen pawing every female in sight is a blessing. That tradition is being kept alive instead by the neighborhood hipster boys.

Continue reading "* Iona" »

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295 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(Between Roebling Street and Havemeyer Street)
PHONE: 718.218.7866
HOURS: Daily, 6pm-4am
CARDS: MasterCard, Visa
GAMES: None
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 6pm-8pm; $3 well drinks, $4 drafts, $1 off everything else
EVENTS: Click Here
DIRECTIONS: Click Here
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St., L to Bedford
WEBSITE: www.larrylawrencebar.com
NY MAG SAYS: Winner - Best Post-Hipster Bar:
Where do you go when you've outgrown Last Night's Party but you're not quite ready to stop being cool? Hidden behind an all-but-unmarked hallway entrance, rarely crowded, and covered in beautiful barn-wood paneling, this spacious, serene lounge is a haven for Williamsburg's gracefully aging artists and intellectuals. The owners play an unobtrusive mix of Pavement, Gorillaz, and Bowie off their iPods, and there's a glassed-in, elevated smoking lounge out back for a quiet cigarette and a Laphroaig on the rocks. It's a candlelit oasis where you can talk Foucault without ever being asked if he played Bowery Ballroom last week.

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113 Franklin St., Brooklyn, NY 11222
between Greenpoint Ave. and Kent St.
PHONE: 718.383.6000
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 3pm-4am; Sat-Sun, noon-4am
CARDS: All Major
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri, 3pm-8pm; half-priced drinks
DIRECTIONS: G at Greenpoint Ave.
MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/greenpointteenagekicks
MAP: Click Here
NY MAG SAYS: Psychedelically colorful carousel fixtures and oversized posters of circus attractions distinguish this capacious converted warehouse from the surrounding neighborhood bars. Clearly, the three-tiered space is meant for partying, although during early hours the ground floor’s shiny vinyl booths and chrome tables are just as suited to sipping quiet pints à deux. Lost & Found shares co-owners with nearby Capone’s and Alligator Lounge, but in lieu of the free pizza that made those bars such hits there are greasy bar snacks for sale like hot dogs. In addition to a pool table and several arcade games located on the first balcony, two antique but mostly functional Skee-Ball machines compensate for the standard-issue selection of beers on tap; D.J.s spinning from a perch on the uppermost balcony make the generic array of albums in the jukebox a matter of indifference.

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image c/o Flickr

(Music Club)
361 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 212.260.2323
HOURS: varies, check schedule
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
HAPPY HOUR: no
SHOWS: Click Here
TICKETS: Click Here
DIRECTIONS: Take the L train and exit at the Bedford stop (the first stop in Brooklyn). Come up from the rear of the train onto Bedford and North 7th Street. Walk 3 short blocks south on Bedford until you reach North 4th Street, turn left and head east 3 blocks to Metropolitan Avenue. You will cross Driggs and Roebling. Continue 1/2 block on Metropolitan until you come to Luna Lounge.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L at Bedford Ave. ; G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St
WEBSITE: www.lunalounge.com
NY MAG SAYS: Soon after Lower East Side rock dive Luna Lounge suffered death by condo in 2005, owner Rob Sacher and wife Susan took their act to Williamsburg and converted a parking garage into a state-of-the-art concert hall. Though entry is no longer free (until after the show), drinks have stayed surprisingly cheap. The mid-size space, with a 300-person capacity (somewhere between Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom), is a much-needed addition to local, indie-rock venueland. With its smart floor plan providing fine views from anywhere in the room, a generously proportioned stage, and its warmly textured gray walls, this is certainly no McClub. The softly lit wooden bar flanked by giant, room-expanding mirrors might get overwhelmed during large shows, but a slew of elevated sideline banquettes make up for any inconveniences.

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1025 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11222
Greenpoint (at Green Street)
PHONE: 718.349.2340
HOURS: Daily, 4pm-4am
CARDS: All Major
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 4pm-8pm; $1 off all drafts and well drinks; $5 call drinks
EVENTS: Click Here
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: G at Greenpoint Ave.
WEBSITE: www.themarkbar.com
MYSPACE: Click Here
CITY SEARCH SAYS: Among the many dive bars in this Polish neighborhood, the Mark distinguishes itself with a selection of 50 bottled and 15 tap beers, from Germany to Japan, as well as a classic cocktail menu, including caipirinas and mint juleps. The Mark's art deco mahogany bar, jukebox with tunes from flamenco to grunge, and pool table draws a largely male clientele on weeknights. The bathrooms are noticeably clean, and the ladies room has a bidet.

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image c/o Flickr

559 Lorimer St., Brooklyn, NY 11211
(btwn Metropolitan & Devoe)
PHONE: 718.599.4444
HOURS: Daily, 3pm-4am
CARDS: Cash Only
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 3pm-8pm; two-for-one well drinks and domestic beer
DIRECTIONS: From L Train at Lorimer - Exit the back of the train and take a right on Lorimer. Metropolitan will be immediately on your right.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St.
WE SAY: This bar is primarily for gay men and women and their straight friends (and it truly is mixed). It has the unique distinction of being the first gay bar in Williamsburg (Fun is the other) creating a much needed space for the gay contingent of the neighborhood's arty/hipster set. The vibe is laidback, friendly and fun with video games, a pool table and even video bowling. Also, and perhaps most importantly at this time of year, Metropolitan has an awesome backyard complete with a grapevine and two floors of drinking fun.

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Photo by Julien Jourdes for The New York Times

Eclectic
58 North Third Street
(Bedford Stop on L train)
PHONE: 718.384.1369
CARDS: All Major
AVERAGE ENTREE: Starters, $6 to $8; main courses, $10 to $19; sides, $4; desserts, $6 to $7
HOURS: Seven Days a Week, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
BOOZE: Full bar
MAP: Click Here
MENU: Click Here
WEB: Click Here
THEY SAY: Our new location at 58 N 3rd St, adds a front, non-performance dining room and bar, while our back dining room maintains our original configuration: 4 screens, communal setting, 6.1 surround sound, intimate capacity: 32

We have created a permanent space that privileges video art, short films, feature-length films and documentaries, outside traditional galleries, movie theaters, museums, or clubs. We will also host live music, dance and other original performance. We will commission surround sound installations and continue our 'Bathroom Sound Series'. We plan to establish an artist residency. We serve experimental cuisine and classic dishes from a country that doesn’t exist. Every cuisine and every ingredient are in play. The laboratory is open.

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image c/o Flickr

349 Broadway, Brooklyn NY 11211 (Corner of Hooper)
PHONE: 718.599.6895
CARDS: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 6pm-1am; Sat-Sun, 6pm-2am
SUBWAY: J, M at Hewes St.
MAP: Click Here
WEBSITE: Click Here
WE SAY: South Williamsburg's hidden surprise. There is no sign on the door so hopefully this jewel will remain hidden from the masses. See some pictures on their website. This place is beautiful and affordable. The food is unique with French flair and the drinks are cheap!

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image c/o Flickr

125 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
at N. 10th St.
PHONE: 718.384.8494
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 2pm-4am; Sat-Sun, 11am-4am
CARDS: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
GAMES: none
HAPPY HOUR: Daily, 2pm-7pm; $.50 off drafts and well liquors
DIRECTIONS: From Bedford Ave. L - Walk north on Bedford for three blocks. Mugs will be on your right.
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Trian to Bedford Ave
WEBSITE: www.mugsalehouse.com
CITY SEARCH SAYS: Mug's serves up imported beers and pub-grub plates to an after-work neighborhood crowd. Between the tin ceiling and tile floors, the densely decorated tavern lines its dark wood walls with vintage beer steins and coasters intertwined with string lights. Tap brews include Southampton Double White Ale and other locals, and bites like Williams-burgers are dished out at the bar as well as the date-accommodating back room.

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MUSIC VENUE (Formerly Northsix)
66 North Sixth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
PHONE: 212.260.4700
CARDS: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
MAP: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford Ave
WEBSITE: www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
CALENDAR: www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
NY MAG SAYS: Bowery Presents, the bookers behind Webster Hall and Bowery Ballroom, have expanded their indie empire again with the rebirth and renaming of the former Northsix. The fancy face-lift stretches the space from two to three levels (with bars to match), adds balcony seating, and reshapes the interior via a curved wall for optimized acoustics. With the removal of the steel columns, sightlines were also markedly improved. And as if the cosmetic modifications weren't enough, the inaugural lineup put the previous incarnation's schedule to shame; Top notch indie acts and veteran critical faves look sure to pack the house while a gamut of great, on-the-verge bands should solidify the rep on the street.

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image c/o NY Press

CUISINE: Spanish Tapas
ADDRESS: 14