image c/o Flickr

600 Metropolitan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.599.4440

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Mon-Fri, 3pm-4am; Sat-Sun, 1pm-4am
Price: $
Subway: G, L at Metropolitan Ave.-Lorimer St.
Food/Menu: Free pizza when you buy a pint
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: No, but they have free pizza!
We say:

The dive meets frat boy decor is nothing to write home about, but the free brick over pizza (which is actually REALLY good) makes it hard to pass up.

NY Mag says:

Inside what was once the Galleria pizza place, this bar’s turquoise walls, pink flamingoes and Romanesque details don’t quite gel, yet one crucial feature remains intact: the arched, wood-burning oven. Because of the owners’ sensational idea of serving free personal pizzas every night until 3:30 a.m., this unremarkable joint has turned into a loveable hangout that’s a great first or last barhop stop. Young and old Williamsburg folk congregate along the bar, in the maroon, open-angle vinyl booths, and around the green pool table. A booming jukebox and Big Buck Hunter Pro game in back provide entertainment. A selection of 10 draft beers complements the delicious crisp-crust pies, which are on the house with every drink; toppings like pepperoni, caramelized onions and flavorful sweet sausage are available for an extra $2.

Boulevard Tavern

579 Meeker Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
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718.389.3252

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Mon 6pm-4am; Tue-Sun 3pm-4am
Subway: G to Nassau Ave.
Food/Menu: Bar Snacks
Booze: Full Bar
Happy Hour: Daily, 4pm-9pm; $4 draft and well drinks
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.

Metromix says:

A great neighborhood bar, especially during the summer months, when the friendly folks at Boulevard fire up the grill in their backyard (every Friday through Monday) and cook burgers and dogs, which go well with their cheap drinks.

c/o NY Mag

103 Berry St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.302.9811

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Mon-Fri 3pm-4am; Sat-Sun 12pm-4am
Subway: L Train to Bedford Ave
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: $5 Specialty Drafts, $4 Brooklyns $4 Imports, $3 Domestics & $4 Well Cocktails! Daily until 7pm, Wednesday Happy Hour All Night!
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.

NY Mag says:

Yes, the name is generic, almost to the point of complete mental irretrievability. And, being a jukebox-with-billiards spot in Williamsburg, it faces fierce local competition: The Sweetwater siphons the punks, the Abbey the mods; Mug’s has greater beer variety, plus food and televised sports. So what nevertheless makes B.A.H. the Northside’s choice watering hole? One word: acoustics. You can talk here. You can speak low and still make yourself heard over the Pixies or the Stones. And since it happens to be a favorite of both dog owners and motorcycle owners, it’s the best place in town to spot a dog on a motorcycle. And that’s pretty cool, right?

CoCo66

66 Greenpoint Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11222
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718.389.7392

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Daily, 4pm-4am
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily 4pm-8pm: $3 draft beer and well drinks
Mon-Wed, & Sun, Midnight-2am: $3 draft beer and well drinks
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

Citysearch says:

Standing out from the neighborhood’s pubbier joints, this industrial bar boasts a construction of completely recovered materials. The zinc bar, skylights, and walls of distressed white pressed-tin help ground the front and back rooms in historical detail, while the dark wood banquettes and inset birch panels add warmth. The group-ready hangout attracts a spectrum of patrons, though Williamsburg’s young Greenpoint neighbors are scouting the territory.
The DJ’s musical choices can be a bit haphazardly mixed–but the bar pays close attention to drinks, muddling ice and mint for a tall and citrusy mojito, artfully serving a duotone White Russian, and nailing down each detail for a fresh lime margarita. Chocolates from next door’s Brooklyn Chocolate & Cocoa Co. accompany wines and armagnacs, and infuse cocktails as well. In back, the pool table sees some action and a dart board is ready and waiting.

East River Bar

97 South 6th Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.302.0511

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Sun-Thurs 5pm-3am; Fri-Sat 5pm-4am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave
Food/Menu: Bring Your Own BBQ
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri, 5pm-8pm: $3 drafts and well drinks
NY Mag says:

Before becoming the East River Bar in early 2004, this venerable space was an illicit Latino speakeasy, and before that, an underground biker bar. Its first incarnation, though, was as a paint factory, and the giant room retains a great industrial feel, with beautiful pressed-tin ceilings and weathered floorboards. Instead of accentuating such things, though, the owners have opted to camp it up, marring the antique ceiling with a disco ball and shoving a cowboy-themed mirror behind the bar. The result is a comfortable but generic dive, complete with the standard handful of beers on tap, the standard dartboard and pool table, and the standard smell of Murphy’s Oil Soap. Some of the barflies are about as stylish and appealing as the broken-down furniture, most of which looks like it was just dredged out of the bar�s namesake estuary. If the weather’s nice, East River Bar justifies its existence by grilling BYOBBQ on the patio. These meaty treats compete with the beefy fumes emanating from nearby Peter Luger’s.

Citysearch says:

At this lofty former after-hours spot, red-painted brick walls, poured concrete floors and a custom Western-themed stained-glass mirror define the space, adding a soulful, personal touch without appearing to try too hard. The laid-back crowd gravitates to the elevated pool table and neat pairing of couches in the rear, kicking back outside when the weather permits. On sunny weekends, groups of neighbors spill into the lively patio, which is decked out with garden furniture, canopies and free-for-all grills–just bring your own meat. Among the eight beers on tap are a rich Hacker-Pschorr wheat beer and a well-priced, fruity Flying Dog, which add extra zest to the barbecue spirit. For dessert, the bartender can pour you a homemade shot, like the Caramel Apple with apple and butterscotch schnapps.

Full Circle

318 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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347.725.4588

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Mon-Fri, 3pm-4am; Sat-Sun, 1pm-4am
Subway: L to Lorimer St.; J,M,Z, to Marcy Ave.
Food/Menu: Bar Snacks
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Mon-Thurs 4pm-9pm;Fri-Sun 2pm-9pm $3 Full Circle Wheat $3 BREWmosa, $4 Well Drinks, $4 Moo Thunder, $4 Pork Slap,$4 Snapperhead IPA, $4 Whiskee Fizz, $4 Arnold Palmer, $4 BROTY Mary
Metromix says:

The “National Home of Brewskee Ball” is home to all sorts of Skee-Ball league tournaments, game nights, special events and other beer- and game-related parties—and it serves Coney Island hot dogs and hand-twisted pretzels, too. But wait—what is Brewskee Ball? We’re sure you can guess, but just in case: “Brewskee-Ball is the first-ever competitive Skee-Ball league, and Full Circle Bar is its national home.” Just like we thought. Game on!

NY Mag says:

They take their Skee-ball seriously at this South Williamsburg mecca of cheap beer. A Skee-ball machine greets you in the tiny front room, while the back boasts a proper game room stocked with … more Skee-ball! For die hard players, the bar hosts a semi-competitive league – known as Brewskeeball – that meets on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. As for the rest of the regulars, they come for the cozy atmosphere and prices that are uber-friendly: $5 will get you a can of Moo Thunder or Dale’s Pale Ale, Genny Cream Ale is $3, and Stella and Sweet Action on tap are $6. Cans are the name of the game — the bar carries over 15 canned beers, from Golden Pheasant to Pork Slap. One of the best deals is the $4 Ginny Dog (a Genesee cream ale and a decent hot dog) or the $6 10th Ball (a cream ale and a shot of well whiskey). Weekday crowds are mostly locals, while the weekends see some spillover from The Lodge next door.

c/o Blackbook Mag

790 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.387.3797

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Daily 4pm-4am
Subway: L Train to Lorimer St. or Graham Ave.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily 4pm to 9pm: $1 off everything (except any $3 beer), $3 Legion Lager, Schlitz or Schmidts, $5 Schlitz, Schmidts or Tecate & a well shot ($6 for Jack or Jamesons)
NY Mag says:

Formerly the Pourhouse, Brooklyn’s vaguely tragic blue-collar haunt has been overtaken by young professionals and Guitar Heroes filing off the Graham Avenue stop. Dark brick walls, barred windows, and lava-lamp-pink neon light feel reminiscent of a high schooler’s basement bedroom—perfect for Legion Bar’s barely-legal patrons who might feel stifled by the more patrician Harefield Road across the street. D.J.’s spin “Surfin’ Bird” from a booth in the front room on Saturday, while a backroom pool is the draw for mellow weeknights. The beers on tap are standard—Stella and Hoegaarden—but like a cool-kid’s parent’s well-stocked booze cabinet, Legion offers nine varieties of wine, ten bourbons, and fifteen scotches.

Martini Boys say:

There was a time when the Legion was known exclusively as a hang out for American war vets to drown their memories with cheap alcohol and the company of others who have experienced the same horrors of war. The Legion has now taken on a new incarnation as a hip hang out spot, replacing Pourhouse, and the American Legion has yet to file a trademark suit. My only advice: don’t expect any heroes here.

Maracuja

279 Grand St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.302.9023

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Mon-Thurs 6pm-Midnight; Fri-Sat 6pm-4am; Sun 5pm-Midnight
Subway: L to Bedford Ave., Lorimer St., J,M,Z to Marcy Ave.
Food/Menu: Bar Snacks
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 6pm-8pm: $4 well drinks and $4 drafts
The Village Voice says:

A classic, comfy pub that takes its name from the Brazilian word for passion fruit (maracuja), the bar features a house drink of, naturally, the Brazilian rum Cachaca with passion-fruit juice, alongside a reliable bar menu of cheap cheese fries and meaty sandwiches. The outdoor garden and the pool table in back beckon a bit more than the digital jukebox, stocked with as many misses (Evanescence) as hits (Blondie).

NY Mag says:

After lying dormant for over thirty years this Lithuanian bar was restored to its 1950s less-than-splendor by a Brazilian-born city inspector, Charles Kaim. In the kitchen, his Colombian wife Connie Ruiz, whose paintings of nudes adorn the mahogany walls, prepares empanadas and tostones in addition to the usual bar-and-grill fare. If a snack is all you need, Kaim will hook you up with free Slim Jims or toasted Pop Tarts, and if he has any passion fruit (i.e. maracuja’) juice behind the 100-year-old mahogany bar, he’ll mix it with cachaca for a drink that, as far as sweetness and potency go, beats the many offerings from Brooklyn Brewery on tap. Although old cameras, phonographs, apothecary bottles, an upright piano salvaged from a Bronx basement, and a wooden rotary phone booth loosen up the stiff look of the circular tables, the best place to unwind is the backyard: With its trellises, an array of cooking herbs growing in marble sinks, and the branches of a decades-old rose bush sweeping over the tables, it can rightly be called a garden.

Metropolitan

559 Lorimer St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.599.4444

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Daily 3pm-4am
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Food/Menu: BBQ’s on weekends
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily 3pm-8pm: two-for-one domestic beer and well drinks
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.

NY Mag says:

An oasis of space and playfulness in a scene that has little of either. The sprawling backyard, a vine-tangled patio spattered with picnic tables and hard-resin lawn chairs, is the draw at this Williamsburg gay bar, and it seems to bring out the mellow sun-worshipper in everyone. A free summer Sunday-afternoon barbecue (with veggie burgers and tofu dogs available, natch) that attracts a crowd as gregarious as it is ravenous doesn’t hurt, either. Boys and girls, who all seem to know each other, patter around in sandals and sunglasses or flirt at the long, serpentine bar, while a DJ (or jukebox) spins indie rock. Until things warm up enough for the backyard, two roaring fireplaces surrounded by après-ski-style sofas inside are just as cozy. It’s enough to make you want to get a civil union and retire to suburbia.

c/o Paper Mag

559 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.384.2835

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Daily 5pm-4am
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Food/Menu: None
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily 5pm-8pm: $3 beers and well drinks
NY Mag says:

Ontario Bar is a joint project from Andrew Benedict and Scott Frederick of Buttermilk, Boat, and Great Lakes. When Frederick was growing up in Michigan, he’d make beer runs across the border to Windsor, Ontario, where the drinking age was just 18. He discovered the joys of Herr’s ketchup-flavored potato chips, Molson on draft, and Moosehead and Labatt Blue in bottles, and he’s now serving them at Ontario Bar, along with ten varieties of Canadian whiskey (like the beers, which go for $4 a pop, they’re reasonably priced). The bar is simply decorated — you’re looking at old booths salvaged from an upstate Shriners club, a tabletop Pac-Man/Galaga machine, and, of course, a jukebox stocked with Canadian tunes from Metric, Great Lakes Swimmers, Arcade Fire, and Neil Young (there will also be D.J.’s spinning indie rock).

Time Out New York says:

There are a few persistent clichés about Canada, and for the most part, they’re true. One: Canadians are polite. Another: Canucks are touchy when it comes to defending their relevance (how many have reminded you that Mike Myers, Pamela Anderson and Anakin Skywalker are all from the Great White North?). A third: The national pastimes are hockey and beer. Ontario Bar, a new addition to Williamsburg from the owner of Brooklyn dives Great Lakes, Buttermilk and Boat, was conceived as a tribute to our genteel neighbors…which in this instance isn’t much of a compliment.

Located on a stretch of Grand Street in Williamsburg where there are already plenty of good dives (Clem’s, the Bushwick Country Club) and more civilized bars (Huckleberry, Iona), Ontario’s negligible edge lies in its cheap drinks (most beers and whiskey shots cost $5, $3 during happy hour) and that Maple Leaf gimmick. But it’s awfully similar to the others in its franchise (indie-rock jukebox, wood paneling, video games), and the nominal “Canadian” touches hardly set it apart. Deer heads are tacked to the walls, the bar hosts weekly Trailer Park Boys screenings, and there are more Canadian songsters on the juke than usual (Neil Young, Arcade Fire, a “[John] Candy approved” mix called CanFuckingDa). On the food-and-drink front, we found $4 shots of Black Velvet (one of nine Canadian whiskeys), ketchup chips (Herr’s, a Pennsylvania brand—strike one) and a slew of mediocre Canadian beers—Molson, Labatt and Moosehead—that were outshined by the Bluepoint, Brooklyn Lager and Sixpoint on tap. (Though a follow-up call revealed that the owners are working on expanding their Candian beer options, don’t expect any of Quebec’s yummy craft beers here.)

Why bother with the theme if it’s not going to up your game? Particularly un-Canadian was the bartender’s crappy attitude. After pouring us the kind of watery rye-and-ginger that reminded us of our college days in Montreal—ginger ale from a gun, Canadian Club and wispy ice chips—he clammed up when we asked him to extol the bar’s Canadian virtues: “This bar is named after Lake Ontario, it’s not supposed to be Canadian,” he sputtered (incorrectly). That explains a lot. This time, we won’t blame Canada.