Barcade

388 Union Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.302.6464

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-4am; Sat-Sun 2pm-4am
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full Bar
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 5pm-8pm & Fri-Sat 2pm-8pm ; $1 off tap beers, $1 off well drinks, $6 Fisherman’s Brew and shot of Jim Bean
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.

NY Mag says:

Some people’s idea of a romantic nightspot involves candles, slow jams, and a heart-shaped box of candy. But for girls on the hunt for that elusive small-torsoed, tight-jeaned, floppy-haired species known as the Emoboyis Williamsburgus, there’s no better pick-up spot than Barcade. Here, finding and chatting up prime specimens is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel–or, more accurately, as easy as shooting aliens in Moon Patrol, one of almost thirty vintage arcade games that give Barcade its name. The airy, loft-like space never feels crowded, and there’s plenty of room to sit and watch Union Avenue’s finest compete for high scores of all varieties. Most importantly, the rotating list of more than 20 microbrews includes many local beers on tap. The heavyweight ones, with names like Sixpoint Diesel and higher-than-usual alcohol contents, may be just what’s needed to seal the deal with that dude in the faded Smiths T-shirt–or to sabotage your opponent at two-player Tetris.

Beloved (image c/o NYMag)

674 Manhattan Ave.,
Greenpoint, New York, NY 11222
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718.486.9222

Our Rating: ★★★
Cards: All Major
Reservations: Yes
Hours: G at Nassau Ave.
Booze: Full bar
Subway: G to Nassau
Drinks Menu: Click Here
Website: Click Here
NY Mag says:

Tucked away on Manhattan Avenue just up the street from Five Leaves, the 900-square-foot establishment (formerly Stones Tavern) will provide twelve craft beers, including $4 Narragansett Lager. The cocktail menu — designed by Heather Ash, head bartender from Allswell in Willamsburg and Rene Hidalgo, bartender from Lantern’s Keep — features six drinks, including the Storm Warning (Smith & Cross, Cynar, ginger, lime, club soda, Peychaud’s Bitters). Later this summer, Sreekumar and his co-owner Aaron Manheim will nearly double the size of the nightspot by opening their 800-square-foot backyard.

Berry Park

4 Berry St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.782.2829

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Mon-Thurs 5pm-2am; Fri 4pm-4am; Sat 12pm-4am; Sun 12pm-2am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave., G to Nassau Ave.
Food/Menu: Click Here
Booze: Full Bar
Happy Hour: Thu, 5pm-9pm; Win a coin flip with the bartender and get your drink for free.
Time Out New York says:

Williamsburg welcomes its latest beer hall, a bi-level behemoth with a 3,500-square-foot ground floor and a roof deck almost as large. Brooklyn boosters may be disappointed to find that the 15 taps are dedicated to imports (mostly German and Belgian drafts). Other amenities that might make up for it: a 13-foot-wide screen dedicated to soccer, Manhattan (and McCarren Park) views and a forthcoming beer-friendly food menu.

Metromix says:

The sharp-looking bi-level beer bar and beer garden provides a much-needed alfresco (and unfresco? how do you say indoors in Italian?) drinking cavern for beer-loving Williamsburgers. The downstairs section houses a smattering of picnic tables, a stage and a bar stocked with European brews, while the spacious rooftop garden offers umbrella-ed tables and benches, as well as a secondary bar (also umbrella-ed), providing lovely views of Bedford Park and the city. Maybe start with a round on the roof before heading to The Gutter for gaming?

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?

c/o Brooklyn Bowl

61 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.963.3369
(Bowling Alley with food by Blue Ribbon)

Cuisine: American/Southern
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$$
Hours: Monday – Thursday 6pm-2am; Friday 6pm-4am; Saturday 12pm-4am; Sunday 12pm-2am
Family Days are Saturday and Sunday! Noon-6pm is ALL AGES!
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Bedford
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
We say:

A stunning sprawling space, albeit pricey.

The New Yorker says:

We suggest that you eat with your non-bowling hand,” a note on the menu at Brooklyn Bowl states, in a nod, presumably, to both aim and hygiene, if not to the traditional carelessness of ten-frame dining. This converted warehouse at the northern edge of Williamsburg does triple duty as a bowling alley, a music hall, and a grub house. Its kingpin, Peter Shapiro, the former owner of the bygone jam-bandy club Wetlands, has dreamed up an emporium that combines hedonistic excess (deep-end leather couches, spiked milkshakes, brisket, live music) with eco-consciousness (reclaimed-cork floors, no bottled beer, live music). For the eats, he brought in the Bromberg brothers, the creators of Blue Ribbon, to draw up a rebuke to every limpid water dog and fossilized onion ring you’ve ever downed, then regretted, at Wherever Lanes. They tinkered with comfort-food classics, secure in the knowledge that no bowler will ever crave endive. It’s a menu that begs over-ordering, as well as this remark from your waiter, regarding the procedure for delivering the food: “You guys want it as it fits?” “Fits where?” is one reply; the table is bigger than the stomach.

Still, all you have to do, while stuffed, is take a few steps forward and drop a twelve-pound ball on the floor, so there’s no sin in downing the carefully considered greaseballs the Blue Ribbon boys sling your way. Their fried chicken, dipped in matzoh batter, seasoned with Cajun spices, and accompanied by white bread and honey, has Earl Anthony game. The calamari, commingled with fried jalapeño, is the Dick Weber of fried squid. The San Gennaro, loaded with finely ground Italian sausage, is the Johnny Petraglia of French-bread pizzas: crisp outside, fluffy inside, it has all of the virtue, and none of the vice, of Stouffer’s. There are a few gutter balls; some might find the mac and cheese too creamy and the “Really” Sloppy Joe really actually too sweet. But the score sheet shows more X’s than —’s.

On a recent evening, the lanes were busy but not loud; the pins hang on strings, which helps muffle the din. Giant video screens showed montages from raunchy old B-movies like “The Student Nurses” and “Caged Heat.” Around eleven, the Roots took the stage, the dance floor filled up, and a waiter came by with Nutella-bourbon shakes, a convergence that felt like nailing a spare on a four-ten split. (Open weekdays for dinner and weekends for lunch and dinner. Entrées $9-$19.)

Brooklyn Brewery

79 North 11th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.486.7422

Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Fri 6pm-11pm; Sat-Sun Noon-5pm
Subway: L Train to Bedford Ave
Food/Menu: Chips
Booze: Beer
Happy Hour: Fri 6pm-11pm; $3 beers
Citysearch 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.

The Village Voice says:

It’s Friday night. Rush home from work, grab the gang, and head to the Brooklyn Brewery, where you can take over a picnic table, guzzle fresh-brewed malt beverages, and order food from one of the numerous local Thai restaurants for delivery. For the really cheap bastards, take a Saturday afternoon tour and enjoy the free “tasting” afterwards.

Cafe De La Esquina

225 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.393.5500

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Price: Expensive
Cards: All Major
Booze: Full Bar
Hours: Dinner: 6pm-12am; Brunch (Sat-Sun): 11:30am-4pm
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
Time Out New York says:

Nolita’s Mexican hot spot brings its tacos and tortas to this 1950s Williamsburg diner. Like the Manhattan original, this outpost is divided into distinct areas, including a takeout taqueria in front, an outdoor garden and a classic diner with brown booths. Retire to the candlelit backroom, featuring dark wood tables and mirrors painted with Mexican-style murals, for chef Akhtar Nawab’s menu of more-refined plates, like chile de árbol—braised-brisket taquitos with pickled cabbage and guajillo chili. You’ll also find the outfit’s signature dishes, including fish tacos, chicken tortilla soup, and grilled corn with lime mayo, chili and cotija cheese. Drinkers can choose from a selection of 100 sipping tequilas and mescals, such as Don Julio 1800 Coleccion, Del Maguey Pechuga and Casa Noble Crystal.

East River Bar

97 South 6th Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.302.0511

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Sun-Thu, 5pm-2am; Fri-Sat, 5pm-4am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave
Website: www.eastriverbar.com
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri, 5pm-8pm
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 main 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, putting up a disco ball and a cowboy-themed mirror behind the bar. The resulting comfortable dive is complete with the standard handful of beers on tap, and a number of games—Big Buck Hunter and a pool table. If the weather’s nice, the concrete patio becomes a family-friendly haven, where hipster tykes buzz about while parents cook BYOBBQ on the grill. 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.

Good Co.

10 Hope St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.218.7191

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-4am; Sat-Sun 1pm-4am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave. or Lorimer St.
Food/Menu: Bar Snacks
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Mon-Sun 4pm-10pm.  $1 off ALL Beers.  $4 Well Drinks. $5 PBR + Shot of Whiskey.  $6 Sangria.  $6 Frozen Drinks. $10 Pitchers of Coors Light.
Time Out New York says:

The massive back patio at recently shuttered Hope Lounge was one of its most attractive features. Luckily, it’s open again just in time for summer under new ownership. The previous tenant’s loungey setup has been replaced with Good Company’s more casual look, including salvaged wood paneling from an old pier in the Rockaways. The 2,600-square-foot outdoor space, meanwhile, now features picnic tables and games like darts. Eight taps pour beers ranging from Peak Organic IPA to Guinness and Stella. For stiffer drinks, look to the collection of brown liquors and blender concoctions. No-nonsense foods—like lobster rolls and pulled-pork sandwiches—will soon be introduced.

Citysearch says:

Looking to be the ultimate summertime bar, Good Co.’s got one of the biggest patios in Williamsburg packed with picnic tables, games like ping pong, cornhole and darts, plus a grill for the barbecue they give away with drinks on the weekends. Inside, Unlike most bars in the Burg, there’s no theme, and no uppity mixologists to ruin the fun: we’re talking beers and shots, often served by bartenders as blasted as you are. Expect hip-hop, rock and electro from the DJ, who’s as likely as not to be a member of a well-known local band like the Black Lips