Iona

180 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.384.5008

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Daily 1pm-4am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Food/Menu: Click Here
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily 4pm-7pm: $1 off everything
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.

Citysearch says:

While the neighborhood’s lusty Stinger Club and Black Betty turn on the red lights, this pub (named for a Celtic island between Ireland and Scotland) proves a worthy complement. Wood-toned and gently lit, Iona reverberates with the Pogues and other alt-rockers as it fills up with conversational folk on the weekends. Although the bar does not serve hard liquor, Iona’s beer selection–largely Irish, Scottish and Belgian–is top-notch. Twenty varieties are on tap, including Guinness, Stella Artois and Fuller’s London Pride, and 30 in the bottle, such as Hoegaarden, Duvel and Schneiderweisse. In addition to beer, ale and bitters, the chalkboard menu offers four wines by the glass and snacks like potato chips and Mars bars. Irish-born bartender and part-owner Ailish Keating, who runs the pub with her friends Robert Hennah and John Crilly, has opened up the bar’s back garden–an attractive space with tree branches overhead.

c/o NY Mag

511 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.218.9429

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Daily 3pm-4am
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Food/Menu: Bar Snacks (popcorn)
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily 3pm-7pm: $2 domestic beers, $3 tap beers, and half-priced well drinks
NY Mag says:

In any other location, the industrial-sized, pine-planked Redd’s would be hopping on a Friday night, its plush couches and lantern-lit patio filled with groups of drinkers. Apparently it takes a little more of a gimmick—like Barcade’s trove of vintage video games or Royal Oak’s college-age sleaze—to earn the attention of Williamsburg bar-goers. But what Redd’s lacks in novelty it makes up for in comfort: A stack of wax-paper bags waits to be filled with gratis popcorn, and the classic-rock jukebox, spiked with Sonic Youth and Elvis Costello, treads on pleasantly familiar ground. In the winter, bartenders heat up toddies and apple cider on hot plates. Next to a red, illuminated Esso gas pump, a makeshift stage hosts the occasional jazz band or singer-songwriter, and the bar has an accommodating booking policy toward eager acts. Of course, the lack of a crowd affords an opportunity, too: Curl up with a few friends and a pint of Summer Blue Point, and lounge like you own the place.

Shecky’s says:

If you’re curious about the buzz about Grand Street being the new Lower East Side, and want to find out for yourself, start at the unlikely intersection of Grand and Union, home of Redd’s Tavern. Pretty new to the neighborhood, Redd’s is working the crowds the way any good host should, with a guest’s desires in mind. An open BBQ in the beer garden provides gas and grill while patrons bring in whatever they want to cook up. Any local band that asks can pretty much pick a night and play; even what plays on the tubes above the bar is up for grabs. Put your feet up on the couches, plunk your quarters in the jukebox, and enjoy yourself. Good luck getting up to check out the rest of the strip once you’re comfortable at Redd’s.

Rock Star Bar

351 Kent Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.599.3052

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Mon-Wed 5pm-2am; Thu-Sat 2:30pm-4am; Closed Sun
Subway: L to Bedford Ave., J,M,Z to Marcy Ave.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Mon-Wed 5pm-8pm: $1 off drafts
Thu-Sat 2:30pm-8pm: $1 off drafts
We say:

Rocky changes the name of his bar every few years, the perky bartender will inform you. Waterfront, Splash, On the Rocks, Ship’s Mast, Local and Rocky’s have been just a few of the monikers adopted by this spacious dive tucked under the Williamsburg Bridge. Loyal regulars brave the desolate locale for an antidote to Bedford Avenue’s self-consciously hip scene. Bright orange and yellow walls provide the backdrop for a large, octagonal black bar with a pair of ships’ figureheads in the center. Aside from that, the surroundings are set-piece dive bar: a jukebox, a beat-up television, pool and air hockey tables, and a sketchy mix of chairs and couches.

Shecky’s says:

The name of this bar says it all. Punk, hard rock, and alternative bands take center stage in this quintessential dive bar nestled beneath the Williamsburg Bridge. Iron workers by day and young people looking to escape the scene that is Bedford Avenue by night frequent this place. There is little décor, just a pool table and some couches that may have never seen a vacuum or sponge. The mood is low-key at the octagonal bar encasing two mermaid figures perched within. Head out back to enjoy tasty soul food from the Pies n Thighs restaurant.

The Levee

212 Berry St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.218.8787

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Daily Noon-4am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Food/Menu: Bar Snacks
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily 5pm -8pm: $1.00 off all drinks & beer, Sportsman Special – $4.00 Evan Williams shot with PBR chaser, The Texas Two-Step- $5.00 A bottle of Lone Star & a shot of Tequila, The Frat Boy -$5.00 A bottle of Budwiser & a shot of Jagermeister
NY Mag says:

Formerly Antique Lounge (and before that, rumor has it, a cocaine bar called Kokie’s), this well-apportioned space has finally been put to good use by The Levee, an old-fashioned bar with Southern roots and a comfortable, homey atmosphere. High-gravity microbrews and melted cheese are now the drugs of choice here: From behind the bar, Texan owner Howard serves up white-trash staples like Frito pie and chili dogs, which are best washed down with a Beam Cream (Jim Beam and cream soda–two great tastes that really do taste great together) or any of the 35 bottled or six tap beers. The clean, lamplit back room has pool, pinball, cozy couches, and the kind of inclusive, no-bullshit vibe that attracts dedicated regulars. Given the changes this space has seen, it’s almost eerie how much The Levee feels like a tried-and-true local. Notable specials include the Sportsman (Carling Black Label and Evan Williams shot, $4) and the Texas 2-Step (Lone Star and tequila shot, $5).

The Village Voice says:

If the cool kids with asymmetrical haircuts have been keeping you from making Billyburg a drinking destination, then the Levee will convince you to give the neighborhood a chance. The owners of this unpretentious bar welcome everyone with their famous Texan hospitality. On a recent visit, hard-drinking middle-aged men sang along to an Iron Maiden song from the jukebox near the dark wood bar, while a crowd of locals in black-rimmed glasses and hooded sweatshirts played Battleship on the thrift store sofas in the other room. Under a sign declaring “Beware Pickpockets & Loose Women,” the friendly bartender chatted with diverse patrons, suggesting beers from the long list of unusual brands ($4 to $7) that includes options like Chimay Blue and Delirium Tremens, or one of the delicious specialty drinks ($6), like a Creamsicle (Stoli Vanil and Sunkist orange soda) or a Beam Cream (Jim Beam and cream soda). Food was proffered, and though the menu is simple, cheap (under $5), and decidedly Texan, everything–from the chili-soaked Frito pie to the hot dogs–can be made vegetarian. This is a bar where PBR swillers sit side by side with Hefeweisen sippers while the jukebox plays Modest Mouse songs and Dio rockers. So drive your Chevy to this Levee (or just hop on the L train)–it never runs dry.