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.

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 NY Mag

206 Nassau Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
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718.383.9848

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-4am; Sun Noon-4am
Subway: L to Nassau Ave.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: None
NY Mag says:

Ever wonder where the headbangers from Heavy Metal Parking Lot are now hanging out? You’ll find a few of them drinking cheap domestics at the giant horseshoe bar of this tavern—family-owned since 1933. Live bands no longer play here as they did for a spell, but Pantera and Nugent are still on the jukebox and somehow the resultant soundtrack doesn’t clash with the well-worn Tudor setting with its castle-like wooden door opening onto an airy front room of electric candelabras, stained-glass windows, and stucco ceilings crossed by wooden beams. The back room, once catering to diners but now used exclusively for private parties, takes it up a notch via velvet curtains, banquet tables, floral paintings, and a non-functioning fireplace; starchy meat and potatoes dishes solidify the rustic feel. Of course, no one comes to admire the architecture, but to catch up on neighborhood gossip, play Galaga, and turn it up, dude.

Metromix says:

There are few places left like this in Brooklyn (or in all of New York City, actually), and it’s a shame. Anything goes at this classic dive bar where metal rules, the beers are cold and cheap, and local old-timers do shots of Jack with fresh-off-the-bus hipsters.

c/o NY Mag

451 Meeker Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
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718.486.6116

Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Mon-Sat 6pm-4am; Sun 1pm-4am
Subway: L Train to Graham Ave., G to Nassau Ave.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Mon-Sat 6pm-9pm: 2 for 1 beers; Sun 1pm-9pm: 2 for 1 beers
NY Mag says:

Now that Bedford Avenue has sold out to Tasti D-Lite, this friendly dive by the BQE cuts right through the area’s surge of vanilla flavor. Its interior is basic, with red walls, some garish paintings, and a solid jukebox stocked with the Pixies, Frank Sinatra and PJ Harvey. Other entertainment includes a big-screen TV (which comes in handy for “Sopranos” pizza parties), Big Buck Hunter II and a Top Gun Challenge darts game, as well as Scrabble, Jenga and Twister. Though most evenings the scene tends to be small and laid-back, the bar’s special events can bring out a raucous streak—particularly Tuesday nights, when Carter’s Boys Library encourages adorable men to strip down to their skivvies (for kicks as well as a free drink). The happy hour, which runs til 9 p.m. daily, offers a two-for-one deal on any of the eight tap beers, among them a pleasing Sixpoint ale.

Shecky’s says:

If you told someone you were going to open a bar under the BQE, they’d probably tell you were crazy, and they might be right, but the relatively new R Bar seems to be using the location to its advantage, offering a cool hangout in an area of crappy restaurants and gross delis-you know, the kind that smell like kitty litter? On the weekends, R Bar is bumpin’ with folks socializing, shooting pool, and sipping homemade sangria or infused vodkas. Other nights of the week, visit R Bar for karaoke (Wednesdays), free food (Sundays and Mondays), and a DJ (Tuesdays). Something’s always going on here, and if for some reason you get bored, you can always go play “kick the can” with the folks that live under the highway.

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.

The Trash Bar

256 Grand St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.599.1000

Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Hours: Daily 5pm-4am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave. or Lorimer St.
Food/Menu: Free Tator Tots
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily 5pm-8pm: two-for-one PBR, well drinks and draft beer
Daily 1am-4am: $3 PBR, $6 “Jack & Back” drinks (PBR infused with shot of Jack Daniel’s)
Daily 8pm-9pm: open bar with cover on PBR and well drinks
Calendar: Click Here
NY Mag says:

Ably filling the Grand Street niche left by the semi-lamented Luxx, Trash proves that rock dives don’t have to be dank, dilapidated holes-in-the-wall. Really loud bands break the sound barrier in a small back room, while up front, girls in ripped fishnets and guys in studded jackets snuggle in cushy car backseats as they wait for their friends’ bands to begin. In the spacious front room, license plates and old beer signs hang on the walls and the stink of free, greasy tater tots permeates the air. It’s even kind of well-lit. The uniformly-tattooed, college-age patrons couldn’t care less. Supercheap late-night happy hour specials ensure no one’s making it to class on time tomorrow.

Citysearch says:

Styled like a hipster Bennigan’s, this Billyburg rock club lets the good times roll. The bordello-red walls are decked out with NASCAR posters, Tom Jones album covers, Schlitz plates and religious icons depicted on paper fans. Metallica blasts through the stereo speakers. Mohawked and tattooed locals sink into surprisingly cozy bench and bucket seats lifted from junkyard cars. The effect is kitschy, hip and somehow familiar–the decor and good-times vibe is very T.G.I. Friday’s, even though bartenders don’t serve food (nor do they wear weird hats or wacky buttons). Behind the main area, a fully enclosed back room with a second bar offers a stage for local and touring rock bands. It’s mostly standing room, but a few more car seats are placed around the perimeter. The room isn’t too big and the bands are really loud–just how the crowd likes them. For a few quieter rounds of pool, grab a pint and stay up front.

Tommy's Tavern

1041 Manhattan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
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718.383.9699

Rating: ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Daily 6pm-4am
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: None
Calendar: Click here
NY Mag says:

A visit to this out-of-the-way Greenpoint dive can go two ways. Scenario one: you step through clusters of bands smoking in front of their beat-up tour vans just to get to the door and squeeze through a crowd of messy-haired college radio DJs and girls in slouchy boots to get to the fluorescent-lit bar. After stopping by the grim bathroom to stuff a handful of toilet paper in your ears you push through the saloon-style swinging doors into a stageless back room where, under a pulsating lightshow apparently stolen from a middle school dance, you’ll come face-to-glistening-face with some thundering rock outfit. Scenario two: A man with a deeply creased face will slowly pull his gaze away from the television set and, out of politeness to the only other person in the bar, invite you to a game of pool. Scenemaking rock promoter Todd P.–who started booking some of Brooklyn’s best underground shows a few times a week at this three-decade-old bar–is the difference. Either way, the cheap booze is the fuel.

Citysearch says:

Most nights of the week, the experience at this neighborhood dive consists of throwing back a few cheap beers and stiff well drinks with worn-thin Polish men, while basking in the glow of neon beer signs and television. Come Friday, a week’s worth of dust gets stirred up as young Brooklyn hispters march en mass into the small and stageless back room, which transforms into an up-and-coming, word-of-mouth rock spot. Many of the shows are thrown together by local promoter Todd P. Call to find out what buzzed-about band is playing next. Everything here is dirt cheap–think domestic bottles for $3, with imports and well drinks ringing in at a whopping $4. If you’re really strapped for cash, PBR or a can of Schaefer can be had for $2.

c/o NY Mag

107 North 6th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.384.1903

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Hours: Daily 2pm-4am
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Food/Menu: No food available
Booze: Full bar
Happy Hour: Daily, 2pm-8pm; $3 well drinks, $2 PBRs, $3 Bud and Bud Light drafts
Citysearch says:

This spacious bar has all the neighborhood-hangout amenities (pool table, darts, 12 beers on tap) with tasteful touches that make it extra-inviting. Owner Ari Zablozki brought in the mahogany bar from upstate and signed on lighting designer and pal Sean Gulette (the actor from “Pi”) to set off the room with subtle, half-lampshade sconces and study-like table fixtures. Zablozki, who shares an easy rapport with his customers, also comes through with low drink prices.

NY Mag says:

During happy hour at Zablozki’s, it’s not uncommon to spot underage drinkers–namely the sort who drink out of sippy cups. Their parents appreciate the inclusive hominess of this neighborhood spot, as do the other fashionably mussed locals who fill the warmly-lit, wood-paneled space from late afternoon until long after the kids have been put to bed. Zablozki’s has a near-ideal layout, with a long bar stretching back towards the wallpapered pool nook, and a two-tiered main floor with lots of space for tables, comfortable chairs, and cozy leather banquettes. Unfortunately, the main-drag location means the space is no secret and weekends can get uncomfortably packed. When the crowds are sparser, you’ll have room to appreciate Zablozski’s attention to detail: little bowls of snack mix, cool half-lamp shaped wall sconces, and perfectly-chilled pints of good beer.