The best thing about drinking in Brooklyn is how incredibly diverse the options are. You can belly up the bar in an old sailor’s hangout, or a place where they make their own bitters, a spot with 19-century charm, or one with no charm at all. A stellar Brooklyn bar might be a neighborhood time capsule; a comfy place with ultra-cheap beer; a hang-out with a superior jukebox; a place where the bartenders know you; a cultural touchstone; a mecca of craft beers; or just a great cocktail joint with a pool table.
In putting together this list, we didn’t consider food. We’re talking about bars—not wine bars, not pubs—places that are primarily drinking establishments. We did place a premium on atmosphere, company, value, and the quality of the beverages. Turn the page to see our list of runners up.
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Our 14 runners up, in rough order of preference:
Irish Haven (5721 Fourth Avenue, Sunset Park, 718-439-9893) Clover Club (210 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens, 718-855-7939) Denny’s Steak Pub (106 Beverley Road, Kensington, 718-435-2156) Ruby’s Bar and Grill (1213 Boardwalk West, Coney Island, 718-372-9079) Quarter (676 Fifth Avenue, Greenwood Heights/Sunset Park, 718-788-0989) Weather Up (589 Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights) Beer Island (3070 Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island) Barcade (388 Union Avenue, Williamsburg, 718-302-6464) Botanica (220 Conover Street, Red Hook, 718-797-2297) Franklin Park (618 Saint Johns Place, Crown Heights, 718-975-0196) Union Pool (484 Union Avenue, Williamsburg, 718-609-0484) Beer Table (427 Seventh Avenue, Park Slope, 718-965-1196) Moonshine (317 Columbia Street, Red Hook, 718-852-8057) Sycamore Bar (1118 Cortelyou Road, Ditmas Park, 347-240-5850)
Soldier on to find out which establishments made the top 10.
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10. Palace Cafe (206 Nassau Avenue, Greenpoint, 718-383-9848) 9. KeBeer Bar and Grill (1003 Brighton Beach Avenue, Brighton Beach, 718-934-9005) 8. Smolen Bar and Grill (708 Fifth Avenue, Greenwood Heights/Sunset Park, 718-788-9729) 7. Freddy’s (485 Dean Street, Prospect Heights, 718-622-7035) 6. The Brooklyn Inn (148 Hoyt Street, Boerum Hill, 718-625-9741)
Which bars will make the top five? Click through for the big reveal.
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5. Tip Top Bar and Grill (432 Franklin Avenue, Bed-Stuy, 718-857-9744) 4. Sunny’s Bar (253 Conover Street, Red Hook, 718-625-8211, open Wed., Fri., and Sat.) 3. Brooklyn Social (335 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens, 718-858-7758) 2. Montero’s Bar and Grill (73 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Heights, 718-624-9799) 1. Spuyten Duyvil (359 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg, 718-963-4140)
Did we miss your favorite bar? Tell us in the comments and we’ll put it in the readers’ recommendations section.
Turn the page to see readers’ recommendations.
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Readers’ Choices:
Pencil Factory (142 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, 718-609-5858) 4th Avenue Pub (76 Fourth Avenue, Park Slope, 718-643-2273) Pacific Standard (82 Fourth Avenue, Park Slope, 718-858-1951) Total Wine Bar (74 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, 718-783-5166) Kili (79 Hoyt Street, Boerum Hill, 718-855-5574) The Gate (321 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, 718-768-4329) The Gutter (200 North 14th Street, Williamsburg, 718-387-3585) Mug’s Ale House (125 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, 718-486-8232) Brazen Head (228 Atlantic Avenue, Cobble Hill, 718-488-0430) Bar Great Harry (280 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens, 718-222-1103) The Jake Walk (282 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens, 347-599-0294) Brooklyn Ale House (103 Berry Street, Williamsburg, 718-302-9811) Hank’s Saloon (46 Third Avenue, Boerum Hill, 718-625-8003) Moe’s (80 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene, 718-797-9536) Washington Commons (434 Park Place, Prospect Heights, 718-230-3666) Soda Bar (629 Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights, 718-230-8393) Rhythm and Booze (1674 Tenth Avenue, Windsor Terrace, 718-788-9699) Bar Reis (375 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, 718-832-5716) Commonwealth (497 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, 718-768-2040) Starlite Lounge (1084 Bergen Street, Crown Heights, 718-771-3340) Farrell’s Bar (215 Prospect Park West, Windsor Terrace, 718-788-8779)