96 Best Nightlife in Brooklyn, New York City

Bar Chord

Fodor's choice
A rotating selection of craft beers and numerous small-batch spirits, nightly live music (never a cover charge), a stellar jukebox, and an expansive year-round backyard (heated in winter) have made Bar Chord a favorite since it opened in 2013. Check out the collection of vintage guitars from the 1950s to the '70s for sale up front.

Barbès

Park Slope Fodor's choice

Outstanding regular performers, such as the Django Reinhardt-channeling Stephane Wrembel, as well as events like the all-women Latin collective La Manga or the Slavic Soul Party, spin threads of folk and global into 21st-century music. Performances take place in the back room, while up front the somewhat musty, Parisian-like bar has a laid-back vibe and a full cocktail menu.

Blueprint

Park Slope Fodor's choice
Homemade bitters, syrups, and ginger beer make every carefully made cocktail here all the more tasty. Try the house favorite Smoky Mary's, with chipotle tequila, agave, and an alderwood smoked salt rim. The warm atmosphere is mid-century modern meets old Western hotel, and in summer you can sip your tiki-style drink on the back patio. An impressive menu of small dishes is served until 2 am. All breads and desserts are made in-house.

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Brooklyn Inn

Boerum Hill Fodor's choice
One of Brooklyn's oldest and most unassuming bars, the Brooklyn Inn doesn't rely on gimmicks: it just serves reasonably priced beer and mainstay cocktails. The formula must work, because the place dates back to the 19th century. With high ceilings and large windows in front—there's a pool table in back—this is the quintessential neighborhood spot.
Fodor's Choice
148 Hoyt St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
718-522–2525

Brooklyn Steel

East Williamsburg Fodor's choice

You wouldn't think a premiere live music venue would be in such a secluded, industrial district, but perhaps that it's Brooklyn appeal. Formerly a steel factory, this venue from the Bowery Presents group hosts many rock and indie acts to large space that holds 1,800 guests across its main floor, balcony, and three bars.

Diamond Lil

Greenpoint Fodor's choice

Locals flock to this favorite neighborhood bar with Prohibition-era speakeasy vibes, known for creative concoctions and oysters served daily. Its dimly lit, art deco aesthetic sets the mood, whether you settle into a booth or cozy up to the bar, for cocktails that change seasonally, including the rum-based, toasted marshmallow-topped Après-ski in the winter, and the popular smoked paloma in the summer. Warm months also bring the opening of the pleasant yard in the back.

Donna

Fodor's choice
This cocktail bar bills itself as "an elegant space for dirty kids"—that is, just because you like nice things doesn't necessarily mean you want to dress fancy. And Donna certainly is elegant, with a white vaulted ceiling, a long curved bar, reclaimed-wood benches and tables, and beautiful people drinking fabulous cocktails like the signature frozen Brancolada (a piña colada riff with Branca Menta). Tacos and other Latin fare provide the terrific, appropriately downscale nibbles. DJs spin most weekend nights.

Featherweight

East Williamsburg Fodor's choice
The cocktail list at this small spot is full of the hits you'd expect at a bar run by the experts behind the two Weather Up spaces in Manhattan and Prospect Heights. Part of the allure, though, is that bartenders will mix a cocktail to your precise specifications. Prime time here is late night. Finding the entrance is part of the fun: look for the painted feather and the three-story-tall mural of a boxer.

Floyd

Brooklyn Heights Fodor's choice
Comfy sofas, a relaxed scene, and large boccie courts have made this bar a neighborhood staple. And while the beer cheese dip is memorable, locals flock here for the solid selection of drafts and bourbons, plus weekday happy hours and other specials like the ever-popular bucket of assorted beer by the can. The same folks run Union Hall in Park Slope and the Bell House in Gowanus.

Freddy's Bar and Backroom

Fodor's choice
We could tell you this place has history—Freddy's has been in South Slope since 2011, but it occupied its previous home in Prospect Heights for almost a century (relocating when the Barclays Center took over the area)—but what you really want to know is that Freddy's is a good time. There's pretty much always something going on, whether it's live music, comedy night, or live band karaoke. There's a full menu, too.

Grand Army

Boerum Hill Fodor's choice

Housed in a former corner market, this easygoing neighborhood craft beer and cocktail bar, led by head bartender Patty Dennison, changes their cocktail roster seasonally, each with funny names to go along with the season's quirky theme. The kitchen keeps up, preparing light bites to pair with them. 

Hot Bird

Fodor's choice
A barbecue-chicken joint was the previous tenant of this laid-back bar with a large patio on an industrial stretch of Atlantic Avenue—hence the name. Stake out a picnic table for a group of friends, or just hit it up as a casual date spot. There's a small menu of tacos to go with the drinks, which is good, because once you're here, you won't want to leave.
Fodor's Choice
546 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11238, USA
718-230--5800

Hotel Delmano

Fodor's choice
It's easy to miss the unmarked entrance to this cocktail bar on Berry Street, but head to the entrance on North 9th Street and you'll feel whisked away to an old-world parlor. Despite the name, this isn't a hotel, though the owners were inspired by lobby bars. Patrons imbibe cocktails around marble-top tables or at the curved bar, where bartenders blend fresh fruit and homemade syrups into classic and original libations. Jazz and dim lighting make the place feel intimate.

Maison Premiere

Williamsburg Fodor's choice

Transport yourself to New Orleans in this dimly lit, yet lively cocktail and oyster bar, known for an extensive absinthe selection, a food menu spanning light fare to hearty braised beef cheeks, and above all, an impressive selection of oysters hailing from both east and west coasts. Cozy up at the horseshoe-shape bar or dine at a cast-iron table inside—or in the back garden on warm days.

Ruby's

Coney Island Fodor's choice
Patrons from around the world have been drinking at this boardwalk mainstay since much-beloved local boy Ruby Jacobs opened it in 1972. The bar, tables, wainscoting, and ceiling are made from the original 1920s boardwalk wood. Grab a seat and watch the action on the boardwalk, or join the regulars at the 45-foot-long bar and peruse the photographs depicting the neighborhood and the bar's habitués. The jukebox has a great selection of classics.

St. Mazie Bar & Supper Club

Fodor's choice
On Grand Street nearly abutting the highway is the 1920s-style St. Mazie, which presents excellent gypsy jazz and flamenco music to a crowd that favors listening over dancing. The cocktails are simple but done right. The intimate cellar, a speakeasy during Prohibition, serves European-inspired cuisine for dinner and weekend brunch.

Sunny's Bar

Red Hook Fodor's choice
This intimate dive bar is a Red Hook landmark, known for its laid-back atmosphere and live bluegrass and jazz. The music is in the back room; up front is the bar and a few banquettes. The small, leafy side patio has eclectic thrift-store furnishings.

Sycamore Bar & Flowershop

Fodor's choice
It's a bar, it's a flower shop—and it's the perfect neighborhood hangout. Be lured by the small-batch bourbons, American craft beer, and locally distilled spirits, as well as fun events like dance parties, live and DJ'ed music, and bingo. A rotating list of food vendors set up on the back patio (tented in winter). There are nightly happy hours and drink specials, like the popular $10 beer-and-bouquet deal; Thursday means $2 off all New York City products.

The Bell House

Fodor's choice
One of the top music venues in the borough, the Bell House hosts big-name rock musicians, cult comedy acts and live podcast recordings, and weekly trivia and karaoke in the bustling front bar area. Brooklynites (and Manhattanites, too) come not only for the performances but also for the excellent beer selection.

The Owl's Head

Fodor's choice
Located on a quiet block off busy 5th Avenue, this intimate wine bar—named for the nearby waterfront park—was inspired by a love for wine, food, and design. Exposed-brick walls, a polished tin-stamped ceiling, and a chalkboard wall displaying the day’s carefully selected pours, craft beers, and small plates (made from locally sourced ingredients) give the place a casual vibe. Look for the mural out front, painted by a local artist.

Tooker Alley

Prospect Heights Fodor's choice
Knowledgeable bartenders mix drinks from a multipage, Roaring ’20s–style cocktail menu at this bar that takes pride in reinventing old staples with local themes, such as the Manhattanite and a Crown Heights negroni made with local Sorel liqueur. It also offers a small menu of snacks like stuffed dates and smoked trout on toast points. The staff are friendly and solicitous, and the backyard is open in summer.

Tørst

Greenpoint Fodor's choice
Beer aficionados adore Tørst, a craft-beer bar that takes its design cues from Denmark. A marble bar and several hues of wood come together in a way that feels very of-the-moment, and the offerings from 21 taps progress from light to dark. Drafts come in three sizes, so you can get small glasses if you want to taste a few.

Union Hall

Park Slope Fodor's choice

This neighborhood standby has something going on just about every night. On the main floor, two bocce courts and library nooks with couches are popular hangouts. Downstairs, there are smart comedy shows with both high-profile and up-and-coming performers, eclectic talks, or DJs spinning. The outdoor patio is open in good weather. The menu of tasty burgers, wings, poutine, and pizza means the patrons tend to settle in for the evening. Events are either free or have a modest cover (from $5).

Weather Up

Prospect Heights Fodor's choice
A classy speakeasy-style bar with an unmarked door and an amber-lit interior framed by subway tile, Weather Up is an excellent date spot. Good drinks come to those who wait, and on a busy night it can take a few minutes for your painstakingly well-crafted cocktail to arrive. The list changes seasonally, and the leafy backyard opens in summer.

61 Local

Boerum Hill
A pleasant place to linger with a glass of wine or a craft beer, this low-lit bar with exposed-brick walls and a high ceiling has an extensive menu of nibbles, sandwiches, and large plates, most with ingredients sourced from the tristate area and Brooklyn.
61 Bergen St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
718-875–1150
www.61local.com

68 Jay Street Bar

DUMBO
Friendly regulars and weekday happy hours (5 to 7 pm) make this casual, unpretentious bar in the former Grand Union Tea Company building a pleasantly low-key affair. As the night goes on and the votive candles come out, patrons take over tables and benches in the spacious side room located behind a terra-cotta archway.

Achilles Heel

Greenpoint

This corner bar has been a cozy outpost for Greenpointers throughout much of the riverfront's transformation from industrial to industrial chic. With a wood-burning stove for warmth in the winter, and outdoor space to drink and dine alfresco in the summer, Achilles Heel is known for simple, yet creative cocktails, along with fare spanning snacking olives to steak au poivre. Since it's often crowded on weekends, get there on the early end to snag seats, or reserve a table in advance.

Alameda

Greenpoint
Sophisticates perch on stools at the striking U-shaped bar for creative yet approachable cocktails like the Little Red Book, which blends vodka with strawberries, elderflower, chervil, parsley, Benedictine, and lime. Small plates change frequently, but the grass-fed beef cheeseburger is a constant and there's always a seasonal open-face tartine.

Baby's All Right

You'd be hard-pressed to categorize this eclectic place. With a diner up front, a '70s German disco–inspired music venue in the back, and a full bar in between, Baby's All Right is an amalgam of cool and a magnet for creative types. There's live music most nights, a DJ until 4 am, and "bottomless brunch" on the weekends.

Bait and Tackle

Red Hook
A former social club and bait shop for local fishermen, Bait and Tackle’s most recent incarnation, as a laid-back neighborhood bar, opened in 2004 and quickly became a favorite hangout. The eclectic decor perfectly suits the atmosphere and the history: the walls and ceiling are hung with taxidermy and fishing paraphernalia.