Best Bets for Bar-hopping in Brooklyn
Serving drinks into the wee hours of the morning, Brooklyn's best bars contribute to New York's reputation as the city that never sleeps
Sample the capital city's finest food and drink, savoring every last morsel and drop of first-rate products, ranging froImmerse yourself in the borough's energetic late-night scene, from beer halls to trendy lounges along unassuming cobblestone alleyways. Interact with an eclectic collection of bar hoppers from boisterous party revelers to low-key locals. Some bars also offer heralded cuisine and live music as added bonuses.
Laid-back Brooklyn Bars
Bar Great Harry, is a casual Carroll Gardens bar that is as easygoing as it appears—the owners will happily let your dogs roam throughout the establishment. This relaxed hangout typically features more than 25 varieties of beer on tap. For a bit of retro fun, there’s a rotating lineup of pinball machines—check the bar’s website to see what machines are featured while you’re in town.
Think of Forrest Point, Bushwick's laid-back neighborhood bar, as a playground for grown-ups. String lights, lush fruit trees and hanging planters adorn the cozy outdoor patio with its rustic tree-stump tables and swings made for adults. The drink menu focuses on mixed cocktails, but wine and beer are also available. Make sure you arrive hungry—the kitchen's hearty dishes feature Middle Eastern cuisine with a twist.
Tucked away inside two former warehouses, the enormous Radegast Hall & Biergarten caters to a wide variety of clientele, from single hipsters to neighborhood families. Live musical acts perform nightly, and the beer garden's retractable roof comes in handy year-round. Wash down your schnitzel with one of the more than 20 imported drafts on tap and the 50-plus bottled selections in this Williamsburg beer haven.
Although Williamsburg's Spuyten Duyvil keeps only a handful of beers on tap, the more than 140 bottled offerings will overwhelm even the most knowledgeable beer guru. Sample an array of selections, partnered with a meat and cheese plate, in the bar's tranquil outdoor patio or head inside to the relaxed main room outfitted with pressed-tin ceilings and creaky wood floors.
Trendy Brooklyn Bars
Don't let the po' boy sandwiches and fried chicken fool you—Loosie Rouge is set in Brooklyn's hip Williamsburg neighborhood, not in New Orleans. Save room for drinks in this Louisiana-inspired bar, including cocktails made with their signature homemade syrups. Settle in for the long haul in the comfy yet chic interior, complete with stone walls and wood-beam ceilings.
Whiskey aficionados, look no further than Noorman’s Kil, a Williamsburg bar that features more than 400 whiskey varieties. But fear not non-whiskey drinkers—Noorman's Kil also serves up wine and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Check out the backyard garden, where you can gather with friends or snuggle with a loved one under the old-fashioned, vine-covered pergola. If it's too cold for the great outdoors, the elegant interior features restored 19th-century woodwork and metal fixtures.
Ready to travel? Find hotels in Brooklyn.
More to Explore
Best Restaurants in Brooklyn
From pizza to international cuisine, explore some top places to eat.