Mar 15, 2013
You won’t find a vast array of nightclubs in Brooklyn. Instead, you will find a collection of bars where last call is at 4 a.m., and there’s not a bouncer in sight. Brooklyn’s nightlife isn’t about VIP rooms, and bottle service. It’s about casual drinking, and prompt refills of your glass.
If you’re a beer fan, you’ll want to head to Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Williamsburg. Tables seem to be a mile long, and in very little time you’ll be served a football-sized mug of German brew. You could also check out Hot Bird in Clinton Hill where you can enjoy a drink on the patio at a picnic table. An added bonus to the Hot Bird, it’s built into an old gas station.
If you enjoy a well-crafted cocktail you won’t want to miss these. Maison Premiere features the Carondelet, a mix of gin, honey, sea salt, and lime. Take a seat at the white marble bar and enjoy it was some oysters. Want to mix things up a bit? The Criterium at Fort Defiance, in Red Hook, has been described as a sharp and citrusy smack to the face. Maybe you aren’t sure exactly what you want, or you want to try something new. You should head on over to Weather Up in Prospect Heights and give the bartender a chance. Whiskey drink? A little something to wake you up? Give the bartender your demands and see what he has to offer!
On top of the intimate watering holes, Brooklyn is home to several small music venues, and the perk is it’s also home to several musicians when they’re not touring. On any given night you could find Grizzly bear, or Sufjan Stevens at The Bell House. Cavernous halls and chandeliers are the background for this little gem that hosts taxidermy contests and steak dinners for over 200 people, presumably not on the same night. You might also enjoy Pete’s Candy Store, where you can take in some stand-up comedy, or poetry reading, or the bi-weekly spelling bee.
No matter what you enjoy, there’s a spot for you. Brooklyn serves up something for everyone, and has even found a way to make sure hip places haven’t lost their charm.
I love Bell House! They also have comedy shows there and record podcasts there and stuff. I sawEugene Mirman there and he was hilarious.
Don’t forget Ottos Shrunken Head! 3 dollar PBRS!
oh, and also Pearl’s in bushwick. The bartenders are awesome there.