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Abbey Bar
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bedford Av (L)
Lorimer St (L)
Metropolitan Av (G)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
40 reviews for Abbey Bar
Review Highlights
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"They also have the best pool table in the area." In 12 reviews -
"What really does it here though: FREE POPCORN." In 9 reviews -
"Free popcorn, Big Buck Hunter, pool table, funky church..." In 2 reviews
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40 reviews in English
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Review from Simon M.
Brooklyn, NY
3/3/2012
My fav bar. 2-4-1 happy hour
Nice barkeeps
Cool people
Neighborhood locals -
Review from Michelle S.
Oakland, CA
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yesterday was one of those days where everything felt perfect and on my side. Nearly every single place my friend brought me reminded me of something amazing from back home--which is great because I've been so homesick lately.
This bar reminds me of The Ruby Room back in Oakland, CA (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)...and this really is one of the nicest things I can say about a bar. The darkness and mysteriousness of the bar, the only light coming from red lights scattered about, the heavy-handed mixed drinks (I could smell my drinks' whiskey from a great distance!), and the oldies...they all brought me right back to a place I love and miss. It was a magic Proust madeline cookie moment. And it also had a popcorn machine.
That said, my nostalgia may make me like it more than most...however, the ratings justify me a bit.Listed in: Dive In, Whiskey and Bourbon, Taking a bite out of the Big…
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Review from Sam S.
8/22/2011
Went in here because it bears the name of my favorite bar uptown and it looked low-key, cool. Like the Abbey on Monrningside it has some church pews and pretty laid back vibe. And free popcorn! Well, I'm pretty sure it's free...
-Veteran bartender made a solid dirty martini and a great Bloody Mary. Chatted, since it wasn't very busy. Nice guy.
-The pool table in the back was kink-free, unsoiled. -
Review from Kei Ling W.
New York, NY
9/23/2011
I love the atmosphere of this bar and how much character it has. I went on an off-hour (Saturday afternoon) so it was empty and my friends and I chilled there for an hour or so.
While it was a worthwhile experience, i would not go back because of the bathroom. The stalls had no doors, only curtains. And the space within each stall was so tiny I couldn't see where I was peeing. Not a great situation for a girl.... -
Review from Leah D.
7/8/2011
Pluses: pool tables, movies, popcorn and snacks at the bar. Nice bartenders. Decent selection of beers. Cool interior. Booths. Cool stuff hanging on the walls.
Minuses: can get incredibly overrun. It's pretty nice in an off hour, though. -
Review from Tabitha S.
Manhattan, NY
5/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Initially arrived at the Abbey with the intention of enjoying the photobooth and the free popcorn and then moving on. Got hit in the face with the door to the bar by what appeared to be a drunk old codger. He exclaimed "the Abbey is the greatest bar ever" and stumbled away. We went in and were greeted by a cozy low lit long bar on the left with a well lit pool table at the back. There's booth seating by the pool table and taped along the wall are photobooth pictures from the booth at the back.
The first night we took a $3 pic in the booth, had a few drinks and ate some free popcorn with a witty novelist in his mid 30s and the bartennderess. The next night we had 1 drink , less popcorn and made friends with a pair of Aussie squires and relocated to Loving Cup for fries. Different nights but both fun, chill and entertaining. Well worth the initial bruise from the door.
Both nights the music was "just right" (not too indie, not too played out, with a smattering of songs I'd never heard but wanted to hear again). Honestly I would have been dancing if I had been drunker but at the time it didn't seem appropriate.
Best bar ever? Idk about that but it was a good place to begin an evening or just chill. I will return there and would bring friends there too. -
Review from Jamie K.
Brooklyn, NY
2/27/2011
Yaaayyy for Abbey! I know it's not the most glamorous bar in trendbergland but it's really fun! I've go there every once and a while with friends but I was compelled to write a review after my last time there.
The bar got pretty crowded and even though there is no "line" at a bar, there most certainly is bar etiquette. What I mean is, if I see someone is waiting for a drink and I walk up, I make sure his/her order is taken before mine. This beast hipster lady walked up right next to me and completely got in front of me and pushed me aside so she could get her drink. Being the nonaggressive pushover that I am (plus I wasn't drunk enough yet to do anything about it) I figured I just would have to wait longer for my beverage. Much to my surprise the bartender (who was extremely busy with customers) was completely aware of who was first and as beastwoman was yelling her order, he totally ignored her and asked me politely what I wanted. Only after he served me did he take her order. YAAAYYY!!!!! I loves me some attentive bartenders who take note of who to serve first.
Also, they have a photobooth...so much fun! -
Review from Briana M.
3/9/2009
"Hey...I'm grabbing a beer with coworkers."
"Where are you grabbing this beer?"
"The Abbey...Driggs and North 8th"
"Gimme 15, gotta change. I don't look cool enough."
Friday night happy hour with angry furniture fabricators. Oh joy. You really need to take advantage of the drink specials when you have lots of fist slamming and boss dissing ahead of you. I suited up in some relatively un-smelly clothing and metro card swiped my way to inebriation.
I love the fact that the Abbey is on Driggs. It's a lot less bustling than Bedford and has a more comforting vibe. The interior is warm and dark with lots of Christmas lights and wood. The back area has a lot more space than the cramped but hoppin' front. While the booths are a bit rickety they serve their purpose. The happy hour deals are pretty good. I usually opt for the 2 for 1 bottled beer deal. 4 Red Stripes and I leave either giggly or groggy, but having blown off a good amount of steam.Listed in: I am a drunk., I hate you when you call it…
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Review from David P.
9/4/2009 1 photo
I was so pleasantly surprised by the Abbey. I expected a down and dirty Turkey's Nest experience (which I actually like, by the way), but it's nice and clean inside. And, look! They serve beer in these things called glasses! No styrofoam cups. Good beer selection, strong and well-made cocktails, great bartender, etc. The best thing is it's not on Bedford, so you can avoid that scene.*
*I'd describe Bedford as a college campus and everyone is majoring in art and minoring in body odor. -
Review from julian c.
Brooklyn, NY
2/19/2008
I love this bar. It's a bar for regulars and one of the few bars in the area that's actually been around long enough to have regulars. I can't really say that they have any beers I care for on draft, but the bartenders will take care of you if you have a few. In fact, the bartenders are part of what really makes this bar awesome. Everyone that works there is great and easy to get along with and they all put their own spin on the joint....like film noir sundays. The pool table has regulars who know what they're doing and easily let you into the mix. It never seems to be too crowded. It's also gay friendly and asshole free.
http://palabrachos.com -
Review from Thadd L.
San Francisco, CA
9/5/2006
I was here a few days ago when it was "Beatles Day". A close friend of mine suggested this place because the have something called a "Happy Meal" I don't know if this is a universal name for 'pint of Guinness and a shot of Jameson' but that is what it is. There was some type of raffle as well. I stuck to Yuengleng at $3 a pint. I think there was some Makers Mark in there somewhere as well.
All in all this place was really fantastic, the bartender (owner) was heavy on his pour and bought me plenty of beers. It was super nice and comfortable for everyone there. Not too packed on a Sunday afternoon, just what the doctor ordered for a nice slow Sunday from 4pm until 8pm. -
Review from Gustavo J.
Astoria, NY
8/10/2010
Typical dive-bar type place. Has a photobooth and pool tables in the back and some seating. Bartenders and staff are really nice and will joke around with you even if you're not a regular. Prices are good. Musical selection the night we went was on FIRE. Lots of fun dancy indie tunes mixed in with non-pretentious 90s hits for good measure. Many people girls got up over the course of the evening and started to dance.
What really does it here though: FREE POPCORN. You know you're in an awesome joint when they provide their patrons with tasty snacks. If I'm ever bored and in the area, I know exactly where to go. -
Review from Victor L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/17/2008
The night went something like this: in Manhattan, wanted to go to the Levee, got lost in a cab, and got dropped off about 3 blocks from there but still couldn't figure it out, frustrated because I've been to the Levee so many times, and I guess you could say settled for Abbey.
It's a dark, roomy bar with a seedy kind of quality; behind the bottles on display is one line of clubbish type purple backlight, but that's about all the light you're going to get outside of the pool table. It's got a rickety quality to it, with average prices and a scant crowd of locals. It's a bar that I think services the locals the best; it's not necessarily a bar I would come to the neighborhood just for it, and I think Williamsburg, like any other neighborhood, really gets a particular vibe (it's not really hipster, I feel like real locals that have been around for many years would come here).
They had Blade Runner playing on the TV, and they have a host of movies one of the shelves. At one point a fight almost broke out which livened things up a bit.
The staff was really friendly and approachable, I love how this particular night the bartender told me they only accept mastercard or visa, and only a couple hours earlier Drop Off Service told me they only accept Amex. -
Review from Bria D.
12/15/2008
If you're at the Bedford L stop, feel like hanging out at a dive bar, and aren't in the mood for the Levee, head to the Abbey. I'm not sure what it is about 5-letter, 2-syllable bar names that end in a "y" sound, but these two feel like a matched set.
The bartenders are nice, drink prices are reasonable, and generally there's something interesting playing on the television (recent offerings have included Arrested Development & Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern). I'm generally not a fan of televisions in bars, but lowbrow ones can have a pass on it if they're showing things I might actually choose to watch at home.
If you're in the mood to shoot some bighorn sheep, the Big Buck Hunter game is decently calibrated and is the classic version. It is a little jammed into a corner beside a table, though, so you'll have to get cozy with your hunting buddy. -
Review from Alex M.
Brooklyn, NY
9/3/2011
The Abbey is a nice quiet neighborhood place in an area full of loud crowded bars.
It's a good place to sit down for a beer and a conversation. -
Review from Stephanie V.
Yonkers, NY
1/14/2008
I came here with a great gal pal of mine and had a hoppin' time. The night had the perfect formula to go wrong: it was hailing, cold and wet. Not a fun time to venture outside.
After wandering through the rain, my friend and I quickly settled on the Abbey. We chose wisely. The place was buzzing with people, but not too many crowds. Good music (think the "Trainspotting" soundtrack staples of Underworld and New Order.) Prices for drinks are average - I got a Magner's for $5.
The bar itself is kind of quaint, wood paneled and booth seating. There's pool tables and jukeboxes to fool around with. The night my friend and I went, the bar threw a party - for it's customers - with a nice spread of cheeses, fruits and desserts. Other patrons were friendly and the atmosphere was pretty upbeat for a rainy Saturday night. -
Review from Kevin G.
Brooklyn, NY
4/1/2011
This was my third and last stop on my Friday night Williamsburg bar crawl. This place was really hopping after 11pm, but my friend and I were able to snag a couple seats in the middle of the bar. This place has a few booths at the back of the bar as well as a pool table and a safari hunting arcade machine. I really liked the energy and the diverse crowd that was in this place. There was young, middle-aged, artsy folks, yuppies, gay and straight all being represented. I had a draft Brooklyn Lager for $4 and it wasn't even happy hour. If I ever find myself in this part of Willys-burg, I will make sure to pay my respects at The Abbey (not to be confused with the one in London).
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Review from Justine S.
Brooklyn, NY
2/9/2008
I love this place. It is a little bit of a dive bar that has pretty good pricing. For Williamsburg this place is low on the pretention scale... which is always nice in N. Brooklyn. Also really close to the bar is the subway which always helps!
Good beers on tap.. nothing extra-ordinary but pretty consistent.
Nice bartenders too. They do not take cards, but have an ATM. AND have Buck Hunter which is a love of most hipsters.
I am always content and on my way to drunk here.
Oh... free popcorn too! -
Review from Wally C.
New York, NY
8/31/2009
Convenient to the subway, L Train. They sometimes serve popcorn. On Sundays, they show movies from 3pm to I dunno when. During these times, they usually have bagels, sandwiches, or something to munch on. I remember they had a Leprechaun marathon. That was gross and fun.
It's amusing. The barkeep is nice. Mixed crowd here. -
Review from Crista Y.
New York, NY
3/23/2010
Low key bar in Williamsburg......what's cool about it is that there is free popcorn from a proper machine with proper novelty boxes. Photo booth.....pool table............and movies.
can't really go wrong. I like the backroom area. It's definitely spacious enough for a group. The prices are regular and the cool thing for those taking the subway is that it's literally down the block from the Bedford L stop. -
Review from G S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/13/2010
This Abbey is one of my favorite places. I try to stop by whenever I'm in the area. I often play soccer in McCarren Park and this place is great for having a drink afterwards.
It's dark and cozy on the inside. There's a nice pool table. You can get some beers without breaking the bank. There's also film noir on Sundays and often the bartenders will bring in food for the bar patrons (yummy peanut noodles, coffee cakes, bagels, etc). In addition, if you can bring in food from a variety of nearby take away places and enjoy any food you like with your drink. Most of the time there's free fresh popcorn too. The bartenders are excellent, and the guy at the door is cool too!
Weeknights are a good time to go since the crowds are not crazy. Friday and Saturday nights can get a bit crowded and it might be hard to find a seat during peak hours.
Overall, this is one of my favorite places. -
Review from Sheena B.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 2/12/2011
I had to come back and take away some stars for the women's bathroom. It really is disgusting and they should do something about it. I have never seen so much pee in all of my life. The curtains that replace doors really need a good washing. There's petrified toilet paper clinging onto them, and puddles under your feet. I had to get that off of my chest.
Listed in: Stick with me baby, I'll show…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/21/2011
I'm going to pull out the extra star for the Abbey. The Abbey is my true local, but I don't know… Read more »
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Review from marie s.
Brooklyn, NY
9/20/2009
Ok- after using Yelp for several years now I have finally decided to sign up for an account just so I can let the world know how great I think this place is.
I was dreading the planned, occassionally necessary, trek to Bedford with a friend when we stumbled upon this gem. Can I just say... Two for one happy hour? Thank a God. With the cheap drinks, kick ass owner, hipster filtered chill crowd I cannot see a reason to not go back.
Hello two for one whiskey sodas- we've been apart for much too long.
Xo -
Review from Stewart J.
Brooklyn, NY
1/27/2010
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
Hey first reviewer guy--the Abbey is the only dive in the 'hood that carries Fernet and bunch of single malts. And the loyal patrons are patrons for a reason, mainly because we've been in this neighborhood for a decade or more and have enjoyed the consistency and attitude of the locals' pub. Also, it's gay friendly! I personally am not one for PDA, but I think if I wanted to make out with a dude I'd be much more comfortable doing it at the Abbey than at Mugs. Besides, Mugs (and the other bars you're referencing in this 5 block radius) are mostly on Bedford. I don't want to drink with anyone that thinks it's all right to drink on Bedford.
They also have the best pool table in the area. -
Review from Ben P.
San Rafael, CA
7/7/2008
A great place to unwind after a rough Tuesday at the gym. Happy hour has a wide selection of 2 for 1 bottles for $4, $1 off drafts and free popcorn. Low key vibe, good movie and music selection, TERRIFIC air conditioning and a block from the L. Me likey.
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Review from Patrick G.
Brooklyn, NY
2/26/2007
A hot joint. Tastefully disheveled, like the hipsters that drink here. Consumed lots of Brooklyn Ale while chatting with friends and deconstructing all the neighborhood art I'd just seen.
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Review from Patrick K.
Brooklyn, NY
2/10/2006
Like mac and cheese is my comfort food, The Abbey is my comfort bar. A laidback place with a great old-man-bar ambiance, reasonably priced drinks and a solid selection on the jukebox. Plus, all their bartenders rule. Yes, all of them. They also play classic movies (The Godfather, Casablanca, etc.) on Sunday afternoons
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Ethan C.
Brooklyn, NY
8/7/2008
Perfect dive bar, slightly removed from the Bedford Ave craziness. Bud and Beam special for $5, classic. Big Buck Hunt on the side. Great reliable spot, or a stop when bar hopping the area.
Listed in: Williamsburg List
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Review from Jessica J.
New York, NY
9/26/2009 1 Check-in Here
The Free popcorn is nice. I love my popcorn....The crowd, is diverse. I wouldn't call this place a gay bar, though ...IT looks like a local crowd. The place is really packed around 1-2, and looks like it begins to clear out around 3........
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Review from CAFE D.
Brooklyn, NY
10/18/2008
What can you say about The Abbey? Those of us in Williamsburg in the mid-90s remember it as The Sole Option. Always well-worn, always reeking of disinfectant and bottom-shelf booze, this is the place to get seriously drunk without embarassing yourself. Trust me, the flea-bitten crowd has no room to judge. Cheap drinks. Strong drinks. Friendly bartenders. Cool owner. Great jukebox.
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Review from Ransom B.
Brooklyn, NY
10/15/2005
The Abbey has been around for what seems like forever. It used to have the macho tough guys rolling around inside drunk as all hell, but now, it's a place that non-hipsters and those who have been in the 'burg forever go to get a bit of peace. Complete with pinball machine, pool table and a killer AC - the place really is the perfect hideway for sharing a catch-up conversation drink with a friend. Or, check out their weekend DJ nights when the place turns into a raging, dirty party. This bar is no-fuss. Think Guiness and Brooklyn Lager, not Svedka or Circo. There's a growing gay scene happening their, too, which makes the whole place a lot more appealing, diverse and fun then it used to be.
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Review from Lauren K.
Brooklyn, NY
3/1/2009
This is really a 3.5 star review as I can't really justify giving a dive bar 4 stars. But as far as dive bars go, this one is it. Free popcorn, Big Buck Hunter, pool table, funky church theme, super easy to get to. I dig it.
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Review from Jesse K.
Brooklyn, NY
5/23/2009
Nothing special - a dozen better options within a 5 block radius. Yeah I know they have their loyalists, but if you aren't one of them, you aren't missing much. Skip it. Head over to mugs for better, cheaper booze.
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Review from Suzanne R.
New York, NY
11/10/2008
I love bars that have simple, innocuous names: Church, Study Hall, The Abbey... Yet despite the pews-cum-benches and a stained-glass window, The Abbey is all bar. And the best kind of bar. The dark, dank kind that smells of stale beer (but in a good way) and resembles something out of a small Scottish or Irish town where the locals are lushes and everyone's a local. That's exactly how the Abbey feels too. It's the type of place where you really only want to drink beer, and that's good because the beer's pretty cheap. The bartenders are friendly, the crowd is fun, and the free popcorn ain't half bad either. It's really the type place one can get sucked into.
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Review from K G.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 1/28/2010
Update: I take it back. You're nice. Still love the bartenders.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/23/2009
Listen up, numb-nuts. I'm old as hell and come to this bar every gd day. You don't need to check… Read more »
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Review from Hey T.
Brooklyn, NY
6/9/2010
They have good drinks, a nice staff, and a pool table that's always available during our favorite times to go. Also, it looks like a church and has a photobooth. It's a good bar.
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Review from Heath R.
Los Angeles, CA
7/23/2006
This is one of my favorite bars in Williamsburg. I started going there as a Bathroom Bar -- it's on my way home from the Bedford L stop, and you can make it to and fro the restrooms without being hassled -- but I quickly started to go to actually hang out, mostly before or after going other places with friends. The main attraction for me is the bartenders. Joe is amazingly friendly and interesting, and the owner occasionally holds movie nights with dual TV-screened DVDs relating to the same theme. A ton of neighborhood residents seem to make the bar their local, and bands often stop by after shows at Northsix and other venues. The pool room and adjacent booths can get busy on weekend evenings, and with solid drink specials, the bar does well -- despite the occasional missteps, like the smelly cheese plates. Oh, there's also popcorn, an ATM, and a passable jukebox -- when the bartenders aren't playing their own music.
Listed in: For Williamsburgers
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Review from Daniel K.
Brooklyn, NY
10/21/2008
spent some time here during a rainstorm. was better than being out in the rain, but a little dark for my taste during the day. jukebox was good though, and the bartender was friendly. will revisit and update as necessary.
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Review from Puneet C.
Hicksville, NY
1/13/2006
Movies, good music, a pool table, and cheap drinks, especially at happy hour. The bartenders play music of their own and sometimes it becomes boring. Not a place to spend a night. Sundays are gay, and it is always gay friendly, so watch out
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Review from Patrick C.
Brooklyn, NY
4/12/2010
Literally less than a block from my old a apartment, this was a good stand by for a night out without the crowds. Drink prices are good by NYC standards, the bar staff is really friendly, there is free self serve popcorn and the music is always good. Save for the occasional obnoxious drunk stumbling in from a night of revelry somewhere else, the crowd was never obnoxious or pretentious. I took a few dates here and it was usually a good atmosphere for the drink date but it is also good just for hanging out with friends. There is really no bad time of the day to come here.
