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Bar Reis
Categories: Restaurants Nightlife Bars Restaurants, Bars [Edit]
375 5th AveSte A
(at 6th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Neighborhood: Park Slope
(718) 832-5716
- Nearest Transit:
-
9 St (D, N, R)
4 Av (F, G)
7 Av (F, G)
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ, Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
74 reviews for Bar Reis
Review Highlights
"...great programming is on, or a pool table to pass the time."
(in 25 reviews)
"There's a spiral staircase that leads to a lofted area."
(in 9 reviews)
"But overall, it's great space with excellent bartenders."
(in 21 reviews)
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74 reviews in English
-
Review from MoMo B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/11/2011
This bar is weirdly casual for the neighborhood... I don't know why I was expecting something more "shi-shi."
The bartender was attentive and generous. There's a fun little loft upstairs that is more private, but downstairs is where the party is. There is a great open space where you can dance if you feel so inclined (I did...) or play pool, or sit around with your friends and watch others dance and play pool. It was already cold when I went, but it looks like there is some sort of outside space, which (note to self) would be great in the summer months.
Overall, a great bar in a great neighborhood. And the crowd was pleasant as well. -
Review from Dave H.
12/2/2011 2 photos
Bar Reis is relaxed - almost suspiciously so. The bar is comfortable in its own skin, exuding an urban rusticness, with seating you can sink into and a patio perfect for smoking up[1]. Hell, even their ceiling has character.
There's a table to shoot pool, and trivia buffs can hit up Reis Wednesdays for trivia night - the patrons don't bite. Though if you're seeking privacy, there's a loft overlooking the bar that looks like it was made for snogging sessions [2].
Reis is yet another reason to visit Park Slope.
[1] Not like that. Well... maybe.
[2] And unisex bathrooms too, if you're into that. But seriously, get a room.Listed in: Unisex Bathrooms in NYC, Brooklyn Drinkeries
-
Review from Sophie U.
5/4/2011
[ Part 4 of Sophie's April Weekend in New York series ]
It was just Boyfriend and me when we headed back to Park Slope, where we were staying, to join our hostess at Bar Reis for a 90s party. Thankfully the only thing 90s-related was the music they were playing from the basement, into which we did not venture until some time later.
Bar Reis had some drinks specials for the occasion: the Snoop, the Fiona Apple, the I Didn't Do It (or something along those lines), and a mystery shot that was bright blue and whose name I do not remember at this time.
So we talked and laughed and drank; people came and stayed and went, without failing to say hello to our hostess who is apparently the freaking mayor of Park Slope. We got pizza from a few doors down and eventually headed downstairs...
I felt like I had warped into another dimension where Bar Reis was some glamorous lounge with Kim Kardashian wannabes posing for pictures and throwing up various gang signs while puckering for the camera phone. But then I took a look around and saw that we were in a small, dark basement with a couple of kids blasting 90s music and a giant screen showing episodes of Saved by the Bell.
I guess the glamour crew got lost on their way to god-knows-where because they sure didn't seem to be particularly interested in what was going on around them.
Oh well. Four stars! I had fun. Sorry if my foot mysteriously got in your way, glamour girls. -
Review from Cristina R.
Brooklyn, NY
11/1/2011
Not the best bar in the hood, but a good local standby. The bartenders here have never blown me away but are always friendly enough. The real gem of this place isn't the drinks or the prices, but the backyard! Don't be fooled by the tiny-looking bar- theres a whole downstairs plus a dual-level backyard to be had! I also like that the backyard is not overly lit (some in the hood feel like you're under spotlights!) so it's good for a romantic or (or hungover) drink.
-
Review from Katie G.
Brooklyn, NY
4/20/2011
After frantically searching for bars in the vicinity on a Monday night, my friends and I stumbled upon Bar Reis. Cash only? Oh man. We deliberated for a few minutes and decided to go to an ATM to get cash because the bar on the next street was über sketchy.
I really like the interior of this place. There's a basement, a middle floor, a tiny seating area on the top floor, and a patio. A patio! Being it was a Monday night, we had the basement all to ourselves. So we plugged in our mp3 players, sipped on our $6 sour whiskies, and busted moves to The Cramps, Depeche Mode, and The Misfits all night. Sour bliss.
Initially, I thought the bartender was a dick, but as the night passed, I changed my mind. His sarcasm grew on me and I found him to be quite funny. And the people sitting at the bar were very friendly.
Being from Marine Park, I felt welcomed at this neighborhood spot and really enjoyed my time. Check you soon, Bar Reis. -
Review from Molly W.
1/2/2011
Bar Reis hosted a New Years party for a friend of mine. Small place but with two floors and very friendly bar tenders (even despite probably their busiest night of the year).
Special? -5 loco.
Interpretation? -Crack in alcohol form
Translation? Long Island Iced Tea with a shot of redbull. Oh heart don't fail me now.
Bartender: "What're you having?"
Me: "5 loco"
Bartender: "Big glass or small?"
Me: Torn silence
Bartender: with a look of true maternal concern "get the small one"
Me: "Small it is!" -
Review from Alaina W.
Brooklyn, NY
9/25/2011
Oh, hello, friendly bartenders, reasonably priced drinks, and unpretentious crowd.
-
Review from Craig N.
New York, NY
11/2/2010
Halloween.... oh the joys of going door to door with no religious affiliation necessary.
Any seasoned New Yorker knows you go to the rich neighborhoods for trick or treating. And everyone seems to know about Park Slope. Plenty of businesses, plenty of stroller-nazis... all make for an epic take during Halloween.
Well, combine two somewhat dysfunctional LES'ers, a displaced local, and one small child so hyped up on the Halloween spirit even candy couldn't have made him twitch faster and you have the perfect recipe for what we call, "trick or treat, shot, shot, trick or treat, shot shot".
Yes kids, even the bars have candy for kids on Halloween. And you know what else they have? Alcohol.
So, now that I've developed the scenario and you get the gist of where I'm going, on to Bar Reis.
Located on the completely revamped and eerily sterile 5th Avenue in Park Slope Brooklyn, Bar Reis is a cozy joint with great bartenders (than you Victoria) and good food next door. Now, keep in mind, we only had the tequila and nachos but they were just the ticket after a cold arduous day harassing Slopies.
The next door restaurant serves tacos and miscellaneous Amexican food (I won't go so far as to say Mexican but you get the idea). There are Al Pastor tacos on the menu so I will be back for those if I ever cross water again. Oh, and they have Hornitos. Hard to come by these days with all the hoity toity tequilas out there.
To cut my ramble short, Bar Reis was a welcome bastion on a cold and blustery day but I suspect it is just a damn fine place to chill in on a regular basis. Thanks to you Briana for introducing us to your womb away from home. -
Review from James F.
9/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
"This is my favorite bar in Park Slope" says my friend upon meeting me here.
At first I don't get it.
You walk in there's a bar and some stools, nothing spectacular.
Then you notice intimate little nook upstairs which over looks the bar, the larger seating area downstairs as she escorts you to the cozy outdoor patio.
It manages to be spacious and intimate at the same time.
You appreciate :
-- the good beer selection (Kelso, Palm, Sixpoint Sweet Action),
-- the good prices beer $5, Jameson & ginger $7.
-- you can order tacos at $2.50 a pop and they are pretty good. The beef taco looked small but under layer of guacamole and tomatoes it was stuffed with tender, well seasoned beef. It may not be greatest taco ever but way better than standard bar fare.
-- the great service -- bartender was very cool, even offering to help you carry your drinks outside.
After a few hours of laughing,, drinking and eating you start to understand why your friend loves it so much.
This is basically everything a local bar should be.
** Take Note-- Cash Only ** -
Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
12/23/2010
Small and nice, with friendly bartender.
Kind of a hipster crowd going on, but I fit right in!
My lady and I sat on the upper floor (which is a tiny metal platform with a narrow spiral staircase that leads up to it), which gave us an elevated vantage of the bottom level. Kind of nice!
I forget if the prices were right, but oh well! I'd go back for a drink or two. -
Review from Briana M.
5/20/2010
I'm going to be honest. I hate going out in Park Slope, but I get stuck doing so on the regular. Especially these days.
Bar Reis is a welcome change from the dullness that is this neighborhood. You've got friendly bartenders, cheap and strong drinks, a sweet back yard, a pool table, and generally awesome beats. What more could a girl ask for? I like to think that it's your company that makes a night successful, but I think that I could have fun here by myself.Listed in: I am a drunk.
-
Review from M P.
Brooklyn, NY
1/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Came here for drinks and at first found it to be quite small. There's a hallway like bar area and a tiny upstairs accessible by a spiral staircase. However the downstairs is larger (much larger once you've been in the upstairs for a while) and features a dance floor area, seating and a pool table. Looks like locals come here for birthdays and merriment and to hear a hipster white guy attempt to DJ some decent music that does not transition well. I got my dance on and enjoyed some Peak "Organic" IPA (freakin Park Slope).
The crowd is hipsters, plus 50-plus, minus attractive people on my night but c'est la vie I enjoyed dancing for free more than anything. The price is right here for both drinking and dancing. -
Review from Megan C.
Brooklyn, NY
10/13/2010
First time out in Park Slope and what are we seeking? A Pool Table!
Bar Reis was the only place we found with said treasure, that was not packed. At first glance, it is a winding bar with multiple levels, a bit dark and cash only (ohhhh... I wish I'd come prepared!)
After about an hour, I realize how much I am really liking Bar Reis. The pool is $1, the atmosphere is fun and laid back, the bartender/waitress couldn't be nicer and the combo of indoor and outdoor space makes the whole bar seem bigger. The one draw back would be the prices, but I have heard they have a pretty good weekday happy hour that could clear that issue right up.
So, for my first Park Slope adventure, I would deem this a rousing success!Listed in: Park Slope, No Joke
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Review from Peter D.
11/29/2009
There are many things I like about this bar.
Awesome bartenders. Cheap(ish) drinks. Sweet loft upstairs to get a little privacy with your date. Two-person booths downstairs with curtains (and table service) if the loft is full. Awesome backyard with tons of seating. Pool table ($1 in quarters). Great music. $4 sandwiches (I didn't get one, but I like that they're available).
There are only two things I don't like about this bar.
1. Cash only.
2. It's too close to the F Train. This means that when you're playing your girlfriend in pool (for extremely high stakes), and you're forced to sneak out while she's in the bathroom because SHE'S A CHEATER, she will be able to find her way home to collect. -
Review from Pat G.
Brooklyn, NY
1/18/2008
I'd like to thank Bar Reis for losing my credit card.
Not only did they lose my credit card, but they refused to take any responsibility for losing my credit card. Minimally apologetic, they explained that a friend must have taken my card accidentally. In fact, a stranger took my card, and tried to use it. But all I got from Bar Reis were shrugged shoulders. The owner, Reis Goldberg, did not contact me as requested. And the bar does not answer their phone.
What a wonderful bond of trust they have with their customers!
While I otherwise enjoyed racking up over $100 on my tab, I can't advise anyone else to give Bar Reis their business since Reis showed no accountability whatsoever for this serious (and potentially costly) mistake.
Thanks again! -
Review from roderick A.
Jersey City, NY
5/2/2008
"Where's Spencer?"
Yes, its a new game that the kids in Brooklyn are playing nowadays. You goto a place, accompanied by your friend Spencer, and then five minutes later you try to figure out where he went.
But first a word from our sponsor: Bar Reis
Friday night was my very first time playing "Where's Spencer", and it was oodles of fun. And Bar Reis only adds to the fun. It's a pretty spacious, uh, space. When you walk in, you have the bar on the left. Keep walking, and you have a spiral staircase, which leads to a small space upstairs. Apparently its called "The Make Out Loft" because there are only three tables, with two chairs at each table. So I'm guessing a menage-a-trois would not be accepted here. Too bad.
Downstairs, like everybody says, is a pool table and some couches and more tables. Yes, they have a jukebox - score! Keep walking and you get a nice backyard patio with more than a few picnic style tables. So you can easily fit at least eight people at each table. And best part is that there is waitress service back here, so you don't have to keep going back and forth to the bar inside.
And now back to the final results of "Where's Spencer"...
We're sitting at our table, all five of us, when suddenly the "Happy Birthday" song breaks out behind us. Before we could even turn our heads, Spencer was gone. Where oh where did Spencer go? Did he:
A. Goto the birthday table to greet the birthday girl
B. Goto the bathroom to take care of some "personal business"
C. Goto the bar to get more drinks
D. Pull a "Javier"
The correct answer, ladies and gentlemen, is A, he went to the table to greet the birthday girl. And no, he wasn't able to score us some free birthday cake.
And there you have it, our first edition of "Where's Spencer". Be sure to look for it at greater Brooklyn institutions throughout the summer. So long everybody! -
Review from Katie B.
Brooklyn, NY
10/19/2008
This place is my "I don't want to go home" post-up spot. I'll be the one in the corner crying into my beer. No judgments from barkeep, just friendly smiles, good conversation, and maybe even a free beer if you play your cards right and are not involved in douchebaggery or Xtreme tomfoolery.
The ambience gets an A+ - exposed brick, backlit booze, tiny lights, cool artwork, spiral staircase, aww yeah. It's pretty much like four bars in one - Pool table/jukebox vibe downstairs if you're feelin' divey, nice bar if you're feelin like a regular, posh upstairs if you're feelin randy, and a really nice outdoor area with picnic tables if you're feeling like freezing your ass off come winter.
Drink prices are good, I dig the pumpkin ale. Please up the ante on the bourbon selection. Makers is slut juice, Bulleit and Michter's are only regular. Can I get an Ancient Age?
jah bless. -
Review from Ki G.
10/25/2009
Wow. I didn't know I'd end up here again. The last time I was here was a long time ago with a different set of memories being made. *silent moment*
Moving on.
Yesterday, as we were waiting for a table at Chip Shop, we toddled over here to get a beer or two. It was the perfect pit stop because the bar was pretty empty that early and we got seats for the four of us, there was a happy hour going on and the beer was pretty damn good. I had the pale wheat beer whose name escapes me right now (probably should stop drinking so much beer). It was damn good.
We left, ate a lot, and came back to the downstairs area, lounged on the couches, drank more beer, watched people play pool a bit and waited out the rain till the next stop on our evening. The decor was quirky and cool and the downstairs felt like being in your really cool, and not-often-visited friend's basement.
I like this place and I think if I'm in the neighborhood again, I'm definitely coming back.
I'm a fan. -
Review from Lindsey T.
Brooklyn, NY
4/11/2011
Bar Reis is a cozy Park Slope neighborhood bar. The bartenders are sweet, adorable and attentive, and the clientele is laid back and Brooklyn cool. The drink prices are affordable and the options are vast. It's not a dance joint, but the music downstairs definitely lends itself to the occasional drunken bust-a-move moment.
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Review from Franny A.
5/12/2010 1 photo
Brunch at the bar Sunday where I needed comfort on my first Mom's Day without my mom-"la muneca rubia" the beloved Dorothy..
Grilled cheese and tomato soup- a fave combo. Food was in the bar variety, but very tasty grillled cheese, with a small ramekin of tomato soup for dipping. A bargain at $7. Also, a half pint of Park was provided upon asking.
Muy friendly and acoomodating bar service. -
Review from Jeff W.
Brooklyn, NY
7/25/2008
Don't be fooled by the small, cramped bar that greets you as you walk in...Bar Reis has a lot more space than that. Perhaps this facade is the reason it took me almost a year of living in the Slope before I gave the bar a shot, but once I did, I was mad at myself for a year of lost time.
The patio out back is perhaps my favorite urban oasis in Brooklyn: it's quiet on weekdays, busy on weekends; conducive for quiet talks with friends or meeting others; and absent from the mix is the hipstery/sceney vibe that smacks you in the face at places like 4th Ave Pub (which, to be fair, I do love).
Inside, past the tiny bar in the front, is a large communal downstairs room that opens to the aforementioned patio. Play board games there, watch tv, sit and talk, or listen to the music that is eclectic but fits the bar well.
Enjoy. This is a great place. If it's nice outside on a weekday, you'll find me out back. -
Review from karen h.
Brooklyn, NY
12/9/2009
Boy, Bar Reis, I am sure sad that you changed that absurd mural you had in the back garden for all of five months. That was a keeper!
& I am pretty sad that 'Reis 100' has gone a bit downhill. It sure started out well! But I suppose that keeping a hundred sandwiches on the menu was probably a hassle. & so now we are down to a precious few. & those few are not so precious! At least the vegetarian options are only so-so.
BUT for years you have nurtured my love for drinking, keeping a cute balcony area for games & a nice (recently spruced up) basement room for holding all of my friends! So I will keep you on my list for many a year to come. Through our ups & our downs, Bar Reis, we will always have each other. -
Review from Patrick A.
Brooklyn, NY
11/18/2009
I probably would have liked this bar a lot more if I didn't here these dreaded words only 5 minutes after I got my first beer; "sorry guys, it's cash only."
I despise cash only places. I don't like having to walk back out of the bar to go to an ATM so that I can pay for my drink. (In this case it was my GF who had to do it as she failed to defeat me in a sudden death game of Paper, Scissors, Rock.)
On the beer side I found the selection to be a little underwhelming. The layout was cool and the downstairs looks like somewhere I would want to hang out if the bar had better beer and a credit card machine.
Also beware if you order sandwiches from next door. They are cheap for a reason. Think mouse food. Very, very small. Although they are very good so just order 2 or 3 of them. But bring your own napkins because we didn't get any. Just sandwiches in a basket.
Bar Reis is ok but I would rather go to 4th Ave. Pub where they have way more beer, free popcorn, a garden, menus for places that bring big people food and take plastic. -
Review from Guillermo T.
Brooklyn, NY
1/10/2007
Definitely my favorite bar in Brooklyn. The barkeepers are super friendly, the drinks are very well priced, and downstairs is just awesome. They have a bunch of board games you can play or you can play some pool. The garden area in the back is perfect when the weather is nice. Very social place, and you can meet some cool people.
I am not sure what Lily T. is talking about. Loki is super expensive. And you get all the "untz untz untz" Bay Ridge kind of guys in there. Its like 8 bucks for a gin and tonic. Reis has the mixed drinks for 4-5 bucks. The beers at Reis range from 3-5 bucks. Every time I go to Loki, I ask myself why. Last time the bartender got pissed at me for ordering an "Irish Car Bomb" because its "an offensive name for Irish people" and a "waste of good alcohol". Give me a break and do your job, serve me my car bomb.
Everyone should try Reis, especially during this nice weather, when the backyard is open!Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Sarah H.
Brooklyn, NY
5/3/2009
This is a really great, chill neighborhood bar. It's actually a lot bigger than it looks when you first enter. There is a narrow main bar area with a small loft above that you climb a spiral staircase to get to. Then there is a full basement with plenty of tables & chairs, a pool table, and a flat screen tv. The real gem of Bar Reis is the backyard, which is cute and spacious. There is table service for the basement and the yard so you don't have to keep tuning back upstairs.
Drink prices are reasonable and staff is friendly. The bathrooms are a little grosser than I expected, buy then again I've seen much worse. I think this is my new favorite Park Slope bar!Listed in: Park Slope Spots
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Review from lil m.
Brooklyn, NY
9/4/2010
I love this place and am disappointed with myself that I haven't yelped it sooner. It is my favorite bar in Park Slope.
First off, its very deceiving in its size. It has a great vibe from the second you walk in, with a nice bar area (and great bartenders). There is a loft space in this area that is nice and intimate, or you could go downstairs and play pool. There is a great backyard area that is also large and chill. On some nights there is a live band (I think on Wednesdays), and sometimes a DJ in the basement. There is always a nice group playing pool or some other thing going on there.
I am also thrilled with the Mexican food they are serving now. It comes from next door at "Taqueria Reis". They have small tacos for $2.50, large burritos, flutos, and more. Its just perfect.
If I had to sum up in a few words I would saw, good food, good drinks, great people, good times, good times for all. See you there! -
Review from Sarah M.
Brooklyn, NY
3/9/2008
Great place to chill.
It's cozy and warm, and the people (employees and patrons alike) are really friendly. In the winter it's a little dead, which I actually like. You can relax with your friends and enjoy yourself without being crammed in or feeling like you're on display at a fashion show. If you're lucky - and smart - Amy, one of the bartenders, might even reward you with a free Raspberry Kamikazee shot with fresh squeezed lime juice for being the first to answer her trivia questions correctly.
I wasn't going to mention this, but from reading the other reviews it does seem like it's pretty common for the credit card machine to not be working. Our bartender had to write our credit card numbers down at the end of the night and do them all by hand. Not a big deal at all, and there is no credit card minimum, but I recommend hitting up an ATM beforehand. -
Review from Emily D.
Brooklyn, NY
2/1/2010
I've lived in the neighborhood for almost a year and only recently finally decided to check out this place. From the street it looks like a lonely hearts club...but that's because all you can see is a row of empty bar stools and some poor bartender staring at the TVs above the bar. But walk inside and it might grow on you. Though at times underwhelming, the beer list is solid...same goes for the crowd. Wednesdays and Sundays are my favorite nights here. The bartenders are wicked friendly, too.
There's a spiral staircase that leads to a lofted area...and a basement space big enough for a DJ to spin at. Complete with pool table and jukebox, cloth-divided booth-like seating and some bitchin' wallpaper. It is a bit dark throughout the whole space which can be a bit eerie in combination with the decor (See: creepy paintings, weird textured cushions).
Reis 100 next door will deliver fresh sandwiches ($4 each) to the bar but both operate Cash Only. -
Review from Heath R.
New York, NY
10/6/2006
When I lived in Park Slope this was my Cheers. Reis, Kevin, Moe, Danielle, and Robbie are the best at making everyone in the bar feel like they are family. Full of regulars on any given night, and crowded with everyone else on others, Bar Reis is a place to get to know new friendly people. The pool table downstairs is usually busy with someone(s) who is willing to play you and your friends without any attitude. Not having any beer on tap is an after thought once you have a perfectly mixed drink, and a beer and taco special.
The garden outside is perfect for a group of your hoodlum friends or just you and a special someone where you can smoke, and take in the wonderful surroundings that are Park Slope.
I can't say enough about this bar. Reis is a fantastic owner and an all around neighborhood guy. Big Ups Bar Reis!! Big Ups indeed.
suggestions: Whiskey sour (they make it a special way), chicken sandwich, and a good conversation with Moe. -
Review from Dan R.
10/26/2009
Bar Reis is essentially four joints in one. Let's dissect, shall we?
Main Bar) Ultimately narrow and claustrophia-inducing, reserve this section for libation-retriving only. If you score a seat, more power to you, but realize you will have patrons climbing on your shoulders and drinks being passed over your head.
Loft) Walk up a spiral staircase to a small platform overlooking the Main Bar and you've reached the second sector of Bar Reis. I passed on the climb up here, but I'm sure there is a fair amount of customers to whom this appeals.
Basement) The most spacious of all quadrants, but ironically the least crowded, at least when the weather is warm enough outdoors. Sparce, the area features diner booths surrounding a pool table, ultimately ignored as the glare from the light out yonder towards the back attracts patrons like mosquitoes.
Garden Patio) If Bar Reis was a mullet, this would be the 'party in the back'. Really, though, it's not much more than groups politickin' on lawn furniture. The set-up is signature Brooklyn and can feel as intimate as a friend's garden party. Smokers and stoners alike seem to enjoy the space (got a whiff of the funny stuff being passed around, either unknown or ignored by the staff), but the patio gets packed and there's no real place to let loose.
At least one of Bar Reis' personalities will please most patrons and despite the low energy level, the garden patio gets my vote. It's a great place to bookend your night, but don't make it the main event. -
Review from John P.
4/12/2011
I came here on a Saturday night around 10:30. It was empty when we first got there, but started to get more crowded by the time we were leaving. Place is pretty small, especially the upstairs. Very hipster crowd. Everyone looked like they just rolled out of bed. The music was some kids ipod, and it wasn't good. They have cheap beers and the bartender was nice, but that's about all that's good here.
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Review from Greg M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2011
This is a typical Brooklyn dive bar, with mostly twenty-something clientele, eclectic music on the stereo system. Beer and shots, mostly - not a cocktail type of place. Lots of hippsterish wanna be's, but some normal peeps as well. The guy that works during the week is pretty cool.
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Review from Nicole W.
Mountain View, CA
1/12/2009
I owe Bar Reis a review. A Woohoo! review.
This is where we ended up on NYE 2009, and they knocked one out of the park without any discernable effort. Good atmosphere, strong drinks, great music and enough space to move, dance, and rest.
Our group went pretty casual, but there were other groups in sequins and slacks (not on the same person, thank goodness). We stashed our coats on chairs in the corner, and proceded to get our dance on to some great indie-ish music that I'm not used to, but I totally enjoyed and the DJ set a great mood to the night.
When we were ready to leave, I checked my coat pockets for wallet and camera, and didn't find them. Since I had my purse stolen at a San Francisco club two months back, I immediately started freaking out. A friendly blonde gentleman said to me "but that's never happened here before..." with a concerned look. I say something quite harsh, and turn to my friend, who tells me he found my stuff in HIS pockets. Uhhh... I feel totally lame for freaking out, and turn to the guy and say "and it still hasn't happened" - hopefully sounding apologetic for my outburst. My friend later tells me that I just yelled at the bar owner... nice Nicole. Nice.
So, many kudos to Reis for putting together an excellent NYE event to ring in the new year - confetti, party hats, and goodwill toward all included. Thank you! -
Review from ju l.
11/22/2009
Bar Reis is cute as all get-out. Looks so tiny, but is so not! Two friends and I came here on a slow night after pizza at Two Boots and were at first kind of spooked by how cramped it seemed, even when mostly empty. But if you ignore that initial everyone-is-looking-at-me!! vibe and forge onward, Bar Reis becomes a really enjoyable space.
We made our way up the spiral staircase to the also-tiny loft space because the larger, brighter basement was way too quiet. There was a lot of ambient noise, it was almost too dark to see, and we had the whole loft to ourselves-- very pleasant when that's what you're in the mood for.
My two friends were the ones who went down to the bar and flashed their passports (having no Driver's License being the true mark of a New Yorker) for our $5 pints. But according to them, the bartender was ridiculously nice. Awesome.
It was one of those humid between-summer-and-fall days and there was no air conditioning, and the loft was unpleasantly warm. We still had a great time hanging out for nearly 2 hours talking, though. I am definitely a fan of this place, and I am definitely coming back.
One more thing, and sorry if I am remembering incorrectly: They don't have Brooklyn Brewery on tap. Not that I mind much, but whaat? -
Review from Mordicai C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/9/2009
You know, I've started to take Bar Reis for granted. It is the nearest bar to me, & so it has just become my default spot, when I managed to actually go out for drinks instead of just crashing at home with some bottles. I have my birthday meet-ups here though, & it brings it into perspective; workfriends & people from outside of Brooklyn marvel at how good it is. & it is; with its weird upstairs nook, its outside, & now its sandwiches next door-- choice! Plus it was here where I started experimenting with martinis-- don't be shy about ordering one.
The reason it is four stars? Cash only. Beware. -
Review from X X.
Brooklyn, NY
12/22/2006
This is the only bar that regularly sends me text messages -- thanks for thinking of me, Moe. She and Kevin are my absolute favorite bartenders in the Slope (they're the dualing banjos of drink slingers).
Highlights:
- The aforementioned staff
- The surprisingly large downstairs space
- The back patio (heating lamps coming soon)
- Strong drinks at not-so-strong prices
Lowlight:
- The position of the pool table in the downstairs lounge -- it's a space issue -- I nearly broke a finger one night when I drew back my cue stick and connected, painfully, with the corner of the stone wall behind me(ouch!).
p.s. -- the tiny cue stick doesn't solve the problem.
That said, I'm throwing my girlfriend's birthday bash/New Year's Eve party at Bar Reis, so the pool table thing doesn't weigh too heavily in my decision to drink/party here. I've had loads of good times and met some of the best people in the neighborhood at this watering hole. -
Review from Tim L.
2/6/2008
Everyone here is super friendly and it's a great place to chat with friends, new acquaintances, the bartenders and anyone else who might happen to be in this place.
The establishment can certainly get a little cramped especially with the narrow front, but with three levels and a back patio it gives you options if you want to change the scenery slightly.
There's a pool table downstairs and cards/board cames sitting on a shelf by the top of the stairs if you want to just hang out.
Unlike other places, they let us know well ahead of time they were having intermittent issues with processing credit cards giving us the option to take our chances, pay by cash, or hit up an ATM.
Prices are great for the drinks and they make them nice and stiff! -
Review from Heather M.
Chicago, IL
1/4/2010
Though this place is truly at its best in the summer, there's something about the basement that's pretty cozy in the winter. Perfect place to come and meet all your friends from the neighborhood, which is my usual m.o.
For an awesome summer night, go hang out in the backyard and order sandwiches from next door (Reis 100 - same owner).
Beware - cash only.Listed in: Park Slope Restaurants where…
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Review from morecawfee M.
Brooklyn, NY
9/23/2007
I love Bar Reis, even though I'm not 100% sure their awesome menu (oh god, those nachos!) is coming back (last time I was there, one of the bartenders told me that Reis was focusing his food efforts on a restaurant he's planning on opening next door). But overall, it's great space with excellent bartenders. I've also impressed out-of-towner friends by taking them here.
Additionally: Pool table, patio, assorted board games, a regular jukebox upstairs and an internet jukebox downstairs. -
Review from john h.
Brooklyn, NY
4/6/2008
This place really surprised me with its variety of places to sit and enjoy. As everyone else has said, the space is pretty great (though that's annoyingly accentuated by the smallness of the bar area near the front door).
It was just warm enough to enjoy the back patio for a little while before we headed back inside to warm up. Luckily the friends who'd spearheaded that move managed to get one of the little tables in the loft, so we went from lovely-but-chilly on the patio to comfy-and-cozy upstairs.
Due to the amount of drinking that led up to Bar Reis, I can't really comment on the prices or the service, but I don't recall hearing any complaints -- unless you count some dude downstairs getting ejected: he introduced us to the term "jungle "-c-u-next-tuesday, which I think was aimed at the female bartender. I'm guessing he didn't have enough information to make such a claim.
I'd definitely like to go back here on a warm afternoon sometime. Save me a seat on the patio.
