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Morgan Ave (L)
Where do the Hipster Vampires spend their time? Why, Kings County of course. If you thought this was some simple neighborhood bar, you were wrong. It is SO dark and very, very loud. There are no windows in front, just corroded metal with a light up crown. Fit for a Vampire king. It's like some evil lair, but I love it. I can't get a pint of the Six Point anywhere else in the hood.
At night the small space can get very, very crowded (especially when you are guilty of flooding the establishment with at least 12 new patrons). I would really recommend this as a Happy Hour/weekday kind of destination. The staff is really chill, and though the patrons seem to be judging you at times, they are probably just thinking about how great your blood is going to taste once you're drunk enough to let them get close to you. I haven't had a bad experience yet, but I do eat a lot of garlic.
+ bonus pointz: i can roll out of bed, throw on some clothes, walk across the street and be inside the bar. how sweet is that?
This is a place I want to love, it's my local after all.
They did a great job with the space, it's comfy and cool without being pretentious.
When I went they were burning Nan Champa, which I happen to be super allergic to, so I won't go back just based on that, cuz this place is too small to burn incense inside, yuck.
And ditto the people who already mentioned the weak drinks, my whiskey and ginger was pretty much just ginger ale - stick with the beer if you go
Kings County is seriously tiny. When my boyfriend first walked in, I thought he was walking through some indoor alleyway to lead us to the real bar.
The place is cozy. It's really very tiny, but our group of 6 fit comfortably here on a Saturday night. Also, anywhere that sells $2 beers is a-okay by me. I think it's a perfect bar for the area and I hope it remains a secret while staying in business.
Loud and hard to hear your conversation. Not a high end place at all, but good to just hang out smoke outside drink inside. Lame explanation? The bar does appeal to me and hipsters, which I'm not.
Hidden. If you see a bench outside, come on in.
***TIME: 1am on a weekday, maybe Thursday
***ALCOHOL (? stars): Came here once. My friend bought me beer. I think it was $7? Don't remember what I got. Sorry. I'm so useless.
***SERVICE (5/5 stars): This cute young lady was superrrr sweet and cute! Thanks!
***CUSTOMERS: Williamsburg type of customers.
***ENVIRONMENT/SPACE: Decent size. Typical bar I'd say.
***WILL I COME BACK?: Yes.
It took me a second to find this place when I was literally standing outside of it, that's how well hidden it is. The only way to find it is to look for a small red light above a curtain with a kings crown on it. They have a great selection of drinks, including my new favorite cheap beer Genesee cream ale, for $2 dollars. Waaaaaaaaaay better than PBR in my opinion. There's an open air smoking alley in the back, that is usually packed with people, so that's a great option if you smoke. The main part of the bar has a very chill feel to it, dimly lit with comfortable bench seating around the edge. Its right off the Morgan L, on the side of Brooklyn Naturals, extremely convenient location for anyone living in the area. It has a local crowd, this will become my neighborhood dive bar of choice.
UPGRADED: To five stars. Had to do it, I've been going here a couple times a week, and love it everytime.
This hidden little bar is right around the corner from Brooklyn Natural, near the Morgan stop on the L train. It's not a destination bar -meaning that I wouldn't travel from Manhattan or other Brooklyn neighborhoods to visit this place (well, unless you want to show off to your friends that you know some hidden spots). For Bushwick residents who find it cumbersome to go to Williamsburg to hang out all the time, this is a good spot for a Happy Hour or to pregame. They have pretty good specials from 4-7pm on weeknights.
The place is pretty small so I wouldn't recommend it for a large group. There is a private smoking area in the back, which is nice (and also helps retain the clandestine nature of this place). They have a full bar, stocked with some decent liquors. The bar has a kind of underground feel to it.
Bars appeal to me with the subtle things they offer.
First: $2 Genny Cream Ale, a definite yes in this economic downturn, and a welcome relief from PBR, which tastes just like natty light but makes me feel like hipster lite.
Second: Pickled okra in the bloody mary. This means go on a weekend afternoon for some hair of the dog, and enjoy the best damn pickled liquored treat in Bushwick.
Third: A surprisingly classy and well-priced selection of liquors....the unbeatable Hangar One wins the vodka group, Buffalo Trace to mix up the bourbons, solid Herradura tequila.
If you live in Bushwick, happen to be in Bushwick for whatever reason, or just feel like venturing out of the regular 'hood, you can't go wrong here. Reasonable prices, great selection, good staff, chill atmosphere, decent jukebox. Yeah, it's dark and has some mediocre art sometimes, but I never feel like an asshole for not being an artist while I circulate in the Kings County when I happen to be in New York. I'm a regular person. and I like to drink. There.
I lived in this neighborhood for a long time before realizing that there's a bar around the corner from my apartment. Weird. It was like thinking you're infertile and then having a baby pop out while you're trying to pee one day. Except, you know, better.
Anyway, this isn't what I'd call a fun place on its own, but it's nice to have around if you want to meet some friends and don't feel like taking the train to a neighborhood that actually has amenities.
Plus, if you get drunk, you forget that you live in New York and yet somehow your cousin's neighborhood in Arkansas at least has a proper grocery store. Then again, she lives in Arkansas and you don't so ha ha ha, I suppose.
Hidden (to keep away the masses, perhaps), one of the only bars to go to in Bushwick, I think this place is a real find.
Truth be told, I haven't been here in ages but I came in this Sunday to try the Bloody Mary's my friend gushed on about. After already drinking $3 Bloody's up the street at Life Cafe I was ready.
Apparently they put Guinness in the Bloody's. Hmmm. Eh. Not for me. I didn't care for it. But they did have pickled okra. Oooh yeah!
Also the bartender, Ramon, was as sweet as pie.
When my friend ordered the Bloodys he began making them and realized he was out of hot sauce so he jumped over the bar and told us he'd be right back. We told him not to worry but he was like no no no...I'm buying hot sauce.
Anyhoo, I switched to beer. They have a good selection and well priced.
I love the art work all around the bar. They're really into the death motif. But it's done quite well.
XXX is cool in my book.
The drinks aren't all that strong, which is kind of lame. The bartender is friendly enough, and the music is punk. The other patrons are definitely of the hipster sort but they're not pretentious about it. The atmosphere is decidedly laid-back.
Inside is like a black, windowless cave. There's ample seating, I guess, and a jukebox stocked with lots of really good music. The bathroom is basically a broom closet, so don't be surprised if a mop falls on you while you're in there (it happened to me).
Prices aren't insanely high but considering the location (kind of shitty) and the strength of the drinks (not very) they're a little higher than perhaps they should be.
When I'm in the area again I'll probably return because there's not really anywhere else to go.
This is one of the only proper bars in the neighborhood. What's odd, though, is that there's no windows, and virtually no signage outside to indicate what sort of establishment this is.
The upside to this, of course, is that if you're bringing a friend they'll think you're taking them to a speakeasy or something even more sordid.
Inside, it's cozy. And dark. Very dark. (Remember the no windows part?) There's an OK beer selection and a pretty chill atmosphere. Drink prices are a little high...
I really want to like this place, but I just can't convince myself that it's anything special, even if it is one of only 2 bars in my hood. Like if I'm in a jam and want to grab a drink with someone in the neighborhood I'll go here by default, but it's not a destination on its own. Sadness...
Really the only proper bar in the neighborhood (unless you count Wreck Room, which I don't). I recently moved and I miss this place. It's nothing fancy but they do support local artists and their art openings are pretty fun. Also the address is 286 Seigel St. not 49 Bogart and there is no sign, just the crown over the door.
I guess it depends on what night you go (although I was literally there almost every day) or who you know because my drinks were always strong. You can almost always find a seat and the people are a mix of hipsters and regulars.
It's hard to figure out how the patrons of this place get so freakin' loud and drunk when the drinks are so weak. I suppose that speaks more about the clientele. This place has such an attitude about itself. I was there with a friend who commented on how his beer glass looked smaller than it was (mind you he was stating, not complaining) and the door guy nearly had a tantrum, whining "people love and respect us". Ugh. Weekend warrior types revving up their motorcycles on the weekends, yelling at people on the street and picking fights makes it kind of feel like upstate NY.
i hated this bar the first time i visited- the bartender on duty at the time didn't know how to make a shirley temple; i don't think he knows what grenadine is? i've asked him a few times and he says they're out, but the awesome female manager always manages to deliver... welcome to bushwick, i guess?
but - the jukebox is great, and the long outside patio has a grill - my friends and i frequented this bar so much while shooting in the area that they let us cook a rack of ribs the other week. life is good. also - no charge for nonalcoholic beverages, which is definitely NOT a given in all NY bars. (in case anyone was interested...)
Aside from promoting this place just because my artwork has been displayed there, and because it is right around the corner from Ad Hoc Art, which is my friends' awesome awesome gallery, this bar needs to be promoted because it is a great bar with nice bartenders, good music, good art on the walls, and cheap cheap drinks (especially during happy hours)! Easy to get to on the L train too- right around the corner :)
it's like a secret society. i love that the place is freakin hidden, with only a tiny light above the door to tell you where (but not what) it is. from what i could see not too big, but definitely worth stopping by. i didn't spend as much time here as i wanted to, but it'll certainly be revisited.
Rude.
Tiny hidden bars with art on the walls and candle light? Cheap beer? Win WIn Win. oh and its just down the street from me.
This bar isn't really a good idea for people not in the neighborhood so I'm not sure why I'm yelping it... but it's great. It's almost impossible to spot if the door light isn't on. It's really tiny. I wouldn't go there with a group of more than 4... there is some couch type seating but it gets awkward in large groups. Really cheap drinks. The mixed drinks are strong. Good jukebox. Better on weeknights.
I like it, it's in my neighborhood, I can get a beer there. This is obviously not a cocktail lounge and they don't water down the whiskey so drinks are just fine by me. If I am out and about or I want to have a nightcap this is the place and it's great. I don't see why prices would be any cheaper, they are pretty standard in my book. 4 stars for functionality, I would've given 5 if the backyard was bigger and wasn't just a long hallway.
mmm.. Tommy likey!
dark art, neat 'tenders, secretive exterior, and booze to boot!
oh, bushwick. i don't get to see you as often as i should. i feel sorry for you, man. everyone bitches about you right and left. your buildings are ugly, you have no trees and that whole bed bug debacle must have really ouched you a bit. at any rate, when i'm in your embrace, usually post a loft party that ran out of booze, i naturally crave more sweet liquor. and then i realize that one of my favorite bars in all the bk is here too. kings county totes rips. before i moved to new york, i straggled into the city to apartment hunt and was in the running for a 'pod' in a loft apartment directly across the street. realizing that i didn't have it in me to suck up to the guys with the apartment who actually had a party for prospective roommates, i stumbled upon this wonderful, tiny, dark and great bar. i hear it's the jam for whiskey, though i wouldn't know, i really don't touch the stuff. what i do know is that the music is good, the people are cool, the bartenders are sweetiepies and the drinks are on the cheap side. this place feels like a secret clubhouse in the best possible way.
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