Whether you live in Williamsburg, are visiting a friend who lives there, or you want to take your date or a group of friends to Brooklyn's "hippest" neighborhood for a night on the town, there are a variety of stellar places to grab a drink (or several....). There is a venue to support every budget and/or occasion, ranging from your typical dive bar, to an upscale rooftop club, and everything in between. With the surge of Michelin Star restaurants and cocktail bars featuring some of the best mixologists in town popping up all over this neighborhood, it's really no surprise that every weekend there is an influx of Manhattanites and tourists alike filtering off the Bedford stop. As someone who has resided on Bedford Ave. for the past four years, I am very familiar with where to go, and which places one should avoid at all costs. I am willing to share my all-time personal favorite locales with you, so you can impress your date, or spare yourself the agony of not knowing where to go and ending up somewhere unsavory.
1.Maison Premiere, Bedford Ave.
This will be the one and only establishment on this entire list that is located on Bedford Ave. Maison Premiere is an upscale oyster / cocktail bar and is the perfect place to bring a date, have a girls night with a small group of friends, or have a fancy, pre-dinner cocktail if you plan on making the rounds elsewhere for a later dinner engagement or party. The oyster selection is impressive, and the small plates on the menu are perfect for sharing and downright delectable. They do have a limited number of large plates for dinner, but I would recommend just sticking to cocktails and oysters. The cocktail selection is also expansive, and every cocktail I've had is amazingly executed. If you, or someone in your life, is an absinthe aficionado, you absolutely MUST bring them here. They have over 25 types of Absinthe on drip, as well as a number of specialty absinthe cocktails. The atmosphere is perfect for intimacy, with the dim lights, candles, and the oyster bar / bar situated in the very center of the establishment.
2.Extra Fancy, Metropolitan Ave.
Located on Metropolitan Ave., Extra Fancy is a short walk from the L-train, and perfect for grabbing some casual cocktails or a bite to eat with a group of friends or a date. Although the name might imply otherwise, this place isn't at all fancy in terms of atmosphere or dress (think hipsters with tattoos wearing tees and baseball caps), although the prices lean towards the fancy end of the spectrum. Cocktails are strong and delicious, but run around $14. Anytime I have had dinner here, I leave still hungry and short $110 though, so I would suggest just doing cocktails and maybe some small plates. The fries are out of this world good, and the kitchen is open until 2:30am, which is highly convenient if you're a night owl. They have a decent selection of oysters, an amazing $8 glass of house rosé, and an outdoor patio for those warm Summer nights or afternoons! Be warned, this place is a hipster favorite, and on random nights, they have a DJ spinning old vinyls, so it could get funky if you go late.
3.The Ides Rooftop at the Wythe Hotel, Wythe Ave.
If you are looking for the perfect place to enjoy some fresh air while taking in the Manhattan skyline and having a leisurely drink, this is the place to go. The Ides Rooftop, located at the top of the Wythe Hotel, has an upscale feel, great crowd, and upscale prices (a well-gin and tonic will run you $17). It gets rather busy during the afternoon on weekend days, so be prepared to wait in a mini queue downstairs if you plan to go on a sunny Saturday. The ambiance is great, with chill music playing in the background, plenty of seating both outside, and inside, and a good mix of people (foreign tourists staying in the hotel, fashion industry types, artistic types, older couples, etc.). It's an ideal locale to bring a first date, or your significant other for a sweet surprise, or to go with your friends for an after-dinner drink if you're in the neighborhood and feeling cool.
4.The Levee, Berry Street
This is a prime example of your classic, all-American dive bar. Situated across the street from Radegast Hall, this is the type of bar you come to get your drink on (ie. you plan to get intoxicated). The crowd is quintessential Williamsburg: twenty-something, hipster types swilling beer and playing pool. It's a great place to mingle, a good place to end up when they night is coming to an end, or the perfect place to bring your friend who is having relationship woes and needs a shot or two. Food is limited to hotdogs and chips, so eat beforehand if you plan on drinking heavily or aren't into processed cuisine.
5.TBA, Wythe Ave.
If you are into house / electronic music and looking to get your dance on, this is the place for you. TBA is great for a weekday night when none of the major clubs are open, but you still feel like partying and grooving to some deep-house or techno music. The place is popular amongst the Bushwick-rave set, and for good reason; the walls have lights which coordinate with the beat of the music, and the crowd is always chill and friendly. The bar itself offers your standard array of liquors and beer choices at pretty standard prices, however, they also have a small selection of specialty cocktails. If you are bored on a Tuesday night, but don't want to end up at a dive bar or shell out tons of cash drinking at a fancy rooftop, this is a great alternative.
