The Best Places To Drink Outside in North Brookyn
Brooklyn Barge Bar
When the weather gets warm, finding a bar in Manhattan where you can drink outside is next to impossible. The few places that are suitable for outside libations are always too crowded. Thankfully, North Brooklyn has you covered. From Freehold’s grassy courtyard in South Williamsburg, to the impressive skyline vistas at Greenpoint’s Brooklyn Barge Bar, North Brooklyn is packed with options.
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Williamsburg
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Spuyten Duyvil, credit Pinterist
Spuyten Duyvil
359 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg
We say: A spacious garden with lawn chairs and a wall covered in ivy that never seems to get too crowded. Spuyten Duyvil is a favorite for craft beer lovers and has one of the larger selections in the neighborhood. They have great wine too, if beer seems too heavy for a hot summer day. Cheese and meat boards are available if you’re feeling peckish, with artisanal cheese from the Bedford Cheese Shop. The only downside is that drinks are on the expensive side.
Featured Review, NYC Beer Guide: Spuyten Duyvil is a smart, cozy bar which first opened September 2003; there are six ever-changing taps and a cask-conditioned beer engine, all pouring microbrews and unusual imports, and a truly amazing selection of bottled beers from around the world. Belgium alone has a large blackboard listing the range available from that country – and even divided into the two language regions. The available taps are deliberately kept to a limited number to ensure freshness and frequent changes… There is a good-sized beer garden, torch-lit after dark. Food is limited to cheese (yum yum!!!) and pate/meat boards. -
Sofas at Summerly
The bars at The Hoxton hotel: Summerly, Klein’s, and The Backyard
97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249, Williamsburg
We say: Just in time for summer, The Backyard and Summerly are now open at The Hoxton hotel in Williamsburg. In addition to Klein’s, which opened last year, The Hoxton now houses three spots that are ideal for outdoor drinks and dining. Of the three, Summerly is our favorite. This spacious rooftop bar opened last week and it specializes in seafood, craft cocktails, and amazing views on the Manhattan skyline. When we visited, the staff was fantastic and accommodating. We enjoyed the Blackberry Bramble (bourbon, blackberry, lemon, thyme, splash soda) and Saint 75 (gin, st. germaine, champagne, lemon). They also have a tequila and passion fruit cocktail called Just One Drink & I’m Going Home that serves four to six people. Clearly we need to return with a larger party. Local craft beers, such as the LIC Coded Tiles IPA are also available. From the food menu, we enjoyed the the Fried Calamari with banana peppers, and the Clams N Linguini which is prepared with a simple, but tasty garlic and white wine sauce. You can check out Summerly’s full menu here. It’s expensive, but the view is free.
The food and drink at The Hoxton’s various restaurants are all overseen by restaurateurs Zeb Stewart (Hotel Demano, Union Pool) and Jud Mongell (Five Leaves).
The Backyard – an outdoor bar on the Hotel’s second floor – offers a more low-key experience with bar snacks, cocktails and ping pong. The Backyard’s menu features wood-fired nachos, burgers and sandwiches, and more. Klein’s on the ground floor has tons of space for drinks too!
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Freehold
Freehold
45 South 3rd Street, South Williamsburg
We Say: Freehold’s conceit is that they are a hotel bar, without the hotel. This multipurpose space has a restaurant, a coffeehouse and, best of all, an over-sized courtyard with comfortable seating, ping pong, and views of the Williamsburg bridge. The slushy drinks and a chilled-out California vibe are fantastic, though it tends to attract the fedora and man-bun crowd you see in bad Millennial stock photos. Still, this can make for some interesting people-watching. Try it on a weekday if you’re seeking a more mellow scene.
Featured Review; Brooklyn Based: The day-to-night hang spot on S. 3rd and Wythe is a hybrid between a members-only club like SoHo House and the lobby of a boutique hotel, like the Ace, but it lacks the exclusivity (or membership fee) of the former and the tourists of the latter. -
Tacocina
Tacocina
25 River Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249, South Williamsburg
We Say: Skip the crappy Mexican food at this Danny Meyer joint and order a margarita or michelada. The restaurant is inside Domino Park and has amazing views of the New York skyline and the Williamsburg bridge. If you can secure a table, it’s a lovely spot to watch the sunset or day drink.
Featured Review; The Infatuation: Tacocina is a taco spot from the people behind Shake Shack, which would be pretty exciting on its own. But it’s also located in Domino Park, a new outdoor space on the water in Williamsburg, and they have a bunch of picnic tables with great views of the river and Manhattan. So, the wait to order at this counter-service spot can stretch over an hour. Once you do get to the front of the line, get the fried mushroom and shrimp tacos, and some small plates, like cheese chicharrones and chips and guacamole. But the main reason you should come here is to drink margaritas on the water with a group. Have one friend get here early and wait in line, or day-drink here on weekends. -
Iona
Iona
180 Grand Street, South Williamsburg
We Say: A Scottish pub on Williamsburg’s southside that is one of our favorite places to drink in Williamsburg during the summer, or anytime for that matter. Iona opened in 2001 and has weathered the neighborhood’s changes and gentrification without ever slipping into trendiness or pretension. It has a great neighborhood vibe and in the warmer months a spacious backyard with BBQ and free ping-pong. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon drinking an icy London Pride, Spicy Cucumber Margarita, or a Michelada.
Featured Review; Time Out: At this Irish pub, the garden is the main summer attraction, offering weekend barbecues, table tennis and benches for moonlit cuddles. -
Night of Joy
Night of Joy
667 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg
We Say: Night of Joy has a sizable deck with a view of Manhattan in one direction and the Brooklyn Queens Expressway overpass in the other. We especially like this place at night, when watching the car headlights from the BQE dash by lend the spot a moody, industrial ambiance. Be sure to order one of their fresh lime, frozen margaritas in assorted flavors.
Featured Review, Time Out: Well-priced, simple cocktails—like a citrusy orange-blossom lemonade with rum—feature herbs and house-infused spirits, but they’re too weak to pack a punch. While the ground-floor bar also stocks beers (including Sixpoint and Kronenbourg) and organic French wines, the real draw is upstairs—scale the steps in the back to find a roof deck with a frozen-margarita station. -
The Ides
The Ides
80 Wythe Avenue, The Wythe Hotel, Williamsburg
We say: Glorious panoramic views of Manhattan and Brooklyn that are among the best in all of New York. The crowd generally consists of out-of-towners trying to look “Brooklyn,” but the patio, six stories high, will make up for the touristy feel of the place. Highly recommended. Note: sometimes there is a line to get in, but we’ve never waited more than 20 minutes.
Featured Review, New York: An indoor and outdoor space on the sixth floor of Williamsburg’s new pride and joy, run by Andrew Tarlow, the restaurateur also of the downstairs restaurant Reynard. Have a seat at the bar or on one of the indoor red banquettes, or take it out to the terrace, with views of Manhattan that you could only see if you were not actually in the borough. -
Huckleberry Bar, credit Time Out
Huckleberry Bar
588 Grand Street, East WilliamsburgWe Say: A quiet, hidden gem on Grand Street, perfect for having a fancy cocktail and a small plate. The garden is small with a handful of wooden benches and ivy strewn walls. It’s a great place to take a date, if you don’t mind the occasional scurrying of cats in the alley behind the courtyard.
Featured Review, Zagat: “Upscale but not stuffy” vibes draw a “good-looking but not snooty crowd” to this East Williamsburg watering hole where “delicious” drinks fashioned with “attention to detail” justify the “not-cheap” outlay; between a bar that “can seat a small army” and a “clutch” rear patio, you won’t “suffer from small-space syndrome.”
Westlight
111 North 12th Street, The William Vale Hotel, Williamsburg
We say: Ascend to the top floor of the William Vale building in Williamsburg and you will be treated to a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline. The view from their spacious wrap-around terrace is unparalleled in all of Brooklyn, and that’s a good thing, since the staff is generally rude and unaccommodating. Still, that view! Grab a seat outside and enjoy a small plate such as Butternut Squash Hummus or Shrimp Cocktail Dumplings. They have a burger available as well ($18) and assorted desserts if you have a sweet tooth. Reservations are recommended.
Featured Review, Gothamist: Up on the 22nd floor, Westlight, the bar, affords nearly 360 views out over Queens, Brooklyn and the east coast of Manhattan—even the elevator vestibule offers an incredible vista. Swinging by last Saturday, a small line had formed outside the hotel when the bar opened at 4 p.m.; be forewarned that the outside line leads to yet another line inside. The system’s a good one, though, as it means the bar’s not slammed all at once and really everything moves pretty quickly from line to line to seat…-
Pete’s Candy Store
Pete’s Candy Store
709 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg
We say: Pete’s is a Williamsburg institution. During the warmer months, they have BBQ on Sundays in their garden, which always attracts a mix of locals. It’s a great place to spend a sunny day drinking Garden Martinis (Vodka, Dill, Cucumber, Agave, Lemon). Migrate inside as the night arrives and hear some free music.
Featured Review, Time Out: There’s free music in the Pullman-car-shaped performance space, with acts on the cusp of wider recognition appearing nightly. When the weather warms, the backyard opens to stargazers.
Berry Park
4 Berry Street, Williamsburg
We say: The view is hard to beat, especially at dusk when you can see the sunset framed by the New York skyline. On the downside, the food is only serviceable and, worse, Berry Park tends to attract bros and people from Jersey. That said, they’ve got that damn view that keeps us coming back. Note: Berry Park’s ground floor is a sports bar, so stay away when there’s a big game on, unless that’s your thing.
Featured Review, Time Out: Williamsburg welcomes its latest beer hall, a bi-level behemoth with a 3,500-square-foot ground floor and a roof deck almost as large. Brooklyn boosters may be disappointed to find that the 15 taps are dedicated to imports (mostly German and Belgian drafts). Other amenities that might make up for it: a 13-foot-wide screen dedicated to soccer, Manhattan (and McCarren Park) views and a forthcoming beer-friendly food menu.
Union Pool
484 Union Ave, Williamsburg Brooklyn
We say: Like Berry Park, the crowd can be a little taxing at times (annoying hipsters looking to hook up) but the festive vibe and a great backyard with a strangely enchanting view of the, um, BQE makes up for any discomforts. Plus there’s a taco truck and a fire pit, so it’s hard to not have a great time. Check their calendar for live music in the courtyard on weekends.
Featured Review, The Infatuation: Union Pool is an OG Williamsburg meeting-people party. It has three distinct spaces, with three distinct vibes – so whether you’re looking to hang in the bar area, have tacos in the outdoor area, or get down in the dance area – you have lots of opportunities to mix it up. Everyone is generally always having a good time at Union Pool, and you probably will too.-
The Woods
The Woods
48 South 4th Street, South Williamsburg
We say: Fairly removed from the Bedford L train station — it’s a 10 minute walk — The Woods is never too crowded. They have a large outdoor courtyard, and sell Tiki cocktails, burgers, and sandwiches too. The courtyard is a bit shady and there’s no view per se, but when the sun peaks through it’s still a pleasant spot for some outdoor libations.
Featured Review, Thrillist: After years of running a rickety taco truck out of its crowded back patio, The Woods in Williamsburg changed the game with a backyard bar that’s slinging island-themed cocktails as well as eats from an actual kitchen operated by Landhaus (we suggest the Maple Bacon Stick, which is famous in its own right). Rotating DJs and live music round out the rest of the weekly night scene, and continuously pique the interest of the young Brooklynite scene.
Greenpoint
Brooklyn Barge Bar
3 Milton Street, Greenpoint – Brooklyn, NY 11222
We Say: Simply amazing views of the New York skyline inches away from Transmitter Park. The food is unremarkable, but will do the trick if you’re starving. Come instead for the view and the drinks – slushy cocktails and close to a dozen drafts are available – and you will be delighted. Brooklyn Barge Bar is open May through October and is a fantastic spot to take a group or that buddy visiting from out of town.
Featured Review Gothamist: The Barge offers some pretty enticing vistas of Manhattan and the East River. The menu appears to have gotten a bit of a refresh, with Grilled Fish Tacos and loaded Tugboat Fries with pulled pork, cheese and jalapenos. While there’s plenty of booze—10 different tap beers, a tasty-sounding Rum Punch with spiced rum and fruit juice, among other imbibables—the operation has always made a big deal out of its programming leg, which includes free kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding lessons, sailing lessons and catch-and-release fishing.
The Springs
224 Franklin Street, Greenpoint
We say: In the former home of T.B.D, The Springs has an enormous courtyard that’s the perfect place for groups on a sunny day. The bar has been given a makeover and now has a Palm Springs theme with slushy drinks and a food cart.
Featured Review, NY Post: A new bar, The Springs, is slated to open with cocktails from co-owner/mixologist/photographer Sarah Boisjoli, who was inspired by the 1950s era of the California desert resort. The bar will also feature small bites and snacks from a retro food truck parked outside. Cocktails will include a rotating cast of four “slushies” a night, like Aperol Spritz; Sunburn, with Tequila, Aloe Vera, Blue Curacao and Lime; and Scooby Snack, a pina colada and Coco-Cola float. The slushies are also available as pitchers serving 10 people. Signature cocktails include Desert Springs, with Milagro Silver Tequila, Dolin Blanc, cucumber, mint and Thai chile; and Riverside Revival, with Hendricks gin, grapefruit cordial, lemon and Absinthe.-
Spritzenhaus
Spritzenhaus
33 Nassau Ave, Greenpoint
We say: A German style beer hall with a handful of picnic tables outside. The over-sized, warehouse-style windows make the space feel airy, even if you’re seated inside. Unlike Radegast Beer Hall, which has mainly German and Czech beers, Spritzenhaus serves a wider selection including many American IPAs. Spritzenhaus is especially popular with families on sunny weekend afternoons. Tasty fries, pretzels, and sausages are available if you need a base for day drinking.
Featured Review, The Infatuation: A beer garden in Williamsburg across from McCarren Park, and it’s a good alternative to Radegast. It’s a little less crazy over here, and there’s a lot of space for big groups. In the summer there’s a lot of outdoor seating, and in the winter you can sit inside near a fireplace. -
The Diamond’s courtyard ski gondala
The Diamond
43 Franklin Street, GreenpointWe say: A quirky local’s bar named for Diamond Dave (David Lee Roth of Van Halen) with a cozy garden, a shuffleboard table, an eye-catching Michael Landing painting, and a ski gondola booth in their courtyard. Capitalizing on their popularity during the summer, The Diamond’s menu always has a few lower alcohol Session IPAs or Sours so you won’t be hammered by 3pm, should you opt for some daytime drinking in their garden. Unfortunately, this is a beer and wine only joint, so if you’re looking for something stronger you’re out of luck. Check their calendar for food pop-ups and special events.
Featured Review, New Yorker: Tucked away in Greenpoint, a couple of blocks from the East River, is the Diamond, which curates its calendar as carefully as its beer list. The mix of high-end brews on tap includes Brooklyn’s ubiquitous I.P.A.s, a tangy Trappist pint, and a dry, malty Pilsner. It’s a neighborhood joint, with a curved mahogany bar and a shuffleboard table, complete with an abacus to tally scores, open to ironic, boozy competition.
Brouwerij Lane
78 Greenpoint Ave., Greenpoint
We say: The best spot to sample craft beer in Greenpoint. They have over 150 bottles available and 19 ever-changing taps of craft beer. The outdoor courtyard is small, but we always meet nice people there with whom to share a table and a pint. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly too. In fact, we love this place so forget we told you about it.
Featured Review, Thrillist: Brouwerij Lane peddles 400+ hard-to-find beer brands, all brought together by a 20+ year Brooklyn Brewery vet. It’s a reliable place to buy interesting bottles for enjoying at home, but also an inviting space
Bushwick
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Brooklyn Beer Garden
Brooklyn Beer Garden
33 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11237, b/t Troutman St & Starr St in Bushwick
We say: An enormous beer garden adorned with graffiti from the Bushwick Arts Collective.
Featured Review, Metro Owners Gabriele Maurello and Tyagi Schwartz created something more like an urban garden and street art gallery rather than a typical bar, with brightly colored flowers overflowing from hand-built planters and art covering every surface, including the concrete floor. Neighborhood artists were invited to take over the 10,000-square-foot garden, hanging whimsical portraits along the perimeter of tin panels and covering the maze-like interior of panels put up specifically to make space for more art, making the space feel more like a gallery that happens to serve beer. And in the back is the urban “beach,” a sand-covered corner where a bikini-clad Oprah holds an Octoberfest-size load of steins next to Jimmy Fallon in a Borat-style lime green swimsuit.
Old Stanley’s
226 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick
We say: Old Stanley’s is self-consciously trying to be the type of working class bar your old man would frequent in the Seventies. Despite the conceit, or perhaps because of it, we love this bar. And what makes Old Stanley’s even better is their great backyard. Cool down with a draft in a frosty mug or try a slushy Irish Coffee named for the actor who played Kojak: The Ethel O’ Connell. They also have pretzels and hot dogs available on the cheap and a solid happy hour. What else do you need?
Featured Review, New York: The cash-only, neo-dive trades in hand-stirred cocktails for a good enough beer selection, old-school decor, and surprisingly good frozen pina coladas.-
The Narrows, credit Brownstoner
The Narrows
1037 Flushing Ave., Bushwick
We say: The Narrows is a posh, and occasionally crowded, Bushwick bar specializing in well-made cocktails. The patio is cozy, with Christmas lights, ivy, and lawn furniture that looks like it came from your old backyard in the ‘burbs, giving it the familiarity of home. Plus, they have oysters everyday until 7pm for a buck! Even if you don’t live in Bushwick, The Narrows will make it worth the trip.
Featured Review, New York: Hidden behind an unassuming Flushing Avenue storefront, the Deco’d interior recalls the corporate high rises of midtown pre-Mad Men: bathroom doors pose as elevators; a menu hangs framed like a lobby directory; mood lighting streams from mid-century pendant lamps. Outside, the wood-plank benches on the spacious backyard deck offer a blue-sky view.
Forrest Point
970 Flushing Avenue, Bushwick /East Williamsburg
We say: Though its garden overlooks the traffic-filled thoroughfare of Flushing Ave, Forrest Point still manages to deliver serenity in their plant-filled patio. They serve a full, eclectic menu with everything from Chips and Guac to Shawarma-Style Chicken Salad and have a solid cocktail list. It tends to attract an “I moved to Bushwick three weeks ago” crowd, which can either be entertaining or really annoying, depending on your perspective. When it’s busy during brunch or dinner, you may get the stink-eye for taking up a table if you’re just drinking, but that’s an easy cover charge for a comfortable seat in the sun.
Featured Review, The Infatuation: An indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant with solid cocktails and a big, random menu (tuna tartare tacos, burgers, quinoa salad, pot pie) that we’re not mad about. Like all good Bushwick spots, the atmosphere is industrial yet homey, and feels like the kind of place where you can just sit and hang for a while.-
The Rookery, credit Brooklyn Buzz
The Rookery
425 Troutman Street, Bushwick
We say: A gastropub on the Jefferson L train stop in Bushwick with a nice courtyard out front and horseshoe-shaped bar inside. Grab a seat at one of their tables (some have umbrellas for shade) and try a fancy cocktails or a pint of Belhaven Scottish Ale. The vibe here is always relaxed and it’s a nice space to casually pass the time with friends. They have good “British and West Indian inspired” pub fare if you want a bite, including Fish ‘n Chips and an Oxtail Sloppy Joe.
Featured Review, Thrillist: Offering tasty pub grub, craft ‘tails, an extensive wine list, and a large array of draught and bottled beer, you can’t go wrong when it comes to The Rookery and their beautiful garden. -
Welcome to the Johnsons
Welcome to the Johnson’s
369 Troutman Street, between Wyckoff and Irving; Bushwick
We say: The iconic Lower East Side dive bar, Welcome to the Johnson’s, comes to Bushwick, but with less b.o. and a cleaner toilet than the original. The bar — which is way too tidy to feel like a dive — has a large, dog-friendly courtyard out front for boozing. The main attraction here are the $2 cans of Lion’s Head – a bargain that’s hard to beat.
Featured Review, New Yorker: Out front, there’s an Astroturf yard with plenty of chill lounging spots, for dogs and for humans, including hanging wicker egg-chairs. The inside has the look of a retro IHOP crossed with your great-uncle’s finished-basement rec room: tasteful sixties wall hangings, cheap wood panelling, a pool table, and many shades of taupe. The real draws are two-dollar cans of Lionshead Pilsner and a sort of lime-in-the-coconut-cure slushy called the Painkiller, which is four dollars during the day and will certainly postpone pain, if not eliminate it. -
Tradesman, credit Foursquare
Tradesman
222 Bushwick Avenue, Bushwick / East Williamsburg
We say: The Montrose stop has few places to choose from, but that’s okay because Tradesman is really all you need. They have a solid selection of draft beers, craft cocktails, and a 2,500 square foot patio that has a great neighborhood vibe. Plus, with the exception of Saturday, their Happy Hour runs until 9pm with $4 Drafts, $6 Specialty Cocktails and $5 Well Drinks.
Featured Review, Brooklyn Magazine: Earthy, artisanal tones are the signature decorating inspiration in this carefully appointed space for happy hour cocktails and weekend brunch on Bushwick Avenue. The 2,500 square foot patio is a welcome reprieve from the pace of the neighborhood when it heats up but the seasonal cocktail menu and cozy, candle and lamp-lit interior keep patrons warm all winter too. -
Three Diamond Door; credit NY Mag
Three Diamond Door
211 Knickerbocker Ave, Bushwick
We say: Three Diamond Door is a neo-dive in Bushwick from some of the same fine people behind Lady Jay’s, Oak and Iron, and Pearl’s Social Club. They have a dozen draft beers, Prosecco on tap, and a backyard with ample seating. If you’re in the neighborhood, make this your day-drinking destination.
Featured Review, Gothamist: Beautifully designed and decorated. A long wooden bar extends to nearly the full length of the interior, with ample counter space for stool-seating, along with a few smaller booths along the opposite wall. There are delicate touches of old-school elegance here, like 1950s-style hanging lights, a jukebox and a vintage cigarette vending machine that’s been refurbished as a water cooler.
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