The 15 Best Craft Cocktail Bars

While Greenwich Village may have been the epicenter of New York City’s 1960s counterculture movement that scene has moved eastward to modern-day Brooklyn. As we saw Manhattanites migrating in the mid-2000s to the then up-and-coming neighborhoods of Cobble Hill, Crown Heights, and Williamsburg we saw a new emergence of trendy gastronomy dining and cocktail bars that captivated international audiences to ditch the over-priced bougie city scene for a diverse local experience.

Today you can enjoy a few drinks while listening to live music and experiment with a fusion of different ethnic food options depending on your mood still without breaking the bank.

This is the ultimate guide to the best cocktail bars in Brooklyn with some added food recommendations so keep scrolling to discover the best cocktail bars and their locations, also don’t be afraid to mingle with the locals!

Photo Courtesy: Saint Eves Cocktail Bar

Whether escaping a snowy night in the cozy velvet-lined bar or enjoying a summer night outside, Saint Eve’s has fantastic cocktails, food, and an atmosphere for any occasion. The entire menu of cocktails is delicious and always surprising, plus they are prepared by very attentive and friendly bartenders who use nothing but the best high-quality ingredients.

Address: 475 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

@grandarmybar

Grand Army bar is a cozy neighborhood bar specializing in craft cocktails, bountiful oysters, seafood, and seasonal vegetable dishes. The head bartender always manages to incorporate a cocktail laboratory of seasonal mystical ingredients creating subtle improvements to the classic martinis.

Address: 336 State St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Leyenda is a pan-Latin-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant that brings a little bit of the Latin American spirit-forward vibes to Brooklyn. Along with their signature best cocktails, they also do flights of tequila, rum, and mezcal. While you sip a savory drink from bartender Ivy Mix pair it with something from their tapas food menu which includes cheese empanadas, croquetas, plus a variety of tacos that taste amazing.

Address: 221 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

@pacificparkbk

The Bearded Lady is one of the best cocktail bars with a vibrantly colorful 1950s diner-themed cocktail lounge in Prospect Heights that severs up drinks in a fun nostalgic space. Their craft cocktails never disappoint especially their signature cocktail Church Key, which is a refreshing mixed drink of Pimms, London dry gin, cucumber juice, ginger, and mint. They also carry a great assortment of beer and wine that can be served with their pungent cheese plate.

Address: 686A Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

@westlightnyc

Westlight is a rooftop cocktail bar located at the William Vale hotel on the 22nd floor with a sweeping 360-degree view of the Manhattan skyline. The swanky bartenders deliver a dynamic cocktail menu of classic signature cocktails alongside rare spirits, cold brew beer, and natural wine that can be served with a delicious menu of inspiration from global street food.

Editor’s Note:
While this may be one of the best bars with a rooftop in Brooklyn please take note of their bar hours. Monday to Thursday: 4 pm to 12 am, Friday: 4 pm to 1 am, Saturday: 12 pm to 2 am, and Sunday: 12 pm to 12 am.

Address: 111 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

@cloverclubny

Clover Club is a classic neighborhood bar where you’ll find all the classic cocktails, plus inventive drinks like their trademark cocktail Clover Club, a mixture of gin, raspberry, dry vermouth, lemon, and egg white. The cocktail menu is meant to be tasted with a food menu of delicious bites from oysters, spicey marinated olives, sausage, and goat cheese crostini to a larger menu of evening fare.

Address: 210 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

@sunkenharborclubnyc

Just a taxi ride away over the East River from Manhattan, Sunken Harbor Club is one of the fun bars in Brooklyn with a colorfully eccentric pirate ship-themed room tucked away on the second floor above Gage & Tollner restaurant. Whether you’re enjoying dinner in their main dining room or popping in for after-dinner cocktails relish in their innovative spirits of hand-cut ice and refreshing tropical cocktails from Chief Cocktail Officer Garret Richard.

In fact, the drinks here are so good that after a long night, you might think you washed up somewhere in Red Hook but don’t worry as you stumble out you’ll still hear the blaring sights and sounds of Downtown Brooklyn.

Address: 372 Fulton St 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

@dutchkillsbar

Less than 12 minutes from Williamsburg, Dutch Kills is a cocktail bar and lounge in a moody room of dark all-American vintage features that hosts a cocktail list of drinks that are served dry and strong like the legendary cocktail Whiskey Fix, a combination of your choice of bourbon, or rye whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and sugar. These stirred cocktails marry up exquisitely with the new-age American bistro restaurant menu.

Address: 27-24 Jackson Ave, Queens, NY 11101

@longislandbar

If you’re looking for a swanky New York throwback cocktail bar then the 55-year-old landmarked Long Island Bar is one of the best cocktail bars in Brooklyn for top-notch drinks and typical mouth-watering American bistro dishes. With a tradition of mixing and stirring up classic cocktails enjoy the revitalizing taste of the Paloma cocktail infused with Blanco tequila, grapefruit soda, and lime juice.

Compared to Manhattan restaurants or the more hipster trendy rooftops and bars in Brooklyn, Long Island Bar has an equally competitive dinner menu and extensive wine list but without all the rushed hustle and bustle of the city pace so you can kick back, relax, and enjoy your drink.

Address: 110 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

@yourssincerelybk

Yours Sincerely is a cocktail bar in Bushwick that curates delectable craft cocktails on tap, plus this little gem offers cheap drinks as low as $6 during Happy Hour. These crafted drinks are actually made in their basement cocktail laboratory and served in graduated cylinders like a high school science project, but better! Lab Rat is a zesty take on the classic daiquiri incorporating denizen white rum, lime, and infused simple syrup that is both fruity and refreshing. The space integrates the 19th-century charm of a cozy atmosphere ideal for after-dinner drinks.

Address: 41 Wilson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

@maisonpremiere

Maison Premiere is known for its craft cocktails, locally sourced oysters, and savorous seafood dishes. The space was inspired by picturesque hotel lobbies and majestic restaurants in New York, Paris, and New Orleans replicating one of the greatest absinthe fountain services while offering Cajun-influenced food that illuminates its New Orleans flare and in true southern hospitality accessorized an atmospheric garden for outdoor seating for sipping cocktails and refreshing drinks.

Address: 298 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

@sweetpollynyc

Sweet Polly is a cozy alternative for drinks rather than some trendy bars in Greenwich Village. Offering an elegant touch of classic cocktails, New York beer, and wine, with tangy oysters, and small plates of delicious food. Here each cocktail matches its description delivering quality and striking a balance of fruity and zesty flavors paired with the chic easygoing atmospheric beats in the background.

Address: 71 6th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

@goldiesbrooklyn

Goldie’s is a retro Vegas-themed cocktail bar in Greenpoint where you can get drinks for $6 at Happy Hour while listening to live music during a karaoke session. Slide up to their horseshoe bar or grab a booth for something more intimate and try one of their fantastic cocktails or craft beer selections while you play a round of pool with some locals and enjoy the low-key vibes.

Address: 195 Nassau Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

@kingtaibar

King Tai is a contemporary Miami-tropical-themed bar that serves up delicious cocktails and is one of the best cocktail bars to duck into on a sunny summer day. Serving up house drinks like the refreshing La Norteña, a fruity mix of spicey Blanco tequila, lime, honey, pineapple, and grated cinnamon. The Art-deco room is the idyllic backdrop to escape the city heat on a summer evening with a velvety piña colada or citrusy daiquiri in hand as you chill out to the coastal vibes and south beach beats playing in the background.

Address: 1095 Bergen St, Brooklyn, NY 11216

@wegotcompanybar

We Got Company is an intimate cocktail bar that offers signature cocktails and draft beers using the freshest ingredients. Drinks include an Aperol-spiked Memory Bliss, a mezcal-infused Gimme The Sun, and a bourbon-stirred Shrub Fuse. Enjoy the cocktail bars inside or out while you snack on some food like marinated olives or a flavorful antipasto as you take in the local charm and chill ambiance.

Address: 441 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

This post is all about the best cocktail bars Brooklyn.