Brooklyn’s cocktail scene thrives with hidden gems and celebrated spots, from intimate speakeasies with handcrafted classics to lively bars pairing inventive drinks with small plates. This guide navigates the borough’s best, ensuring you savor every sip and bite.
Haenyeo
$$$ | (718) 213-2290 | WEBSITE
Every self-respecting Brooklyn neighborhood needs one, breezy Korean-fusion spot with a carefully curated design plan that makes you feel like you’re an extra in a chic indie film. This place has a chic and warm decor, complete with cozy seating, a full bar, and intimate tables perfect for date nights.
The food is broadly Korean-inspired, with dishes like Uni, scallion pancake, and oysters as fantastic starters, and the Deji Bulgogi and japchae as unforgettable mains that stand on their own with perfect balances of flavor and heat. But what you’re here for are the laidback vibes and channeling your best foodie self with a NY Sleepover cocktail, a whiskey sour with a chianti float.
Sally’s
$$ | (718) 388-8788 | WEBSITE
There are a lot of cocktail bars in Brooklyn, and as you can imagine, not all of them are winners. Sally’s is the antidote to all that. After opening in this Bedstuy location, the restaurant has returned with a banging roster of Caribbean and Asian-inspired dishes, weekly DJ nights on Fridays, and a great outdoor dining area. Menu highlights range from the crab Rangoon dumplings to the jerk fish rice dish, black leather booths line the walls inside, and there’s a nice, spacious patio out front.
It’s the perfect under-the-radar neighborhood hang, the kind of place we wish we didn’t have to tell you about.
Oldies
$ | (347) 584-4577 | WEBSITE
Oldies might appear at first to be just another cozy neighborhood bar, but this dimly lit spot has achieved legendary status around these parts, and for good reason. The cocktails are refreshing and unique—and we love their white peach fresh fruit cocktail and ginger whisky sour too.
The interior of this place is basically just the simple, relaxing decor with a secluded atmosphere, but their bar area is exactly where you want to be sipping your Japanese cocktails like Hakutake Shiro & Aka Kirishima.
Karasu
$$$ | (718) 488-7800 | WEBSITE
Karasu is one of those vaguely speakeasy spots in Brooklyn that’s so cozy, so intimate, and yet so… effortlessly perfect, it almost shouldn’t exist. Between the low lighting casting soft shadows, the hidden entrance that feels like a secret, and the warm wooden bar that stretches the length of the room, this Japanese bar run by knowledgeable staff has felt like a cherished escape since I first discovered it.
The food’s great, too: there’s a delightful tuna dish that melts in your mouth, crispy karaage chicken that’s satisfying despite needing a bit more crunch, and their take on tonkatsu, a golden-fried pork cutlet served with a tangy sauce. The inventive cocktails, like the Wabi Sabi with its balanced bitterness, add to the overall experience, making it a spot I see myself returning to regularly.
The Long Island Bar
$$ | (718) 625-8908 | WEBSITE
A corner bar serving classic cocktails immediately sounds appealing, but that’s only part of The Long Island Bar’s appeal. The bar’s unassuming exterior sits at the intersection of Atlantic Ave and Henry St, where you’ll find doors opening into a bustling space. It’s decorated with a timeless mid-century ambiance, complete with retro touches. The warm, inviting lighting makes everyone look 40% more relaxed.
And there’s a separate outdoor seating area where you can enjoy a drink while you wait for your table. Keep The Long Island Bar in mind for when you want to sip a White Negroni and savor a delicious burger from the comfort of a classic bar stool.
The Hidden Pearl
$$ | (718) 383-3291 | WEBSITE
The Hidden Pearl is a standout cocktail bar in Greenpoint, the kind of spot you discover once and immediately add to your rotation. Tucked behind a Japanese restaurant, this intimate space offers inventive, well-balanced drinks like the must-try Pandan Painkiller, plus delicious small bites perfect for happy hour. The atmosphere is lively with cool music, making it ideal for a date night, catching up with friends, or meeting new people.
The bartenders are talented and friendly, providing excellent hospitality that keeps guests coming back for more.
Endswell
$$ | (929) 276-3150 | WEBSITE
The French-inspired bistro food at this cozy Park Slope spot is across the board pretty good. The shrimp Mac n cheese, steak frites, and French onion soup options all satisfy the appetite, and the oxtail French dip comes on a toasted roll loaded with tender meat and savory jus. But there’s one standout on the menu, and it’s really what you should order every time you come—the steak frites.
Crispy golden fries are piled next to a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak that sends rich beefy flavor coursing through your senses. You’ll notice this dish on almost every table, and that’s because it’s delicious.
Sobre Masa
$$$ | (347) 844-2343 | WEBSITE
Sobre Masa specializes in the kind of Brooklyn romance you’d see in a cozy indie film montage: warm lighting, rustic wooden tables, a lot of exposed brick, and people who look like they appreciate perfectly seasoned food enjoying mezcal flights and gluten-free delights. The good news is it can be your romance, too.
This charming restaurant from the incredible team is reservation-recommended, so book ahead or find a spot at the bar where you can pretend to catch up with old friends while savoring a pork shank until the kitchen closes.
Theodora
$$$ | (929) 692-6360 | WEBSITE
This Brooklyn cocktail bar restaurant isn’t trying to reinvent the proverbial dining wheel—their dishes are simply prepared with care and meant to be shared among friends. The regular ceviche is good, especially the one that comes with a hint of citrus and tastes like a warm summer evening, regardless of the season.
But our favorite is the lamb: tender meat is combined with aromatic herbs and spices (plus a little hint of garlic) to create a flavor roller coaster ride—savory, succulent, and exactly what you want to savor with good company. The sourdough topped with whipped ricotta offers that perfect balance of crunchy and creamy, while the half chicken falls right off the bone. For dessert, the doughnuts are pillowy clouds of sweetness, and the lemon posset provides that bright, refreshing finish.
At the bar, the Chantico cocktail adds a creative twist to the evening with its balanced blend of spirits. The service throughout is genuinely friendly and attentive, making you feel right at home in the warm, welcoming atmosphere. Yes, reservations can be tricky to secure, but once you’re seated at that chef’s table—even with a touch of smokiness from the open kitchen—you’ll understand why everyone’s talking about Theodora.
Everything on the menu delivers, making it a standout spot in Brooklyn’s vibrant dining scene.
Fausto
$$$ | (917) 909-1427 | WEBSITE
If it’s not there already, add Fausto’s $85 prix fixe to the top of your Brooklyn Italian dining bucket list. At this charming Park Slope spot, the open kitchen lets you watch every dish being prepared, the simple menu focuses on quality ingredients, and you theoretically could savor your slab of black bass without any distractions. But if you just walk by and peek in the window, the space looks like a somewhat nicer version of your average neighborhood trattoria.
Of course, most casual Italian spots don’t serve rigatoni alla vodka that’s absolutely incredible, crispy potatoes that are out of this world, or impeccable olive oil cake. Bring a food enthusiast who appreciates cozy elegance for a special night out.
Bar Americano
$$$ | (347) 457-5426 | WEBSITE
Whether it’s drinks with a friend or a hot stranger you met on the Internet, Bar Americano is a great option that doesn’t require much pre-planning. (It’s walk-in only). This lively neighborhood spot serves the best cocktails in the area, including amaro-forward bitter drinks like the Appletini and Espresso Martini and a deliciously potent Vesper you can request off-menu.
The casualness of the room, the floral cocktails, and the extensive drink list make Bar Americano the spot that every local wants to be a regular at (even if the non-cocktail parts of the menu are fine at best). A night at the bar, splitting some marcona almonds and oysters and watching the bartenders craft drinks, is the most versatile date spot in this part of town.
Mayflower
$ | (718) 576-3584 | WEBSITE
For anyone not living in a 2014 Tumblr world, Mayflower’s setup—a tiny bar with big personality—might seem a bit cliché. But what’s in the glasses themselves, the actual cocktails, is truly some of the best in Brooklyn. There’s an equal amount of signature drinks, like the famous Siesta Cocktail, mixed in with comforting creations from the bartender. The intimate space feels cozy and sexy, with warm lighting and close seating that makes it perfect for a date.
The friendly staff, including Luke and Rose, contribute to a welcoming environment that feels personal and special. Every visit offers a relaxed and enjoyable experience, with drinks priced around $14–$18 that keep guests eager to return.
Sunday In Brooklyn
$$ | (347) 222-6722 | WEBSITE
If we could be on a first-name basis with the staff at any of the places on this guide, it would be at Sunday In Brooklyn. This is a fantastic spot that specializes in breakfast and brunch, though you can absolutely get a memorable dinner here, too. We like it best for a weekend treat, when the usual morning routine just won’t cut it.
We go back and forth between the avocado toast with poached egg and the Sunday pancakes double, but anything you order here will be hard to eat with any manners, because it’s just too fresh, flavorful, and generous. No wonder it’s become a must-visit in Brooklyn.
Breeze
$$ | (212) 718-0797 | WEBSITE
On the weekends, this newer Greenpoint gem can get busy (like, G-train-at-rush-hour busy), but with a little patience, you’ll be treated to some of the best Sichuan food in Brooklyn. There’s a concise menu of standout dishes, from tea-smoked duck to diced chicken with chili, all packed with flavor and clearly good quality.
You’ll definitely want a few appetizers (we like the scallion pancakes, which are crispy and savory, like a perfect golden-brown cloud), which are especially nice during Happy Hour, ready for sharing with friends.
Miss Ada
$$ | (917) 909-1023 | WEBSITE
Miss Ada’s cozy spot in Brooklyn is the rare Middle Eastern restaurant that feels both elevated and completely approachable. The lamb hummus delivers the same warm, scrumptious flavor and the pita bread boasts the same pillowy perfection as at more formal spots, but its signature dishes like crispy cauliflower with sweet & tangy sauce and tender octopus skewers steal the spotlight.
Lunch service is relatively laid-back, but plan on making a reservation for Friday evening: the dining room fills up fast and you’ll usually find some fun nightly specials like snapper ceviche with a spicy twist. The low-key, earthy ambiance aside, the shared plates here are so delicious we’d happily devour them at a counter stool.
Bee’s Knees & Honey Lounge
$$ | (929) 531-9781 | WEBSITE
Some might call Bee’s Knees & Honey Lounge’s vintage floral and velvet decor overly quaint, but to them we say not quaint enough. We’re in a city of concrete and steel, so we’ll take all the cozy, moody warmth we can get. Bee’s Knees is always a delightful experience thanks to its fantastic cocktails like the signature Bee’s Knees, unpretentious yet lively atmosphere with sports and music, and room to settle into a comfortable booth with friends.
Plus, if you’re hungry, thrifty, or just love fresh seafood, you should know they offer a $1 oyster happy hour that’s a true Williamsburg gem.