50 Best Cocktail Bars in Brooklyn

“My husband and I were in the area after watching a movie and wanted to grab a drink before heading home. We found this spot and it turned out to be such a great experience! The tiki-style cocktails were delicious, well-balanced, and definitely worth trying. The atmosphere was incredibly unique—it truly felt like being on a boat, with the captain making announcements, background sounds, and even bubbles adding to the immersive experience. Last call was well organized, and overall the vibe was just fun, and memorable.“

“Tasty, imaginative cocktails, great atmosphere, nice food.“

“simply the best. The food and drinks are perfect every time. Whether you’re ready for a full meal or just some drinks and snacks Bar Madonna always hits the spot. Plus the staff are not only super attentive but also drinks experts that can make you just about any cocktail you’re craving. Definitely a crowd (or date!) pleaser, highly recommend“

“We hosted a private party in the Honey Lounge upstairs during the afternoon - the food was excellent, the space adorable and the bartenders friendly and speedy. More than anything, Bee's Knees was a dream to work with ahead of time - they were incredibly flexible and timely with space access, design of the space, and answering our multitude of questions. I would host a private party there again in a heartbeat.“

“This is my favorite place in the neighborhood. Food is consistently so good! I eat there and get takeout all the time. The staff are wonderful and the place is spotless. Can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, my favorite is the dry pot.“

“I took 6 of my friends here for my birthday dinner last night, LaZiza did NOT disappoint. We were offered a custom chef dinner, coursed out and fitting with any/all allergies. The food was absolutely delicious, from spreads (just get them all), salads to charcoal mushrooms, prawns, chicken, falafel, roasted chicken and lamb. Of course we also had the baclava and flourless chocolate cake. Everyone was happy and full. The cocktails should not be missed either they were all delicious and unique. The atmosphere was vibrant, especially for a Tuesday, with records playing continuously and the guests dancing in their seats. This place is a gem, go get yours.“

“The food was so delicious (that salad and fish in lettuce wraps were my favorite) and also beautiful. Loved the ambiance and the cocktails too! Definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu.“

“I’d like to start off this review by saying that I am a Latina woman, who has been to Pokito many times and been treated with nothing but kindness and respect - as such, I felt the responsibility to share my personal experience here having read another review below.

This past Friday evening, my sister and I stopped by Pokito for a drink after a concert. We sat up at the bar, and they were quite crowded but to be expected for a Friday night. Unfortunately, there was a super loud group sat at a table behind us that was making it difficult for my sister and I to hear the bartender, or eachother. Having lived in NYC for five plus years now, I’m no stranger to a loud bar - but this was over the top.

At one point, someone screamed so loud that it startled my sister and I, and we turned to look over our shoulders to see what was going on - It had escalated to the point that my sister and I couldn’t have a conversation a few inches from each other because this group was yelling so loudly. At one point we made eye contact with the loudest person at the table - their review says they apologized to other bar patrons for their noisiness, but they certainly didn’t apologize or acknowledge their behavior to us.

So we felt relief when management asked the group to quiet down. We thanked the bartender for helping make the environment more comfortable so we could carry on our conversations together. Turns out, the bartender was Latino (like my sister and I), so we chatted for a bit. The manager was also behind the bar, who also identifies as a person of color, and was nothing but kind and lovely.

At one point, as the noisy group were leaving, one of them came up to the bartender and had what looked to be a defensive conversation. My sister and I didn’t engage, but I did check reviews because it seemed like they were heated - so when I found their review below claiming that their treatment felt discriminatory, I felt compelled to share my experience as well.

As a Latina woman, I’m all too aware that we live in a world where discrimination runs rampant, and I will be the first to come to someone’s defense. That said, I can wholeheartedly say that this was NOT the case at Pokito when the loud group was kindly asked to leave. It’s a very dangerous and loaded accusation to suggest that a business owner - let alone another bipoc person - is somehow prejudiced towards their customers. After my discussion with the bartender and management, I see them as very fair and warm people, who seek to create a comfortable and welcoming experience for all of their guests.

So long story short - if you are a person of color considering going to Pokito, I would like to reassure you that you will be treated with nothing but kindness and respect by staff (of whom many are also people of color!). That said, if you are loud / inconsiderate/ drunk / obnoxious and infringe on others’ experiences at Pokito, then management may exercise their right to ask you to be respectful for the sake of other guests :)“

“Cocktail Magique show was a magnificent experience. Very positive, jaw dropping, interactive show that keeps you engaged throughout the 2 hour memorable performance.“

“Great food, music and ambience.“

“I threw a birthday party last night at Madeline's and it was a fantastic time! The vibes were perfect, every additional ask was accommodated with ease! The music, food, and drinks were top notch! It wasn't my first time going but it was my first time throwing an event there with 40 guests. The night went off without a hitch! We will be back soon.“

“Yesterday on Oct 19, 2025 at 20:58. I grabbed my dinner at Deux Chats, ordering oysters: Beau Soleil (New Brunswick, Can) Island Greek (Duxbury, Ma), and Kumamoto (Oakland Bay, Wa).
Shrimp Cocktail, Smoked Trout Salad,
I completed the dishes mentioned above in the restaurant and tasted a little bite then takeout the rest of dishes: Acorn Squash Salad, Loster Roll, and Beef Tartare.

Alejandro C and attendances assisted me during the meal. I also shared a prior experience and he confirmed with the owner that my billing would be handled appropriately this time. I promised him I’ll return back.

I and Alejandro both kept my recipe records, credit card (with my name), and the email.“

“We had an absolute blast here. The staff was incredibly professional and handled everything seamlessly, allowing us to actually enjoy the party. Dana, Ronnie, Benji and Madeline were the best. From the time we started planning the occasion to the day of, they were communicative and accommodating. The vendors they recommended were all great. 390 Social is a cozy, comfy place with a great vibe. All our
guests loved it! Highly recommend!“

“10/10 only amazing things to say!!

I’ve been here a handle of times and it never disappoints. The service is impeccable and the vibes are great.

Beef tar tar is one of my favorites out there
The leeks is incredible and a must
The crab avocado yummm
The egg anchovies salad is a must as well

For mains
The steak is easy and great.
People love the chicken it’s not my absolute favorite to recommend, would take the duck over it.“

“Worth it! I got very lucky and was able to go two nights in a row and both nights were amazing. The staff is so friendly and the servers are fantastic (shoutout Mia & Dave)!! Food is amazing. Get the Cabbage - it is phenomenal!!! Also the Ricotta Toast!! Ambiance is also great 10/10.“

“I stopped by Blinky’s last October OB a long walk I took from Manhattan to Bedford-Stuyvesant. Place looked cool from the outside I decided to give it a shot. It was a bit elevated compared to your typical NYC dive bar, with some cool lighting, a really clean interior, a nice tap list, and friendly staff.

I had two pints of beer over the course of about 45 minutes of hanging out—one IPA and one Pilsner, though for the life of me I can’t recall the brewery names that went with each. The beer was crisp and cool, served in clean glasses. Vibes were on point, beer wasn’t priced in the stratosphere, and overall it was a chill pit stop. I’d recommend checking it out!“

“Be sure to check out karaoke on Mondays. The karaoke system they use is Karafun. It has a wide selection of songs. The karaoke mics are a little faulty, meaning they will go in and out during your songs.
All the Bartenders are no-nonsense, so it does feel pretty strict, but I'd rather that bartenders who chat too much with their friends and always take smoke breaks...
Drinks are reasonably priced, and the alcohol pour is sometimes too weak.“

“Celebrated my birthday here best experience ever hospitality was amazing“

“I ordered the 3 piece fried chicken,cole slaw and biscuits.Overall the food was ok.The chicken wasn't the juiciest and didn't have much flavor.The coating was fried dark but little to no flavor.
The biscuits were ok but I didn't see option for butter or honey.The slaw was basic.“

“One of my favorite bars in the neighborhood. Their fries are 💯 must haves! Just hosted my birthday there yesterday and had the best birthday party ever ✨ everyone had such a great time and The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. Josh was so patient and great at planning the food and drinks with me prior it made everything easy.They also have a nice outdoor space in the back.

Can’t wait to come back for some more naked strawberries and fries ❤️“

“Amazing service and some of the best drinks I’ve had. We’ll worth the trip from the uk for.“

“Great, delicious food! Beautiful setting. Great Service.“

“We had a birthday party for our twin daughters' 30th birthday at Leroy's in Brooklyn for 13 people and the staff went out of their way to make it special. There was an initial snafu with our reservation. but they got to work, reorganized the seating for us and were phenomenal for the rest of the evening-- wonderful place and a great evening - shout out to Wilmar and his crew.“

“Went to Meadowsweet restaurant for dinner with my family. We had an amazing experience from start to finish. The staff were so attentive, helpful and nice. The food amazing!recommend this restaurant! We will be returning soon.“

“Beautiful people and beautiful service… in town to see Ellie Goulding. Decided to stop for a go-home drink and the bartender put Ellie on to keep us on our happy high… thank you! 🫶🫶🫶“

“Excellent!!! Food, service, atmosphere 👍👍“

“Really shockingly good Sichuan food. The mala flavor was really delightful, it was really pleasantly numbing and incredibly flavorful. We got the dry pot baby rib and kung pao chicken lunch specials and both were quite excellent. The kung pao chicken really stood out to me as being particularly flavorful and nicely spiced. The interior of the resturant was also gorgeous and not too busy during lunch hours.“

“Hosted my birthday here and got so many compliments on the music and the ambience of this place! My party was a bit rowdy but our server Charlie was so attentive & handled us with so much grace and care! I even accidentally left behind a present and they held it for me until I was able to get it back. Highly recommend this warm, intimate lounge ❤️❤️“

“great service! delicious cocktails! and dependable! also very comfortable atmosphere! definitely go!“

“Had a great after-work visit at Cocktail Bed-Stuy! I came across it while looking for somewhere to go, saw the good reviews, and decided to try it out.

Loved the cozy vibes and cool atmosphere. Shout out to Oscar the bartender was friendly and made the experience even better. I spent most of my time at the bar, and the staff was welcoming.

They also have an outdoor space that I’ll definitely check out next time. Overall, it’s a cool place to hang with friends. Can’t wait to go back!“

“Overall rating: 4.8
1 drink: $18.88 w/ tip

I came here on a whim after going to a very pretentious bar & a terrible date. So happy I stumbled here because it was exactly what I needed. I came late and just came for cocktail & it was really dark. The service was friendly and I enjoyed the vibe of the place. I don’t have many pictures but will definitely be putting this place on favorites if I’m in the area again. I also love how dimly lit it is! Highly recommend.“

“Shout-out to LUKE for making the Flyest and Dopest Siesta Cocktail around!!! A very pleasant, amiable, and dope Man! Not to mention, he's Handsome as hell! Watch out World!!!

To the Lovely ROSE who I met with my date as well!!! She suggested the Siesta Cocktail and it was truly on point!!! What a great team they have there!!! Hell Yeah!!!

It has a very intimate and sexy atmosphere as well. The perfect date spot!

We shall return!!!!

Thanks guys!!!“

“repas poisson excellent et canolli extra“

“10/10
Killer cocktails, stellar service, vibes on point AND a beautiful backyard? Started with a dozen oysters and martinis then shared the lasagna flowers. Don’t sleep on dessert. The chocolate budino is out of this world.
Can’t wait to sip martinis outside all summer. Good stuff, Bar Louise!“

“Delicious food and cocktails“

“Cocktails are great, space in the back and inside are quaint. Bartenders are pleasant - would be my new local if I moved back here.“

“Perfectly place with good selection and knowledgeable staff. The wine bar is nicely designed just for a few drinks and private parties. There is also equipped with karaoke and good sound system for singing.“

“Spent Valentine’s at Bar Francis and I’m so glad my partner planned this! Frank was our server and he honestly raised the bar for every server I will ever interact with in the future - He had phenomenal recommendations (tailored down to how to pair the oysters with the right combination of sauces). He knows the menu so very well + so very genuinely personable and perceptive :)

In terms of drinks - do not miss the the ‘I know it when I see it’, ‘Stop Bidding on my Waffle Iron’, ‘Call it Cosy Please’.

The dozen our oysters are amazing with the house sauces :) 10/10 spot!“

“Always a great time at Skytown !!!“

“it's ok. a little prentencious“

“Best Latin fusion joint in South Brooklyn“

“A warm welcoming place offering French Creole cuisine from Reunion island. A compact menu offering very reasonably priced apps and mains, and a lot of lentil and rice. Ordered the sampler though a few items we wanted were out. Tender coconut shrimp and beef Bourguignon entrees were excellent. We were well taken care of by the staff.“

“A simple place with an exquisite vibe. The cocktails were unique, and well thought of. Their food also reflects a quintessential rendition of classic Filipino “pulutan” or foods that are well suited with liquor. The staff were also very attentive and nice. Definitely a must-try spot.“

“This was my first time here Was just a guest at a baby shower there and I'm left speechless! The service was unbelievable, the food kept coming and coming. Each dish was hot and delicious. The cocktails were unique and perfectly crafted. Teona kept everyone entertained and dancing. Really had one of the best Sundays ever !!! Will be back for sure“

“Neighborhood gem. Great decor, homey, comfortable but well appointed. I have dined here alone and with family, both times it was a good atmosphere. GM Michael is really good and runs a good staff. The food is delicious- good for all types of diet restrictions. Fresh ingredients well prepared. Last but not least also great cocktails. Host and server were friendly and attentive. I will for sure be coming back here!“

“Came here in for a quick drink while I was waiting for a show and couldn’t be happier. Friendly staff, great drinks and a very relaxing atmosphere. If you are looking to unwind after a long day with a perfectly crafted drink this is the place to go. Austin was my bartender and I had the Gentlemen Buck.“

“Wonderful experience at this bar last night. It has a beautiful and intimate atmosphere, with great staff, food and drink. This was my first time at a Japanese spirit focused bar, and Cap the bartender kindly explained the menu and suggested how the spirits could be served. Thank you Cap! We will definitely be back.“

“Had the best time at DLN9. The people who work here clearly love their jobs. The bartenders made the best gin-based cocktails. I was hooked and had to limit myself to two. Also, I had the ribs and wings; both dishes were delicious and juicy, and I ordered everything well done. I prefer the back room for dancing because the music is loud and everyone is just full of energy. Great door staff and coat check was very organized.“

“Unique amazing experience every time, get to enjoy unbelievable talent, and the coolest owner and staff“

“I tried the Wandering Barman's collection of cocktails over the weekend, and I must say that they exceeded all expectations! These handcrafted drinks were fresh and tasted better than if a professional bartender had just made them. I can't wait until they are available in Washington, they will be a staple in my home bar! Cheers!“