[brooklynkevin]

Hey,

I just moved to Clinton Hill from Williamsburg/Greenpoint. What are everyone's favorite hangouts? I'm looking for bar recommendations that span from dives to lounges to anything else.

[BrooklynJay]

Depending on where you live in Clinton Hill you have the following choices:

Rope on Myrtle
Sputnik on Taffe
BKNY On Fulton
Moe's over in Ft. Greene on Lafayette

There's a dive bar on DeKalb too next to Tillie's called Alias/Alibi?

I personally like Rope - it's closer to me so it's more my local and the people in there are a diverse and chill.

Hope this helps.

(And quit stealing my name idea. )
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[jimmylegs]

Rope is probably the best all-around bar, it's a little more docile than the Alibi, which can get rowdy between the pratt kids and the regulars (usually in a good way). the guys who run Sputnik have always been super nice to me but the bar itself is set up like a lounge. they invariably play really loud DJ music, which kind of defeats the purpose of draping yourself across a couch, when you have to lean over to hear what anyone is syaing.

Alibi and Rope have back yards, which are really nice to hang out in when it's nice out like it has been recently.

[BrooklynJay]

There's also Reign Lounge but it caters to a certain crowd.

http://www.reignlounge.com/
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[greenegirl]

what do you mean "caters to a certain crowd"? what kind of crowd is that?

[BrooklynJay]

Reign seems to cater to the young black urban crowd.

I've gone by it late at night and have noticed the SUVs, the 4 wheelers, etc.

Not a bar for everyone and a bar that definitely has it's own scene. (IMHO)
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[hames]

GRAND 275 (the name hints at the address), between Greene and Lafayette. It has been open for a couple of years, and is very nice. Very Clinton Hill diverse crowd in all aspects with no attitude. People there are great, and I almost always end up meeting someone new and having great conversations.

[Guest]

Reign is ghetto. Quite a bit of police activity connected to that place.

[hill38]

If you like wines, give Stonehome on Lafayette and So Portland a try. It's tiny but warm and cozy. Wine is reasonably priced. I love it because they have a huge selection of sweet white wines, which is important to a non-red drinker.

Great cheese/meat plate selections and bartenders know their flights. I think they get their cakes from the Cakeman Raven (up the street on Fulton), so that's always a plus. Also, it has a great outdoor garden that insulates you from the city hubbub during the summer.

[Boygabriel]

[thalia]

BrooklynJay you are funny...so aren't whites "a certain crowd" also..lol

[Nathan]

[BrooklynJay]

actually, I'm going to apologize because i've change my view of reign.

i managed to get a tour of the insides when they were closed. (they have this "off and on" happy hour on friday nights and it was "off" when we visited but the manager was nice enough to let us look around) it's really nice inside.

reigns got two floors with the second floor have a small dance floor and two stripper poles! (the highlight of the evening)

i guess there's a lot of music promoters who throw a lot of parties there and that's what brings in the "URBAN" crowd (urban is the pc term) but it's usually on a sat. night.

the manager seemed really into the neighborhood and is trying to make it more open to people who live in the area.

i'm hoping to go back when the happy hour is 'on' and see what it's like.

(i'm not sure but i do think they have a lesbian night. monday? tuesday? i'll double check)
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[bkgal]

Check out Luz on Vanderbilt & Myrtle - Antonio (bartender) makes great drinks!!

BTW, Reign caters only to an urban crowd. I have been there several times and though I can appreciate an urban crowd, I prefer when it consists of urban professionals because it creates a different vibe.

[isla]

There is Five Spot. I like the food, and they have a nice space and live music.

http://www.fivespotsoulfood.com/

[hill38]

I haven't been to Five Spot in a quick second but they often have good live music there as well (and depending on what time you go, no or limited cover). The drinks were just ok but the jazz group I saw a while back was great.

If anyone knows of bars closer to Franklin/Bedford, please post! Thx.

[Guest]

Reign is cool, I don't go because there's a cover usually, the comments about police activity there are completely unfounded. Everyone is forgetting Franks Cocktail Lounge which is possibly the best bar around.

[Guest]

[Al Thomas]

sorry, that was me that put up that last post, new user, forgot to log in properly.


-at
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[queencallipygos]

Another thing about Rope -- they have a monthly trivia night, with various prizes (ranging from cash, to a bar tab, to a free round of drinks). It's usually the first Tuesday of the month.

[jbran]

Has anyone been to the Navy Yard Cocktail Lounge at Washington and Flushing? It looks like it would have either a charming dive quality or a you're-gonna-get-cut quality. I'm afraid to go without reassurance that I won't have my kidneys stolen or something.

[Bertle]

Dont Forget Outpost on Fulton St between Grand & Classon Aves. They have Dollar Beers on Mondays.

[queencallipygos]

[Boygabriel]

[Guest]

Anyone have any idea what has happened to Cellars on Vanderbilt and DeKalb. I've walked by it a few times over the course of the past few months and it's always closed. What gives?

[ltjbukem]

someone said navy yard cocktai llounge is a strip club?!

http://ltjbukem.blogspot.com/2006/12/happy-ne.....year-wishes.html#comments
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[bifteck]

I'm pretty sure Cellars is closed for good, or at least indefinitely.

I'm psyched that the space where Liquors used to be finally has a "for inquiries call" sign up in the window! Someone better grab that place.

[Carlton Banks]

While it is new and not really my first bar of choice, Mullane's (Lafayette & S. Elliott) is decent and has good beers on tap. No one has mentioned the bar at June (Dekalb & Clermont) which is decent as well. It's good late night but there are a few black people there and I know there are a few people on here that are leery of the "urban" crowd so be careful!

BKgal... What is "urban" anyway? This is New York City... Everything is urban. Just say what you mean please... The PC talk is just annoying for anyone with half a brain. If the hip hop, bling, club scene is not for you that's fine. It's not for me some nights and I would qualify as "urban" by the definition given earlier.

[Boygabriel]

Carlton, I love the screen name, but where's the avatar? Find a photo!
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[ProspectPlaceGirl]

[C-Hillz]

The "Alibi" is a VERY COOL neighborhood bar!!!!! Nice and laid back....went there with some friends on New Year's eve. Good crowd and good staff...Nice neighborhood bar.

[piratesofwaverly]

The best way to "vote" on Alibi's jukebox is to not feed it. That said, good luck denying yourself the drunken pleasure of paying out the ass to download Candy Says or whatever.

No matter what, Alibi is a cool place. My other faves are Moe's and Rope. Havana Outpost can be fun on a hot day, too. Ashamed to admit I haven't been to Frank's yet. If you're in P Heights, Soda and Beast are both nice.

If it's starting to sound like I'm recommending every bar around here, then let's face it, Brooklyners are generally just more pleasant to be around than Mallhattanites. I am at peace with my chauvinism on this. I'll get drunk with a stranger in Brooklyn ANY DAY over the same on that tiny island.

[gong]

people please stop putting down Reign and making up false rumors. just because you don't fit in with a bar's regular crowd doesn't mean it's a bad place. stop being scared. start understanding that places like Reign are just as acceptable as every other bar in the neighborhood. basically all of the rumors about this place that i have heard are based on stereotypes and are untrue.

also, if you're curious about the navy yard bar then go inside and check it out. it's not really a strip club per-se but they do have scantly clad women walking around willing to give lap dances. you will also be searched by a bouncer when you enter. the best time to go i'd say is in the early evening when it's not crowded.

[tommyill]

[LeffertsGirl]

[clintonhill native]

rope is defintely my favorite of the bed stuy clinton hill bars..
alibi second...
sputnik is good when they have the old skool hip hop djs like premier and pete rock, jeru was ok, saw all 3.. and manjinga party is the shit

[BrooklynJay]

anyone been to vesper's? it opened up where the gardens use to be. i've walked by it a few times and it's been empty - i'm wondering what's going on in there.
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[Brooklyn Zoo]

I was at Vespers a few weeks back. A few flat screen TVs. The inside looks nice, but a little 'blah'. They probably aren't done with the place. I will check it out again in a few weeks because the place has promise based on how they renovated the innards...

Been to Reign once, and the place is really nice.

I can't stand Rope - reminds me of all that I hate about Williamsburg. If diverse means 99% white with tight pants, then this fits the bill. Especially in Clinton Hill, which retains genuine diversity, this does not qualify as diverse. I've been there a few times.

5 Spot is great! Great music, a beautiful wood bar, nice service, cheap food. I've never been there late night when there is supposedly a cover.

[Pikesville]

I used to enjoy Rope. Last couple times, though, my alcohol-induced happy place was invaded by dogs running off the leash and barking periodically. I don't care if someone brings his or her dog to the bar, but I dislike hearing it or having it under my feet when I'm minding my own business and concentrating on the task at hand.

I've had good experiences at Stonehome. And the mojito martinis at Luz are delicious but lethal.

[Guest]

[j.b.]

I hate Moe's with the passion of a thousand suns. Which is pretty passionate. It doesn't have the space to be both a lounge and a bar, but tries for both anyway. The 'Duff's' is MGD. The female bartender couldn't pour a Guinness if her life depended on it. Worst of all - not only do they put on the pretense of bouncers (plural!) and rope for a place the size of a postage stamp, but the bouncers are assholes, to boot. the bartenders aren't assholes, granted, but it's not saying much when that's the best you can come up with.

I really wanted to like Moe's. Alas. Alibi is ok. I wish there was a better option, like a chill tapas bar or some place without so much light (or TVs) as that new bar/restaurant on Lafayette across from Academy diner.

[Guest]

I agree with the Pikesville: what is up with the dogs off the leash, running around and barking at rope? when did that become ok? do these dog owners think that just because Rope has couches they can act like they're in their own apartment? I don't get why the owner puts up with this behavior - it seems to me he should let people know that dogs are ok but not barking leaping dogs.... next thing we'll have toddlers climbing up the bar stools because they resemble jungle gyms.


stop the maddness.

[Guest]

[Guest]

I think the bottom line is the area is really lacking in decent casual bar options! Compared to other neighborhoods in brooklyn, the FG/CH areas are far behind in drinking options. Most of those discussed here have something or other that can be really off-putting to someone who wants an easy drink in a comfortable place. Rope is good/okay. It gets really crowded in there and unless you have a sofa/chair it doesn't make sense to hang out or walk 5-10 minutes to find out if that's the case just to leave. Alabi is good. Also gets crowded but you can easily stand around if that's the case. The rest of Dekalb is just restaurants really. I really wish Moes was better. So disappointing, but the place does have a staff issue. Why does a drink have to come with so much attitude? Relax. Don't pressure your clients into a conversation. Don't ignore your clients for 5-10 minutes while you chat with your friends. I would like to like this bar, but it's often too embarrassing to go there. Stonehome wine bar! Wow, talk about attitude. This place has no clue. But they do have good wines and food. Mullanes! Ha. What an aweful place! Sports bar? Fort Greene? Wrong, just wrong. Bad/fake interior. Overpriced. Does anyone expect to pay tax on a draft from the bar?? Weird. Then there's Franks Lounge. It's totally hit or miss. I have had some great moments there. Other times not worth it and you'll know at the door. I think there's also Night at the Cookers on Fulton, but I think they are totally exclusive, ie. don't serve drinks to people they don't want there. Does anyone else have the same problem I do with the bar options? I have lived here for years and it's not getting better.

[guest2]

Red Bamboo has a cool bar, i heard the new Pillow Cafe is going to serve beer/wine and it looks pretty great in there, there's a bar at the Austrian restaurant across from BAM, there are also several bars on Fulton. also, there's a new rumor going around that someone is opening a bar/art gallery in the old Pleasure Palace space. could be cool but can anyone confirm it?