Brooklyn's 5 Best Bars Off The Beaten Path
Black Swan
1048 Bedford Ave.
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 783-4744
blackswannyc.com
This polished gastropub next to the Bedford-Nostrand stop on the G train churns out 16 craft beers on tap and cocktails such as the Whiskey Daisy (Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, orgeat syrup, lemon juice and soda). A daily happy hour runs until 8 p.m. featuring $4 draft beers and wine, two-for-one well drinks and $3 shots. Highlights from the Caribbean-inspired food menu include salt cod fritters, jerk pork chop and a fried catfish sandwich.
Pine Box Rock Shop
12 Grattan St.
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 366-6311
pineboxrockshop.com
Despite its morbid past as a casket factory, this warehouse-turned-rock n' roll dive bar is a lively neighborhood hangout near the Morgan Ave. L train stop. Pull up a stool in this cavernous space made of reclaimed materials and listen to live bands while you sip beer and cocktails such as the Suffering Bastard (Jim Beam, Death's Door Gin, Angostura bitters, lime juice and ginger ale). A daily happy hour goes until 8 p.m. and includes $3 well drinks and $1 off all draft beers.
The Emerson
561 Myrtle Ave.
Brooklyn, NY
(347) 763-1310
theemersonbar.com
On the border of Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant, this bar near the Pratt Institute features regular drink specials including $2 cans of Lionshead beer. Choose from 10 beers on tap and poet-inspired cocktails such as The Emerson (gin, sweet vermouth, lime juice and maraschino liqueur). The pool table is often used by serious shooters while students and locals chat in cozy booths and munch on grilled cheese and hot dogs.
One Last Shag
348 Franklin Ave.
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 398-2472
onelastshag.com
Formerly known as Sweet Revenge, this Bedford-Stuyvesant bar offers a chill hangout scene until nightly DJs crank up the dance music. The retro-style bar features a handful of brews on tap and cocktails such as Ryte On (Redemption Rye with bitters, lemon juice and splash of soda), $8. In mild weather, check out the backyard featuring a sandbox, tiki bar and DIY barbecue grills.
Hanson Dry
925 Fulton St.
Brooklyn, NY
hansondrybrooklyn.com
Bringing life to the cocktail desert known as Clinton Hill's Fulton Street, Hanson Dry is a '50s-inspired bar serving twists on classics. All cocktails are $9 each, such as the Hanson Dry (gin, vanilla liqueur and Angostura bitters) and there are eight rotating beers on tap. The cozy bar seats about 50 people and there's a patio in the back with room for 20.
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Selena Ricks-Good writes about drinks and produces events as The Dizzy Fizz.
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