There is no shortage of great spots to grab outdoor drinks in Brooklyn these days—especially now that the city’s outdoor dining program is a permanent fixture, meaning all restaurants are able to offer sidewalk and curbside seating year-round. Chances are good that you’ve already got a local go-to in your neighborhood. But how often have you found yourself out with friends in an area you don’t know that well trying to find somewhere to whet your whistle?
Well, bookmark this list of some of the best places for enjoying a beer, cocktail, or glass (mmm, bottle) of wine in the open air for next time that happens. For it, we’ve crowd-sourced favorite spots from BB writers, as well as Brooklyn residents, all of whom were willing to share their recs for where to grab outdoor drinks in their little slices of Kings County.
Bed-Stuy
Doris
1088 Fulton St., 347-240-3350
This candlelit bar serves classic cocktails and has a backyard patio with a ping-pong table. It always has a good selection of vinyl music on rotation (it prides itself on being a Steely Dan bar, after all), and you can’t go wrong with a grilled cheese sandwich hot off the panini press.
BoCoCa
Zombie Hut
273 Smith St., 718-875-3433
Come for the kitsch and stay for the tropical cocktails. The backyard of this tiki bar is lined with bamboo stalks and overrun by ivy vines, the combination of which will make you feel way closer to a Pacific Island than Pacific Street.
Brooklyn Heights
Pilot
Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 917-810-8550
Okay, we may have a soft spot in our hearts for historic schooners over here, especially this one since its current incarnation is a floating oyster bar that’s docked at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. And its nautical-themed cocktail menu is a nice touch that only adds to its charm.
Bushwick
The Narrows
1037 Flushing Ave.
This deco bar tucked away on Flushing Avenue is a quiet, intimate place that’s great for dates. Grab a drink and chill on its patio before heading to your dinner reservation at one of the nearby eateries like Roberta’s or Falansai. Just be prepared: It’s cash only, though there is an ATM inside.
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Rooftop Reds
299 Sands St., Building 275, 917-284-9254
In the middle of the Navy Yard, you can show a barcode to a guard, take an industrial elevator to the roof, and be transported to the Brooklyn equivalent of Napa Valley. On a sunny day, there is almost nowhere better to loll away the afternoon than this 14,800-square-foot rooftop garden surrounded by vines and hammocks. Order a wine flight and stay on ’til night. (Reservations required.)
Clinton Hill
Bar Bolinas
455 Myrtle Ave., 718-935-9331
This spot on Myrtle Avenue is best known for its burger (its owned by the founders of Allswell in Williamsburg, so understandable). But it’s a solid location for sipping good cocktails on a great backyard patio too. Just don’t be surprised if you stop by for one drink and wind up staying till last call—it happens.
Coney Island
Margarita Island
1105 Bowery St., 917-723-3232,
This tiki bar on Bowery Street serves Tex-Mex food and 12 different flavors of margs—plus a full drink menu. When you’ve had enough of riding rides and rollicking on the boardwalk, come relax under an umbrella at one of the picnic tables on its patio.
Crown Heights
Covenhoven
730 Classon Ave., 718-483-9950
While it’s easier than ever to find bars and restaurants with outdoor spaces these days—it’s nearly impossible to find one with a grassy backyard (check), and over 250 different types of beer in cans and bottles (check)…that is also just a seven-minute walk from Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (and check).
Ditmas Park
Sycamore Bar + Flower Shop
1118 Cortelyou Rd., 347-240-5850
Do yourself a favor and go enjoy a bourbon in the back garden of this quirky bar behind a flower shop on Courtelyou. You won’t regret it.
DUMBO
Seamore’s
66 Water St., 718-663-6550
If you’re going to grab drinks down under the Manhattan Bridge, then you should really do so at Seamore’s where its happy hour includes half-off oysters. Walk-ins are welcome, but it’s worth making a reservation to ensure you snag one of its sidewalk tables.
East Williamsburg
Llohi
314 Scholes St., 347-566-3662
Not going to lie: EW needed a big outdoor drinks spot in the worst way, and now it has one in the form of a rooftop bar with “endless summer vibes” from the owners of Lavender Lake in Gowanus (another of our go-to spots). The space is massive, the sunsets are epic, and the drinks menu is extensive.
Fort Greene
Dick and Jane’s
266 Adelphi St.
Even before it built its massive parklet out front, this speakeasy bar off Fort Greene’s main thoroughfare, Dekalb Avenue, was always where the party was at in the neighborhood. Known for its specialty cocktails, killer playlists, and electric energy, it’s a scene worth taking in any night of the week.
Gowanus
Lavender Lake
383 Carroll St., 347-799-2154
Here, the patio is large, the frosé is flowing, and the umbrellas provide ample shade. Need we say more?
Greenpoint
Threes Brewing
113 Franklin St., 917-909-0271
Of all its locations (Gowanus, Governors Island, Greenpoint), this is the most intimate. It lacks the crowds you’ll find down on Douglass Street, which is a good thing if what you’re looking for is a place to have a good conversation you can actually hear over a few rounds of house-made craft beers and elevated bar bites.
Park Slope
Brookvin
381 7th Ave., 718-768-9463
Being able to sit in a garden and drink a glass of wine (or a few, let’s be honest) is one of the joys to be had by making a reservation (you have to) for a backyard table at this wee little wine bar on 7th Avenue. And if you’re look for more of a walk-in situation, their sidewalk seating is just fine, too.
Prospect Heights
Bearded Lady
686A Washington Ave., 469-232-7333
To say that locals love this little, laidback bar on Washington Avenue would be an understatement. It’s frozen drinks, draft beers, and house cocktails all hit the spot. Plus, it’s café tables are ideal spots for people watching and just a 10-minute walk from Prospect Park.
Red Hook
Sunny’s
253 Conover St., 718-625-8211
Situated right at the edge of Red Hook Channel, this old-timey saloon’s patio offers some epic views of the Statue of Liberty—so consider taking visitors here for a drink rather than doing the out and back on the Staten Island Ferry.
Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach Surf Club
302 Beach 87th St.,
Okay, this one is not technically in Brooklyn, but we bet you’d be hitching a ride to Rockaway Beach at some point and didn’t want to leave you high and dry. An afternoon at Rockaway Beach Surf Club is the closest thing to hanging out at the beach, without stepping on the sand. The colorful surf lockers, communal tables, and impromptu dance parties will melt away your stress as the DJ spins the summer jams and the pina coladas work their magic.
Sunset Park
Frying Pan
51 35th St., Building 5, 646-708-1814
Whether you’re headed to Industry City to work or to shop, swing by the Brooklyn location of the famous floating bar in the Hudson. We’re big fans of both the house cocktails and lobster rolls, which are best enjoyed while sitting at one of its colorful tables along Innovation Alley.
Williamsburg
Sauced
331 Bedford Ave., 347-695-6286
If the disco ball in the back and the 45s spinning are any indicator, this is not your typical wine bar on Bedford Avenue—and that’s a good thing if you’re looking for a chill place to try wines from around the world without being judged for not knowing a thing about them.
Windsor Terrace
Greenwood Park
555 7th Ave., 718-488-7999
If you miss tailgating, then this 3,000-square-foot drinking lot that used to be a car wash is where you want to go next time you’re in Windsor Terrace. The beer is always flowing and you can order cocktails by the pitcher, making it an ideal spot for a larger group hang on a sunny afternoon.
