New York · Williamsburg
Williamsburg is where Brooklyn does its best drinking, from natural wine rooms to rooftops with a Manhattan skyline. The blocks around Bedford and Wythe hold the densest run, and the picks below cover oysters, beer gardens, and late shows. Each pick is a real, currently open room with its own profile on the site.
COCKTAIL BARS · $$$
Maison Premiere on Bedford Avenue is an oyster and absinthe bar with a horseshoe counter and a back garden, and it has won national bar awards. The list runs deep on classics. Go for happy hour oysters or a slow garden afternoon.
WINE BARS · $$$
The Four Horsemen on Grand Street is a natural wine bar opened by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, and its kitchen holds a Michelin star. The list runs all natural and the room is small. Reserve ahead for dinner, or sit at the bar for wine.
ROOFTOP BARS · $$$$
Westlight sits on the 22nd floor of the William Vale hotel with floor to ceiling glass and a wraparound terrace. The views run across Manhattan and the harbour. Go at sunset and expect a line for the terrace.
LIVE MUSIC · $$
Baby's All Right on Broadway pairs a bar and restaurant with a back room that books indie shows most nights. The crowd skews young and the bills run strong. Check the calendar and buy ahead for sold out sets.
CRAFT BEER · $$
Spuyten Duyvil on Metropolitan Avenue is a beer bar with a rare bottle list and a leafy back garden. The pours lean Belgian and sour. Best on a warm afternoon in the yard.
SPORTS BARS · $$
Berry Park on Berry Street is a large beer hall with a roof deck and screens that pull crowds for major matches. The taps lean German. Good for game day with a group.
COCKTAIL BARS · $$$
Sunday in Brooklyn on Wythe Avenue runs a busy brunch and a strong cocktail program across several floors. The upstairs bar stays calmer than the dining room. Go for an early evening drink before the dinner rush.
COCKTAIL BARS · $$$
Cafe Colette on Berry Street is a corner bistro and bar with open windows and a relaxed local crowd. The cocktails stay simple and well made. Good for an unhurried start to a Williamsburg night.
Use this guide as a route through Williamsburg or as a checklist for a weekend in New York. Reservations are flagged where they matter. For the wider picture, see the full New York bar guide, the city's best rooftop bars, and the best craft beer bars in New York.