Where to Drink in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

On the northernmost finish of Brooklyn, historical past and modernity collide within the Greenpoint neighborhood. Polish eating places and bakeries converse to the realm’s immigrant roots, whereas a seemingly countless string of latest bars and eating places have made Greenpoint one of many buzziest neighborhoods of the second. I’m, after all, biased, calling the neighborhood dwelling myself. However even earlier than relocating right here, I used to be an everyday customer. So in the event you’re questioning the place to drink in Greenpoint, I supply my private listing of favorites—some new, some (very) outdated, all scrumptious.

Achilles Heel

Earlier than the Greenpoint riverfront was a close to unbroken string of high-rise condos, restaurateur Andrew Tarlow (Diner, She Wolf, Marlow & Sons), opened Achilles Heel in 2013 on a tucked-away facet avenue. Whereas the morning espresso program was ultimately nixed, the comfy nook area nonetheless packs in nightly crowds for its easy, but completely executed, drinks program and seasonal meals menu. One of many solely bars the place I repeatedly order a vodka cocktail (the Native Stranger, with vodka, Averna, ginger, yuzu, and honey), Achilles Heel continues to hit the mark greater than a decade later.

Bar Americano

The raison d’être at Bar Americano is aperitivo hour. Thus the bar is usually busiest within the late afternoon and early night hours, when small teams pack the sidewalk tables to sip spritzes and nibble on plates of olives and manchego. The bar’s home Americano cocktails (each a “classico” with Campari and a bianco) are deliciously straightforward consuming and the go-to selection from 3 to 7 pm. And apart from a trim listing of wine, beer, and basic cocktails, Bar Americano doubles down on drinkers’ rediscovered curiosity in vermouth, with a variety working greater than 50 deep from Spain, France, and Italy. 

Capri Social Membership

Whereas Greenpoint has no scarcity of stable dive bars, none have the sheer historical past of the Capri Social Membership. The bar itself, which was once Irish pub Murphy’s, dates again to the late 1800s. Although working constantly for nicely greater than a century, the bar went up on the market within the ’70s when it was bought by its present proprietor, Polish immigrant Irene Kabala. But the bar stays roughly unchanged—with a lovely wood again bar, sprawling ceilings, and partitions permeated with a century’s price of cigarette smoke—splendid for having fun with a beer from a frosty mug, or certainly one of their Jell-O photographs in the event you’re feeling feisty. 

Eavesdrop

Eavesdrop, opened in spring of 2022, is likely one of the now quite a few “listening bars,” with as a lot thought directed into the musical programming because the cocktail menu. However even in the event you weren’t listening in any respect, Eavesdrop is a beautiful area—like a cross between a recording studio and a Scandinavian spa. And simply because the music choice steadily highlights native artists, the inventive cocktail menu additionally incorporates native merchandise such because the NY Distilling Co. Jaywalk Rye and Hana Makgeolli (see beneath) within the Rye & Rice cocktail, and the Dedication Martini (my private fave) with Guilder’s Purple Oolong gin, Sakura gin, and blanc vermouth. 

Hana Makgeolli

Since 2017, Alice Jun has been making each conventional and experimental makgeolli (Korean rice wine) and opened the Hana Makgeolli brewery, with enterprise companion John Limb, in late 2018. In industrial north Greenpoint, on the base of the Pulaski Bridge, the brewery not too long ago opened its hooked up tasting room the place you will see that a few of the most original drinks on supply, possible in all of Brooklyn. When you’ve by no means tasted makgeolli earlier than, go for a flight of ferments that vary from creamy and fizzy to wealthy and sherry-like. As soon as acquainted with makgeolli, don’t sleep on the cocktails, just like the stellar Sesame Bitter (Takju 16 makgeolli, white rum, pineapple, yuzu, vinegar, soy sauce, Suze, sesame, egg white).

Lise & Vito

In case your question is the place to seek out pure wine in Greenpoint, the reply is … nicely, just about anyplace. However newish spot Lise & Vito is price a go to for the vibes alone (assume neon pink lighting and Chartreuse-hued velvet banquettes). However the playful environment shouldn’t bely the pedigree of the wine choice. Opened by alums of beloved pizza store Roberta’s (and named in homage to 2 longtime regulars), Lise & Vito hones a creatively curated bottle listing, aiming for smaller producers throughout the U.S. and Europe, whereas their rotating by-the-glass picks supply wonderful alternatives for exploration, from a co-fermented white from Heya Wines in Lebanon to frizzante pear cider from Normandy.

Little Rascal

Functioning because the cocktail-centric annex of the long-beloved Decrease East Aspect restaurant of the identical identify, Little Rascal opened in summer season of 2022. Turkish brothers Halil and Öner Gündogdu, who personal the Mediterranean restaurant, partnered with mixologist Keith Larry (previously of Staff Solely) to create the cocktail bar of their dwelling neighborhood of Greenpoint. The result’s an informal environment and wildly scrumptious cocktails—steadily that includes house-made infusions, syrups, shrubs and extra—just like the Cosmic Particles (bourbon,  lemon, egg white, fruity pebbles, pistachio cream) or the Turin & Tonka (rye, tonka, candy vermouth, home curacao, fragrant bitters).   

Sama Avenue

I received’t say that Sama Avenue immediately influenced my transfer to the Greenpoint neighborhood, nevertheless it was actually a motivating issue, being certainly one of my favourite spots for inventive cocktails. Based by longtime mates Avi Singh and Rishi Rajpal in 2020, Sama Avenue accomplishes the uncommon feat of compiling a listing of cocktails which might be each delightfully distinctive and stable bangers. Using a pantry of pan-Asian substances from pandan to fish sauce, the cocktails take basic builds in playful instructions—just like the Seven Lengthy Years (tequila, inexperienced chile, pineapple, lime, sesame), which they dub an Asian Margarita—or the intimidating sounding however tasty Similar Similar However Totally different, with tequila, dill aquavit, turmeric, coconut, mint and fish sauce.

As an added bonus, a number of of the cocktails may be made spirit-free, which is useful after I wish to strive every little thing on the menu. (Strive the nonalcoholic model of Similar Similar However Totally different right here.) The truth is, I haven’t ordered a single drink right here that didn’t elicit the exclamation, “Rattling, that’s scrumptious!” 

Tørst

Curating one of many higher beer picks in Brooklyn for greater than a decade, Tørst appeals to each connoisseurs and informal drinkers. Their 21 rotating faucets basically supply a information to “what’s cool in craft beer” at any given time, from farmhouse ales made in rural Oregon to a crisp kölsch from Germany or cider from Spain. Greater than 200 bottles broaden the choice additional, however don’t fear—they’re right here to stroll you thru it.