BESTOFBK.COM • WINNERS GUIDE • DIME BEST OF BROOKLYN 2020 13
BARS & NIGHTLIFE
BEST LOUNGE
DELIA’S LOUNGE
9224 3rd Ave, Brooklyn
(718) 745-7999 - www.deliaslounge.com
Delia’s Lounge is a great spot for a casual
evening out in Bay Ridge located right next
to the Verrazano Bridge. Come relax on
Delia’s Lounge’s cushy couches and candle-lit
atmosphere. Their eclectic, cozy mix of decor
from around the world is sure to make you feel
like you are sitting in your own living room.
Call ahead for reservations so your table is
waiting when you arrive. They have a threehour
party package that includes drinks and
selections from their menu. There’s no better
place to party in the borough than Delia’s,
operating since 1999!
BEST MARGARITA
MARGARITA ISLAND
1105 Bowery St, Brooklyn
(917) 723-3232 - www.margaritaislandci.com
Enjoy Coney Island’s after hours at the area’s
only outdoor, late night hotspot. Boasting an
impressive 10,000 square feet and 250 seats,
Margarita Island is where the party is seven
days a week, rain or shine. Guests can grab a
drink at the Tiki Bar as they watch the sun go
down or head indoors to catch the latest sports
events. The crowd moves to the groove with the
hottest DJ’s and live music playing every night
and patrons can snack a variety of delicious
bites from the kitchen. Come in one time for a
margarita and you’ll be hooked!
BEST MARTINI
XIN
8324 3rd Ave, Brooklyn
(347) 662-6222
Xin is upscale Chinese cuisine in the heart of
Bay Ridge. Join them for a great meal, specialty
martinis and a dessert menu unlike any other.
You’ll love their portions, making Xin excellent
family cuisine. Some signature dishes include
T-Bone Steak with black pepper Sauce, Filet
Mignon with Baby Bok Choy, Mongolian Beef
Cube, Three Peppers Steak Kew, Volcano Steak
Kew, Xin Steak Kew, Gold Coin Filet Mignon,
Xin Rack of Lamb, Dragon & Phoenix and their
Chicken and Three Peppers, although that
doesn’t even begin to list all of Xin’s excellent
specials. It’s all at a great price and offering
convenient, timely delivery service, making for
the best Chinese food experience in New York,
a place where having the best Chinese food
experience matters more than anywhere else.
BEST MOJITO
BOGOTA LATIN BISTRO
141 5th Ave, Brooklyn
(718) 230-3805 -
www.bogotabistro.com
Sip on the best mojito in Brooklyn while enjoying
award-winning Colombian & Latin fare at
what’s often called “Brooklyn’s Hottest Latin
Restaurant.” Bogota Latin Bistro is open every
day for lunch and dinner and serves an awesome
brunch on weekends. At Bogota Latin Bistro,
they’re dedicated to elevating the status and
awareness of Latin food— particularly Colombian
cuisine—and culture via their food, drinks, music
and hospitality. Bogota Latin Bistro tries to lead
the way in what New York City Latin restaurants,
food and service should be about. Hospitality,
professionalism, pride, fanatical attention to
detail, teamwork and respect for diversity are the
core values that guide their efforts.
BEST MUSIC VENUE
UNION HALL
702 Union St, Brooklyn
(718) 638-4400 -
www.unionhallny.com
Union Hall has become the place to hear some
of the best music in Brooklyn. The music venue
is located below the main bar and game area
where guests frequently pass the time playing
bocce and sit in a library-like setting. On any
given night, you’ll get to hear rising indie rock,
hip-hop and pop artists in the city. The venue
features multiple rooms, all of which provide
an intimate setting to allow you to enjoy some
of the most diverse art you’ll find, not just
in Brooklyn but throughout New York City.
Enjoy your evening in style and arrive early to
avoid long lines and soak in the liveliness of
Brooklyn’s music scene.
BEST NEW BAR OF THE
YEAR
SUMMERLY - HOXTON HOTEL
97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
(718) 215-7150
The Hoxton Hotel has opened doors all over
the world. They have locations in London,
France and most importantly Williamsburg.
The open-house hotels are inspired by diversity
and their unique design is from the streets
and scenes that surround them. They have
been redesigning old buildings and turning
empty car parks into hotels all over. Their
Williamsburg location has been nominated for
Best New Bar of the Year.
BEST NIGHT CLUB
FRIENDS AND LOVERS
641 Classon Ave, Brooklyn
(917) 979-3060
Friends and Lovers isn’t your typical nightclub.
For the people who run the place, the venue is
a project of passion, friendship and love. Their
mission is to provide a safe space for all kinds
of people to let loose, be themselves, dance,
make friends, fall in love, and party their hearts
out. They also provide a stage for NYC’s best
and most talented musicians, DJs, and artists
to have fun, be creative and take risks. On any
given night, the music may range from soul
to house to funk to hip hop or anything in
between. Friends and Lovers also provides a
space for comedians to make you laugh. Why
travel to Manhattan when everything you need
for a night out is in your backyard!
BEST OPEN MIC
PINE BOX ROCK SHOP
12 Grattan St, Brooklyn
(718) 366-6311 -
www.pineboxrockshop.com
Test out new material, get to know other
members of the NYC comedy scene or just settle
in for some laughs at Pine Box Rock Shop open
mic night, hosted by Joe Cocozello. Pine Box
Rock Shop is owned and operated by bartenders
and musicians. Jeff and Heather Rush have
been performing in bands together since 1998.
The culmination of their efforts is a place the
group has designed to be everything they feel a
neighborhood bar and venue should be. Fans of
music and drinking are sure to agree.
BEST OUTDOOR
ATMOSPHERE BAR/
RESTAURANT (TIE)
LAVENDER LAKE
383 Carroll St, Brooklyn
(347) 799-2154
Lavender Lake has become of Brooklyn’s top
destinations for eating and drinking outdoors.
Watch the sun set on their cozy and rustic
outdoor patio before it gets too crowded with
some of their local craft beers/ciders on tap and
old world wines along with their happy hour
food options. Locals rave of the restaurant’s
juicy “smashed lake burger” comprised of
grass-fed beef and American and white cheddar
cheese and nachos. The bar is also unique for
being a dog-friendly place so your dog can enjoy
some fresh air and even make a doggy friend as
you sip on your drink.
BEST OUTDOOR
ATMOSPHERE BAR/
RESTAURANT (TIE)
THE ROOKERY
425 Troutman St, Brooklyn
(718) 483-8048
The Rookery offers contemporary drinks and
food in a former industrial space in the heart of
Bushwick’s nightlife scene near the Jefferson
Street L-train station. The gastropub has a
beer garden out front and a 16-foot horseshoe
bar, where thirsty Brooklynites can sip on a
wide array of carefully-curated draft beers
on tap — always 20oz imperial pints! Along
with that, there’s plenty of classic and modern
cocktails, wine. Why not try some British-West
Indian inspired pub grub, such as curried goat
shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, or pork chop
cassoulet. If you’re in need of hangover recovery,
the taproom is also a popular brunch spot for
locals and visitors alike!
BEST ROOFTOP BAR
MCCARREN HOTEL & POOL
160 N 12th St, Brooklyn
(718) 218-7500 - www.mccarrenhotel.com
The hottest rooftop bar in Brooklyn is closer
than you think. At the McCarren Hotel & Pool
located in the heart of Williamsburg, you
can take in the view of the waterfront and of
the Lower Manhattan skyline while sipping
sophisticated drinks. The hotel is not just a
place to rest and recharge. Fuel up with classic
and eclectic dining options, handcrafted
cocktails and coming up soon, Urban Vegan
Kitchen will be moving into the roof at
McCarren Hotel providing semi-sophisticated
comfort food and an atmosphere like no other
vegan restaurant in New York City. The rooftop
at McCarren is the perfect spot for a low-key
night out with friends.
BEST SINGLES BAR
THE WHISKEY BROOKLYN
44 Berry St, Brooklyn
(718) 387-8444
This spacious whiskey-centric sports bar offers
a wide selection of the good stuff inside a
storied subterranean brick-walled cellar at the
heart of Williamsburg’s nightlife area. Brothers
George and Justin Ruotolo, along with partner
Rob Magill, and another set of brothers Jamie
and John Wiseman set up shop in the former
tonic water factory on the neighborhood’s north
side. Their simple philosophy of well-poured
drinks, tasty grub, good music a comfortable
setting and great service has drawn the crowds
back to their doors ever since. To top it off,
everything you see in the bar — the booths, the
bartop, the dj booth, the shuffle board tables,
the backbar — was built by hand!
BEST SPEAKEASY
CLOVER CLUB
210 Smith St, Brooklyn
(718) 855-7939 - www.cloverclubny.com
It’s no secret that Clover Club is the premiere
cocktail bar in Brooklyn, but they’re also the
borough’s best speakeasy. With its classic
cocktail vibe, you can enjoy an evening of
true hospitality, including live jazz and a cozy
back room with a fireplace. The staff and
management at the Clover Club want you to
drink and eat and above all, talk and they do
their best to provide a place where you can
enjoy such things to their fullest.
BEST SPORTS BAR
SOCCER TAVERN
6004 8th Ave, Brooklyn
(718)439-9336 - www.thesoccertavern.com
No matter the game, you can catch it with friends
and fellow sports fans at Soccer Tavern in Bay
Ridge. The Irish pub tucked away in the heart of
Brooklyn’s Chinatown, and has been in operation
since the prohibition era in 1929. The old school bar
encompasses the true spirit of Sunset Park, and has
become a neighborhood staple for old-timers and
newcomers alike, and serves the community with a
drink and a smile as you enjoy your evening out.
BEST WINE BAR
THE OWL’S HEAD
479 74th St, Brooklyn
(718) 680-2436 - www.theowlshead.com
Since 2011, The Owl’s Head has poured Bay Ridge
an eclectic, distinct, and affordable selection of
global wines and craft beers, paired with everevolving
menu of savory and sweet artisanal bites.
The offerings are carefully selected from small
producers by owner John Avelluto and served in
a rustic setting that pays homage to the original
design of the 1904 building. A handcrafted bar top
rough hewn from a single maple tree complements
the restored tin ceilings and brick walls of the
dining room. The Owl’s Head provides an intimate
atmosphere to enjoy some great wine and beer,
tasty bites and good conversation with friends
and family. With critical acclaim and a stable of
loyal customers, The Owl’s Head remains one of
Brooklyn’s most eclectic places to drink.
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/www.mccarrenhotel.com
/www.cloverclubny.com
/www.thesoccertavern.com
/www.theowlshead.com
/www.deliaslounge.com
/www.deliaslounge.com
/www.margaritaislandci.com
/www.bogotabistro.com
/www.unionhallny.com
/www.pineboxrockshop.com
/www.mccarrenhotel.com
/www.cloverclubny.com
/www.thesoccertavern.com
/www.theowlshead.com
