BEST BAR
SOCCER TAVERN
6004 8th Ave.
(718) 439-9336 – www.thesoccertavern.com
Soccer Tavern is an Irish pub tucked away
in the heart of Brooklyn’s Chinatown, and
has been in operation since the prohibition
era in 1929. The former speakeasy is
located on 8th Avenue, which was once
packed with Norwegian and Scandinavian
businesses, donning the nickname “Lapskaus
Boulevard.” Due to a wave of immigration
in the 1980s and 90s, the neighborhood is
now primarily Chinese, providing a melting
pot Scandinavian, Irish, and Asian culture.
Underneath and next to day spas, eye
doctors, and insurance companies, sits the
family-run Soccer Tavern. 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 BAR FOR
PLAYING HOOKY (DAY
DRINKING)
KETTLE BLACK
8622 3rd Ave.
(718) 680-7862 – www.kettleblackbar.com
Kettle Black is a chill wing spot in Bay Ridge,
closer to the commercial area, so the place
can get pretty lively. The service is quick,
courteous and accommodating. There even
contains an opening for a dance fl oor. You
can order a huge plate of wings with several
diff erence sauces, or just some drinks, which
are always well made and good value. Shrimp
sandwich special could be a delicious surprise
with horseradish sauce. Convenient staff and
little waiting for a spot. The food always comes
out quick, so come hungry. It’s a sports bar
that’s great for meeting up for a Rangers game,
but people stay and come back again and again
for some of the best wings in New York City,
right here in Brooklyn.
BEST BAR
WITH GAMES/
ENTERTAINMENT
BARCADE
388 Union Ave.
(718) 302-6464 – www.barcadebrooklyn.com
Barcade® is a combination bar and arcade
with a focus on classic video games and
American craft beer. There are locations in
New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and
Connecticut, owned by four friends; Paul
Kermizian, Pete Langway, and brothers Kevin
and Scott Beard. The original Barcade was
opened in 2004 in a former metal shop on
Union Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Barcade locations typically have a full bar
with a focus on craft spirits and cocktails.
The menu consists primarily of sandwiches
and sharable plates with creative variations
of classic pub food and regional specialties.
The beer selection is only American craft beer,
featuring local, regional, and national craft
breweries, and only on draft so as to reduce
waste and energy. Get your game on, grub on
and drink on.
BEST BAR WITH LIVE
MUSIC
FREDDY’S BAR
627 5th Ave.
(718) 768-0131 – www.freddysbar.com
A quirky Brooklyn bar with over nine decades
of experience serving its customers, Freddy’s
is prized for divey vibes, eclectic decor & live
performances in the back room. It features the
same interesting booths, crazy video mashups.
In fact, the bar itself has been moved
from one locale to the next. To complete the
experience, its back room features a usual
combination of music, evenings of standup
comedy, as well as screenings of movies.
Freddy’s Bar is the place to go for an authentic
Brooklyn bar experience that goes beyond
the cliches and off ers you the real deal in
the borough. There’s nothing quite like it
and it’s convenient located in the Park Slope
neighborhood of Brooklyn.
BEST BARTENDER
BRENDAN FARLEY
The Soccer Tavern
6004 8th Ave.
(718) 439-9336 – www.thesoccertavern.com
A bar is only as good as its customer service
and the people that run the joint. The Soccer
Tavern, which has been in existence for
decades, has become a staple of the city
because of its owner, Brendan Farley. Patrons
will often visit the bar just to see the man that
runs the historic bar and say hello. His love
for what he does is evident to everyone that
visits. Owner and Manager Brendan Farley has
been friendly face in the neighborhood since
1986, when he immigrated from Ireland. “I
want everyone to feel welcome in The Soccer
Tavern,” he shared, “It’s truly a place where
everyone is welcome to come and have a good
time.” It’s always a good time at The Soccer
Tavern thanks to Farley.
BEST BEACH/
BOARDWALK BAR
RUBY’S BAR & GRILL
1213 Boardwalk W
(718) 975-7829 – www.rubysbar.com
Boston has Cheers, and Coney Island has
Ruby’s! The boardwalk space that Ruby’s
occupies has been a Coney Island tradition
since 1934, when it started out as the Hebrew
National Deli and Bar. Ruby’s has been family
owned and operated since we opened in 1972,
making us the oldest bar and grill on the
boardwalk. They’re also the only full-service
bar and grill on the boardwalk with indoor
seating. With the Atlantic Ocean and beach
in the front yard, a historic amusement park
8 DIME BEST OF BROOKLYN 2019 • WINNERS GUIDE • BESTOFBK.COM
in the backyard and a bevy of traditional
boardwalk shops and shows on either side of
us, you can’t beat the view and ambiance at
Ruby’s!
BEST BEER AND SHOT
SPECIAL BAR
DUFF’S
168 Marcy Ave.
(718) 599-2092 – www.duffsbrooklyn.com
Duff ’s initially opened as “Bellevue Bar”
in the Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan in 1999,
before moving to Brooklyn in 2004 with a
name change to Duff ’s Brooklyn. The original
Brooklyn location was at 28 North 3rd
St., where the bar resided from December
2004 to December 2008. Due to the rapid
gentrifi cation of area, the bar was forced
relocate in December 2008. The bar reopened
in December 2008 on Williamsburg’s gritty
South Side (168 Marcy Avenue), in a space
four times larger than the original bar. Duff ’s
is frequented by Tri-State metal heads and
rock n’ rollers, and is a stop off for many heavy
metal bands passing through New York City
on tours. Some visitors of note have been Rob
Zombie, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Kerry King
of Slayer, Celtic Frost, Exodus, Lamb of God,
Machine Head, Suff ocation, The Sword, and
many others.
BEST BEER GARDEN
BROOKLYN BAVARIAN BIERGARTEN
265 Prospect Ave.
(718) 788-0400 –
www.brooklynbavarianbiergarten.com
Inspired by the Bavarian roots of the Grand
Prospect Hall, Brooklyn Bavarian Biergarten
sought to bring those German roots to their
menu and atmosphere. At Brooklyn Bavarian
Biergarten, not only can you enjoy a selection
of American and German brews such as
Five Boroughs Gose, Omission Gluten-Free
Lager, Grevensteiner, Possman Pure Cider
and Hofbräu, you can also try their winery
varietals, traditional German cuisine and
American eats. The outdoor beer garden is
lined with lush trees, fl owers and a large water
fountain, providing an urban oasis for parties
big and small to unwind with a cold brew
all season long or to host a private party for
friends and family. If drinking beer al fresco
isn’t for you, Brooklyn Bavarian Biergarten
off ers an indoor beer garden, which is also
open during the cold winter months.
BEST BEER HALL
RADEGAST HALL & BIERGARTEN
113 N 3rd St.
(718) 963-3973 – www.radegasthall.com
Radegast Hall & Biergarten prides itself as
“Brooklyn’s fi rst authentic biergarten of
the new era.” Since it fi rst opened its doors
in 2007, Radegast Hall & Biergarten has
off ered a large selection of European craft
beers and authentic cuisine that will surely
please even the pickiest palettes. With live
music every night and no cover charge,
Radegast Hall & Biergarten is the ideal spot
for beer-lovers who are looking for a fun
night out with friends, family and co-workers
alike. Every year, Radegast Hall & Biergarten
hosts an Oktoberfest. Every Saturday during
Oktoberfest, Radegast Hall & Biergarten male/
female mug holding competitions, ceremonial
keg tapping and a pig roast. Plus there are
two bands and a DJ to help provide a fun
soundtrack for the Oktoberfest season.
BEST BEER SELECTION
LOCKYARD BEER GARDEN
9221 5th Ave.
(718) 333-5282 – www.lockyard.com
Lined with picnic tables and surrounded by
sprawling trees it is a one of a kind space
in Bay Ridge and is the perfect place for a
private event. The beer selection is as long
as the length of the bar itself. Cans, bottles,
on tap and delicious ciders... no matter what
you’re looking for, Lock Yard Bar can get it
for you and help you wet your whistle. It’s one
of the most interesting, thorough drinking
experiences in Bay Ridge, proudly serving
everyone across the Borough of Brooklyn.
It’s a must experience for someone hoping to
enjoy a night out.
BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY
BAR
ROYAL PALMS SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB
514 Union St.
(347) 223-4410 –
www.royalpalmsbrooklyn.com
After a spontaneous trip in the winter of 2011
to the Mirror Lake Shuffl eboard Club in St.
Petersburg, Florida, owners Ashley Albert
and Jonathan Schnapp set out to build a
shuffl eboard club in Brooklyn. By July 2012,
they’d secured the lease on a 17,000 square
foot warehouse in Gowanus and set about
raising money to make their vintage-Florida
Shuffl eboard dreams come true. It took
another year and a half of fundraising and
kickstartering and designing and permitting
before the doors to The Royal Palms were
ready to open in the winter 2013. Today,
people from all over the world come to
visit and fall in love with the game. The
Royal Palms Monday and Tuesday Night
Shuffl eboard League is the largest in the
world and Ashley and Jonathan are now
internationally ranked shuffl eboard players.
BEST BREWERY
BROOKLYN BREWERY
79 N. 11th St.
(718) 486-7422 – www.brooklynbrewery.com
Like their namesake borough, The Brooklyn
Brewery is made up of a rich collection
of characters from all over the world.
In Williamsburg, these characters are
dedicated to brewing and selling great beer
and enriching the communities they serve.
Starting with their fl agship Brooklyn Lager,
BARS & NIGHTLIFE
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