Category Archives: Pub Crawl NYC Reviews

Pubcrawlbrooklyn.com's recent evening exploring new bars on the East Side of Manhattan

Pub Crawl NYC Reviews

From time to time, I like to head out for an evening of exploring recently-opened bars.  Sometimes, I will visit multiple neighborhoods (and boroughs) in one evening.  It’s not quite a traditional NYC pub crawl, but is fun nonetheless.  One recent outing had me focused on the East Side of Manhattan.  Starting on the Upper East Side and working my way down to the Lower East Side.

7:30pm – Caledonia Scottish Pub at 1609 2nd Avenue near 84th St.  A Scottish Pub in Manhattan!  There are not too many of these in NYC.  The only other one that comes to mind is St. Andrew’s near Times Square.  Open since January, 2011 (the 1609 Second Avenue address has been a bar for over two years, under different owners), Caledonia is a small, narrow, sort of dark place.  Medium length bar on the right and a small seating area in the back.  Crowd is mostly locals.  The bar has eight tap beers, including two taps for Bellhaven (a fine line of Scottish beers).  A long sword hangs lengthwise over the top center of the bar.

8:15pm – Copia on E. 53rd Street, near 2nd Avenue.  For those who remember Metro 53, Copia’s layout and feel is fairly similar.  Catering to the after work crowd with a couple of private areas in the back of the main room and downstairs, Copia has an L-shaped bar to the right and a small dining area in between the bar and the slightly elevated private areas in the back.  The bar has a total of 16 tap beers, but has some repeats and nothing too hard-to-find.

8:45pm – La Cava on 2nd Avenue near 50th Street.  A solid wine bar amongst a strip of Irish Pubs and Sports Bars, La Cava serves nearly 20 wines by the glass and another three dozen by the bottle.  The bar is on the right side of the room with high-top tables around the front and left side of the room.  The small, open kitchen in the back puts out a variety of chacuterie, cheese plates and other small plates.  Two floor-to-ceiling windows by the front entrance that open up in warm weather add a nice touch to this establishment.  La Cava has Happy Hour from 4 – 7pm and the kitchen is open typically until 1am.

10pm – Little Town NYC on 15th Street, near Irving Place.  In the spot formerly known as Vintage Irving, Little Town NYC has changed the place into a more beer-focused bar than its predecessor (Vintage Irving was a wine bar with a decent beer selection; Little Town NYC has reversed that).  What makes this place remarkable is that it only serves beer brewed in New York State.  From Greenport Harbor in Eastern Long Island to Southern Tier in Jamestown at the far western edge of New York and many in between, Little Town NYC has covered the entire state with 20 taps and dozens of bottled beers.  The three Brooklyn breweries (Brooklyn, Six Point and Kelso) are well represented.  This spot is a must on the Union Square beer bar crawl.

11pm – Lower East Side, Orchard and Rivington.  I had hoped to visit the new spot named APL (pronounced “Apple”), but the spot will not be open until later this month.  Given the small bar in the middle of the room and seating areas with place settings in the front and back of the bar area, it looked a bit more to be a restaurant than a bar, but I need to return to see the place in action.

It was a fun filled evening exploring much of the East Side of Manhattan.  I hope you enjoyed this post.  I will have more of these types of experiences to share.  Please leave a comment!

Pubcrawlbrooklyn.com’s visit to Washington, DC (Part 2)

Pub Crawl Brooklyn Road Trips, Pub Crawl NYC Reviews

Pubcrawlbrooklyn.com’s visit to Washington, DC (Part 2).

The second part of the Washington bar tour began in the Foggy Bottom section of the District, only a few blocks away from where part 1 ended.  It was another fun night and further confirmation that bar hopping in Washington is getting close to rivaling a pub crawl in NYC.

6:55pm – Elephant & Castle – Located at the northwest corner of 19th and I streets, this is the second D.C. location of the English style pub chain.  A lively bar scene, along with a spacious eating area, it is a good happy hour spot for the K Street crowd and the nearby law firms.  With 18 beers on tap and some quality bar food, Elephant & Castle is a key starting point for bar hopping in Foggy Bottom.

7:30PM – 19th – Across the street from Elephant & Castle, on the southwest corner of the same intersection, this bar looks good from the outside, but doesn’t quite fit the space in which it resides.  Floor to ceiling windows and the corner location appear very promising.  The place holds a crowd that is a mix of nearby GWU students and some young K Street professionals.  On the weekends, it appears that the venue changes into a clubby atmosphere by clearing out a section of tables and chairs in exchange for a dance floor and DJ.

8:05pm – Froggy Bottom Pub – Ahh, memories of a good old-fashioned college dive bar!  A bi-level establishment, with the main bar on the basement level, this bar is known for its nightly cheap drink specials.  A pool table in the middle of the main bar area, Froggy Bottom serves a food menu of burgers, pizza and subs.

8:45pm – McFadden’s – At the District’s location of this regional Irish pub chain, a bi-level pub, most of the action takes place on the basement level.  The bar has 12 taps, including some hard-to-find beers.  It is a known hangout for D.C. kickball.  The non-kickball crowd is mainly a mix of GW students and recent college graduates.

9:30pm – 51st State – This is a New York hangout on the border of Foggy Bottom and Georgetown.  The establishment boasts four New York beers on tap (out of 16 total taps), including Brooklyn Lager and Brooklyn Brown Ale!  Yankees stickers and Yankees pennants abound, this spot can definitely make a transplant from the Tri-state area feel right at home!

10:15pm – Marshall’s – This place is two doors west of 51st State.  According to our guide, it’s a late night spot that is a service industry hangout.  Like other spots in Foggy Bottom, Marshall’s is bi-level, with the bar on the second floor and a restaurant (of sorts) on the first floor.

After leaving Marshall’s, our guide previewed pubcrawlbrooklyn.com’s bar tour of Georgetown to take place during the next visit to Washington, DC.  How did you like part 2 of the Washington tour?  Please feel free to comment.  Looking forward to hearing your feedback.

Pubcrawlbrooklyn.com’s visit to Washington, DC (Part 1)

Pub Crawl Brooklyn Road Trips, Pub Crawl NYC Reviews

A visit to Washington, DC is always a good time.  Specifically for bars, there is probably not another city in the U.S. other than New York that, over the past decade, has seen more new bars (and neighborhoods) become open for bar hopping.  On a per capita basis, Washington DC is fast becoming a rival for pub crawls vs. NYC pub crawls.  What follows is part one of two nights.  This night involves some old-time Washington establishments in the downtown section of the District, centered around the White House.  Out on the town with an expert of the Washington, DC bar scene, here’s what transpired:

7:35pm – Off the Record.  A bar in the basement of the Hay-Adams hotel across Lafayette Park from the North entrance of the White House, Off the Record is a must visit for all.  An octagonal shaped bar fills the center of a loungey area that is filled with political art (mostly cartoons and caricatures).   This place is frequented by Journalists and Staffers.

8:10pm – Le Bar. A hotel bar on the first floor of the Sofitel at the northwest corner of H and 15th street.  The half-oval bar and a mostly loungey feel to this spot make it another must stop after touring the area around the White House.  The floor to ceiling windows provide the venue with a lot of natural light during the day.  The outdoor seating area in good weather adds a nice touch.

8:45pm – POV (aka, Point of View).  Since this is a rooftop of the W Hotel (fka, the Washington Hotel), in a city like Washington, the name has double meaning.  During this visit, the Arkansas Congressional delegation was having a private reception, so the entire bar was not accessible.  However, the view is arguably the best that Washington bars have to offer.  The foreground includes the Treasury Department Building and the White House.  To the southwest stand the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.  Various sections of Arlington, VA provide the backdrop in the distance.

9:20pm – Laughing Man Tavern – The first venue on our tour that was not a hotel bar, but just a few blocks from POV, this spot is a solid happy hour place with 16 beers on tap.  A semi-sports bar with 2 levels and 10 TVs.

10pm – Black Finn – This is a large, upscale sports bar near 17th and I streets. It has many Old Washington pictures and some NYC pictures on the walls.  The beer selection includes 12 taps, but nothing too hard to find.  But there are some local bottled craft brews available.  The space has two bar areas and is arguably one of the best sports bars in the District.  On the weekends, the back bar area transforms into a dance floor with a DJ.

10:40pm – The Exchange – This bar near 17th and G Streets is sort of in a no-man’s land part of the District.  Close enough to the White House to be considered downtown, but just east of George Washington University, so it could also be part of Foggy Bottom, the bar was renovated a few years ago and has a large eating area.  It has 24 beers on tap, several of which are hard to find.

I hope you enjoyed this first of two posts of pubcrawlbrooklyn.com’s visit to Washington.  Please share your comments.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Check back soon for part 2.

Pubcrawlbrooklyn.com's review of six outdoor drinking spots

Pub Crawl NYC Reviews

With the weather (finally!) warming up in New York City, it’s time to take a look at some of the better outdoor drinking spots around town.  Today, I will look at spots where being outdoors is the primary draw.  Rooftop bars will not be included in this post.  I will write about them in a forthcoming entry.

Stone Street, Financial District, Manhattan: As someone once told me, “Stone Street is a little slice of Paris, right here in downtown Manhattan.”  There are nearly ten bars and restaurants along a one block, cobblestoned-paved section of Stone Street, tucked away amidst the canyons of Wall Street.  From April 1 through November 30, all the Stone Street establishments offer outdoor seating for food and drink.  It’s a great place to spend a few hours after work with colleagues or enjoy the afternoon sun on a weekend during brunch time.  Outdoor seating is available until 11pm every night.

Water Taxi Beach Bar, South Street Seaport, Manhattan: Located on the Northeast corner of Pier 17, this is the second location of the Water Taxi Beach empire (their original location is situated in Long Island City, Queens).  There are picnic tables and plenty of standing room on actual imported beach sand.  A limited beer and food menu awaits patrons.  The view north of the three bridges (Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg) is breathtaking.  You can also admire Brooklyn Heights to the east.  One word of caution, this place has been known to charge a cover fee for entrance on certain nights.

Chelsea Brewing Company, Chelsea Piers, Manhattan:  Sit outside by the docked boats to enjoy the sunset.  Or, during a sunny afternoon, watch the boats go by on the Hudson River.  The Chelsea Brewing Company is the only brewery in Manhattan and offers good food at reasonable prices.

Bohemian Hall Beer Garden, Astoria, Queens:  This is one of the largest outdoor drinking spots in the five boroughs.  Dating back to 1910, Bohemian Hall is the last of the original Beer Gardens in New York City.  Find a spot at one of the dozens of communal tables in their outdoor area and get ready make new friends!  For beer, enjoy a mix of imports from Central Europe or local craft brews.  If you get hungry, there is an outdoor grill menu featuring a few types of sausages, burgers and other grill fare.  Everyone must go here at least once!

Studio Square, Astoria, Queens:  Not quite “down the street”, but in the same section of Queens as Bohemian Hall, Studio Square is a newcomer to the Beer Garden scene.  Opening in the spring of 2009, Studio Square has nearly two dozen beers on tap.  The food menu consists of sausages, burgers and some other good accompaniments to beer.  The outdoor area is sizeable, almost the same size as Bohemian Hall’s.  Make a stop here before or after you visit Bohemian Hall.

Loreley, Williamsburg, Brooklyn: Located just north of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, this is the second location for Loreley (their first is the one in the Lower East Side of Manhattan).  Small in size compared to Bohemian Hall or Studio Square, Loreley has a cozy outdoor area with about 15 communal tables.  Beers on tap number a dozen, nearly all are imported from Germany.  The food menu is fairly extensive, focusing on German fare.

Tell me what you think about these six spots!  What are your favorite outdoor establishments?  Please leave a comment.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Pubcrawlbrooklyn.com's visit to the Kelso Brewery

Pub Crawl Brooklyn Visits, Pub Crawl NYC Reviews

I recently visited the Kelso brewery for a tour.  Kelso, which started brewing in 2006 in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, opened its doors to the public for tours on Saturday, April 16.  The brewery is located at 529 Waverly Avenue, on an industrial block about half-way between Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue. Look for the Heartland Brewery sign above the entrance (Quick aside: Kelso is a subsidiary of Greenpoint Beer Works, which has been brewing all the beer for Heartland Brewery’s five Manhattan locations for over a decade. The owners of Greenpoint Beer Works decided to brew their own beer as well, starting in 2006. Kelso is an acronym of the husband and wife team that owns Greenpoint Beer Works, Kelly and Sonia).

To enter the brewery, you must open a windowless door and, after you enter the foyer, make an immediate left. You will find yourself in the brewery. It feels as though you are in an oversized four story garage, but you will know you are in the right place because you will see the aging tanks on the back, left side of the room. The tasting area is on the right side of the room, near the mash tank. In between the mash tank and the aging tanks is the parking spot for the delivery truck that takes the Heartland beer from Clinton Hill into Manhattan (the Kelso beer gets picked up by Manhattan Beer Distributors). The tasting area is made up of a bar with three taps and some chairs and a few tables.  The beers available to sample during my visit were the India Pale Ale, the Nut Brown Lager and a Bock.

Jess the tour guide and bartender was a fantastic and knowledgeable host. The tour began in the tasting area, where, after we had a sample or two, Jess started by telling us a bit about the company and how Kelso came to be. The next part of the tour was the explanation of the brewing process. For those who have already been on a brewery tour, this part is universal to all brewery tours. For those who have not been on a brewery tour, I will not get into the details of the brewing process here (a somewhat detailed description here). After the brewing process is explained, Jess took everyone into the refrigerated kegging room (at the back of the brewery, behind the delivery truck’s parking spot), where dozens of full kegs, both for Heartland and Kelso, were awaiting delivery. Once the keg room visit was over, it was back to the tasting area! We had a few more samples (all samples were free of charge; 64 oz. growlers also available for sale) and then it was closing time.

Tours are conducted every Saturday, one at 2pm and one at 4pm. The place closes around 5:30pm. Take the C train to the Clinton-Washington stop and after exiting on to Fulton Street, head to Waverly Avenue, which runs parallel to Clinton Avenue and Washington Avenue (Waverly is one block east of Clinton and one block west of Washington). For those who are interested in visiting a small brewery and sampling some great beer, I highly recommend a trip to Clinton Hill and visiting Kelso!

Pubcrawlbrooklyn.com's review of Murray Hill Bar Golf

Pub Crawl NYC Reviews

I got to check out the Murray Hill Bar Golf event on Saturday, 4/16. Since I have not done many other bar golf events, I can’t say how similar or different Murray Hill’s bar golf is from other such events. For me, I found it to be a slightly different take on your typical pub crawl in NYC. The event runs weekly every Saturday from 6pm until 10pm (though I got a late start at around 8:45pm, playing only three holes). The event consists of nine holes: three separate visits to three venues: Joshua Tree, Bar XII and Mercury Bar. The three bars are very close together, all located within half a block of the intersection of 34th Street and 3rd Avenue on Manhattan’s east side. Scoring is as follows: Bogeys generally consist of non-alcoholic drinks; Par is typically one beer; Birdies and Eagles are typically beer/shot or another type of drink combo equaling two units of alcohol. I am not aware if the scoring system will change weekly or at all.

This event could be a lot of fun with a group of people who like to consume different types of alcohol over a relatively short time period. If you plan to participate for most or all of the four hour time period, I highly suggest eating something substantial beforehand. The highest scorer is awarded $500 the last Saturday of each month. Though it is unclear if this award is given to the highest scorer that day or for the entire month. As the weather gets warmer, this will be a fun event to get your friends out, explore some of Murray Hill and make new friends!