Park Slope has a little bit of everything

The bar scene in this Brooklyn 'hood has come of age

By Lauren Wolfe | Special to amNewYork

January 12, 2007

Its mommy-and-me neighborhood reputation long in the past, Park Slope has a bar scene for the cool and not-cool kids alike these days.

We know, we know, Fifth Avenue has been rocking for awhile now, but the options for getting your drink on are more plentiful than ever. Here are a few of our favorites:

Barbes
376 9th St., at Sixth Avenue

718-965-9177
The only bar of its Euro kind in the hood, Barbes has been drawing some of the most talented musicians in New York for four years. Hear a free concert of Balkan/ Gypsy/ Brazilian music, then mingle in this intimate space with the bassist/theremin player. All the while, sip your Negroni like you were in the Parisian neighborhood of the same name. Only then will you realize you are already in the best city in the world.

Bogota Latin Bistro
41 Fifth Ave., between St. John's and Lincoln places
718-230-3805
Sure, it's a restaurant, but come for the drinks. Happy hour hits nearly every day (closed Tuesdays) from 5-7 p.m., and also from 12-1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights -- Latin beers are only $3. Try the feisty-butsmooth coconut mojito alongside your chicharon arepas.

Commonwealth
497 Fifth Ave., at 12th Street
718-768-2040
It's totally not a scene, and that's what so good about Commonwealth. A tad nice, a tad divey, all-around easygoing, the bar is not without fancy drinks -- like the Antioxidant Martini. The jukebox has a serious mix of everything from the New York Dolls to Art Brut. Not to be missed is the board of "Brutally Honest Personal Ads," where those who seek love (this term is used loosely) post ultra-ironic sludge for all to see. Good for late night carousing.

The Gate
321 Fifth Ave., at 3rd Street
718-768-4329
Beers. Lots of them. A boggling sense of possibility (in terms of brew choice, that is) and the outdoor patio rakes in crowds all year round. No good Park Sloper would dare skimp on summer's eves outside at the Gate, nor would they want to deny themselves a fine winter's ale with a twist of pumpkin on a not-quite-wintry-winter- 2007 night. Not too sporty, not too dingy.

Great Lakes
284 Fifth Ave., at 1st Street
718-499-3710
Great Lakes rocks the hood with its jukebox. Like, really. This is the place where you put your dollar bills in and wait two hours for your songs, getting really irritated at whomever played the Hotel track you despise. But alcohol settles the masses, as do homey Christmas lights, maps of the Midwest and mostly friendly bartenders. A solid place to take your five friends from Omaha to see how cool but not painfully hip Fifth Avenue has become.

The Royale
506 Fifth Ave., between 12th and 13th streets
718-840-0089
If there is a theme to this bar, it's Johnny Cash-meets-Chinese restaurant. Kinda. It draws plenty of lone bourbon- drinking patrons, but mixes it up with $3 Rheingolds. Djs play often, and occasional (shh!) dancing breaks out.

Union Hall
702 Union St., at Fifth Avenue
718-638-4400
Union Hall has all the kids talking these days. Not only does it have free bocce courts (de rigeur for Brooklyn, it seems) it has the correct environment in which to hold taxidermy classes (which it does) and scientific lectures (got those, too). Eat cheese or cookies among grand bookshelves or see a concert downstairs. The hall is doing a decent job of having it all.