Drink Up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s Latest and Greatest Bars & Restaurants

I’ve been living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for 10 years and the only thing bigger than the rents is my affection for the neighborhood.

“While it’s well-known, the former factory community has gone through periods of gentrified-driven change, and since the pandemic, that evolution has hit a period of overdrive. The next time you take the L train into Williamsburg, here’s your guide to the latest and greatest places to drink and eat.”

Field Guide

Address: 235 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Why I go here: One of the most dynamic new additions to the neighborhood’s bustling food and drink scene is Field Guide, located on the river-hugging Kent Ave. It is a throwback to the farm-to-table and bespoke American restaurants that used to populate Williamsburg as it began gentrification and became a haven for excellent food and even better drinks. Open since 2024, it’s all the work of Tim Meyers; he’s a veteran of acclaimed spots like Eleven Madison Park and Brooklyn staple Roberta’s.

Teaming up with Meyers is sommelier Mackenzie Khosla, whose work on award-winning wine programs include Daniel Boulud’s Bar Boulud. So with that pedigree, you know every detail is bespoke and speaks to Meyer’s formative years growing up in Upstate New York countryside; that means dishes like confit pork belly and duck fat dumplings.

Favorite thing to order: The curiously-titled No Cash, No Credit, No Job History, which is made up of mezcal, blood orange, centerbe, and honey, is a standout. Meanwhile, Khosla’s wines are meticulously sourced around the world, from France to the Finger Lakes.

Gus and Marty’s

Address: 232 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Why I go here: It’s like Carbone, but for Greek food. Situated steps from the neighborhood’s beloved McCarren Park, Gus and Marty’s is a hip, homestyle Greek restaurant that feels like eating in your family’s house, complete with a wall full of old photographs from the owner’s very own kin.

When I came here, I was smitten by the atmosphere and fell in love with the food, which focuses on fresh plates like mezze served with pita, an array of unique salads and sides (see: gigante beans and blistered peppers), and massive entrees of lamb shoulder and sardines.

Favorite thing to order: Just as impressive as the eats is the operation’s drinks program. Naturally, the wines emphasize bottles from Greece. Meanwhile, their spin on the Espresso Martini, named The Marty, features the Greek liquor ouzo as well as espresso and coffee liqueur.

Kellogg’s Diner

Address: 518 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Why I go here: In an era when New York’s diners are fading away in favor of fast casual spots, Kellogg’s has stood the test of time as a neighborhood icon with its glowing neon sign. Last year, the generations-old spot had new life breathed into it thanks to a team that took its menu of soggy fires into a new era with some of the most impressive, and coast-effective plates in the neighborhood, including both diner fare and Tex-Mex favorites (considering Chef Jackie Carnesi hails from South Texas origins). Best of all, it’s open 24 hours.

Favorite thing to order: Proving this isn’t an ordinary diner, Kellogg’s bar program is a standout. Forget about forgettable wines and boring beers; here, the cocktails are elevated. Case in point: a souped-up Screwdriver, concocted with your choice of Gran Centenario Plata tequila or 400 Conejo mezcal, as well as es ayuuk, grapefruit & orange sherbet, lime, and Topo Chico.

Jr and Son

Address: 575 Metropolitan Ave. New York, NY 11211

Why I go here: Jr and Son was the type of New York City-neighborhood Italian bar that would have fit right in movies like Goodfellas. With cool & cheap drinks, plenty of interesting characters sipping them, and pictures of Frank Sinatra and famed boxers on the wall, it was a real shame when the place closed in 2020.

Now under new ownership from the team behind the Kellogg’s aforementioned reinvention, the place is back open and polished; retaining its old school charm while bringing it into a new era. The food here honors its heritage, with platters of chicken parm, while also offering chic selections like chilled lobster.

Favorite thing to order: The cocktail program is an extension of that Italian heritage. Take for example their Johnny Dangerously, an amaro-filled concoction that’s oh-so-sweet. The wines are sourced from Italy as well, with the Campania region being a favorite.

Meili

Address: 160 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Why I go here: From Italian influences to the land of China, Meili is a flashy and authentic Chinese restaurant that puts all others to shame. Located steps from McCarren Park, its sprawling subterranean space slings out sizzling dishes of Sichuan with a celebratory spin, from Truffle Beef Tenderloin to a luscious Tea-smoked Duck Fried Rice. If it tastes like the real thing, that’s because it is: Chef Peter is a native of Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province.

Favorite thing to order: If you thought the food was spectacular, the libations are lip-smacking. Its multiple highlights include a tea-inspired Oolongtini (with toasted rice, Mr. Black and straight-up cold brew) as well as the ferocious Red Dragon (black tea gin, Campari, Vermouth and raspberry). Feeling daintier?

Drink down a cocktail made with clarified coconut milk punch with gin, pear, elderflower, and citrus they aptly dub Pearl Glow. Then again, maybe you can just ask the chef what Baiju they had on hand, like I did; they might just serve up a rare find of the beloved Chinese liqueur.

The William Vale

Address: 111 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Why I go here: If someone from out of town asks me for my recommendation of where to go to grab a drink in Williamsburg, I always point them toward any number of places in the mighty William Vale, one of the neighborhood’s many lux hotels. On top, Westlight stands as a monument to both luscious drinks and eye-popping sights.

Floor to ceiling windows boast vast panoramic views of the area, with the skylines of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, as well as the glistening East River. And yes, that includes clear views of everything from the Empire State Building to the Freedom Tower. And while Westlight may have been open since 2016, the William Vale has recently seen new life with the recent opening of Italian-focused all-day cafe and bar Little Fino on the ground floor, and an array of ever-changing programming.

Favorite thing to order: Back at Westlight, the bar program suits both an everyday drink or a celebratory night. Take for instance unique cocktails like the Five Families, which presumably is a nod to the area’s Italian influence and features Patron Silver, chamomile, cilantro, green chile, and club soda. Their wine list is also vast, with an emphasis on French wines and bright and fruity selections. Meanwhile, Little Fino boasts the Italiano classics you know and love.

Honorable mentions:

While not so new, three neighborhood gems recently celebrated their one year anniversary: Bar Madonna, which has garnered global acclaim with inventive cocktails, viral dishes, and recent events and collaborations, recently seeing the team trek to France for a pop-up at Paris stalwart Danico. Meanwhile, With Others has turned into a neighborhood wine-bar staple, aiming to educate the masses on the beauty that can be found in bottles. Then there’s the honky tonk bar-club Desert 5 Spot, an off-shoot of the LA hotspot which makes you feel like you’re in the middle of rootin’ tootin’ Texas, including a hoedown size margarita, served in a massive cactus-shaped carafe.

The post Drink Up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s Latest and Greatest Bars & Restaurants appeared first on Chilled Magazine.