April 7 is National Beer Day. Do you know where you’re grabbing a pint?
National Beer Day is Sunday, April 7, commemorating the day in 1933 when 3.2 percent beer again became legal, after having been banned under Prohibition. (Stronger stuff wasn’t legalized until December 5, 1933, when Prohibition was fully repealed.) To help you celebrate this wonderful day in beer history, we’ve compiled this list of great places to have a beer in every single New York City neighborhood.
Yes, there’s a beer hall, dive bar, gastropub, or suds seller in nearly every NYC neighborhood here — 113 across all five boroughs — so you won’t have to go far to lift a glass or a bottle. Prost!
Waiting for a real beer at the Vanderbilt Hotel after the end of Prohibition. (Levine/ NY Daily News Archive/ Getty Images)
What spot do we recommend near you? Read on to find out, check out the map below, or skip ahead to our picks in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Good Places to Get a Beer in Manhattan
Battery Park City: Treadwell Park
Serving good beer and good beer’s favorite companion: free popcorn. Also, ping-pong and pinball. 301 S. End Ave.
Carnegie Hill: Third Avenue Ale House
Come for the beer, stay for the … reuben egg rolls? 1644 Third Ave.
Chelsea: “One Star”
Ah, that rarest of finds in Chelsea: a cheap, no-frills bar, as good for drinking porter on tap as Narragansett out of a can. This place has a sense of humor, too. 147 W. 24th St.
Chelsea (south): Wood and Ales
Bottled beers cost $4 at happy hour in this neighborhood-y pub. Can’t beat that on a busy crosstown street. 234 W. 14th St.
Chinatown: Whiskey Tavern
Reserve a table and bring all your friends to watch a game. Or just drink the bar dry on your own. 79 Baxter St.
Civic Center: Barleycorn Craft Bar & Grill
Got some steam to blow off after jury duty or a visit to the taxman? The prolific taps in here should help. 23 Park Place.
No one would mistake the Duck in East Harlem for a non-dive bar. Via Yelp.
East Harlem: The Duck
A real dive bar in East Harlem. So you know it has to be interesting. 2171 Second Ave.
East Village: Proletariat
You can’t spit in the East Village without hitting a decent place to sip a beer, but the serious selection of this tiny spot can’t be beat. 102 St. Marks Place.
Financial District: The Growler
You’ve got lots of options in the FiDi, but why not sit outside and sip a rare brew here? 55 Stone St.
On the roof at Eataly’s Birreria. Via Yelp.
Flatiron: Birreria
On the rooftop of Italian food hall Eataly, you’ll find a festive environment for sampling interesting Italian (and other) beers. 200 Fifth Ave.
Gramercy: Gramercy Ale House
Your basic American sports bar — with food — for the times when that’s just what you want. 272 Third Ave.
Greenwich Village: Peculier Pub
Tons of taps in a funky underground setting. Another Manhattan classic. 145 Bleecker St.
At the Wallace is a bar in Hamilton Heights. A poster inside will explain the name. Via Yelp.
Hamilton Heights: At the Wallace
Be warned: the large draft beers here are huge. So is the Jenga game in back. There’s no real sign; look for the picnic tables out on the street. 3612 Broadway.
Harlem: Shrine
Live music with no cover, and a huge variety of artists performing. Also: food. This is one great place for a beer. 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.
As Is in Hell’s Kitchen: Looks mighty fine. Via Yelp.
Hell’s Kitchen: As Is NYC
An unusually adventurous set of taps and an industrial vibe anchor this excellent Hell’s Kitchen hangout. 734 10th Ave.
Hudson Yards: Rocky’s Bar & Restaurant
Plenty of beers on tap and all sorts of pizza help make Hudson Yards habitable. 460 W. 34th St.
Inwood: The Liffey II Bar
“The last Irish bar in Inwood,” this place calls itself. Only Coors Light or Killian’s Red on tap, but the atmosphere is overflowing. 5009 Broadway.
Kips Bay: Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar
Paddy Reilly’s stands out among myriad Irish-themed watering holes with (good) live music every night of the week. 519 2nd. Ave.
Lenox Hill: Subway Inn
A classic NYC dive, now relocated from its original home, but still with plenty of atmosphere. Just don’t expect anything fancy. 1140 Second Ave.
Lincoln Square: The Smith
The local outpost of this rightfully well-regarded NYC gastropub offers more interesting beers than you might expect. 1900 Broadway.
Little Italy: Mulberry Street Bar
Because you don’t want to go drink at some slick new place when you’re in Little Italy — especially not when the food’s so good here. 176 1/2 Mulberry St.
Beer Fridge sells beer to go and to stay. Via Yelp.
Lower East Side: Beer Fridge
Sure, there are tons of good bars around here. But sometimes you just want to drink at home — and Beer Fridge makes it easy by offering a wide selection of interesting cans and bottles at super-reasonable prices. 41 Essex St.
Manhattan Valley: Bob’s Your Uncle
A low-key neighborhood hangout to bring in food or sit and play games. 929 Columbus Ave.
Manhattanville: Bierstrasse NYC
A large, covered beer garden near the Hudson River? Sign us up. 697 W. 133rd St.
Meatpacking District: The Biergarten at The Standard
Beer, pretzels, oysters, ping-pong and picnic tables mean there are plenty of reasons to visit this popular spot in the Standard hotel. 848 Washington St.
Midtown: Jimmy’s Corner
Shhh, don’t tell anyone else about this place. It gets crowded enough already. 140 W. 44th St.
Taps at the Stag’s Head. Via Yelp.
Midtown East: The Stag’s Head
A neighborhood favorite, with burgers, a patio, craft beers, and solid lunchtime and happy hour deals. 252 E. 51st St.
Midtown South: The Keg Room
Could it be: a decent pub in Midtown South? A place even NYC locals wouldn’t be embarrassed to show their faces? Yep, that’s the Keg Room. 53 W. 36th St.
Midtown West: Walter’s Cottage
There’s a law that says you can’t go more than two blocks in New York without hitting an Irish bar. Or at least, when you discover a place like this, it seems like there is. 500 W. 43rd St.
Morningside Heights: Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor
Across the street from Columbia University sits this solid taproom, popular since the day it opened. 1135 Amsterdam Ave.
Murray Hill: Peter Dillon’s Pub
Close to Grand Central and tons of office buildings, with $4 beers at happy hour. You basically can’t afford not to go. 130 E. 40th St.
NoLIta: Randolph Beer
An obsessively complete (and detailed) tap list, plus food worth making a reservation for. Good enough? 343 Broome St.
NoMad: Tavern29
A rooftop beer garden and an interesting, rotating tap list? Not bad for a pub situated among NOMAD’s canyons of fancy. 47 E. 29th St.
SoHo: Toad Hall
Unfancy saloon in fancy SoHo — refreshing. 57 Grand St.
Stuyvesant Town: Petite Abeille
Belgian food means Belgian beers. You do know how ridiculously good Belgian beers are, right? 401 E. 20th St.
Moody lighting at Anotheroom in Tribeca. Via Yelp.
Tribeca: Anotheroom
Dim lighting, laid-back style, and plenty of suds. 249 W. Broadway.
Inside Mr. Fong’s, in Two Bridges. Via Yelp.
Two Bridges: Mr. Fong’s
It’s out of the way, under the radar, and has just a few beer taps — but Mr. Fong’s makes ’em count. 40 Market St.
Union Square: The Headless Horseman
Less horror movie than hoary British pub, this is a cozy, dimly lit place to knock back a few. 119 E. 15th St.
Upper East Side: Bemelmans Bar
Arguably the classiest place to drink a beer in all of New York, this bar inside the Carlyle Hotel features live jazz, hand-painted walls, and a gold-leaf ceiling. 35 E. 76th St.
Upper West Side: The Dead Poet
A literary atmosphere and free popcorn to satisfy your highest and most basic beer-drinking states of mind. 450 Amsterdam Ave.
Washington Heights: Buddha Beer Bar
The neighborhood living room — at least for those who like a serious selection of craft beers and a fairly huge food menu. 4476 Broadway.
West Village: Blind Tiger Alehouse
NYC’s grandaddy of craft beer bars. 281 Bleecker St.
Yorkville: Bondurants
A place where the commitment to good beer is so serious, they even brine their french fries in IPA. 303 E. 85th St.
Good Places to Get a Beer in Brooklyn
Bay Ridge: Three Jolly Pigeons
Bay Ridge is well out of the Brooklyn cool-kid belt — at least for now — and so is this charming and quintessential NYC Irish pub. 6802 Third Ave.
Bed-Stuy: Tip Top Bar & Grill
A locals’ spot in the basement of a townhouse on Franklin Avenue serving up $5 beer-and-shot combos, fish and chips from Aunt Sally’s food counter in the back, and classic soul from the jukebox. 432 Franklin Ave.
The Homestretch Pub in Bensonhurst is a classic.
Bensonhurst/Gravesend: Homestretch Pub
This beloved spot has been the neighborhood bar since 1941. That’s reason enough to visit. 214 Kings Highway.
Boerum Hill: The Brooklyn Inn
Dark and filled with the whiff of sour beer, the Brooklyn Inn has held court in a stately brownstone on the corner of Hoyt and Bergen since before Brooklyn got bougie. Bring your dad, not a date. 148 Hoyt St.
Borough Park: Soccer Tavern
You know you’re in a DGAF bar when the ceiling is acoustic tile. This one offers soccer, darts, and solid pours of Guinness. 6004 Eighth Ave.
Oktoberfest beer store in Brighton Beach.
Brighton Beach: Oktoberfest Beer Store
Another wonderful combination of food store and draft beer takeout. They pour quality suds for low, low prices, and give a little New York attitude, too. We love it. 3087 Brighton 4th St.
Brooklyn Heights: Floyd
A veteran Atlantic Avenue spot with cozy interiors, a bocce ball setup and some good beer cheese. 131 Atlantic Ave.
Bushwick: Kings County Brewers Collective
An excellent brewery deserves an excellent taproom. And you deserve a visit. 381 Troutman St.
The Bar Great Harry in Carroll Gardens. Via Yelp.
Carroll Gardens: Bar Great Harry
The interiors could use some updating, but this low-ceilinged spot on the corner of Smith and Sackett has a ton of great beer and an attitude-free MO. 280 Smith St.
Cardiff Giant in Clinton Hill. Via Yelp.
Clinton Hill: Cardiff Giant
People in Brooklyn love this neighborhood gem for its non-scene-y vibes, New York State drafts and low-key, lovely outdoor space. 415 Myrtle Ave.
Cobble Hill: Strong Place
A solid food menu and outdoor space great for big groups complement the large selection of beer at this Court Street favorite. 270 Court St.
The Hop Shop on Columbia Street. Via Yelp.
Columbia St. Waterfront District: The Hop Shop Brooklyn
A big storefront overlooking the Manhattan skyline and Columbia Street’s shipyards with nice afternoon light, a big list of microbrews, and free popcorn. Real food, too. 121 Columbia St.
Crown Heights: Covenhoven
Covenhoven has the Crown Heights beard-and-bike crowd wrapped around its finger, offering a wide array of local beers, grilled cheeses, and board games. Nice garden, too. 730 Classon Ave.
Dumbo: 68 Jay Street Bar
In a neighborhood full of fancy stuff, this place is refreshingly low-key. Happy hour draws a post-work crowd for the $4 Brooklyn lagers. 68 Jay St.
German beers at Die Stammkneipe in Brooklyn.
Fort Greene: Die Stammkneipe
This Fort Greene mainstay is a go-to for locals looking for a frills-free atmosphere and a quick brat and beer before an event at BAM or Greenlight Bookstore. 710 Fulton St.
Greenpoint: Tørst
We couldn’t make a list of beer joints and leave off what’s often regarded as the best one in all of NYC. There are 21 taps, tons more bottles, and good food, too. 615 Manhattan Ave.
Greenwood: Sea Witch
This place embraces a kitschy nautical theme, but the list of drafts is serious, with a core group of nine beers and a rotating list of 11 seasonal, local and otherwise-special brews. There’s also an eclectic food menu that includes fish tacos, crab rangoon, and kielbasa. 703 Fifth Ave.
Gowanus: Mission Dolores
Mission Dolores was great long before anyone thought Gowanus was cool. It maintains it strong reputation and good vibes with a well-curated list of local beers and strong cocktails. 249 Fourth Ave.
Out on the Hinterlands patio in Kensington. Via Yelp.
Kensington: Hinterlands
A local neighborhood bar with a resident cat, a back patio, and game-themed bathroom wallpaper. Classic. 739 Church Ave.
Marine Park: Bulls Eye Sports Pub
A locals’ favorite with crazy-low prices, plastic cups, and plenty of bar games. A bucket of five domestic beers costs only $10 or $12, depending on the time. 3121 Quentin Road.
Mill Basin: Bill’s Bar
Old-school Brooklyn. ‘Nuff said. 6324 Avenue N.
Midwood: Starlite Lounge
Seriously unfancy. If you don’t like it, the locals are happy to keep this place to themselves. 1213 McDonald Ave.
Outside at the Gate in Park Slope. Via Yelp.
Park Slope: The Gate
A pretense-free neighborhood bar with a huge outdoor space and an interesting tap list. 321 Fifth Ave.
Prospect Heights: Gold Star Beer Counter
Top-notch local beers, top-notch bar snacks and a nice ambiance come together at this neighborhood joint, which thankfully manages to fly under the radar. 176 Underhill Ave.
Prospect Lefferts Gardens: Midwood Flats
There are 20 beers on tap. There’s a famous, bacon-topped burger. It’s a block from Prospect Park. No-brainer. 577 Flatbush Ave.
Prospect Park South: Werkstatt
An adorable Austrian restaurant with unusual European beers on tap. Because you’ve sampled enough American IPAs. 509 Coney Island Ave.
Red Hook: Sunny’s
There’s cheap beer all the time and live music off and on at this beloved nautical-themed bar. 253 Conover St.
Sheepshead Bay: Tap Beer
Not a bar, but a Russian food store that sells high-quality beers on draft in recyclable growlers for you to enjoy later. Fresh beer! They’ll even deliver. Yum. 2081 E. 19th St.
Sunset Park: Five Boroughs Brewing Company
Is there a better place to drink an excellent craft beer than inside the brewery from whence it came? You know the answer. 214 47th St.
Williamsburg: Spuyten Duyvil
The bottle list at this cozy brewpub is as diverse as it is prodigious. Ales from Finland and Sri Lanka are served alongside local brews. 359 Metropolitan Ave.
Windsor Terrace: The Adirondack
Nope, it’s not a chair. It’s a bar specializing in New York State beers. But you’ll want to have a seat anyway. 1214A Prospect Ave.
Good Places to Get a Beer in Queens
Astoria: Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden
Huge, fun, and relatively inexpensive, this is without question the best beer garden in NYC. 29-19 24th Ave.
Astoria (South): Veronica’s Bar
A friendly, low-key local’s hang with no credit card xmachine and a pool table in the back. 34-04 36th Ave.
Corona: Mikkeller Brewing NYC
This huge brewery and taproom inside Citi Field — the sole NYC outpost of Mikkel Borg Bjergsø’s international good-beer empire — offers two tasty “ballpark brews,” plus dozens more liquid adventures on tap. Open year-round, and worth hitting whether or not it’s game day. 123-01 Roosevelt Ave. (on the 126th St. side).
Singlecut Beersmiths. Via Yelp.
Ditmars: SingleCut Beersmiths
Have a pint inside the brewery while the bartenders play rock ‘n’ roll on vinyl. The brews are worth repeated spins, too. 19-33 37th St.
Elmhurst: Winners Bar
No word on whether Charlie Sheen is a regular. 8267 Broadway.
Far Rockaway: Low Tide Bar
A great place to get a beer right on the boardwalk. Grab a cold one, sit down, and take in the scene. Beach 96th Street at the Boardwalk.
Flushing: Cali Red Lounge
Karaoke and games in an upstairs Flushing hang for when you want some pong with your beer — or just need to belt out some Britney. 37-08 Main St.
Beer on TV at Forrest Hills Station House. Via Yelp.
Forest Hills: Forest Hills Station House
With 16 draft beers and a live screen showing the details and status of each keg, you can always find something fresh and cold on tap here. A different brewery takes over the taps every Tuesday. 106-11 71st Ave.
Glendale: Cooper Beer Garden
Are there ever enough beer gardens? What a stupid question. 8000 Cooper Ave. (inside The Shops at Atlas Park).
Howard Beach: The Rail Bar and Grill
A charming old bar with totally reasonable prices, conveniently adjacent to JFK. 2 Coleman Square.
Tap handles at Unidentified Flying Chickens. Via Yelp.
Jackson Heights: Unidentified Flying Chickens
Highly regarded Korean-style fried chicken: Is there a better companion to a broad selection of craft beer? 71-22 Roosevelt Ave.
Jamaica: Maloney’s
If there’s no Irish bar, is it a real New York City neighborhood? Jamaica has this wonderfully no-frills example of the city staple. 87-67 Sutphin Blvd.
Long Island City: Bierocracy
This neighborhood is growing fast, and so is its beer scene. With 18 taps and an indoor beer hall atmosphere, Bierocracy deserves a vote. 12-23 Jackson Ave.
Murray Hill: Dwit Gol Mok – Back Alley
Locals approve of the Korean food, and beer and soju here are 50 percent off from Monday through Friday. 41-14 150th St.
Lenihan’s Saloon in Queens. Via Yelp.
Richmond Hill: Lenihan’s
Word is that wings here are 20 cents on Tuesdays and Bud Light bottles are $2.75. But we’d stop in purely for the old-timey saloon vibe. 11909 Atlantic Ave.
Ridgewood: The Bad Old Days
The hipster irony here is thick, as you can tell from the name. But whether you’re drinking beer or “drinking beer” (meta, man), this is a good place to do it. 1684 Woodbine St.
Sunnyside: Maggie Mae’s
An aficionado’s local: 18 beer taps and a wall of fancy whiskies for when suds won’t do the trick. Free popcorn, too. 41-15 Queens Blvd.
Queens Village: Winchester’s
An old-school neighborhood bar that serves plenty of fried food. Hey, you know what goes well with beer? 233-12 Hillside Ave.
Whitestone: End Zone
A backyard, plus local bands and karaoke? We can get to that. 14944 14th Ave.
Woodside: Charlie’s Sports Bar
Pouring a proper Guinness is serious business. When a pub can do it exactly right, time after time, that’s not to be taken lightly. 44-08 60th St.
Good Places to Get a Beer in the Bronx
Belmont: The Bronx Beer Hall
Killer local taps inside the Arthur Avenue Retail Market mean you can get a sandwich from Mike’s Deli while you sip a pint of New York’s finest.
Concourse: The Dugout
So big, so cheap, and so right near a quick side entrance to Yankee stadium. With $4 PBRs and huge TVs, though, you might think twice before leaving. 880 River Ave.
City Island: Johnny’s Reef Restaurant
It’s perhaps the quintessential City Island experience: Eating fresh seafood out by the water at Johnny’s Reef while sipping on a well-priced domestic beer. 2 City Island Ave.
Eastchester: Bowlerland
Sometimes you need a physical activity go along with your beer-drinking. That’s why they invented bowling. 2417 Hollers Ave.
Inside the Punch Bowl in Kingsbridge. Via Yelp.
Kingsbridge: The Punch Bowl
A real dive bar in real New York for real locals. Don’t bring any pretensions. 5820 Broadway.
Great beer inside, industrial vibe outside at Gun Hill Brewing Co. Via Yelp.
Laconia/Pelham Gardens: Gun Hill Brewing Company
Industrial neighborhood, industrial vibe, excellent NYC craft beer. Worth a journey if you’re not local. 3227 Laconia Ave.
The evening crowd at Porto Salvo in Morrisania.
Morrisania: Porto Salvo
Though technically an Italian restaurant, this new arrival has plenty of quality suds on tap. 424 East 161st St.
Mott Haven: Mott Haven Bar and Grill
A solid spot for happy hour or a beery brunch just across the Harlem River from Manhattan. 1 Bruckner Blvd.
Inside the Bronx Brewery in Port Morris. Via Yelp
Port Morris: The Bronx Brewery
You’ve had Bronx beers all over the city. Why not try the cozy taproom at their source? 856 E. 136th St.
Riverdale: Blackstone Bar & Grill
A nice take on the basic local pub, with food, TVs, and plenty of taps. 3713 Riverdale Ave.
Throgs Neck: Brewski’s Bar and Grill
“Not your average sports bar,” Brewski’s insists, and with seemingly a zillion TVs, plus live bands in the backyard, we have to agree. 3718 E. Tremont Ave.
Westchester Square: McDermott’s Pub
Tasty wings, a kitchen that’s open until 2 a.m., and cheap beers make for a local favorite. 2634 E. Tremont Ave.
Woodlawn Heights: The Hideout Tavern
An Irish pub by (and often for) actually Irish people. How’s about that? 143 E. 233rd St.
Good Places to Get a Beer in Staten Island
Annadale: Curly Wolf Saloon
This place really leans into the saloon theme, with a cactus and an old wagon wheel out front. That’s completely cool with us. 825 Anndale Road.
Arlington: Staten Island Beer Company
You can find their beers all over Staten Island, but why not come drink at the source? Eleven brews on tap, occasional food trucks, and an outdoor area. Sounds like a fun afternoon. 20 Kinsey Place.
Arrochar: Terminal 1
Tons of Polish beers, both on draft and in bottles — plus excellent pierogi — set apart this local hang. 323 Sand Lane.
Castleton Corners: Castleton Corners Pub
A favorite local purveyor of cold suds and televised sporting contests. Every neighborhood’s gotta have one. 1815 Victory Blvd.
The new Trackside Bar and Grill in Staten Island.
New Dorp: Trackside Bar and Grill
A new spot in New Dorp with outdoor dining. The “track” referenced here is a railroad, though, so don’t come hoping to watch the horses. 61 New Dorp Plaza.
Craft House in Staten Island brews their own. Via Yelp.
Tompkinsville: Craft House
There are 14 taps at this Staten Island fave, four of which pour the house’s own Kills Boro beers. The other 10 are excellent, and so, reportedly, is the food. Beer garden, too. 60 Vanduzer St.
West New Brighton: Nurnberger Bierhaus
Delicious German food, a killer burger, and German beer in a traditional hall. Germans, in case you didn’t know, are really, really good at beer. 817 Castleton Ave.
[This post has been revised and republished.]
—
Send your NYC real estate stories and tips to StreetEasy editors at tips@streeteasy.com. You will remain anonymous. And hey, why not like StreetEasy on Facebook and follow @streeteasy on Instagram?
