I used to go to Boat at least once a week, as my friend lived right over the corner on Wyckoff. It was always great even when it was weird... and we joked that it was such a generic dive bar in an awesome way (you could imagine this bar in any city/town in america) that we just called it BAR. Loved it. Last night I stopped in after being overseas for a little over 3.5 years to find what appeared to be the same place. However instead I was served by a completely blackout drunk bartender named SUNDAY. She was rude from the moment my friend and I sat down to have a knock off drink at the end of the night. We were nothing but ideal patrons from the moment we sat (she seemed to be having a rough night or annoyed people were stopping in toward the end of the night (??) so on the two rounds we ordered we each left her a $5 tip for our two drinks. As she called last call she offered shots to the people next to us and said to them "hold on, i just want to make sure these pretentious assholes over here heard me when i said it's last call" I asked her if there was something we did to offend her and then she went on a tirade about how "yeah of course we did. just by being there and we were rude to her all night and she just found out her 'favorite bum' had just died (fyi: when you refer to a person as 'your favorite bum' after theyve just died-- YOURE the pretentious asshole) so she just wanted us to get the fuck out" I became offended at this point and told her I understand but thats no way to treat patrons who have been nothing but nice. She then miscalculated what we spent about 4 times while trying to *literally* throw money back at me after pouring out my drink to make me leave. As I walked outside, she followed us out the door to tell me I wasnt welcome there and that I could absolutely go ahead and try to contact her boss because it was her last night and she didnt give a fuck anyway. Then she said "I gave you your money, get the fuck off this sidewalk you fucking faggot, youre not wanted here" I told her that was really messed up and not cool and she said "yeah, i called you a fucking faggot, youre a fucking faggot. my mom's gay so i can say that- and my mom would be fucking proud of me for calling you a faggot and making you get out of here." So... This is totally unacceptable on any level. No matter whether I had been aggressive or not (all I wanted to know was what we had done to piss her off- which ended in her yelling in the street about how im a fuggot and shes proud to kick me out. When the fuck did Boat start employing juvenile angry little pieces of trash like this girl? Im glad shes (apparently) gone, but she also disappointed as said she is only getting transferred to one of their other bars. So.... guess that's the last time I'll visit boat or any of their establishments. Disgusting. read more

Boat has an indoor fireplace with comfy couches pulled around it and $4 drafts. What else do you really need to know?

I recently visited boat bar for happy hour, what a find among all the fancier bars in the area. Any mixed drink or beer for, four dollars. Now I've been to bars that were more divey looking than this and they had more expensive drinks, so that is a plus for them. The reason I'm giving them three stars is that I did not love the atmosphere, I mean the people there were alright and the bartender was alright. What bothered me is someone came into the bar to solicit money and no matter what the bartender did they didn't want to leave, it was very uncomfortable. I felt bad for the bartender honestly, they were trying to do their job and on top of that had to deal with someone bothering customers. Where were the other people working there? read more

Often good for the occasional game of c-4 however it has since been taken from the bar. This bar is quaint, and can only be fun if you bring the fun. It is the epitome of dive, but without that divey class. I have never met people that I didn't come with at this bar and rarely run into someone that wants to meet people. Go here with friends, close your eyes and try hard...it just might be fun. read more

Boat is something of an official marker on Smith Street where things pass from the trendy to the seedy, or vice versa, depending on which direction you're walking. Used to be a better spot when they also owned the Roxie across the street and you could balance the vibe by leaving one place and going to the other. A bit too hipster, loud and Wilcoesque. Saw a fifty something dude take a header straight into a wooden table without passing Go or collecting $100. Also had a bad experience with a vertically challenged bartender who thought I was watching him too closely as he mixed drinks and called the other female bartender over to point at and mock me. This isn't why I go out for a beer .. I can muster that kind of abuse at home. read more

This is a pretty typical bar along the Smith Street strip. They have decent drink prices and a decent jukebox. But this bar is missing something I can't quite put my finger on. Something about it doesn't draw me in like nearby Zombie Hut or Camp. The crowd is pretty much the same, and it's not like the bar is scuzzy or anything like that. Maybe I just need to give it another shot. read more

Always plays good Motown, oldies, throwbacks. Sexy red lighting. Never had to wait long for a drink and the prices are more than reasonable. Crowd is very rarely rowdy. Definitely my go to bar in the neighborhood. read more

Everything you expect from dive bar. Dingy bar with variety of people, good night crowd but still a good place to grab a day drink. Has much more character than other bars in the area. read more

This bar excels reliably without seeming to try too hard. The music is excellent, the crowd's good, and I like bars that recede into near-invisibility during daytime. There's also a really gnarly payphone in front that rivals the payphone outside of the All Asia Cafe (Cambridge MA) for the title of "nastiest payphone not yet dismantled." I came here once in August to get out of a monsoon-level rainstorm and almost said to the bartender "good thing we're in the BOAT Bar!" but I wussed out. read more

Great dive bar! Buck Hunter was in use so my friends and I tried out the electronic shuffleboard/bowling contraption and man was it fun! We really got our money's worth with shuffleboard game where you play til someone gets X (15?) points - one game took over an hour! Cheap beer, good tunes, lots of couches, dark lighting, sloppy-friendly, and games... what more can you ask for? Well, if only it were walking/stumbling distance to my apt, I could see myself coming here often. read more

This bar was pretty relaxed. I enjoyed myself here last night while sipping three-dollar High Life's and listening to their pretty sweet jukebox. The problem here was the crowd sort of had a dork-dude element going on. The table next to us featured two morons lighting napkins on fire with the candles on their table. But the bartender was really nice. Again using my knack for being polite to bartenders, I was offered a couple of free drinks which was cool. I'd go back, but I'll have to bring a magnifying glass if I want to use the juke. It's compiled of nothing but mix CD's and they all have handwritten track lists that I could barely read in the dark. But other than that, great place. read more

Was locked out of the apartment and went here for a few drinks while I waited for the GF to return home. Wasn't able to get into the apartment, but at least I had a good buzz going. read more

Most of what I remember from coming here last night was playing Buck Hunter, which always makes me happy. But here's the reason for my 5 stars - this morning I woke up and couldn't find my phone... realized I must've left it at the last bar I was at last night, Boat Bar. My phone had died last night so I was afraid IF somebody found it, they wouldn't be able to see whose phone it was or contact anybody. Today I swung by around noon and saw that they weren't open until 5. BUT, around 4:30, my friend gets a text from my phone saying Boat Bar has my phone AND Boat Bar posts on my own Facebook wall saying they have my phone. As if this isn't wonderful enough of them, somebody had clearly taken my phone home last night and charged it so they could contact me. AMAZING. read more

Boat is one of the best bars in NYC. The jukebox is filled with good stuff and the bartenders are cool. I'm not sure why the category here is "piano bars", though. read more

Me and my friend tried to explore Carroll Gardens without much luck, we didn't end up hitting 5 bars like we said we would, but we did find a couple we liked. This was one of them. I wish the crowd was a little more lively, but the jukebox had quite the variety, a few choice songs, and the miller high life was cheap. Not so many women, but we were enjoying ourselves because hey if nobody is going to have any fun, I'll dance with myself. and I did. and it looked dumb. read more

This reminds me why I love Brooklyn, great dive bars like this. $3 Millers and $4 for their house "Boat Brew." There's plenty of seating in the back. It's not too grungy, but simple. My kind of dive. read more

I like to write at bars. I'm an Extravert and get inspired by people and the sound of good music and conversation. I'm also on a tight budget. So, very happy to find happy hour at Boat Bar with $3 beers, classic songs, and a very cool bartender who hooked me up with wifi with a smile. I'll be back. read more

Boat was one of my favorite bars in NY. When I went there...Bill was the bartender. He made a float with Guiness and ice cream. It was surprisingly good. It's a neighborhood place that when you hit it right after work is pretty empty, but it fills up in the evening as Smith Street gets hot. The jukebox is good...with handwritten song lists. A good place all in all. read more

Kickass bartenders, locals, and jukebox. My favorite watering hole in BoCoCa.

Loved it here! It was inexpensive and had a great crowd going (it wasn't super crowded, despite being a Saturday). Definitely plan on going here again. read more

Somehow walked past this dive a million times not knowing it was there. That won't happen again.

Good prices, and very chill, but a little too run down even for my (low) tastes.

Amazing happy hour and super friendly staff. The most unpretentious bar with nothing but the basics. Loved it.

They have Glenlivet ! The abundance of of fun things to watch is only outdone by my drinking buddy. With all the (not good)changes going on in this neighborhood it a great that this place exists ! read more

Cheap drinks. Not much else to it. Don't know the crowd, I was in from out of town. Seemed fine. Wish they had nicer speakers, or would at least back off the music a bit. read more

There are so many good bars in the area that if you do anything other than stumble into this bar you're making a mistake. However (and as the rating will show) its worth getting hammered and going here. read more

Hands down the best dive bar in the area. Comfortably dim lighting, plenty of seating, solid happy hour and an amazing jukebox, which is usually already PACKED with credits so you can play music for free! What? Yes! This isn't one of those internet jukeboxes either, the jukebox is filled with a great eclectic series of mixes (most likely from the bartenders and friends of the bar) featuring old school hardcore, classic alternative, indie rock, ska, you name it. The bartenders are a mix of brassy and friendly, which is appropriate. I definitely raised an eyebrow about the review saying they were essentially refused service. I'd be curious to hear the bartender's version of events! read more

Pretty cool vibe here. Just a regular solid dive bar to go to. The 3 stars are for the relaxing and laid back feel here. I took one star off for poor service. My boyfriend and I waited for a good 5 minutes to order drinks while the female bartender chit-chatted with another customer, clearly too interested in her own conversation to pay attention to us staring her down waiting to order drinks. Keep in mind, it's a rainy Saturday night and not too many people at the bar. Another star was removed for the bartender rudeness. Some friends showed up to join me and my boyfriend; one friend ordered a Budweiser, tasted it, and immediately realized it was skunk. When he looked at the label, he noticed it said it was from 2013--over 2 years old. He brought it to the bartender's attention and he was given one from this year.when my boyfriend later went to get a Budweiser, the bartender made a joke about whether he wanted a two year old beer like the one he gave our friend, to which he obviously said no. Well later when one friend went to get another Budweiser, the same joke was made but he was still given a 2 year old beer. When he went to go ask for a new one, the female bartender came back with an attitude declaring that maybe he should be ordering something else--knowing that someone from our group had previously asked for a non-2-year-old beer. Additionally, who I am assuming is a bus boy is super great with clearing off tables when glasses are empty--not in a hovering manner--which is great! read more

Really great local bar. It can be a bit hipster and young on weekend nights, but otherwise great chill place to actually hang and actually talk with people. They'll charge yer phone for you, they have a great happy hour; good IPAs. And often play oldies! read more

Great lady bartender, made my drink upon my request! 'Twas a custom cocktail which I told her what taste I was going for and she whipped up something nice for me! Thanks! Nice, not crazy loud that you can't hear yourself speak. Cool spot...coming back for sure. read more

oH man! I really love this bar. it's my favorite in the neighorhood, by far. A little bit divey but still comfy cozy. lots of couches in the back, and a fire place to boot during the winter. this place has a ton of character. very good jukebox, with eclectic mixtapes (made by the staff, i believe). "never thought I'd be on a boat / it's a big blue water road / Poseidon, look at me!" -T. Pain read more

Dark space, sexy bartenders, strong drinks, not full of yuppies or hipsters. This and GYC are possibly the only places worth drinking on all of Smith Street. Fair warning though: watch your shit. People have things stolen from here ALL the time. read more

I've visited this bar a few times and its always been a good time. Good price on the beers and the patrons are always pretty friendly

Delightfully crappy with a price that can't be beat.

great dive bar. has seating in both the back and the front for people that travel in packs (not the menacing kind, everyone was pretty friendly). has the usual lineup of draught and cocktail offerings so i cant really comment on the quality of the product; the service was pretty excellent though and the bartenders were more than sociable. will definitely go back. read more

My tab was filled with drinks I did not order, the barmaid reacted very aggressively to my comment and turned my $0 tip into a $10. Don't open a tab ! First and only time read more

Went last Saturday. People were nice, music was really great, lots of seating - overall a really great space and vibe. I'm only giving two stars because one of the staff called me a bitch and gave me a hard time because I wasn't into it when she came up to my group and took my hat. She looked really drunk and I just think it was sort of unprofessional. read more

Despite the name, there really isn't a lot of nautically themed stuff in this bar except a couple pirate flags, a model boat and a framed picture of some type of seafaring vessel. I guess I'll have to go to Red Lobster if I want buoys and netting for ambience. But Red Lobster doesn't have $3 Miller High Life, a pinball machine or comfy couches...or does it? I haven't been in ages, so I don't know, but I do remember that when I was a kid my grandparents always took me and I would eat the fuck out of some popcorn shrimp. Dammit, now I kinda wanna make this about Red Lobster, but I know I shouldn't. One time my girl and I went to Boat and the female bartender only charged me $4 for a well drink but charged K. $5. She was really annoyed and I explained to her that this shit happens to guys all the time, but that she doesn't notice it because she's usually on the receiving end of the preferential treatment. I wonder which one of us will get extra popcorn shrimp at Red Lobster. read more

I have never been treated like I was the scum of the earth while ordering a simple Brooklyn lager. Tonight I was afforded that pleasure. I work one block down from this place and come here or camp to wind down with my co workers. I asked the bartender if there were still any beer/whiskey combos and she told me no, a shot however was 8 bucks. My pathetic retail earnings only afforded me a measly 5 dollar beer and my co worker as well. We handed over our I.ds and money, went ahead and tipped. She walked away served several customers that were shouting out orders and went to chat with a guy. She then walks over asks if we had paid yet and I responded with a yes, two Brooklyn layers. She turned around slapped a 10 dollar bill down and says well there's. Your money. She walked away and I said excuse me miss I also tipped you and I would like it back. She exclaimed oh you did? Hands shaking she slammed down the bills and turns away. Never will I or any of my 20 co workers darken the doors of this establishment. Camp is right next door. Enough with the yuppie hipsters. read more

Been coming here for years but had a really disturbing experience last night that makes me not want to go back - and I'd also encourage you to stay away. My friend went outside to get a smoke and left his beer on the bar. The bar tender poured out his beer while he was outside (actually, I think she said she "confiscated" it). Instead of doing the right thing and admitting her error, she basically said "you're not welcome here" and asked him to leave. While usually that would not be a big deal, I feel as if her attitude was just wrong and, I suspect, there was some amount of vindictiveness/power trip that is simply unacceptable. She told me that my recourse was to complain on this site, so here I am. There are lots of other places to go on Smith Street. I hope you try another place. Do the neighborhood a favor and put these pretentious folks out of business. read more