If I'm feeling rowdy, I put on a pair of big-girl boots and come to Boat. If I'm not feeling rowdy, and I come to Boat, Boat makes me rowdy. If I want to get in some girl's face but don't know it yet, it must be time for Boat. Note to self: Locate and return liberated bar glass to Boat. (Whaaat??? C'mon I wasn't done with my drink but I wanted to go home!) read more

Not only does this place have a quality jukebox (this really matters to me), someone had mysteriously loaded 20 credits onto it before I came around with my $2. I was kind and didn't use them all up, but it was still a nice surprise. Also there are $5 well drinks all night, plenty of comfy couches for you and all your friends, and nice bartenders who keep the place ship-shape. They do hustle you out when it's closing time but at 4am who can blame them? All in all a winner. I don't live near here but I'll be back! read more

This place was the first (and longest) part of a little bar crawl with friends on a Saturday night. I really liked it. The jukebox was great. The crowd was cool but easygoing. The staff was friendly and accommodating. I didn't know this was a scotch bar until I read the reviews on here. If I return I'll check that out (wonder if they have some bourbons too?). It also had more interesting bathroom graffiti than I've seen in a while... read more

Chill spot with good happy hour till 8 every night. Great div bar. Good place to bring a few friends or come in by yourself and have a few. It's a little dark, which is fine by me, good mood. I say try it. The only thing I'd say is sample beer since sometimes their tap on a certain line of beer can run flat and a little "aged." I was there last night, Tuesday August 5th and ordered a six point sweet action and I could barely drink it. Don't worry I did in fact drink it because I hate wastin beer but it was nasty. The line was dirty and they really need to clean them more often. But the bar kicks add, most of the beer is good, just sample It before you commit- though it's a div bar so they may not want or know how to respond to anyone who wants to "sample" a beer. Fuck it, do it anyway. read more

Great bar with great staff. Will come back over and over for the good company. Also Mikey gave me chicken and it was great.

$3 Miller High Life. Good juke box, cool unheard of music in that thing. The bar has character. My bartender was great. "It's hard to explain why it's good, it just is," said a friend, who's a regular. Good place to go loner- you and your thoughts, maybe meet someone interesting. read more

This place has a fantastic juke box, good, strong drinks and a generally hip, but not annoyingly so, crowd. The bartenders are easy to get a hold of, and the drinks are reasonably priced. Also, it just doesn't seem to attract that pushy, over-enthusiastic crowd like many bars in Manhattan (or even Park Slope). These are people who come to have a good time, but not to broadcast the fact to everyone else in the room by being overly loud or attracting attention to themselves in unseemly ways (except for once, when a group of people descended on my group, and took over the table we were using with Candyland. Really? Candyland?) Short story: Always a sure bet for a low-key, but fun, night out. read more

Less of a dive bar and more of a comfortable place to drink in a stuck up neighborhood. I used to come by after work for a beer and whisky shot after work. Both the staff and patrons are laid back and unpretentious, and the drinks are cheap. The seating is comfortable and they have a great jukebox. Hopefully they don't turn it into luxury condos. read more

Certainly an easy pick to be a legitimate bar of the Cobble Hill area. No frills, no logo, no bullshit, just a slab of foot that stretches for about 30 feet that has delicious beer on tap. Simple and easy, just like this review. Room for groups, great jukebox, and a 3$ for all drafts during happy hour from 5-8 everyday. Right on Smith st next to the Bergen stop I have a hard time not stopping in on my way out and on my way back in on a night of consumption. read more

Atmosphere was cool if you're into the hipster vibe, but the bartender at the time was pretty rude. She asked me for a tip before I had closed out, which is okay I guess, but she also called me a "boy" as if I was a child. read more

Very cool place, AND an awesome happy hour special- 5-8 every day! The drinks are good, lots of beer on tap and bottles so you will have lots of options. A cool and edgy vibe. And who doesn't love a jukebox?? read more

Punky dive bar. Have no fear though it is still clean or, looked clean anyway. Pool table in the back that takes dollars. Pinball up front. Bar all in between. Great music was playing however I didn't see a jukebox. Will be back to get more details as I didn't see a menu or specials or anything this time around. read more

After work, my coworker and I stopped by Boat Bar, a place we frequent after a long day's work at one of the nearby retail stores in the area. We had one of the most shocking and appalling experiences there--so terrible that we'll be looking for a new place to drink. We ordered our drinks from one of the regular bartenders--I don't remember her name, but she has curly (more like, crunchy), brunette hair and is about 5'9". Two brooklyn lagers, which was 10 bucks PLUS the tip we gave her. After we ordered, instead of serving us, she spent the next 10 minutes flirting with some guy at the bar, then served three other people who ordered after us. Finally, she comes back, and asked if we paid yet. My friend replied, "yeah, we paid, we ordered 2 brooklyn lagers." Instead of SERVING us our order, she takes 10 bucks out of the cash register, slams it on the table, and says, "there's your money," coldly. Shocked, my friend replied, "okay... AND we gave you a tip," and the bartender responded, very sarcastically while glaring at us like were were the spawns of satan, went to the tip jar and grabbed her a few dollars, put it down in front of us and walked away. We didn't do anything rude, we were polite, like always. We love this bar. We weren't belligerent or drunk--we just came in right after work. There was absolutely NO reason for this girl to act like this. It was mean, confusing, and embarrassing. There is no way we are going back here. This "service" was uncalled for. Who takes your money and tip, wastes time, then instead of bringing you drinks when you politely ask for them after waiting REFUSES to serve you and talks down to you like you're the scum of the earth? I know this area can be snotty, but this is the first time that other working people in the area have been so disrespectful. Her behavior was worse than what I've dealt with when over-privileged, snot-nosed housewives get upset when I won't give them something for free when they complain about the air being the wrong temperature in our store. Worst service EVER. read more

3/5/2018. A little after midnight. I walked into Boat Bar as I often do when I'm passing through the neighborhood at this time of night. I did notice, when walking into the bar, that there were several people hanging out outside, but no big deal. I walked into the bar, expecting to place my order of an IPA as I usually do. Only there was no bartender behind the bar. I assumed that whoever was working was in the bathroom, so I waited. And waited. And waited. But there was no one behind the bar to take my order. After about seven minutes of waiting, someone opened the door of the bar and shouted something I didn't quite understand. I started to get the sinking feeling that the person who was supposed to be bartending was actually hanging out outside with a bunch of guys having a "cigarette break." I waited a minute or two more, and then was told by a guy sitting at the bar that the bartender was outside smoking. Needless to say, I left. What can I say. I really enjoyed this bar. I've been stopping in for years. But after this, I won't be coming back. I'll find a new joint to hang out in. Because it's just not okay to leave the bar unattended for that long of a period of time while you "smoke" and chat with men outside while customers wait for you to decide if it's important enough to actually take their order. In my twenty years of living in Brooklyn, I've never encountered a bar where I've had to wait this long and have no one take my order. I know I'm only one voice in a sea of many, but I'm really frustrated that this bar has turned out to be such a disappointment when it comes to service. read more

As a 'seedy Townie', let me assure you that Boat is a place to drink. It has a bar, with a person behind it serving drinks that have alcohol in them for a reasonable charge. It has places to sit (and stand, if that's your thing), and places with running water in which you may relieve yourself. There is music, but I can't remember what it is, and pinball machines. It can get douched up with undesirables on amateur nights (this means you, slumming faux-Billyburg skinnypants; I know you and your co-workers from Supercuts drove in from Ronkonkoma), but generally it's safe for seedy townies and card-carrying members of the South Brooklyn Alcholics in Training Group. There's a nice bench outside where you can smoke, and where stewed dimwits can have have their purses snatched by townies even seedier than I who have been standing there pretending to use the pay phone. God bless Boat. read more

Nice vibe with decent prices. The staff was attentive and the music was good. Quick service and went home with a little bit of a buzz and money to spare. Definitely worth stopping in for more of a relaxed night out. read more

Take my friend to Brooklyn for a drink and we have a beer and are horrified to find the most racist, confrontational, aggressive and unprofessional bartender I've ever encountered...and that includes my time living in the South. She not only ruined the whole evening but embarrassed my friend and made a big scene that caused everyone around us to get quiet in awkward confusion...awful experience, sad such an ignorant person is in my borough...and amazed she hasn't got her ass kicked yet. Will never go here again or take anyone here...It's a shame because the old school hip hop was on point. read more

I met the love of my life almost one year ago at Boat on January 20th, 2013, with a little help from the bartender and some chatty friends. For that alone, it gets 5 stars from me. read more

Boat kinda rules because it kinda blows. It has an eerie, Twin Peaksy gas station casino slash Circus Circus' "Kids Area" (crappy arcade) feel... which I like! One bartender, Steve, who I believe only works on Saturdays, wears tight indie band tshirts (natch) and is from Canada (natch) and is probably the nicest bartender in New York (truth). At about 230am is when the seedy townies start wandering in, trolling for anyone booted enough to agree to another round (mission usually accomplished). There are games like scrabble and checkers, I think. And a pinball machine. But generally, most people are just there to hang out - in a kickback/grungy/"reality bites'y fashion, ending the night cheap & lowbrow. which would make sense if they weren't in carroll gardens. and drinks weren't six bucks each. (six bucks is not cheap, guys...you've been living in new york for too long) read more

Probably my favorite bar in Brooklyn. I've been coming here for years. Bartenders are always friendly. Beer selection is always solid.

Boat bar has a decent dive atmosphere, however I've rarely seen such terrible bartenders and I am not the person to complain about service, especially on yelp. But, I've been working in service for over a decade, and moreover I work at a cocktail bar in the neighborhood. I've now twice gotten off work and been greeted by Abby, working Mondays. The first time I came in she was flippant about serving me a beer at 3:45. I understand that the bar closes at 4, I had just gotten off work myself, however I had stopped in for a single drink, while waiting for the g, after an 11 hour shift. She reluctantly served me a beer, and promptly at 4:05 reminded me that they close at 4. I quickly finished half my beer, tipped generously and left. Made my train at 4:09, but felt unnecessarily rushed. The same night as I arrived two customers left, but not before knocking over some chairs and yelling. I wrote this off as the normal drunk jerk behavior. In fact, Abby later informed me that she had engaged them, and go figure, they reacted. This is all indicative of bad bartending. An inability to read customers, an inability to treat customers with a modicum of respect, and an inability to drink and handle their job. Anyways, tonight I arrived after finishing my shift and was greeted by Abby. She pours me a beer and begins to inquire as to whether I was there the night they were egged by some disgruntled customers. I informed her that I was not aware they had been egged. She began to retell me the story I mentioned, and I informed her I was there that night. She quickly paws back the beer she has just placed in front of me and informs me of how rude I had been. I lobbed back the same response, blah blah blah, I left feeling annoyed enough to write a review... on yelp. The reviews of the bar say enough, here is just another drop in the pond. The bar is fine, great location, but the tuddy-twenty-something bartenders are doing it no favors, and I bet, turning away more business than they are attracting. read more

I'm a recent huge fan of this bar. I came after work and after running errands so we got there at about 7pm and it was still happy hour for another hour. That's amazing and that's how happy hours should be in Brooklyn - let us get to Brooklyn from work before the happy hour ends! $3 all drafts, bottles & well drinks! That's awesome! The atmosphere is very kitschy, which I love, and they have my favorite pin ball machine - Pirates of the Carribean - 50 cents a game. A collection of random tables, chairs & couches in the back and a big long bar when you first enter. I will def. be back for happy hour! read more

With due apologies to Brooklyn Social (where I did, after all, meet my bf) Boat is my favorite bar in Carroll Gardens. It's just a solid non-scene with a great indie jukebox, no-nonsense bartenders, patrons who are(mostly) cool, and plenty of comfy thrift chairs for PBR and Makers-sipping with friends. Never too loud to talk, but fun and high-energy, Boat is a good, divey neighborhood bar, with no hint of preciousness or pretension. read more

Boat Bar was the first bar I was ever dumped at. Bad memories aside, I still fucking love the place.

The manager of this place makes it feel like a family room that happens to have pin ball machines and amazing g people from all over Manhattan who come there to relax and unwind. read more

as smith street can often turn into the worst stomping grounds for idiot wasters looking to slip some horse tranquilizers into their date's cosmopolitan, it is even more refreshing and amazing that boat remains completely and utterly rad. the jukebox is the stuff of legends, there are videogames, there are couches in the rear, tables in the front (so you are more often than not likely to get a seat), plus a working fireplace. ah, and the libations are cheap and will come to you quickly thanks to the awesome staff. dark, loud and full of cool people. read more

As far as bars go, this one is pretty good. A bunch of games at the bar for you to enjoy on their oh-so-comfortable couches. I loves me some drunk Trivial Pursuit! I don't think I've ever gone here on a busy night, so I won't claim to know what kind of spot this is on the weekend, but it's a nice chill hangout during the week. On occasion I used to get the feeling that the bar felt too hip for me. Like, I walk in and then the walls are speaking to me and telling me that I'm not cool enough to go there. Maybe it was the light. Then I realized, hey, it's just a bar around the corner from your house. It's a local bar, it's not pretentious. And I was right. The place is anything but. I love my local bars. I love it even more when they're good local bars. read more

The bartender (Keisha is the name I believe) makes a killer Bloody Mary and an equally good Manhattan. Eccentric atmosphere - a dive bar with an unexplainable bang read more

I had been in NYC for an hour, the first hour I had ever been there, all on the subway, COMPLETELY lost. Out of frustration I just jumped off the train and walked. The first open business I found was this bar. I could have searched the city for weeks and not found a place I liked more! The drinks were cheap, it was comfortable and dark. The other patrons were friendly and polite and the bartender was awesome! I can safely say any future trips to the city will include a stop here. Thank you for being my port in a storm Boat Bar! read more

Boat looks like a set from a movie that took place in a bar in South Brooklyn. I think it is perfect. It is without attitude, has a killer jukebox, employs nice bartenders, and is slightly dive-y without irony. Happy hour during the week is perfectly comfortable. It's a no bullshit good time. Probably the best bar on Smith. read more

If you ever need an escape from Bro Island, this is the place. No BS, no airs...just pinball & good peeps. Why is this so hard to find?

dive bar. beer is reasonably priced. pinball and pool. but the vibe is a little off and mostly dudes in their 20s / 30s. eh i honestly don't get the hype. read more

A dark bar with strong drinks and hot bartenders...my kind of place! Seriously had a good time here this past weekend. The dive bar is really chill and i was able to have a conversation with a group of people at a table which is rare. I'll definitely be back read more

First time I came here was right when I moved her years ago. I stopped in to have a "Yay, we just moved to NYC" congratulatory cocktail, checked out the jukebox, and realized that this was going to be my favorite bar EVAH. Indie lovers dream juke, some nights I feel like I'm djing in my apartment. The rest is history, I ended up getting sucked into the vortex that many know as Boat. read more

As far as dive bars go Boat is pretty much as good as it gets. They have good drinks, its nice and dark and to top it all off there is a Pacman game in the front. Seriously though, this is a cool place to hang out, there always seems to be an open seat even when it's packed, tunes are good and so are the people. It's a cool place to hang out. Bring your friends and bring your quarters. read more

I pretty much agree with all three reviews below. The jukebox is awesome, which is its main draw, and the crowd is solid - nothing that would make you uncomfortable. Like Brett says, go with your friends and the bar is a lot of fun. read more

Being an old Roxy fan has made it difficult to make the switch to Boat, though many have. The Roxy had a pool table. This made it my joint by default even when all the couches had holes so large you would just fall through and the plumbing/sewage problem was out of hand. Finally people could smell death on that bar and the owners re-fortified Boat for the long haul. And it's still here. And many of my convert friends love that they can apparently use it like a meat market on certain days/hours of the week. Others love that the crowd seems pretty dead and you can grab some really stale/warm (??) dive bar pulls from the tap and enjoy it's dark/bleak atmosphere. It's the kind of place you might catch a disease but who cares with such a great jukebox... read more

The neighborhood staple. Great jukebox, tabletop Ms. Pacman, board games, fireplace, reasonably priced drinks--not a lot ot get wrong here. I avoid it on the weekends, as it gets a little too packed, but otherwise is the go-to spot when you're wandering around Smith in search of that last drink before calling it a night. And how could I not love a bar that would let me hang a pinata from their heating duct on my birthday? read more

This is about the best rival to Montero and Sunny's I've seen in this neighborhood. Like I would know...I'm just some schmuck from LA who had an ex in Carroll Gardens. But I've done my share of bar hopping around Cobble Hill and Red Hook, and this could rank with some of the best dive bars in San Pedro (our version of Red Hook...or is it our version of Bayonne?) Good service, good pours, and just enough ugly to keep out the really pretty people who decided to move to Brooklyn. read more

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