If you love a balance of all Afro/black nations! This is the place to be... the vibes were…read moreimmaculate ! The bartender with the locs, 1. She's stunning 2. A VIBEE 3. A bit heavy handed with the drinks (Ifykyk this isn't a complaint).

Amazing run punch and atmosphere. We weren't too far from home but had to take a ride share!read more

Was brought here by a dear friend, a neighborhood regular…read more The cocktail was amazing, selection very diverse- many hard-to-find liquors, etc. Bartender was incredibly knowledgable and attentive. My friend and I each order a cocktail, and are catching up. I'm from Brooklyn, however I no longer live here, and this was precious catch-up time with my friend. Then I get interrupted mid-sentence by the old-timer DJ from his low seat in a corner behind the bar. I had bumped the bar with my wrist (bumped my wrist watch as well, not deliberately) and then placed my hand down (granted- more than placed but definitely not slammed), and he decided to warn me that I COULD HAVE made his record skip. It was the Eagles or Santana (far from eclectic, but that's just me). I'm also 99% certain he turned the volume up afterwards, making it even harder to enjoy the company. After that interaction, I struggled to pick it back up with my friend, because I found that distraction very effing rude. When this "4th wall" gets broken down with service, it is hard to then enjoy the space in an uninhibited state. I am all for the Tokyo Vinyl Bar vibe, and I'm also for also giving talent an outlet to share their collection, but this interaction colored my experience, and I closed out after one drink and went elsewhere. I mentioned this to the bartender, and he was kind to offer a buy-back of a rare whiskey, which I did accept. 5 stars for the bartender, but 1 for my experience. I don't like to be harsh or unnecessarily cruel, but this is what it is. I have visited in the past and enjoyed myself. Nonetheless, I certainly won't be coming back.

It's clear this place takes inspiration from Japanese vinyl listening bars, from their menu of…read morehighballs to their vinyl collection and attention to the audio experience. I've made it a point to visit every vinyl listening bar that I learn of in town, after enjoying the shared experience of someone curating a select vinyl list in intimate spaces in Tokyo. Few have been able to replicate the experience, but Honeycomb Hi Fi Lounge comes close. That the space is narrow with just a few seats along the bar and a few tables mimics the Japanese experience best, where you can almost have it so the whole room is having one conversation together. The music is the focus. The cocktail menu is rather simple, and my Stormbringer drink, with dark rum and ginger beer was not anything to write home about, but $15 is pretty low for cocktails these days so I'll take it. If they introduced new cocktails to the menu with more interesting ingredients I'd be more inclined to return, but the vibes overall are pretty good and the staff really nice.

Friendly, great service, nice ambience. If I lived in the area I'd be here all the time.read more

Commonwealth is located on Brooklyn's 5th Ave, which TimeOut magazine recently named the coolest…read morestreet in NYC (https://shorturl.at/OXC4r). It's a buzzy, quirky neighborhood spot with a loyal and diverse following. The vibe is equal parts warm, welcoming, dark, and spacious. Exposed brick and hardwoods make it a loud space, but the ambient lighting softens the overall feel. There are shelves everywhere lined with action figures, dolls, stuffed animals, vases, books, - an abacus?!? - and board games like Scrabble and Monopoly. There are also pinball machines. An old-school jukebox is located in the back in between the unisex bathrooms. All the selections are handwritten giving you a sense they are SERIOUS about their music! It features everything from Velvet Underground to The Doors, The Ramones, and The B-52s. The bartender's choice includes a steady rotation of rock, punk, and dance-pop. If you're thirsty there are 16 beers on tap, a few beer and shot specials, domestic and imported bottles and cans, wine, and several signature cocktails. Espolon and Jagermeister are popular here. There's a brick patio in the back with picnic benches, Christmas lights, heating elements, and a center seating area with a full-sized umbrella. A wooden picket fence surrounds the space. Service is excellent. The staff is eclectic and friendly. I love listening to their stories and they're a big part of what makes this place so great.

This is a great neighborhood bar. I went here once for happy hour and got a delicious mocktail, the…read morepassion fruit jalapeño soda, and recently went with a friend on a random weeknight, very different vibes depending on the day/time. Last time I remember it being quite loud but the most recent visit was super quiet and chill, exactly what we wanted. I decided to try the empanadas, which take a bit of time to heat up but are delish, both portobello/spinach and chipotle chicken were equally good. The aux playlist was goofy but upbeat and a good time. I think my one qualm was that it wasn't super cozy, was kinda drafty and the many tables pushed together into one long table set-up felt a bit odd to me. But overall it's a solid spot I'll probably find myself back at soon.

Stopped by quickly to check out an oyster pop up that was here…read more Very cute, inviting bar with good music and good vibes. I tried the sweet talk and the windward isle which both were delicious and on the strong side. Happy hour till 8 but doesn't include their speciality drinks. Which I didn't mind because they were good. The bartender was friendly and did a great job managing the crowd. I'll be back for sure!

I hate to give this such a low rating as they have only just opened, but I'm not a person that's a…read moreone-and-done, so I'm open to trying them again once they have their footing. Very limited menu, despite claiming to be a "cocktail bar," leaving a lot to be desired menu-wise. (Again, I'm very empathetic to trying out a small drink menu in the beginning to see what the customer base gravitates towards.) Only 2 cocktails that stood out on the menu aside from classics, and all the same above-average price of $16. I get that the neighbourhood prices are rising, but I still believe if you're going to charge that much, there should be something individual about it. Something that stands out about YOUR bar. I will say, the drinks we did order were very good and well-balanced, though nothing special or new. My rating doesn't so much lie within this menu, but rather the overall ambiance. With large prints of sad children on the walls, I understand what the owners are trying to go for with this bar name, but frankly it reads creepy. Between the dark, seemingly trying, intimate setting (read: it's literally so dark I tripped over a stool walking in because the stool is tiny and black + the overall darkness), mixed with the overbearing prints on the wall and some extremely bizarre pieces of fabric hanging from the sconces unfortunately read as some sort of weird shrine-like dungeon. I thought I was overthinking it, but my wife (who works with kids) said she had a really off-putting energy from the moment we walked in and felt really uncomfortable. I think changing the mistake of the design choices inside could help this place a lot. Again, I understand the idea behind the bar name, but unfortunately it's a huge miss. Combined with the typical "new bar" cheap plush couches, metal coffee-style tables, and medical /surgical-looking bar stools, it all just seems like a bit of a rush-job and falls flat and slightly disturbing across the board. I truly hope I am able to adjust my review in near-future visits and that the owners hear customer concerns (esp re: children on the wall in a bar setting) to make some changes of their own to become a staple in the neighbourhood. I am rooting for this bar, and happy to change my review / star rating if the interior design choices are seriously reconsidered amongst management / owners. (Note: this review is partially my own, and partially my wife's opinions.)

Only Child has entered the chat as BedStuy's newest cocktail lounge. Opening just this past Friday…read more(6/26/26), my friend and I had the privilege of being their first customers. If first impressions are lasting impressions, then consider me a fan forever. We walked in at 5pm. The lighting inside was a stark contrast to the bright evening sun on the street corner. Stevie Wonder's "As" played through the speakers as we walked through the beaded entry way. Instantly, we knew this place was something special. The low lighting and dark furnishings signal that Only Child is a place to relax. There's bar seating and several low couches with tables that invite friends and conversation. On the walls, large portraits of BedStuy's youngest residents - fitting for the name of the bar. On the back wall, a childhood portrait of the owner hangs, "the onliest of only children." The wall sconces are dramatically draped with white cloths to turn the temperature of the lights down. Once you've chosen your seats, the menu is yours to peruse. There are 6 cocktails, several natural wines, beer, and N/A options. There's also a menu of snacky foods at the back. Be sure to arrive before 10 if you're planning to have any bites. On opening night, my friend and I made it more than halfway through the cocktail menu. I think my favorite cocktail is the Bramble, with cachaça, lemon, and a blackberry liqueur called mure. The three ingredient cocktail is deceivingly complex and so nice to sip while talking. As a martini lover, the classic gin martini was excellent. The option of a sidecar is a nice touch and feels like an acknowledgement that sometimes you just don't want the moment to end. My friend loved the signature cocktail, the Only Child, which features gin, cognac, ginger, and cucumber. It's an unusual combination but somehow it really does work. I should also mention the very solid Boulevardier. On snacks, the options could be considered intercontinental. We ordered the Basque nachos and some bread. The nachos do not include tortilla chips, so don't go in expecting that. In a delightful twist, the nachos are actually very crispy potato chips. They're served topped with iberico ham, manchego cheese, and these vinegar brinded anchovies. This was so good. The mountain of crispy (!!!) potato chips, the ham. I was expecting a smaller and saltier anchovy but this was a pleasant surprise. We wanted to order to mazcal tajin popcorn, it wasn't available at the time. Having gone back the next day, I can confirm that the magic of Only Child wasn't just a one off. The group of friends I brought thoroughly enjoyed our time there and are already looking forward to this as a new cocktail bar for us. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Shoutout to Niko, Manny, and Bobby. Once the neighborhood gets word about Only Child, I think it'll become a local favorite.

This place caters to a mature crowd. They always have good music playing, and serve good Caribbean…read morefood. Overall, a nice neighborhood spot!

At night ladies don't come by yourself. The bartenders are mean. Not a welcoming bar.read more

I didn't have food... Drinks was good... The place have a pool table and darts... Nice spot to go…read moreto hang out at... Music is mixed .. Service at the bar was good.. I'll go back

I had high hopes for this bar. I saw it online and wanted to support a local business…read more After standing at the bar for 10 minutes, my boyfriend tried to order us cocktails TWICE, to which the male bartender just refused to make... he legitimately said "No". He was in an argument with the female bartender. After the male bartender stormed outside I decided to just get water. I asked the woman at the bar for water and she told me there was a pitcher. There were no cups by said pitcher. She ended up giving me two ice waters but she seemed very frazzled and overwhelmed. Let me also disclaim she was very sweet to me! There could definitely be more help for the bartenders as there are customers for the bar & the restaurant inside. Probably won't be back, food is good though.

The jerk chicken was fire! The drinks were well made and tasty. The music was on point. There's…read moredefinitely a nice vibe here. My only complaint is table service is slow. Took them an hour to notice tables that needed cleaning.

Good local spot. Bartenders know how to make drinks. They have a cigar spot in the back. They…read morekeep a DJ in rotation on the weekend Sometimes they can be a hit or a miss. Not sure they have a resident DJ. Love that they also participate in neighborhood activities and events