Yes. The drinks are amazing here. Yes. The bartenders are dressed to the nines. Yes. There is something special going on here. BUT! The two times I went, it was crowded and hard to have a conversation, which is hard since I feel like it presents itself as the type of bar where your supposed to have quiet, dark little conversations in quiet, dark little corners. As dapper and charming as the bartenders are, I also find them a little bit intimidating. This is most likely because I'm an awkward person who can't handle all their sexy, but i found it hard to order my drink with a straight face. Also, I feel yelpers market this bar as a place for the younger crowd. It's filled with incredibly cool 30-somethings (which is SUPER young!), but my baby 23 year old face felt out of place here. Bars like this make me wish I was a grown-up. read more

Here is why I give Brooklyn Social 5 stars: * Delicious drinks * Emergency paninis * Intimate atmosphere, yet somehow not overly crowded * Not filled with B&T or frat house douches * Effortlessly cool....... ----- What someone who wouldn't like Brooklyn Social might say: - there are better similar bars in Manhattan (well duh) - the crowd is too young - the crowd is too old - the drinks are too expensive - the drinks aren't made as well as that-other-famous-bar - too many hipsters - too many ______ read more

OVERALL: great place to sit (if there's room) and have drinks with 2-3 friends. great for guys, girls or mixed groups. ATMOSPHERE: Classic Italian. This place used to be an Italian social club. It's narrow, and can get crowded quickly after 10pm. SELECTION: The signature cocktails are delicious, look really cool, and are reasonably priced (I think at $7 each). They also offer grilled, pressed panini for $7 or so, in case you didn't get a bite beforehand. CROWD: 28-38 years old. Mixed. Generally cool people (it is Brooklyn, so the people are almost by definition cool) I'll go back, definitely. read more

This place puts the "easy" in speakeasy. Why? Well, first, it's pretty easy to find. It's right off the Carroll Street stop, sandwiched between Carroll and President on Smith. The entrance is nondescript (you can just barely make out the words "Brooklyn Social" on the door), but the noise of the happy crowd and bumpin' soul music gives it away. And inside, it's packed but not uncomfortably so; on a Saturday night, we were able to grab a few seats at the bar without much trouble, the better to watch the bartenders pour cocktails and beers with the speed and accuracy of machines in starched shirts. Hooks keep your stuff from grazing the floor, and a juke keeps your head from hitting the bar. There's a few pool tables in the back and a juke for the buzzed and the restless. And a vintage cash register with a personality all its own keeps watch over the crowd behind the bar. (Note: they didn't have plastic money in the Prohibition days, so don't be surprised that this place is cash-only.) These places are almost cliché in Brooklyn now, but it's that cliché that keeps the crowds down, I think, so that's nice. Thus, I'd back it as a solid choice for a low-key Saturday night in the 'hood. read more

LOVE. Love. LOVE. Love. Luv. LOVE. Lub. Lahv. LaaaahV. Love. LOVE. Love. LoVe. LOVE. Love. lOvE. Lahb. Luhv. Lav. Lhavv. love. LOVE. Love. LOVE. Luve. Luv. LOVE. Love. LOVE. Love. Luv. LOVE. Lub. Lahv. lOvE. Lahb. Luhv. Lav. Lhavv. . Love. LoVe. LOVE. Love. lOvE. Lahb. Luhv. Lav. Lhavv. love. LOVE. Love. LOVE! This! Place! There is a naughty, 'Oh Lawd, forgive me', I feel a little guilty...I said I would never do that to another female...Bad Bad Girl...OMG! *friends turn around*- 'What is she DOING?'...beautiful cocktails bountiful, champagne-filled, unexpected...I'm sorry Wifey! But you really should be watchin' yo' man...French visitor-aplenty, hazy, crazy, chill...mellow...closing down the bar...eventually end the night walking back home with the friends, essentially innocent...(kind of)... Funny story about one Saturday night at this place............But I'll let "Dimple Daddy" tell it.................If he'll ever fess up to it. BROOKLYN, and SOCIAL indeed! read more

Brooklyn Social is an excellent option, if of course, it's what you're looking for. Looking for a private-club-turned-public type of place where bartenders spend time and effort on carefully crafted drinks in a small, dimly lit atmosphere? Then this is for you. If you're looking to have a few beers and aren't interested in paying $10 for a cocktail, then it isn't. BS (giggle giggle) was extremely crowded last night and it was a Wednesday evening. Seating is very limited and the space is very small. With how crowded it was, I was surprised we found a table for 6, but we honestly just got lucky. The bartenders were on top of their game, and while it did take a while to get your drink order in, they were very good at making eye contact with you and even telling you they'd be right over. The bar is Italian influenced, but doesn't go overboard. Drinks are strong and while there are a few unique flavors or combinations, it stays pretty safe. Order the Brooklyn if you like seeing drinks set on fire. Served in a martini glass with Rye Whiskey and bitters, the garnish is an orange peel that gets set ablaze. The Neapolitan is a take on a Cosmopolitan but more citrus influenced, and slightly sweeter with Pomegranate juice. The Reposto may be the most unique combination due to the fresh Rosemary, and is still surprisingly refreshing. Beer options are limited and taps include Stella, Six Point or Brooklyn. They have a small menu of about 3 paninis, none of which we tried. I would definitely return, as the atmosphere and drinks remind me very much of a private social Milk and Honey type craft cocktail establishment, but much easier to get into. read more

Brooklyn Social is a lovely little spot with a gracious barkeep and wonderful old-timey feeling libations. It is tiny but cozy and is a really wonderful place for a drink on a weeknight. weekends get pretty mobbed pretty early and if you can snag a snug booth, youre awfully lucky. read more

It seems like people who are down on this place have the idea that prohibition-era bars were all about getting dressed up and going to over-decorated, lavish joints where one could throw away all their money in a single night. Sure, those speakeasies existed, and they're the model for overpriced and underwhelming Manhattan joints like Pegu Club. But Brooklyn Social is more for the unassuming patron who enjoyed a good cocktail and a night out with friends without putting on airs or paying a week's salary. The drinks are strong, fresh, and delicious, and $4 less than you'd shell out for something similar in Manhattan. I particularly liked the ginger old fashioned. The music on the jukebox is eclectic and fun, the pool table has provided me with at least one moment of completely accidental glory, and the bartenders and patrons are all friendly. It can get too crowded for comfort on weekend nights, which knocks it down one star, but on the whole it's a great establishment. read more

I love it here (as do many Brooklyn celebs). It's cozy, friendly, and always a good time without being pretentions. Still, I wish they'd switch up the menu. The drinks are solid, the bartenders are magic, so why not get a bit more creative? read more

Hmmmm....The Bartender were nice but the drinks were gross...It was so watered down. The bar is an old Italian gentlemen club..explains the oldness and creaky sticky floors. I am not opposing to "preservation", but perservation can be done better. The place just feels run down. Brooklyn Social- i know you want to be a humble neighborhood bar, but I think you have so much potential to do better. I am sorry that I didn't fall in love with you too...oh, and you're Cash Only! What a headache :( read more

You've gotta love the old school feel to this place--a throwback to when cool was laid back and much more classy. My recommendation go during the week if you want to get away from the crowds and settle in at the bar with one of their great cocktails. Shoot some pool, bring some friends or a date. There's an alcove in the second room that's more private. Dimly lit front tables by the door and a patio out back when its warm. Another plus: the bartenders look good while making you whatever you can think up. You might even find me there dressed up, a tom collins in hand playing another sinatra song on the the jukebox. read more

The bartenders can best be described as standoffish, but who cares, they are all excellent at mixing drinks, and that's what matters, right? I love the atmosphere of this place; I've been with friends several times and it's always great fun. read more

Walking into Brooklyn Social you feel like you are stepping into a old speakeasy. Bow-tied and aproned barkeeps and yummy cocktails on the menu (I recommend a ginger old-fashion). You can always find a good game of pool going on in the back room (or just drunk people squinting an eye and attempting to not knock over their drink while missing their shot). Everyone is generally friendly and there are little hooks under the bar for your coat. I love those little touches! Weeknights are the best time to hit up this place as it can be way too crowded on weekends. read more

A group of us came here while waiting for our table at Lucali's. Unexpectedly, Brooklyn Social almost became the highlight of the evening. First of all, the service was superb. Friendly, attentive bartenders with impressive short term memories. I ordered drinks for all seven of us, each drink with unique directives, and the presentation was flawless. The atmosphere was inviting, warm and old fashioned. Antique chairs and bar, and a jazzy sound. Don't forget about the pool table in the back room. My last criterion for a bar is their preparation of the gin martini. I ordered it up, bone-dry, olives. They delivered. It was a whopper too, and they even gave me a small side of extra olives as well. I have to admit something. The only reason why I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I don't want it to get too crowded. read more

Came back again and the prices increased $1 drink. I guess a lot can change in 11 days OR they're trying to capitalize on the holidays. read more

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I would much rather go here on a weekday night to just chill, it's made for that kind of vibe. It's old fashioned but when it's packed I really didn't care for it that much, just a lot of loud people, one of those rare places where the jukebox level is actually too low, because the people are too loud. It used to be a real social club, which i would have loved to have seen. Pool table in the back, classics type jukebox with a few picks out of left field (The Donnas self titled? before they were infatuated with Motley Crue? When they wanted to be the Ramones? Awesome). read more

I wasn't so impressed with my nine dollar specialty cocktail but I was totally into the be classy knock twice vibe of Brooklyn social. The drinks were strong. I was also impressed with the swift and no-nonsense way the owner/bartender and his two associated dispatched an unwanted patron who was harassing some ladies on their night out. read more

My fav after work cocktail spot! Quick trip to little Havana. I am repeated customer but still pass by the entrance. Backyard is nice but watch out the mosquito bites in Summer. read more

Maybe I would like this place more if I hadn't come on a weekend...the place was packed on a Sat night. I hate having to weave through the masses up to the bar, make eyes at the bartender, wave my money suggestively-take my order next! I hate having to yell my order of 3 different drinks over the crowd-they're really not all for me! It's embarrassing, and not very speakeasyish. Tangerine and rosemary cocktail...sounded interesting, and I am in love with fresh herbs in my cocktails these days, but it was only so so. My cousin's drink was so strong he had to take my residual tangerines and rosemary and add them to his drink to be able to choke it down. The crowd was a little too hipster for me, and the pool table just didn't seem to vibe with the place. They need to take a few lessons from the Manhattan speakeasies, or maybe that's why their drinks are a couple of bucks cheaper. read more

Came here for a night cap on a date...Super intimate, but fun and lively spot. Great vibe, dimly lit, a little bit difficult to find on the street. Came here to play pool, and they had a table in the back, and we didn't have to wait to play. Drinks were great, lots of handmade specialty cocktails. I had one with gin, rosewater, and prosecco. Not too expensive either. It's not trying to be pretentious, but is trendy nonetheless. read more

This place is cute and even better that the door does not have sign. I like the fridge and the back room. The great bartender and the Neopolitian Martini's are great. Lets just hope it does not get too packed with hipsters! read more

There's such a snazzy feeling when you walk through the door here. A barman who is wearing a white shirt, a tie (!) AND an apron. MAJOR TICK. Great cocktails. TICK. Nice prices. TICK. And a random dog that walked in. HUGE TICK. Haven't been when the crowds have taken the place over but so far, it's high on my go-to list... UPDATE: It's now my go-to bar when friends visit me in the 'hood for the first time. I have to start off with a great impression! read more

It looks dingy on the exterior, and the interior doesn't improve upon much. However, someone described the crowd as swanky, and I think that nailed it. It's a dive bar look with a swanky crowd. I'm not sure what you call that exactly, but it's unique for sure. Maybe because it was 11pm on a Saturday, but I wasn't digging the dive bar look, with classy looking bartenders and the swanky crowd. I'm nit-picking, but I've seen the bartender-in-a-crisp-white-shirt-and-tie in a dive bar look done better. In particular, if you're going for that look, the bartender shouldn't have the tie loosened and 2 buttons opened. It sort of mocks whatever thing you're going for. The Guinness was good, and I was told the specialty drinks were good too..and the bartender was quick to serve. So, this review started with 1 star and went up one because you can at least get a drink easily at a busy time. read more

This is, I think, my all time favorite bar, anywhere, ever. The bartenders are fabulous--make you feel very welcome. The place can get a little packed, but it is the easiest place in the world to meet people--everyone is friendly, in a good mood, and wants to chat. The drinks are great, the jukebox is great. Great great great great great. I love the Brooklyn Social. Especially when I'm single. read more

Brooklyn Social is the brooklyn equivalent of Employees only in the west village (my old watering hole). I like the old school vibe and the clientele that frequents the place. There is a pool table in the back room although I swear the floor is uneven or maybe those manhattans were kick in? read more

Not cheap but... Delicious cocktails. Great decor. A pool table and a patio. What more do you need? read more

I like cocktails that taste like they were created for dudes, not underaged girls who hate the taste of liquor. Brooklyn Social does just that, and they have a fine array of gentlemen--with an appreciation for tie clips--mixing them. I try to go when Nino is working, he's the most skilled of their bartenders. The crowd here is alarmingly and overwhelmingly bro-y. I am usually one of five or fewer women in the bar, and there have been a couple times that I've been one of two (the other being the friend I came in with). This sort of ratio is a double-edged sword--lots of attention from the bartender, but also from leering patrons who range in age from freshly legal to close to retirement. If you're a lady not looking to find a mate for the evening and aren't assertive enough (or lack the patience) to continuously fend off suitors, I would come with male friends in tow. There are few tables, but really the best place to sit is at the bar. The jukebox selection is great and if you're not a dickhead and tip decently, service is outstanding. The sandwiches are fine, and good if you find yourself 3 drinks in and more wobbly than you expected (expect to be fairly wobbly). They also have these fancy-pants cherries that they use in place of the usual maraschinos (which sort of makes up for the crap olives). The only downside to this place is that their barbacks make total shit drinks, so I wouldn't go when it's super busy and the bartender has no choice but to delegate. read more

A former Italiano social club turned hip bar. The Brooklyn Social retained everything that made a man's club so inviting. You walk in the dim candle lit bar and you find that, after a delicious martini or two, your problems aren't so insurmountable. Old school pictures decorate the interior of this small, intimate but not loungy bar. The lights hang low over the bar and you can't help but watch the well dressed (dress shirt and tie) bartender mix a perfect Neopolitian Martini. The beer is inexpensive, the martinis are amazing and the whole vibe draws you in. This place serves a hip crowd of late 20's who know Manhattan and understand why its better to live in Brooklyn. read more

This is the type of place, back in the day, where little Tommy shined shoes and Henry got to park Cadillacs out front while 12 guys named Pauly hung out, discussing the best veal in the city. It's authentically aged (unlike Joan Rivers) and full of character (unlike Lindsay Lohan), but like a Lohan, is chock full of fancy cocktails. It's not really a food destination and can get pretty packed, but it's definitely a good stop for drinks with friends or a crawl down Smith. In warmer months, there's a small backyard space, which if I lived above, I'd invest in a rope ladder to descend here and wet my whistle. read more

Meh... I've definitely had better. Pros: -Well executed interior which has a welcoming vibe with the white walls and dark stained wood trim & and old group photos of past social clubs -Intriguing specialty drinks & generous mixed drinks Cons: -Rude staff, who would rather talk to each other while making you wait to get a drink... last time I checked, bigger tips = bigger paycheck -Ordered the same drink 3 times and was charged different prices -Inconsiderate & annoying patrons who were moaning about hipsters read more

Another Round Please! Great cocktails at a very affordable price of $10 a pop. Highlights: Great tasting cocktails and ample quantity per drink, no cover, never a line to get in and you can always find some space to hang and have a chat, really affordable drinks for NY standard. Can improve: Take credit cards and maybe look into opening up the space a little more. Benchmark: They set the standard for cocktails along with Ward lll. Always tried to stop by when in the area. Last visited in late 2014. read more

A Narrow Speakeasy So Smith Street has An option for a dimly lit cocktail. read more

This place is really cool. Its supposedly a speakeasy. It took us a minute to find it you need to look for the building number but as soon as you enter it's like bustling! We found a spot to sit at the bar, was the right amount of busy for a Friday night. There's a couple tables around for bigger groups and a pool table in the back. The drinks were good I got the Fellini which is prosecco lychee nectar and mint and my boyfriend got Matts ginger old fashioned which he liked but defn not my kind of drink. Drinks are $12 which isn't bad if you go to speakeasies in Manhattan so it's worth going here ! The bar is cool , there's three bartenders who seemed awesome and like they knew what they were doing. They have all these fresh ingredients . The music was interspersed w Latin which had a good beat and vibe. Defn a great spot to go to get drinks in Brooklyn! With speakeasy spots like these you really don't need to trekk all the way to Manhattan ! Yay read more

Surprisingly reasonably priced cocktail bar in Carroll Gardens. Always try to saddle up here to close out a night with some pool and cheap Budweiser. They have a quaint backyard area that is sweet for summer nights before the mosquitoes eat you alive and the heat is suffocating. read more

This place is cash only and in the cut. If my friend had not told me to meet her here one late night in December, I never would have known about it. She drinks Six Point, IPAs, and Cabernet Sauvignon, when I am much more partial to Prosecco, Bellini's, Dark and Stormys, Jack or Jameson and Gingers. I also don't mind Hennessey and Apple Cider or Crown Royal and Lemonade. I can also down Kamikaze shots. There is a pool table in the back, and this place is dimly lit by candles and a few vintage wall sconces. The bar keeps are cool ultra hipster people who know to ladle out water with your libation or beer beverage of choice. read more

We almost walked right by... maybe I'm just blind, but it seems like a lot of places are forgoing prominent signs. Once inside, there were a good number of people but not enough for it to be difficult to navigate. This place is cash only; I was glad I asked. We did not have much cash on hand so we rationed our money carefully. They have a list of specialty cocktails that run $10 each, but beers are around $6. The old school cash register is pretty cool too. Be careful if you are in the back area with the pool table: the room is not large enough to accommodate the table and the players, so every now and then people hit the walls or other patrons. If only they had watched the Maestro Seinfeld episode before putting the pool table there. Also in the back in a tiny 2 person alcove with a few black and white photographs showing dinners and balls for some social organization. read more

Brooklyn Social is cut from the small, intimate, mixology cloth that is slowly draping itself across cities everywhere. The space is small, on busier evenings the Ladies' Lounge (i.e. powder area, which is located outside the rest room) is taken over by larger groups as a private party corner and/or is turned in to an impromptu coat check by bundled merry makers. The drinks are lovely and carefully mixed, you could do worse for $10 that's for sure. The vibe is dark, cozy, speakeasy style even. Outside there is hardly a sign to speak of, the bar hides in the shadows of the neighboring businesses, waiting for those in the know to sneak on in. When I was there it was soul music and 50s/60s pop classics on the stereo, which made me oh so pleased. Minus one star because the bartender was so enthralled with his friends at the end of the rail that he seemed to ignore the customers as they piled up and took a rather long time to get each drink out, "expertly mixed aperitif" not withstanding. I know its all about aloof with mixology bars these days, but I prefer my drinks to be the schmancy ones, my bartenders more down to earth. read more

If anyone's been to Chicago, this bar reminds me of a darker Whistler. Candlelit, cozy nooks in the front. Much narrower space than I'd expected, but not in a bad way. This dim bar is surprisingly friendly (er, I suppose the people are, I'm not sure walls can be friendly, though I have some home-decorating friends who might beg to differ with me)--both the bartenders and the other patrons. They have a random selection of 3 sandwiches, for $7 each. Which is also funny considering the fact that their cocktail menu lists $9 drinks. The $9 cocktails, however, are all pretty much entirely liquor, so it's a good deal in that sense. Didn't try the food, but the cocktail my friend got was hard-hitting and yummy. read more

Cool spot with old school music and vibe. Cocktails were decently priced at $12 each and made well. There's a pool table and also outdoor area. read more

Brooklyn Social - Amalfi - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

A local secret. All the bartenders are so lovely. Drinks are $10 and strong pours. They'll get you to where you want to be. Atmosphere is warm. I enjoyed the music the patrons were choosing from the jukebox. I got there around 6:30 and got a table in the corner. The bar was already pretty busy, for no signage on the outside. read more