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    Fresh Kills Bar

    4.3 (245 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Fresh Kills Bar Photos

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    FRESH KILLS BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Spicy Cucumber Whiskey and a Smokey Strong Bourbon.
    Cindy Z.

    I'm a huge fan of bar that don't have a menu: they customize a drink just for you. How can you go wrong when it's made with the spirit and flavor notes of your choice? Fresh Kills Bar has a nice ambiance that feels modern yet classy. I have attempted to come on a weekend and the line was well over an hour wait, but finally got the chance to check it out on a Monday night where we sat at the bar. It's a fun experience at the bar to watch and chat with your bartender. But for bigger groups, there's tables that fit 4-6 people too. I had two drinks here, which are $21 each. I enjoyed both of mine in their own ways. Definitely one of the favorite bars in Williamsburg.

    Ashley J.

    You usually will need to wait for a bit to get seated but their no ordering concept is novel and fun. Could not tell you what I drank on either of my visits here but they always deliver something tied to the flavor profile and liquor I express interest in.

    Anita J.

    My friends and I literally stumbled across this place, thought it looked cool and mysterious from the outside and so wanted to check it out. This place is COOL. We had 5 of us and we squeezed into one of their booths so I wouldn't recommend this place for larger parties. There is no menu - you simply tell your server what sort of flavor profiles you like and maybe a preferred spirit. The bartenders will then make something to fit that. There were 5 of us and they nailed it for all 5 of us. I definitely recommend this bar!

    Ash Wednesday w/ strawberry (left), Penicillin (right)
    Christine L.

    This is one of the coolest bars I've been to recently. It feels like a choose-your-own-adventure story, but for cocktails instead. They don't have a menu- you just tell the bartender what flavor profile you like (fruity, smoky) etc and they come up with the perfect drink. This was my first time at a bar like this so I wasn't sure what to expect but our server absolutely nailed it. I said I liked fruit but not citrus, so she asked if I liked berries (yes) and creamy drinks (yes!), and promptly brought out her version of an Ash Wednesday. I've never had one before- but it's classically made with blackberries, gin, honey, and cream, but she substituted strawberries basically making a boozy strawberry milkshake. My friend got a Penicillin after requesting something smoky and citrus- perfect for him! Each drink was $19- which I felt was very reasonable esp for the experience. The bar interior is dark and sexy, the service is knowledgeable and friendly, and the vibes are top notch. Perfect for a date night. Will 100% be back!

    Hunter S.

    Was glad I stumbled upon this spot on a Monday night after 10, so no crowds and easy entry. Low lights, natural colors enhanced by red and leather. Warm wood. No menu here. You give the server/bartender a flavor profile and they give you a drink based on that. For my first drink, I told them I like fruit, but I don't like sweet, my favorite spirit is gin, and I like herbs. This was one of those New York serendipity moments, as the bartender came around the corner grinning ear to ear, saying, "we can only make this drink one month out of the year because of the Concord grapes!" He had made me an enzoni, the original of which is made with Campari and purple concord grapes, which are only harvested between September and October. Most of the time, people sub green grapes, which is a TOTALLY different thing. My other drinks, I told them I liked pineapple, orange, rosemary, basil. And over the night I got a couple more great drinks with flavors I loved (of course, the drinks were composed with me in mind). At the end of the night, the bartender did a shot with me. The bill wasn't bad at all. I'll be thinking about that enzoni for a whole year until I get to have another.

    Annie L.

    stumbled upon this place on a saturday night and was in for the coolest bar program ever! there's no set menu (though of course you can still order a drink of choice if you want) - instead, the host/bartender asks you a series of questions on preferred flavors, liquors, etc. then it's essentially the bartender's choice on what type of drink they'll make you! i got a yummy tequila and strawberry cocktail and absolutely loved it

    Anna K.

    The cocktails are beyond! There is no menu you can just ask to the server and the bartender will make you a nice one just for you! All were amazing and refreshing!! All the sheets and tables are real leather on. You can smell it fancy! Less blight and good mood! Very recommend for a date :)

    Cocktails
    Pratima M.

    A unique bar in the heart of Williamsburg -- it gets popular, and for good reason! There isn't a set menu... rather, you tell the bartender flavors and liquors you like and they create a cocktail for you. Our table of 6 didn't have to wait more than ~15 minutes, but we also came in for a pre-dinner drink. I'd recommend coming with a smaller group, since the booth can get cozy. Our whole table had wildly different vibes and they nailed all the drinks. I asked for a mezcal base but maybe incorporating elements of a pisco sour -- I really loved the end result. I'll be back again soon!

    One of those no menu spots where the bartender takes your preferences and creates a custom cocktail for you. We got a mojito and an old fashioned and they were both really great Ambiance was dark but typical for a cocktail bar, overall great spot

    Maggie T.

    Finally got around to trying Fresh Kills after hearing such good things about it from friends. I can officially say that it lived up to the hype! There's no menu, you just give your server an idea of what you want and the bartender will create something custom. Super cool concept! I asked for a fruity drink with vodka and received a super delicious pineapple and ginger cocktail. You can also order a classic cocktail, but I thought the element of surprise was really fun. Also, the inside of the bar was more beautiful than I expected. It's very sleek with low lighting and seems like it'd be a great place for a date. The biggest downside is they don't take reservations and it's table seating only, so you might have to wait in line outside until the host has a table ready for you (worth the wait though). Our server and host were great and super attentive. Overall, we had an excellent experience and I can't wait to come back!

    Gin sour type drink on left
    Hiral P.

    Great things to say about this bar! I've never been disappointed. I think the drink I got was similar to a gin sour with egg whites and it was very good. Great place to come with a couple friends. The waiting is kinda awkward. Never know if I should open the door or not. Just not a great vibe at the entrance.

    Tiki
    John W.

    Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of the tell us what you like and we'll make it approach. I'm a menu-phile and study the hell out of the ingredients. Plus, I think it provides far more opportunity for me to get stuck with a pricey drink I don't like. So needless to say I was less than joyful once I realized that was their current format. Then I tasted the drinks. Extremely well-balanced. The tiki cocktail was classically wonderful. And the whiskey cocktail riff was one of the more unique drinks I've ever had. The bartenders are knowledgeable, speedy, and quite to the point. And, as I like to note, the music and white noise was at a great level.

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    2 years ago

    Really great energy, an attentive bartender and proper cocktails. Music level was perfect for convo over drinks.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Fresh Kills Bar

    What genre of music, if any, is played? Thanks!

    You can barley here the music but it's top 40. They probably let the bartenders choose

    View All 2 Questions

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    Valerie

    Valerie

    4.3
    (1.4k reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    My wife and I took our kids (10 and 16 year old boys) to this place on our last evening in NYC. We…read morewere looking for a place that had a nice ambiance and good food. Ambiance: This place has a nice ambiance, definitely very "New York" -- dark (you can't see how dirty the floor is) and loud music (maybe too loud). We sat upstairs (we had a reservation) and of all the people on the top there was a party of 4 (us), a party of 8 (all dudes celebrating something) and the rest of the tables were on a DATE - which I thought was funny. Service: We were served by Ann-Marie who was so delightful. She was kind, super nice, and took the time to speak to us (which is basically how we figured out she wasn't a native New York City person). She gave us good food suggestions and we were very happy with our selection. Food: Here is what we ordered * Steak Frites: My two boys got the steak frites and I have to say the steak was awesome! I had a bite of each of theirs and they each ordered it differently (one Medium Rare/Medium and one Medium) and they both were prepared PERFECTLY. The fries were overflowing. * Caeser Salad with Salmon: My wife got the salad with Salmon (they only have a few salad options) and she enjoyed it. * Prawn and Crab Risotto: I got this and I have to say it was VERY bland. I wouldn't get this if you are looking for taste. I had to put salt and pepper on it to make it have any semblance of taste. Value/Price: I would say this is not over priced but it is not cheap either...bill is attached. I would recommend it to folks who are looking for a good place to either go out on a date or a family type meal.

    Amazing ambiance! We visited for a birthday dinner and were seated in a cozy, intimate corner,…read moreenhanced by the restaurant's beautifully dimmed lighting. Our server was fantastic--friendly, helpful, and highly efficient. The cocktail menu leans heavily into gin, but they are happy to mix up whatever you like. I ordered a margarita and it was excellent! For dinner, I went with the steak frites. It was absolutely delicious, and the portion was so generous that I actually had to push myself to finish it. While it's on the pricier side and maybe not an everyday dining spot, it's a phenomenal choice if you're looking for a guaranteed great experience for a special night out!

    Photos
    Valerie
    Valerie
    Valerie

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    Dear Irving on Broadway

    Dear Irving on Broadway

    4.5
    (40 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    Had an awesome time at Dear Irving. We recently celebrated a friend's birthday here. We were…read morekindly greeted when we entered and directed to the elevator leading to the event space. DI reserved an area between the bar and patio for the event. Enough room for our party to gather and not impede on other patrons. I found all of the staff to be very professional and attentive while very busy. The menu has a variety of small bite options, which was shared amongst the group. Everyone seemed to enjoy them, suggesting one another to try this or that. The bartenders/ mixologists were on their A game. The drink menu is pretty extensive and from what I could see, our party choices ranged from wines to whisky's and several options between. The rooftop/patio was an extension of the comfortable but trendy decor. Great space for an evening, date or friend gathering. Dear Irving... well done. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

    I was here for an event, so didn't order entrees/mains. We did have some appetizers and finger…read morefood, which wasn't the tastiest...the best thing there were probably the lobster rolls and sliders. The drinks were very delicious, though! The bartenders were nice and made the drinks very quickly. There was one who was consistently friendly, as opposed to the blonde lady there. I'd go back again on a date night because the interior had major sexy vibes.

    Photos
    Cocktails
    Cocktails
    Smoky & spicy cocktail it was ;-)
    Smoky & spicy cocktail it was ;-)
    Cocktail

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    Cocktail
    Sunken Harbor Club

    Sunken Harbor Club

    4.5
    (117 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$$

    I've been trying to go to Sunken Harbor for over a year now. I don't know how it's possible but…read moredespite being local it always seems to have a private event whenever we have plans to go. The stars finally aligned this winter and I had the opportunity to try it out. The vibes are perfect. Fog and bubbles, sea noises and all of the art go together seemlessly. Drinks were great. We had three and left suitably sloshed for the night with no aftereffects. We didn't have too many bites but the food was very good for a bar. I'm excited to go back and I hope we have just as much luck getting in next time.

    This is a "speakeasy" above Gage and Tollner. An undersea Tiki style adventure with a sexy mermaid…read moreheading up the bar. Nautical theme throughout with weathered leather, ropes, fish. Cocktails are made with various types of rum and ingredients like grapefruit, maraschino, wormwood amaro, falernum, thyme, Assam tea, spiced lime, allspice, coconut, cucumber, nutmeg, sour orange. All the drinks keep with the tropical, fruity taste with a hint of spice. They are also broken up into categories (dry land = no alcohol, shallows = average amount of alcohol, and abyss (larger amounts of alcohol). The abyss section has some cocktails that are limited to two per customer. They have some bar bites like fried green tomatoes, shrimp toast, broiled oysters, ricotta, dumplings, sliders. I had the French fries with kimchi ranch, which were underwhelming. Bartenders were cool and kept the drinks coming. I got in immediately without an issue or a wait, but it was right after a snowstorm. I've seen some people struggle to get in or have a long wait.

    Photos
    View of the bar
    View of the bar
    Mary Pickford - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Mary Pickford - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner

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    Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner
    Dear Strangers

    Dear Strangers

    4.3
    (29 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Met up with friends here for dinner before a show near Washington square. It wasn't super crowded…read morewhen we arrived around 6pm (maybe due to the extreme cold that day) but started filling up gradually. I loved the ambiance and decor, very cozy. As for food, there were some true hits but most of the food was good but basic. The highlights for me were the wild mushrooms & rice cakes as well as the Caesar salad - loved the use of nori in the salad and would definitely come back for the mushrooms. The chicken cutlet and chicken dumplings were fine but I probably wouldn't order them again. The wait staff weren't super attentive nor super warm, but they were efficient when we asked for water refills, etc. There was ample standing room at the bar while we waited for our friends, but the table/booth that we sat at was super narrow, I was knocking knees with my friend all night and generally felt squished.

    Dear Strangers? Yes, they certainly treat you like one! This place is not good. They seemed…read moreunprepared to handle restaurant week. There weren't enough servers to handle the crowd and that was reflective in our dinner service. Despite being checked in on 0 times and having to flag them down for water, to order, and to get our check, their attitude wasn't warm or accommodating at all. It even came off like we were bothering our server when asking for basic things. The food was subpar. Didn't try the drinks. Maybe that's the savior? -Tuna tartare acceptable; nothing to write home about -Chicken dumplings tasted like chicken but had no bite to it. Weird and served on paper that resembled a crumpled receipt or used tissue. -Chicken cutlet was warm and soggy. No truffle flavor as advertised on the menu. Some creativity points for the accompanying foam dip but it didn't work. -Beef short rib was tasty but the single potato that come with it felt insulting and cheap. Really? One potato? -Pecan pie dessert and sorbet were really good. Sad way to finish, only enjoying the final course. Ambiance was good. Floors were super slippery because they were tiled on a snowy day. They should warn their guests about that. Lots of work to be done here and I will not be around to see it through!

    Photos
    Dear Strangers
    Dear Strangers
    Smoked chicken croquettes

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    Smoked chicken croquettes
    Steight

    Steight

    4.6
    (44 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Very cute speakeasy hidden behind an empty hair salon. The decor was very fun, and I couldn't quite…read moretell what the theme was. It's a very small space, so it may be a bit of a wait for a seat. We came around 8:45 PM, and got a spot at the bar after about 20 minutes. We tried the yuzu contact and the ma-chet baker, and the ma-chet baker was definitely our favorite. It tasted just like a matcha latte, and I liked the bits of gen maicha in it. It wasn't very strong however. The yuzu contact was also very light and citrusy.

    yuzu highball mt highball…read more- highball was nice, basic, and refreshing; nothing much to note about but ive definitely had better - i liked the yuzu a bit more because the mt highball was a bit too alcoholic hojicha colada - hojicha is their seasonal menu and it also is my favorite! The tea was strong and fragrant - it is on the sweeter side, a bit like dessert, so i had to pair it with water, but it was still yummy and would recommend yuzu contact - this was alright! Typical yuzu but ive had better ones - personally feel like the yuzu can be brighter and a bit sweeter rating: 4/5 - the drinks were all good but nothing particularly stood out except for the hojicha colada - the vibe and the music really brought up my rating though! It was such a cute, cozy, intimate spot for dates - small speakeasy with only a few seats, similar to bars in japan; it's one of those japanese listening bars and i love it - there was light jazz in the background, not too loud that i had to shout - the mood was perfect; I couldn't stop staring at the interior decor and immerse myself in this little cozy corner - service was super quick, nothing much to note IG: @nom.noms.only

    Photos
    Oolong Punch
    Oolong Punch
    Sake Flight.
    Sake Flight.
    Steight

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    Fresh Kills Bar - cocktailbars - Updated August 2026

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