I've come here a bunch of times and love It but the last time I was here a bartender was unbelievably disrespectful and rude. I met up with one of my friends who had A can of wine with her (kept it outside) and this white dude in a tight ass man bun came by and told her she's not supposed to have it, but said nothing else - didn't take It but said he "should have". I went in later and tried to order and the bartender said because my friend brought a drink, we weren't allowed anything else. He was extremely passive aggressive and rude and it makes no sense to punish other people (and refuse additional revenue and tips) for something like that. otherwise the bar and vibe is amazing but this guy made us feel ultra uncomfortable. We are very sad that sunny's of all places, with what we've always known to be one of the most relaxed places to hang out, couldn't even be honest about their outdoor alcohol policy and we think this specific bartender made what should have been an easy discussion about the restaurant's rules something very personal and passive aggressive. We felt like we were being scolded rather than welcomed, and it's sad because sunnys otherwise has always been a welcoming and accepting atmosphere. read more

Hands down the best bar in Brooklyn and possibly all of New York City.

Very authentic and literally, not just figuratively, looks like an outgrown baseroom / rec room. It's sort of the anti-hipster bar, in that everything about it is too freakin' strange and eclectic -- from the clientèle to the random shit lying around everywhere to the all-brass polka band that we heard to the mini-Swedish and Norwegian flags near the doorway -- to possibly have been conceived of by anybody who was self-consciously trying to create the Perfect Dive Bar. Unlike anything in this section of Brooklyn and probably the rest of NYC for that matter. And worth a visit. read more

The bar rocks. Such an atmosphere, such an audience. They don't hate smokers. They mix great cocktails. Dream of this place every Friday night. Go find me there ;) read more

The existence of this place makes me very happy. Very happy indeed. Like an old, dark, drafty (but not) fisherman's inner sanctum, complete with secret hidden diner in the back room and windows to peer out of to view the waterfront (or the rain, if you're lucky). Friendly barkeepers, cool book readings, community hangout, solid neighborhood bar, solid destination bar if you're looking for teeny and memorable. Worth the trek. read more

Fantastic dive bar with amazing musicians playing bluegrass. Loved the atmosphere, loved the cheap and strong drinks, and can't wait to come again. read more

We went early in the evening, and it was empty. They're more crowded in the summer, but I think I prefer winter. It was quiet and cozy, and they had a great mulled cider. The live music is worth a visit. read more

Awesome neighborhood bar. Decent and reasonably priced (for NY) beer selection, great music in the front (some obscure soul/motown was playing when I was there), and informal live bluegrass in the back area which is more like a side room at a cafe than a music venue stage but still very cool. read more

I love Sunny's. It seems to be changing in terms of the people who frequent it. I'm a bit sad about that, but that always happens in NYC. It seems to have "caught on" which is both good and bad. I love the music and the crooked atmosphere and the light of Red Hook. read more

I'm a strict teetotaler who has never drank the booze, and yet... Sunny's Bar is fantastic, the last of a dying breed of truly sincere environments and atmospheres in an ever-gentrified city. The area helps keep it a "hidden gem" and open secret and it'd be damn impossible to come here and not be happy. Here's to many more years- and the music room is tops, yes. read more

I've been living down the street for this place for 7 years and have tried a number of times to come here, always missing them during operating hours. They were closed for awhile after Sandy but luckily they've recovered and seem to be doing great. The hours now are Wed-Fri 8pm-4am, Sat 4pm-4am, Sun 4pm-11pm, closed Mon & Tue. Sunny's is the quintessential Red Hook bar. I would have loved to been a regular here before Fairway, Ikea, Brooklyn Crab, and the rest moved in to turn Red Hook to a popular destination. Their nondescript exterior along a cobble stoned road a block from the water is simply marked with an old sign saying "Bar" and an antique pick up truck that has become their calling card. The bar's owner and namesake is Sunny Balzano, his great grand father opened the bar in 1890. Step inside the dimmly lit bar and you'll be welcomed by a friendly bartender and a modest selection of drinks. They have a full bar but beers are only bottles and cans from what I can tell. Prices aren't listed but prices are average, PBR cans at $3 and BudLight bottles for $4 mark the cheapest of the selection. The main room has a couple booths and they have a large back room with more tables and a stage for occassional live music. Sunny's is cash only but there is an ATM on premises. Lastly Sunny's has the most ecletic cozy back yard you're likely to come across. It's kind of cramped, kind of dirty, but somehow is completely charming. If you want to experience Brooklyn or Red Hook specifically, there's no denying the Sunny's should be on the top of your list. read more

Old school New York City bar. Being a true native NYer I appreciate this bar being around. Great drinks, affordable and good vibes from the bar tenders. Very welcoming atmosphere. I'll go to this bar every chance I get. read more

Bluegrass, Budweiser & Brooklyn - my 3 favorite B's. This is the kind of bar that other bars should kneel down to. A place where you can really relax and drink BEER - you know - the kind that comes in bottles with red labels that say 'Budweiser'. The bluegrass jam sessions are awesome. I think I'm going to bring a mandolin next time I head down there... read more

This is a pretty good venue, hey! It is just what you imagine from a great bar: cosy, with vibe, a crowd of people all having fun and some wired live music. There is plenty to discover. And it´s even worth the long busride back to Manhatten! read more

One of my favorite bars in NYC. Redhook is getting a little gentrified these days (though Sunny's is still a bit isolated), but this place is definitely a fun throwback. Get a whisky and listen to some music. read more

I love dive bars and this place is the definition of one. Super cool spot, cool bartenders! Overall, fun place with cool vibe. Giving 4 instead of 5 only bc they carry mostly basic liquors (didn't have red stag, Johnnie, corona), which isn't a big deal really and also bc the bathrooms are sooooo small lol. But again, not too big a deal cuz it's a cool spot. read more

Both Sunny and Sunny's hold a special spot in my heart. I like the relaxed neighborhood-like vibe. I come here when I want good music and conversation (you can actually hear each other talk). I enjoyed Lil'Mo's performance when I went last time, it was so bad ass! read more

This bar is magical. I ventured out to Red Hook with one of my friends to try to food trucks and we decided to stick around to experience Red Hook at night. We asked a few people for bar recommendations and nearly everyone we spoke to told us about Sunny's. We walked in and I swear within 20 minutes we had made friends with all of the bartenders as well as the majority of the people at the bar. The music was great and you will definitely leave this bar with a huge smile on your face! read more

Good old Sunnys. Very comfortable and homey. Its a bar where everyone knows your name. My go to bar.

My former girlfriend now wife fell in love drinking early in dive bars in NYC. It was a nice post wedding(that feature a bar crawl of course) trip to explore Red Hook that brought us to Sunny's. What a nice wonderful warm place. We arrived on a scalding hot summer day and had the place to ourselves. Loved the friendly woman at the bar, loved the environment and the feel of Brooklyn in days gone by. We won't be going a lot because it's in Red Hook and we unfortunately live in NJ, but you should go...a lot....but not when we are there because you youngins will just annoy us and make us go drink in Greenpoint. read more

THIS PLACE IS AWESOME. We went on a Saturday, earlyish, and at 10 they had an amazing jam band. Gin and tonics were keeping me friendly, a bunch of patrons randomly started a great game of trivia in the courtyard, and then the 10:00 jam band came on and the players just kept coming. And to the jam band woman playing the lap harp: I want to be you when I grow up. read more

Sunny's is the kind of joint that is so locally loved and so out of the way that it makes you feel special just being there. My first visit a few years ago was marred by coming solo on a super crowded night and attempting to ask the bartender a few questions for a school assignment. Not my smartest move ever. I did walk away with the impression that with the fantastic live music and an insiders vibe this was a cool place... I just might not be cool enough for it. Some Red Hook friends are regulars and so it was with great excitement that we headed down there when it opened post-Sandy last August. The mood was celebratory and welcoming as we sat in the yard and visited with local friends stopping by for a drink and some well-wishes for Sunny and Tone after almost a year of rebuilding struggles. It was great fun, and I've been made it a point to come back as often as possible since. I have - and I've not been disappointed. Great staff. Great music. A true classic. read more

This place sets the bar for coolness in brooklyn without even trying. This is the real red hook, way out there on the newly revitalized waterfront. stop by and plop down some hard earned cash at this place, they deserve it! read more

This place is a dump and the wait staff is rude. Last time I was there it was dirty and I saw a big rat scurrying about.

This little dive bar was a totally different scene for me. The place is awkwardly planned out and so is the bar. I felt like the staff conflicted too much and the place was too hipster for me. However, you can't beat the cheap drinks. They make strong drinks, which is good for some people, but bad for business. I feel like the owners should reevaluate how they do business here, though somehow they seem to be doing well - the place was packed. If I'm every in Red Hook again, I would go back. read more

Sunny's is a consistently good bar. Nice people, nice vibe and it deserves the compliments. It's nice to see that a simple down to earth bar is rated higher than bars that have had big budget make-overs.. but don't rush to Sunny's if that's what you're expecting.. It's just a simple local bar with a good vibe. read more

This Friday night - OCT 22 - at 9P - there will be a rockin' be-bop trio playing at Sunny's. Love Sunny's!!

I always feel like I walk back in time when I drink at Sunny's. I love the art work and the warm lights. The live music is good. I wish I had seen Black Velvet but I was out of town. The drinks are good and Tim Sultan, one of the bartenders, is a cool dude. read more

Big fan of this place. It's incredibly cool without even trying. Affordable drinks and live music. The crowd is very eclectic so you will not feel out of place no matter your age, who you are, or what your style is. There's even a back patio for the butt smokers. If you randomly find yourself in Red Hook one night, check it out. You will be transported to another decade and never want to leave. read more

Thank god this place survived. It'll take more than a hurricane to keep Sunny's closed. Different scenes on different days at different times. All great, in my opinion. They have multiple kettles of hot ciders going in the winter and they'll mix in any spirit you choose for that real warming kick, not that you'll need any more than the bar itself supplies just by being Sunny's. In the late '90s this place was a speakeasy, but not like the poseurs today. They just couldn't be bothered to get their liquor license and the cops apparently left them alone, until some new chief came to town and cracked down. They used to have cool neighborhood barbecues you could attend if you knew the password. I may have sentimental feelings for this place but it's still my favorite bar in New York. read more

Good people, great music, cheap drinks. Go on a Saturday for the bluegrass jam but go early--it's now so popular in recent years it gets packed in the back room. One of my favorite places in Brooklyn, hands down. read more

Great bar. Great space: backroom, patio, and bar. The bluegrass jam sessions are a lot of fun. The bathroom facilities are a bit lacking. And the beer selection and prices make you think of strip joints in the 1970s (in that it's all bad, in bottles, and expensive). read more

I just have to say, Sunny's is a magical place. It's like entering another zone or universe that exists somewhere in Brooklyn's past or distant future, alright I 'll stop with the mystical shit. I just can't quite explain the evenings spent there. For one thing, it's super friendly. You get the feeling with whoever happens to be in the bar when your there, that your all in this together or your here for the long hall. This is probably due to the fact that Sunny's is not that easy to get to at least without a car. The nearest subway stop is quite a hike but well worth it. It's old and has an amazing sordid history and Sunny himself can tell you many tales. Oh and Sunny is a beautiful man. You just have to go there to really understand. read more

This is a cool place to conduct parties like birth days parties. drinks are cheap and affordable. there is a lot that can be improved o their service delivery read more

You can't go to Red-Hook with out going to Sunny's Bar, well unless it is one of the nights it isn't open. Blast from the past. Had to ask the Bass player to move over a little so i could get to the Bathroom. Little cramped but great vib! Alot of Fun, very low key & not fancy! read more

I love this bar. It's practically impossible to walk in and not just feel so....good. I'm lucky enough to live about a fifteen-minute walk away, so the trek isn't trouble, thank goodness. Everyone inside always seems so jolly and kind, like it's another era, which I guess it sort of is in there. read more

Great space, fun place, staff is the best :) I stop by often and highly recommend!

Great gathering place, interesting people that is intimate and welcoming. Worth a trip to this little waterfront landmark on a Friday or Saturday night with exceptional views across the street to the Statue of Liberty. This little neighborhood place will not disappoint. read more

Sunny's Bar - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Great joint that quietly goes about the business of being a great bar. Look: This is a well kept and quiet "dive" bar. This reminds me of townie bar in central Oklahoma or rural Tennessee. It's functional and clean without appearing overly art directed or too intentional. To that end, the furniture was uniformly comfortable. The environment encourages conversation among patrons rather than about things on the walls. The back patio is pretty clutch as is the tight but functional "stage" in the back. Food/Wine: Chips would seem to be the extent of the grub on offer and they offer a narrow selection of American yellow beers and simple mixed drinks. The booze offering is adequate for catching up and having a chat with friends. Experience: Unobtrusive and efficient well describes the service. had a great time here mainly on the patio. This place is an excellent backdrop to enjoy friends with reasonably priced suds. seems just a bit twee, but we welcomed several groups over the course of the afternoon to the spot we'd claimed on the back patio and had great hour or so chillaxing. read more

Really cool bar for the summer, great outdoor area, but gets a little bit crowded.