There's a pretty good chance that I think too much about my reviews when I distinctly remember the conversation last night in which we debated whether or not this place deserved five stars, or was it a four star locale. Let's go to the tale of the tape. In the Queens corner, weighing in with 24 tap beers, a mid-90s Winamp* playlist, fantastic bartenders** and a dude with a drink named after him singing great Pearl Jam covers on a Saturday night, in the wood-trimmed trunks ... the challlllllllllllengeeerrrrrrrrrrrr ... Suuuuuuunnnnnnnnsssssssswwwwwwwwwwwick. Sunswick. And in the Brooklyn corner, weighing in at far more than he did prior to his trip out last night, the purveyor of fine brews the world over***, in the blue trunks with grey sweatshirt and unnnnddddddddisssputttttttteeeeed heavyweight champion of the worrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrllllllllld, me! There are lots of bars in New York, and certainly plenty in the area near where I live, but what makes it likely that I'll make the trip back is that the bartender (Jared) is fantastic. There's a lot to be said for how comfortable the guy or gal behind the bar makes the clientele and never have I felt more comfortable in a bar then I did at Sunswick. There are twenty-four beers on tap, and Jared knows them all. I picked the first one I had and after that, I relied entirely on his suggestions and not only did he not steer me wrong, after two 10% alcohol beers, he made sure to slow me down so that I wouldn't be passed out on the train back home. At the end of the day a bar's a bar's a bar, and what makes this five stars is what makes me want to come back all the way from Brooklyn -- the beers, the bartender and Mr. Cain, the man with the great voice & his own drink singing Pearl Jam songs on an acoustic guitar.**** * - It really whips the llama's ass. ** - Ask for Jared, he's the bomb. *** - Or at least the five boroughs over. **** - The number one way to woo my heart, apparently. read more

I have never written a review on Yelp before, as I generally don't like to commit my opinions regarding establishments to writing. In particular I generally try to keep away from the negative. If I don't like a place, I'd rather just stay away, and never recommend it. But the quality of service at Sunswick is truly beyond the pale and to not warn others, would be a disservice to my neighbors. I've been here twice in the past month, and both times, the bartenders my wife and I encountered were completely incompetent and off-putting in their behavior. The last straw was during my most recent visit, when finally driven out by an insanely bad playlist. I approached the bar to ask for my check. As I had a tab going, I left my credit card with the bar, and after asking, they did not show me my check, but went ahead and ran the tab. I could have let that go, but it took them over 10 minutes to run card. Twice I asked what was going on, until finally I was like WTF?! During this whole ordeal, they largely ignored me, and when they finally delivered my check, the bartender gave me a sarcastic thanks, that I returned with a big fat zero on the tip. I've spent a good deal of my deal working in the bar/restaurant scene, as well as in other forms of customer service, so I tend to be very sympathetic to those who work in the industry. I know things get busy, and the job comes with a lot of crap. But never have I seen an entire establishment make it its mantra, to be so aloof, and completely ignorant to even the basic tenants of service. read more

Great spot of for a pint or three, as well as grabbing some higher quality pub grub. The burgers are good here, and the place is never packed. This is kind of interesting when you consider there's a museum, movie studio, movie theater, and shopping nearby. It's only a few blocks from other bustling streets with multiple pub options, but this is an old reliable when I'm in the area. I usually reserve a visit here for afternoon or evening, and if I'm eating, lunch or dinner. Depending on who you're with, this will fit the bill perfectly for an easy laid back food and drink option. It's not fancy, but it's not dingey either. Solid option all around. read more

Yes, there's a ton of beers here. Yes, people who enjoy drinking beers love it here. Yes, everyone's friendly and there's almost always a place to sit. But more important than all that -- the food! I absolutely come here to eat spinach dip*. Delicious, creamy, cheesy spinach dip. Heaven. *Er, I also--of course--come here to see my Brooklyn friends who may only ever come to Queens for this bar. You know who you are. read more

Great bar, cool people, very good beer selection. One thing you must try here: PLAY STARBUGS on the computer/console thing in the corner of the bar. Yes it'll cost you a dollar. But it's sooooo much fun. read more

Okay this one goes out to all the Boys in the Yard. This is NOT a good place to bring a date - possibly ever. last night I happened to make that mistake on a first date and let me assure you, I will not do that again. If you're feeling social, Sunswick is a great place to grab a drink, perhaps eat some delicious bar food, maybe play guitar hero on Monday's game night. But if you're looking for a secluded corner, to talk or perhaps throw an arm around the shoulder of your date, it isn't there... at all. Trust me I looked. I really looked. Just a word of warning kids - If however you do find yourself there on a date, leave and go a block up and a block over, there's a more suitable bar for you to make cow eyes at your gorgeous date without some dude murdering "my generation" on a plastic guitar. read more

Sunswick is my boyfriend's favorite spot. He knows it MUCH better than I do (he'll stop on his way home from work, throw down a beer quick and come home). I've been there a couple times though, and this is what I've gathered.... They've got an incredible draft selection: I think it's something like 26 beers on tap, and they're always changing them up. My boyfriend gets particularly excited when Bitburger makes an appearance. They treat him well: He somehow escapes from there with severe discounts and leftovers from 6 packs that they just give him because they have no use for them. They treat him TOO well: There is a certain bartender who enjoys flirting with my boyfriend in front of me. I reckon she'll also enjoys getting her 2 front teeth punched out. This is one reason a star is lost. Don't disrespect, son. Their food is actually good!: Try the chicken club with chipotle sauce. Yums. Also, the waffle fries. Be careful on "open mic night": WTF. We saw a band playing a washboard. It was so bad we actually were driven out of the bar. That's where the other part of that star went. Other than that, music is usually very good (they have one of those computer jukebox playlists and they let you pick the music if you want). This is definitely the best bar in the area....it's mostly hit, but be careful not to miss. read more

Food was okay, service was really really really slow. I felt bad though. It was the bartender who was working the bar and also the floor taking orders. We had a party of about 15 people (in town for a meeting) and the bartender and maybe 1 person were serving the entire restaurant. Not a huge place, but still. Also they couldn't split checks.. which was a pain. read more

It is with great sadness that I leave this 2 star review for what is normally a great bar. Tonight I joined my friends for bingo! It was a lot of fun, and the prize is beer! It's a great selection of craft beer and good food. However, the service was unacceptable. It pains me to say this, as I used to wait tables myself, and normally find any way to justify poor service. But the attitude that was displayed toward our table was terribly rude. She wasn't just unfriendly or having a bad day, she was off putting. We endured this bad attitude the entire time we were there, and then this: We were very lucky that night and won 5 beers. Only 4 were removed from the check. When we went to talk with her about it, she was very dismissive and insinuated that we were lying. As we were about to give up and forget about it, she finally agreed (with much huffing and hand gestures) to remove the beer (which we won) from the bill. What a nightmare. I'm sad to say that I never want to go to Sunswick again. read more

So since I've been back from law school, the 'Swick has seriously up'd their game. Their bar had a makeover - there's now a screen behind the bar with up to the minute information regarding their tap offerings - and they have improved all time delay issues that used to plague their business. Bottom line: beer selection excellent, food excellent, service excellent. Love this place. read more

I've only been drinking at Sunswick for five months, but I dream about suckling the taps. In just a few weeks, I drank twelve fantastic Belgian ales, sampled the finest selections from Stone Brewery (including the Oaked Arrogant Bastard) and won Trivia Night with my team! And that says nothing about the food... For a small, outwardly conventional bar, Sunswick has delicious food. I recommend the chimichangas, potato jackets and lobster corndogs for a latenight snack. If you're truly prepared, the two-person paella literally pulses with sea creatures. The Oriental salad is excellent as a lighter choice. The only downside is the music...I'm not sure whose idea it was to blast late '90s butt rock into the bar at all hours, but I try my best to ignore it. Please, this isn't Studio Square. Regardless, anyone who enjoys a quality pint should stop by without delay. read more

If I lived in this neighborhood, then Sunswick would be my neighborhood bar. I've been once during the late afternoon, when it was pretty empty but not dead, and once on a weekend night, when it was pretty crowded but not packed to the gills. The pub grub was pretty good - the jalapeno poppers were bigger than expected, the mozzarella sticks were hot & stringy, and the guacamole with homemade blue corn chips was really tasty. Nice that they have a comfy couch where you can just sit and chill. They also seem to have a pretty full roster of weekly events - everything from karaoke to stand-up comedy to live music. Something for everyone, I guess. Too bad Sunswick isn't in my neighborhood, otherwise I'd give it that 5th star. read more

This place is a hidden gem in Astoria. Excellent craft beers on tap and an amazing array of tasty food. A cozy bar for all. I will be back! read more

Sunswick 3535 Bar - One more round! - Bars Near Me - Astoria, New York

Pretty solid spot with a ton of beers on tap (probably about 20 or so). It's pretty dimly lit and can get pretty darn packed in there. The beer menu was up to date and extremely helpful when ordering since there wasn't a menu posted behind the bar. I ordered the turkey burger, and mistakenly thought it'd be like a regular beef burger, but made with ground turkey. It ended up being more like a turkey or chicken breast sandwich that was super dry. Maybe they should note that it's a turkey breast sandwich, burger is a bit misleading. Oh, and maybe not as dry next time :) My mouth felt like it turned into sandpaper while continuing to eat sandpaper. I went back another time and ordered the quesadilla and nachos, which were actually superb. The variety of beer, chill environment, and good service warrant the 4 stars. read more

My fiance used to live close to this bar which is how we happened upon it - and we are so glad we did. I consider myself a pretty well-versed craft/micro-brew/international beer drinker....and this place ALWAYS has a wonderful mix of some hard-to-find favorites as well as plenty of things I've never heard of and am all too glad to have a chance to try. As others have mentioned, the beer list is constantly rotating on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis. Costs are kept low due to non-standard glass sizes - great if you don't want a whole pint of your 10% ABV beer...since you have at least 5 more delicious things to try! Food is slightly above average bar fare - my favorites are the pulled pork sandwich, nuclear wings, and chili with blue corn chips - but let's be serious....you're here for the beer. We still make the 25+ minute hike from the other side of Astoria to drink here - totally worth it. read more

Needed a new place in Astoria and found Sunswick on Yelp. Headed there after a bloating Chicago Uno dinner w/ the girlfriend. The beer selection was both impressive and overwhelming. Took us 10 minutes to decide what to take to the head. I had the Dogfish Head IPA and the gf had some Czech beer. Jared the "Head Bartender" could be woodyi at times in a beer snob condescending way. Got to see him be a total jerk to a young guy who brought back his vodka cocktail because he couldn't taste the vodka. I've seen the gf and other friends do this many times with mixed drinks. Not really my type of move, but some people get jammed up. HB Jared tells the guy he is too drunk (he wasn't at all) to taste the booze and dumps his drink in the sink. Definitely a different perspective on customer service. Would have been nice if they would offer you a taste of a beer you are considering. Something I've seen done at Effen Gruven, which is a first-class beer emporium in Bellmore, Long Island. I got stuck w/ a way too strong Arrogant Bastard Ale that could take the paint off a fire hydrant Was expecting good things from Sunswick based on the reviews I read here on Yelp. You can have the best selection in the 5 boroughs, but if the people pulling the pints are obnoxious, stars are subtracted and me and gf exit and look for a better fit. read more

One of my favorite places in Astoria. So many good things to say about this place I think the only way to do it justice is with bullet points: -Impressive line of taps -constantly rotating -with beers i have never heard of or seen elsewhere -exremely knowledgable bartenders that help to recommend said beers -great food (especially the wings and sweet potatoe fries) -good music playing -next door to the movie theatre making it a must do after any movie good or bad (sometimes before-hand) -Very reasonable prices based on the beers you are getting (meaning as I stated in other reviews, its ok to charge a bit more for uncommon beers, just not for staples) for such an awesome place I feel that this was a boring review, just go, but call me first and ill meet you there. :) read more

My favorite in Astoria!! Great beer selection and the pub grub is good as well. The beer list is written out on a chalkboard above the bar. The bartenders are really good about describing a beer if you have a question about one. I would recommend the burger with waffle fries. I have never been there for a game but have seen a projection screen and a few flat screens which show local games. There is a computerized jukebox that has just about every artist under the sun. Sunswick is a good spot to hit up after the movies or on a quite Saturday night. read more

Even though it wasn't on the menu, they whipped up some mashed potatoes for my mashed potato craving wife - awesome. Tons of beer on tap, the food was all really solid, the game in HD in the background and the music was a good mix and wasn't too loud What more do you want? It's a great place to sit, chill, and have a good time. The bartendress was also really nice and helpful. read more

Thanks to previous Yelp reviews, we stopped by this bar the other night. oh my oh my !!!! sooo glad we did! The bar was smaller than I thought I would be, so was actually perfect for my taste for neighborhood, cozy bar :) Great beer selection on tab! And of course what makes the bar perfect is a great bartender who cares about patron including new ones! lol If you are not familiar with their beer, just tell him that...He will find something you are going to like for sure! With his recommendation, I enjoyed my Chocolate stout and nice wings! read more

Danny P. said my review of this place should be "I think this place was awesome." I'm agreeing. And it's completely useless of me to say otherwise. Tons of beer on tap for a really good price. Awesome music (I still love my 90s music). Even awesomer bartender (Jared (which coincidentally is Danny P.'s hockey name, no relation)) who is really well-versed in the rotating beer list that he can find a beer for every drinker. This is a talent and a half. There was food of which I should've partaken more. A little (and a lot) of strong beer goes a very, very long way (to my liver). Did my Mom text me at 11pm? Did I drunkenly text her back? Yes. It was that kind of night. Sorry Mom! read more

To my demise Angie Martinez was throwing his picnic party at Studio Square. I would have really loved to enter that evening, paying the $25 dollar cover and hanging out with some of the individuals coming in wearing their jeans around their ankles but alas we decided to venture elsewhere. Luckily we found Sunswick. Nice looking bar, lots of televisions for the games we wanted to watch. Great selection of brews on tap. The food was stellar as well. Not the largest of places but it got the job done. For a pub/bar I wouldn't say there was much room to meet new people unless you sat yourself next to someone at the bar, which could be packed during a game. Good experience, worth coming through and checking out. read more

Having been burned before by "Craft Beer Roulette" I was both excited and slightly trepid about checking out Sunswick. I love beer but unfortunately I can be a bit picky in what beers I'll drink. With Sunswick's 24 beers on tap I was hoping I would find something I liked. Problem was, when I went there I was completely overwhelmed with the selection. The bartender, sensing my dismay, quickly probed me for questions to determine what type of beer I should try. I mentioned I liked darker, heavier beers and he commented that it wasn't really the season (this was back in late summer), so huge plus for not just saying "too bad we don't have any". Further probing and he finally decided on three different beers of a similar type. He gave me some samples and said to let him know which I preferred. Of course now I can't remember the name of the beer, but he made a great suggestion. This bartender really made sure I got a beer I would enjoy. You would think this kind of knowledgeable bartending would be present at anywhere you have a bunch of different craft beers but trust me, I've been to a number of them and only once or twice have I come across a place like Sunswick that seems to really care that you get something you'll enjoy. If you like the idea of a rotating beer selection and want to be sure of getting a great drink then check them out, you won't be disappointed. read more

The perfect bar. Delicious food, great prices and friendly service. The vibe is icing on the cake. My boyfriend and I can't wait to go back for all the things on the menu we have yet to try and surly love. read more

Swick's! My neighborhood bar. And, one that just so happens to have 25 different beers on tap and in bottle. Neighborhood atmosphere and top notch selection. How can you beat that? Pretty good burgers as well. It's a little bit expensive, but the atmosphere is great and they have fun events each night of the week. I'm a trivia night fiend. read more

I love cheese burgers with homemade bun, grill cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Great job guys. I like this bar. Thanks.

Very chill vibe and good selection of drinks! Music isn't loud so you can actually hold conversations.

I recently moved to 35 Ave, so the Sunswick is my "local", as the Brits say. And let me tell you, I couldn't be more excited to live across the street from such an amazing place! I've already been 3 times in little over a week Important things first: this place is like a beer museum. 25 craft beers on tap. TWENTY-FIVE! Most bars this size seem to have 3 - 4. They even had two from my hometown of Boulder, CO. What's more, the staff are knowledgeable about the selection and are able to make suggestions. The prices range from $5 for a glass of Ithaca Apricot Wheat to $9 for Chimay. The food is a fairly standard bar menu of beer complements (burgers, mozzarella sticks, etc.), but inventively and deliciously prepared. The moz sticks seem to be a local favorite and rightfully so - these are far from your typical recently-defrosted, oily cheese logs. The atmosphere is just the right mix of lively and relaxed. Raucous enough to have fun, but subdued enough to have a conversation. The patronage are of the hip Brooklynesque persuasion, but toned down about 10 notches - there's not an ironic Civil War-era moustache in sight. I've attended both Trivia Night on Wednesday (80's cult comedy quotes theme!) and Live Music on Saturday (fun Tom Waits-inspired band) and both were a great time. If you want to show your friends why Astoria is the new vanguard of hip in the outer boroughs - take them to the Sunswick! read more

For my 100th review, I think it's only right to talk about something in my own neighborhood. I went to Sunswick on a Thursday night. I normally don't go to bars in Astoria because no one else wants to schlep out here and the ones around me are mostly Irish pubs, so this was a rarity. Sunswick has a lot going for it. 24 beers on tap, and interesting beers too--even a lambic! An impressive bar menu with basically every single kind of drunk food you could possibly want. A good amount of seating and enthusiastic bartenders. Thursday night happened to be their karaoke night, clearly b/c either the owners or regulars have awesome voices and like to sing. The bartender belted out Jeremy and he sounded just like Eddie Vedder. I am usually not a fan of public karaoke but I didn't roll my eyes once! Downsides: The music was WAY too loud for talking (even when it was between karaoke songs). And the bar has a bit of an overproduced feel. From the outside it looks like it's going to be a dive bar where you can sit and chill but inside with the loud music and disco lights, it felt like they were trying to do a bit too much all at once. Also, it was on the pricey side for Astoria. Sunswick is located near a bunch of not-so-great things coming into Astoria on 35th Ave. I've only been here a little more than half a year and in that time, an Applebee's, a Panera and a Starbucks all opened up by the UA movie theater. There's also a Pizzeria Uno right there. So at least there's Sunswick doing its own thing and appealing to the youngish, new people in the neighborhood. They just need to decide whether they're a dive bar or a party bar (and I hope they pick dive!). read more

I've been going to Sunswick off and on for seven or eight months now. It topped my list of Astoria bars for several months running. The bartenders are super friendly and the crowd is usually chill; however, with the addition of the "new" beer garden down the street, there tends to be a fair amount of obnoxious frat boys that spill over here on the weekends. The food is i mixture of solid bar fare along with some really unique options, like lobster corn dogs, which are actually really yummy. The ambiance leans towards a sports bar and It's an alright place to watch a game. They've also got trivia, karaoke, and game nights through the week. All around nice neighborhood bar, too bad it's at the other end of Astoria from me. read more

I've spent many nights at Sunswick over the past 3 years of living on "that side of Astoria." I love going in and always being surprised by something new on tap which I will try just based on principle alone. I had a favorite bartender here, but sadly has since left. The food is pretty decent here too, so if you are craving some good bar food, don't be scared! :) The place is small and filled with regulars and other Astoria locals.. depending on the night there will be different crowds -- several tvs that will have "the game" on and other nights its karaoke or live music. I love going on a Sunday when it's chill and you can just sit and have a beer and b.s. with the bartender. A little bit of something for everyone. read more

Get the wings. They are amazing as is the rest of the bar food. I would caution you away from the burger, but everything else will really impress. Amazing draft beer selection that they'll let you sample to your hearts desire. Real close to the movie theater, and this is a great spot to hit up before and after. Also good for any random night looking for mischief. read more

Great beer and food selection. Tvs for sports. Corner bar aspect with couches, plenty of tables, bar seating and even high tops by windows that open to the avenue. Good ambience during happy hour. Will be back for sure. read more

I feel the need to update my review. I really, truly love this place and think it ranks among the best of the best in Astoria. The food is consistently good---everything on the menu. It's fresh, cooked to order, and not your typical bar grub. There is a definite focus on quality. The beer...an everchanging selection that is sure to please every palate. Every single one of my friends who are self-diagnosed "non beer drinkers" have found something they like here (you can sample as many beers as you want). Thurs Karaoke night. SOOO MUCH FUN. Amazing crowd. Great vibe. Best of all...unlike those stupid Manhattan joints where all of the aspiring actors who are really waiters sing...this place is full of people who are just having a good time. It does get crowded though! read more

Great neighborhood bar. I stopped in for a drink w/ a friend & bartender and the rest of the staff were super friendly. It was about 2 in the morning and I guess they just ordered pizza and they were nice enough to share with us. Def will come back. read more

Sunswick 3535 Bar - Bad Elf... not bad - Bars Near Me - Astoria, New York

No trip to Astoria would be complete without a stop at 35x35. Awesome craft beer selection, and they know their beer. The handles change with such frequency, they have the menu up on a flat screen. Food always looks great, but... have always had other reservations. Will make a trip for lunch here at the end of Aug when i'm back. I can't say enough good about the staff. I don't know if they were owners, managers or what... but they all felt like owners. That much pride in their work. read more

See all

This was a nice bar. The beer selection was sizable and there are plenty of seats to sit at. It's clean, dimly lit and has sports on the TVs if that's your thing. (Not mine!) I was there on a Wednesday, randomly, so I missed out on all the "nights" they seem to have - karoke, games, etc. It seems like the place to go for you social butterflies out there. They also have food, but alas, I did not partake. I had some very delicious beers instead. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE! Great atmosphere, amazing staff, and good food! Their fries are amazing and the salads are great. If you are in Astoria, you MUST check this place out! read more

This isn't just my favorite bar in Astoria, it's my favorite in NYC. Why? 1) Just the best atmosphere. This place has no pretensions at all. Everyone from hipsters to Ironworkers come in here and get along. They always play fun music. The waitstaff is attentive, polite, and fun. 2) 20-something beers on tap. Always interesting selections and the staff will help you pick something you like. 3) Awesome bar food. Quality taste and ingredients. I've never come here and had anything other than a great time. It is the perfect neighborhood bar. read more

GREAT Beer and GREAT Fried Pickles. As innnn the best Fried Pickles ive ever had. I would come here just for the pickles. The bartender is awesome and always suggests the right IPA (for which they have an abundance of), and lets me sample to make sure im always satisfied. Also a source of happiness (especially when drinking beer) is the vast selection of Fries - shoestring, sweet potato, french and waffle. YES PLEASE ill take all four, thank you. read more

Sunswick 3535 Bar - Love this place - Bars Near Me - Astoria, New York