The Cactus Shop is the kind of place that makes Williamsburg dining feel fun again. We went for dinner at 231 Kent Ave, and honestly, it's worth going for the vibe alone--but the food and drinks make it a place you'll actually want to come back to. The second you walk in, you feel transported. The whole space is beautifully curated and feels like a Michelin-level cocktail bar collided with a Mexico City street food spot in the best possible way. It has personality, energy, and that rare "experience" factor that so many places try to manufacture but almost never pull off. The mocktails were seriously impressive--not an afterthought at all, but truly at the level of a craft cocktail program. I got the strawberry mule, and it had an incredible depth of flavor: refreshing, layered, balanced, and just genuinely delicious. For food, we ordered the guacamole and chips, esquites, zucchini blossom quesadilla, mushroom pibil tostada, shrimp tacos, and birria tacos. Everything was top notch, but the esquites absolutely stole the show. Everyone at the table kept going back for more. Even the chips tasted incredibly fresh, which tells you a lot about the attention to detail here. The rest of the meal was just as strong--beautifully plated, packed with flavor, and clearly made with care. Every dish felt like its own little flavor journey. The tacos were rich and satisfying, the mushroom dishes had real depth, and nothing felt one-note or thrown together. Service was also excellent: friendly, attentive, and on point without being overbearing. The whole dinner felt smooth from start to finish. If you're in Williamsburg, walking the Kent Ave waterfront, or looking for a spot before or after hanging around that part of Brooklyn, The Cactus Shop is absolutely worth it. Great atmosphere, standout mocktails, creative Mexican-inspired food, and a genuinely memorable dinner. read more

The Cactus Shop - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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very cute place for dinner! I came here with friends for cinco de mayo. Their birria was $15 and their michelada was $8 I believe. The michelada was really good and the birria was great and came with 4. Service was fast and the restaurant was busy so make sure to make a reservation read more

The Cactus Shop - Birria Tacos Michelada - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

If you're in the area I think this is a great dinner option. Nothing blew my mind, but everything was tasty and we all left satisfied. Had an early weekend dinner reservation for 4 people and it wasn't very crowded. A bit hard to tell from the outside, but great ambiance and quite spacious inside. Casual fun vibes, would be good for groups. Service was great as well. Food: ordered the below and enjoyed. -Guacamole & Chips: says spicy, but didn't find it to be so, which I was happy about. -Salsa & Chips -Esquites: has a mild kick. -Chicken Tinga Quesadilla: standard but exactly what I wanted. -Birria Tacos: comes with 4. Person who ordered enjoyed. -Shrimp Tacos: comes with 4. Person who ordered enjoyed. read more

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I came here for a friend's birthday and was very pleased. The music was great and food was ever better. The meat was well seasoned. The drinks were also delicious and strong. Servers were attentive. Highly recommended! read more

The Cactus Shop - Drinks menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Stumbled on The Cactus Shop while killing time after putting my name down at some other spot and honestly, fate deserves a raise. This place was an accidental win that turned into one of the better decisions I've made in a while. The bartender was chill, welcoming without being fake about it. The drinks? Strong enough to shut up the voices in your head for a bit. And the birria tacos? HIT. Like, messy-in-a-good-way, juice-dripping-down-your-hand, why-didn't-I-order-more type hit. I didn't plan to end up here, and now I'm already plotting my return for a full deep dive. This spot is on to something. read more

The Cactus Shop - Bartender. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Another date night. I've been wanting to try this place. We came on a Sunday. I wasn't aware that there's a completely different menu on Sunday's but we made the best of it. The food and service was good, but we'll need to come back to try other things on their menu. read more

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DO NOT GO, Unless u want rude customer service! had an 8:30 pm reservation for a table for 3 in the patio area on Tuesday June 30.. we waited at the door for a few minutes...& Since no one came we preceded to make our way further inside...since it was our first time we didn't even know where we were going...after reaching the "patio" area we see a worker/table server & tell him we had reservations in Spanish..he Rudely cut us off & asked us to go back out to the front area & "check-in" in Spanish. As i tried to explain there was no one there , he angrily walked away. We go back towards the door & see a friendly young lady finally appear there...she greets us & takes us back to the same patio area that we were just at and sat us at a table. The same rude.guy from earlier sees us being seated and attends to others who came in way after us....& Basically ignored us. He made us wait 10 minutes before even giving us a menu. When he finally did, he Rudely asked us what we wanted & we told him we needed time to see the menu. We Reallllllllly wanted to give this place a chance...but with the kind of service from whomever that server was it was just SOOOOO awfully rude... That we couldn't take it & got up & walked right out. Hopefully he can work on his attitude & management realize the type of service he's giving to certain customers is awful! Ended up at another Mexican business in the area with WAYYYYYY BETTER SERVICE! No reservation needed & prompt FRIENDLY service! read more

Love the atmosphere here - very authentic decor & beautiful interior. The Birria tacos were so delicious, highly recommend. Not pictured = El Rey Margarita that was a perfect margarita (their most popular). Staff was great too! read more

The Cactus Shop - Birria Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

It's not advertised as a place to make reservations , very small location gets filled very quick . Not the place to go for cinco de mayo. Will not return , super disappointing and a waste of time. read more

The space and vibes are immaculate at The Cactus Shop. This is the perfect place to meet a friend for brunch or take a date. The food is delicious and the drinks are well crafted. My only critique is that portions are small. The huevos rancheros was excellent but there should've been at least one more on the plate, maybe even two. Everyone agreed the portions were disappointing. However, the service is underwhelming at best. We came with a group of 8 people for 12:30 brunch on a Saturday. We had a reservation and were quite literally the only people in the entire restaurant. It took them more than 5 minutes to find our reservation and another few minutes to set the table up. Again, we were the only customers there. Our food then took 40+ minutes to come out. There was solidly 30 minutes between the first entree served and the last. We were starving so this was really frustrating. If they were super busy this may have been more excusable but the place was empty and we ordered tacos and huevos rancheros. Not exactly complicated dishes if you have food prepped. Given this experience, I would advise against coming here with big groups. The staff doesn't seem able to accommodate them well. read more

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This place has speakeasy vibes! The front room feels like a home patio and the decor is very homey. We sat in the back which was heated. The guacamole was probably one of the best I've had and I think it's unique with plantain chips. The quesadilla did not skimp on chicken, they were thick!! The tacos were pretty good too! Servers were attentive and on it. My only wish is that the menu have not options. Overall, good vibes! read more

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I had a great meal on their (covered) patio for margs and tacos! The margarita prices are typical for the area ($17). I enjoyed the birria tacos ($19); they came with 4 instead of the usual 3, and the consomme wasn't too salty like a lot of places do it. read more

The Cactus Shop - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cute Ambience for a date night or evening out/brunch with friends. Drinks are good and strong, pricey. Food is also pretty good, but small plates and pretty expensive as well. Quick & friendly service, depends on the day / time, as we've experienced their rush during a Saturday brunch and were only able to sit at the bar, but on a weekday evening, we were able to be seated with no reservation upon arrival. read more

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A pleasant surprise that left us all satisfied and wanting more. At first, walking in, 30 minutes to closing, we were skeptical. Like why is it so dark, where is the restaurant, why are they closing so early when Google said they'd be open until midnight? However, we were sat immediately and served immediately. Our drinks and food were on point for being served to us in such a short time frame! Nothing missed the mark. We ordered the birria tacos, zucchini blossom quesadilla, and steak cecina tacos. For drinks, golden Cadillac, classic margarita, and the jungle quetzal (mocktail). The meat was plentiful on our meat dishes. The tacos were all so good. What really made my steak cecina tacos kick was adding the dark brown sauce from the guacamole and plantain app onto it. I believe it was mole sauce but I could be wrong!!! My friend, who is vegetarian, enjoyed her quesadilla and explained that it had an acquired flowery taste. Everyone's favorite was the appetizer, guacamole & plantains! So so good!!!!! I'd order 10 more of that. Lol. Highly recommend. Vibes are great with the music in the background... low lighting is cute for a date night as well. I'm always hesitant to eat Mexican food in NYC cus it always misses the mark and doesn't hit quite like Mexican food does in Virginia. But this place proved me wrong and was simply awesome. read more

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Great service, happy hour deals, and outdoor seating. I enjoyed the shrimp tacos, and chicken quesadillas. I don't even like avocados, but the avocado crema is so freaking good (I'm tasting maybe a hint of lime juice?!) The cocktails are top tier and seasonal; the Cactus Paloma (with grapefruit soda) is chef's kiss. read more

the ambiance had a lot of cultural but the prices were harsh... four birria tacos (smallest tacos ever) were $20 and they lacked a lot of flavor. The customer service and view saved this place. read more

The Cactus Shop - main dining area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Ambience is good, service was good. Only had drinks and elote. It was fine. The margarita was too sour and not very boozy. You pay for chips, just chips. No dips. Kinda fancy and high end. If the foods good (which I wouldn't know) than I guess go here. Maybe try to impress a date. If you want to hang with the friends and have drinks I would not. Too pricey and not good for that. read more

Not bad. Not amazing. Stopped in for a quick bite and a cocktail. Shared the spicy guacamole (not spicy at all) and also shared the pork belly tacos. Guac was fresh. Pork belly was a little dry and they could have been a little more generous with the frijoles, micro greens and red onions. Margarita was ok. Not $17 ok, but ok enough. I guess the decorative lime costs extra. That's all. read more

The Cactus Shop - Clásica margarita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Was in the area for a special event @ The W Loft across the street. While waiting, it was suggested that we were more than welcomed to grab a couple of cocktails at the Cactus Shop. A quaint and cozy bar, unfortunately we didn't have time to really explore the menu. However the drinks and Guac made a great impression that has me excited to return. Really nice and efficient staff, that did a great job with the large crowd that bombarded them all at once as we all flooded in. Just A Note: I believe that they are Cash-less. read more

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Great spot for a quick mexican food bite in williamsburg. the ambiance is so cute, cozy, and well decorated. my friends and i came for an early dinner reservation we ordered all different things but i got the flautas de birria which were so tender and delicious. may i add the serving was quite generous for an appetizer. my friends also enjoyed their food very much. our server also brought some churros out with sparklers for a friends birthday which were so sweet and delishhh!!! 10/10 def coming back read more

The Cactus Shop - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Love the decor and setup of this spot very cozy and private. It's small so it can get packed but it tends to have decent spacing so it doesn't feel full. I can say the drinks here are really good! I would say this is more of a drink spot and where you can grab some small bites. I have not tried their main dishes, but the tacos!!! The birria taco was juicy, hot, and very well seasoned. We loved the chicken adobado tacos too super good and the meat was very soft and moist. The taco masa taste house made which makes a difference in the texture and taste of the taco. For the drinks I got one to start off but it was too sweet in my opinion. The Frida royale was amazing, the champagne and the mezcal blended so well. It's such a good drink very different! The préndete drink was great too perfect balance and flavor they definitely use good quality mezcal here. The staff is all so welcoming and attentive and they make great recommendations always. Happy we came back. Not pictured but to go we got the tres leches and it did not disappoint! read more

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Never know what's gonna be behind the door. Enjoyed the very cute speakeasy in Brooklyn. Very low key spot that you wouldn't even know it's open haha but loved that aspect. Decor, food, hospitality, and just overall atmosphere was amazing. Could have stayed here all night if possible with how relaxing and peaceful it was. The food and drinks were very delicious as well. Definitely a place I would come for a drink or two and a light meal again. Would definitely recommend others to sit in for a good time . . read more

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I'd say this place is a semi speakeasy. It wasn't too hard to find. Very neat entryway. We sat at the bar. I love the ambiance and decorations. I wasn't too hungry so I started with a passion fruit sun-risa and then order birria flautas. The drink came in a cute glass with candy. The drink was a bit tart but other than that it was good. The candy was very sweet but good. The food didn't take too long to come out. It was perfect amount of food since I wasn't very hungry. I loved how the veggies were sprinkled on top but I wasn't sure if I just pick it off or leave it on then dip it in the consomme. The consomme was rich in flavors. I even drank it after eating all the flautas. Warning, it's salty by itself. The beef in the flautas weren't bad. It wasn't as juicy. I had to try and soak it in the consomme as much as I could. read more

The Cactus Shop - Flautas de Birria and PASSION FRUIT SUN-RISA - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This place has a very cool vibe and I do love the separate waiting entrance and glass door into the main area. The bar is a perfect place to grab a margarita with the right amount of spicy and mezcal! Please try this place if you are in the area! read more

The Cactus Shop - Classica Margarita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

A darling little restaurant and bar hidden in a cactus shop. So very Brooklyn. The side door in the shop leads you to the hidden bar and restaurant but don't miss the shop itself because there are cute little gifts and plants to check out! The bar is small, as most bars in Brooklyn are, but filled with personality and really cool decor. The decor is a mixture of religious artifacts, dia de los muertos, and lots of bright colors. Since we were day drinking, and a group of four, we opted to sit in the dining room so we had more space. The table ordered 3 margaritas and a michelada--all delicious. The margaritas were well made and with fresh ingredients. The michelada was packed with a lot of flavor and had some extra spice. It also came with a Tirolo straw which gave it some extra uumph and made it a very tasty drink. We ordered guac and plantain chips for the table, also delicious and freshly made. It was raining during our visit so I could only peek outside but there is some great outdoor seating for nicer weather. The dining room is small and very tight, but quaint and charming. read more

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I like secret. I like plant. I like taco. I like drink. I like low, low prices. But I don't like small, small portions. And that's where the Cactus Shop lost me. The tacos ($13) and the flautas ($13) were both appetizer sizes, so if you're hungry, prepare to double your order. The drinks, on the other hand, deliver in strength and size. In marg we trust, right? Try the Clasica to litmus test this place, the Besos Calientes for something spicier, the Cactus Paloma for citrus heaven, and the Prickly Pear Highball for pungency. Decor-wise, The Cactus Shop is a Mexican manic pixie dream girl come to life. However, the actual plant shop at the front is disappointingly tiny and woefully un-lush. It would've been nicer if they'd covered the entire place with cacti and other flora. read more

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The place has a cute Brooklyn vibe to it. Food wise we got the guacamole and chips, elotes, Flautas de Birria De Res, Shrimp Aguachile. When the guacamole came it was surrounded by fruit flies and there was a hair in it. I was creeped out and should have trusted my instincts and asked for a new one rather than be reassured by my husband it's fine. The drinks were good and had a kick to it. The flautas was average, not a lot of depth of flavor. The shrimp my husband didn't seem to like. The elotes were flavorful. Right after we left, my stomach was killing me the entire night and the next day. Should have taken the guacamole as a sign. I would come back but only for cocktails. read more

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Creative cocktails... Flavorful dishes... Beautiful space... Great energy... Be sure to visit! read more

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I walked in equal parts suspicious and hopeful: a succulent and margarita outfit in Williamsburg is a little too on-the-nose for millennial tastes. Would it be annoying or actually exactly what I wanted? Turns out, Cactus Shop is literally doing everything right. It might be missing a "wow!" factor, but I'd trade this for any of my neighborhood Mexican joints in Crown Heights. The food is great: good guacamole with an original twist of thin-sliced plantain chips, a smoky huitlacoche quesadilla and good solid birria tacos. We finished with the tres leches cake. The drinks? I always joke with my picky Virgo husband that my life's work is to take him out for Mexican food and have him not make a face at his first sip of the margarita. Not only did he nod in begrudging approval at Cactus Shop, he ordered two more of the same drink. A modern miracle. My drinks were pretty great too. On an anniversary dinner at 8 pm on a Friday, the place was surprisingly quiet, with lots of open tables and food that came out almost alarmingly quickly. (Like, our main dishes were on the table by 8:15.) Friendly and attentive service too, and an airy backyard that's covered for rainy evenings like ours. read more

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Knock knock, it's the cactus shop! Just kidding, we actually rang a doorbell. Strolling by on Kent Ave, it might be easy to miss but it's also a bright blue door. Upon the doorbell chime and the uneasiness of standing outside a purveyor without signs, someone opens up and shows you a beautifully decorated room filled with cacti and sorts. Then you're brought through another door for the dining experience. It was 6pm, so rather early; we were one of the first few seated. The tables were rather narrow which was an aesthetic choice but also smart to make space for more tables. We started with a beer and a shot, courtesy of Secret NYC! We got an order of birria flautas, tray of cauliflower tacos, and quesadilla callejera. I must've not eaten much earlier in the day because we ordered another tray of tacos when I realized there was a Tuesday special. Birria flautas was amazing with the consomme. The cauliflower taco was as good as it can be, but really can't compare to birria. The quesadilla was not my favorite. The mash potato could've been more seasoned to complement the chicken. My overall favorite is the taco Tuesday special where you get one of each taco for $12 - essentially getting to try each one of the four available. I am a little disappointed that the waiter didn't mention the Taco Tuesday special earlier but he was super attentive and honored the secret NYC limited beer and shot special. Overall would go back for fun and vibes. Place was full by the time we left. read more

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Cactus Shop in Williamsburg is a cactus shop by day and Mexican speakeasy by night serving cocktails and Mexican food in a festive, skeleton-accented back patio. We stopped by for some cocktails and enjoyed the Clasica margarita with a St. Germain float alongside a watermelon cooler. Cactus Shop is a fun place to grab drinks in the Williamsburg area read more

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5 freaking stars!!! Everything we had was delicious including the cocktails! Ambiance is a vibe (cute neon signs, plants, and metal cacti with string lights) and service was quick and excellent. We ordered 2 cocktails, guacamole, elotes, burria tacos and the mushrooms spicy tacos and shared between two - we were both super satisfied and full and loved literally everything. Will definitely be back next time we're in town. Bonus: Super cute plants (mostly cacti) in the front hostess area read more

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Overall rating: 4.68 Very, very happy with the price of drinks in Williamsburg always safe to make a reso but not sure if it's needed. There were ALOT of seats. Definitely leans more on the younger side (early 20s) than I would have liked. I went on a Wednesday so not sure if that influenced it at all. While it "is" a speakeasy, I feel like the space is so large, I didn't get the intimacy I wanted that I usually get from speakeasies. Also I didn't love the music choice. I'd definitely go back again with friends and maybe a 3rd or 4th date. Not sure, I'd come here on a first date. Would recommend giving it a try! read more

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Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Experience: 5/5 Came here to watch a game and grab a drink - this place did not disappoint. The guac and plantains were a great combo and the drinks were strong. They have 3 areas of seating: a bar up front, indoor tables, and "outdoor" covered seating in the back. They have a TV in each of the large seating areas. This place would be great for a large group, but you will need to arrive early or make a res. We didn't get much food, but the food looked amazing and there were many people enjoying brunch. The staff were all very kind and attentive despite there being so many people. Odd recommendation, but you should check out their cool bathroom. What we ordered: * Horchata * Classic Margarita * Guacamole - Plantains Things to know: * make a res; lots of seating but popular spot * strong drinks, but slightly pricey read more

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Great spot for a warm weather happy hour! Their backyard is an absolute vibe and perfect spot for a birthday, chill hang, or a date. We got the plantain chips and guacamole, and churros, a solid pairing for our Michelada/Modelo and Chikila Mule. Prices leans towards Manhattan cocktail prices, but definitely expected for the ambiance and quality of the drinks. Definitely will be coming back! read more

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Came here a while ago and it's one of those speakeasies that is actually welcoming and accepting of newcomers. During the day it is a plant shop and at night all you have to do is knock on the door and someone will let you in. they have the most adorable outdoor seating and the drinks here, though pricey, are really good. If you're not trying to bar hop (or honestly even if you are), this is a great place to have a few drinks and call it a night (or start the evening). I hear the food is great, as the friend who took us claimed, but I haven't tried it. I will say that though they close at 2, you shouldn't expect to be let in at 1:30 (been there and sadly failed). Oh, and for those who care, music slaps-- reggaeton hits all the way. read more

Didn't have food, but the tequila mezcal flights during happy hour is so worth. 3 flavors, totally different and it makes even the more squeamish of mezcal drinkers more open minded. The fruits were covered in tajin too read more

I have a soft spot for this place because I've found myself returning time and time again. I would rate this close to 4.5 only because it is quite pricy. The drinks are solid and the Baja cauliflower tacos are some of the best of that genre that I've had. I like the Besos Calientes. The drinks are on the pricier side, so that's the only downside. Music is perfect, I wish they turned the place to a dance spot in the late evening! Shoutout to the staff as well, they're great. read more

If you're walking down the street, this spot is easy to miss. Make sure you keep your eyes open and don't forget to try the churros!! read more

The Cactus Shop - Churros - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The Highlights- authentic food and ambiance with plenty of tequila and mezcal's on deck Can never go wrong with a night out for authentic Mexican. Went for dinner over the weekend and felt transported to Sinaloa (the chef's hometown). If you're into spicy cocktails like me, try the "besos caliente", it's sure to please the palate. I ordered the shrimp aguachile which is a cold dish and thus reminded me of ceviche. It was flavorful and mildly spiced, I would order as an appetizer next time. The churros were okay, wish they were bought to the table a bit warmer. Both food and drinks came out really quick which was impressive. Our waiter, "Sebastian" was pleasant and didn't steer us wrong with his recommendations, thanks Sebastian! Reservations are recommended as they have a lively night and weekend atmosphere. There was a curated playlist of salsa playing in background for ambiance. Overall Experience- cute for date night or dinner with friends. read more

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