I had the pleasure of visiting this incredible spot with my dear friend Jelani and had the chance to speak with one of the founders Jimmy. Over 20 years ago, they planted a seed that grew into a vibrant, plant-filled haven surrounded by sunflowers and lush trees. Here is why this place is an absolute must-visit: Unbeatable All-Day Happy Hour: Available from opening at 10:00 AM until 7:30 PM, featuring specials on empanadas, organic broths, pickled root veggies, and their Niçoise sandwich. Standout Menu Highlights: Famous for their variety of empanadas, deep-fried locally sourced seasonal fish, organic fried goat, and organic fried chicken. Off the Grill: Authentic Suya-seasoned organic chicken, Halal goat, Halal beef, and seasonal veggies--all served with fresh red onion and tomatoes. Plant-Based Specialties: Excellent vegan options like bean cake balls (Akara) and steamed bean cake (Moi Moi). Drink Deals: Beer & shot combo ($15), 2 Heinekens ($12), 2 Coronas ($14), pure pineapple mimosas ($16), fire tonic Bloody Marys ($9), sangria ($9), and sangria flights ($24). Great Atmosphere: Open until 10:00 PM on weekdays and midnight on weekends, featuring live music, comedy nights, and private events. You will never truly appreciate this place until you step inside, but once you do, you'll be an instant regular. Located in a phenomenal neighborhood that has become part of my roots, this spot is a true staple! read more

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The physical space was great, and the bartenders and staff were all quite cheery. Came here for a FIFA World Cup watch party, and the stream repeatedly went out. At least 4 to 5x extremely disappointing. read more

Art Cafe + Bar - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The atmosphere and the people that work there were great, but the food was genuinely so inedible. Im not a picky eater and I couldn't even finish it. It also said it was going to be $12 ended up being $17. read more

Everything was bad. I hate leaving reviews but I felt like I needed to do a service. This place was terrible. 15 bucks for an empanada that actually ended up being 20. We were the only ppl there at the time and it still took 30 mins. The chef was actually outside sitting like a customer just drinking and smoking lol. We saw him coughing and sneezing and sounded like he was kinda dying in the back. The problem is we never saw him go to the sink to wash his hands or anything. Then after the long wait we noticed the thing was burnt and pretty much uneatable ( and I can eat anything). Needless to say this was the worst 20bucks Iv spent in a long time read more

Art Cafe + Bar - King King Sized Ground Beef Empanada - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This was hands down the worst dining experience I've ever had in the city. Over $60 wasted on food that came out burnt, overly spicy, and completely inedible.To make it worse, the cook was literally sitting around smoking before heading back into the truck -- with no sign of washing his hands. When I complained, the waitress brushed it off saying, "That's how it's made -- burnt." Unacceptable. Overpriced. Unsanitary. DO NOT eat here. Save your money and your stomach. I never been more disappointed. I felt robbed. Did not even finish half of the food nor got refunded--absolutely nothing. read more

Great spot Thursday night had poetry some drinks and their delicious empanadas we had 4 forgot to take pic of the last 2 had the kale and fish jerk shrimp , beef and chicken cheddar the sauce are delicious the spicy sauce had great flavors and the basil one outstanding! The bartender from Sweden was a delight to talk too , spot is so cute with a beautiful outdoors can't wait to come back for summer poetry ! read more

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PLEASE DONT WORK HERE OR EAT!....This place can easily fool you. I was told I would make $24/hr as a bartender but it was actually $12. You're a machine to the owners not a human being. You are a prep- cook(chef), an organizer(moving heavy boxes), dishwasher , and anything they feel like you are. It's very sketchy and concerning. very low-vibrational space. The owners are scary and shouldn't be in the food industry. He sits in the kitchen all day just cutting his nails by the food, smoking weed, cigars and drinking alcohol. I've seen him yell at his wife, another worker and hit his kid in the chest. A lady asked for a refund because he placed her food in a dirty container then asked me to clean off 20 dirty containers (The dirt didn't come off). The most unhinged environment, I'm not sure how they are still open. He definitely needs to be investigated because he has to be a scammer. Then the wife's energy gives "damsel in distress". She seems so cold ( I'm pretty sure she hates her life). Please don't come into this business!! Don't support people that are harmful!!! read more

The ambiance is nice and it's pretty relaxing to have fans and a cool AC in the hot summer heat. The Wi-Fi isn't strong enough for co-working. The white sangria was not enjoyable. read more

Art Cafe + Bar - White Sangria - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cute concept Nice owner Indoor and outdoor seating Artsy and hipster Would definitely come and have an early drink with a friend Would also love to see the different events they host The area is safe and family friendly Parking can be complicated depending on the day and time I did not taste the food but would come more for drinks The iced coffee was pretty good and he has different kinds of milk for ppl with milk intolerance. Will return to try another beverage. read more

This is a fool me once restaurant. Shame on me for not reading reviews beforehand. I came with high hopes and left disappointed. The food was over-fried, over peppered and generally not good. The drinks were questionable at best. What was sold as rum punch tasted like sangria and included bits of fruit that were far from fresh. The space is a great space, with great potential, but the food is bad enough that returning to try again wouldn't be worth the effort. read more

Super cute spot and great for the outdoor space to just sit and have a drink. Its a cool date spot as well and really chill. It took us a long time to get served, they do have a waitstaff but we finally went inside to order our drinks after about half an hour. The patio is pretty large with about 7-8 tables and they have a large table in the back for bigger groups. It's not loud (don't think popping music) but like a relaxed patio experience. I tried the Ginger lemon basil drink which was perfect for the day and my friend got the watermelon drink which was a little over-lemoned for my taste, but he liked it. read more

DO NOT WORK HERE! Or eat here honestly. Jimi hired me as a bartender saying I would make 25/hr, but only made 12. Jimi (owner) was constantly drinking and smoking weed and then berating me for insignificant things (like putting a candle 2 inches away from where he wanted it, and sweeping the seating area in a counterclockwise direction instead of clockwise). Almost no customers because of his hostile attitude and general unhinged behavior. During the single week I worked there he hired and fired two other bartenders. He finally ended up firing me for not scrubbing the ginger thoroughly enough, and the customers that witnessed it were so shocked that they took me out to dinner afterwards. read more

Worst food I've ever had. Overpriced, everything burnt to a crisp, over peppered, drinks had old rotting fruit-the portions were insanely tiny. There is a to. If potential but please get a real cook! A deep fryer is not a cook. I was really disappointed-it doesn't take a lot to make a somewhat decent plate of rude and beans. Heck-order it in! read more

Very kind people, great place to hang and have some food and drinks after a walk in the park. Good people, good atmosphere, good memories to be made. read more

A warning to anyone who may try to work here. Do not. They are scammers and will have you doing deep cleaning and inventory for them as a bartender, and then fire you from training before they pay you. I was screwed out of two days of pay beacuse I was "fired" because I spoke to a customer. Meanwhile I am a bartender and that is my job. Not a single person came in over the 3 days I was there except for one person, and she was somehow the reason I was let go. They get you by saying they will pay you once you complete your training, but they just fire you before it is complete for invalid reasons. This is a very unprofessional environment, and the owners do not treat their new employees fairly whatsoever. I had high hopes about this place but was very dissapointed. Would not recommend. read more

Does community mean the world to you? It means that much to me. Connecting with others of the human race, flawed and messed up as we all are, especially here in Gotham. Come to have the spicy Sorrel infused Margarita, just one of the cocktails created by Brianna Rose, co-owner of this corner of bliss. It is a labor of love, which was once a detail shop for race cars. 'Jimi Gureje created the place from those bones. Next door to the cafe is the retail shop where his hand-made clothing and jewelry from places like Nigeria, where he was born. I went into the retail shop one night in mid-December. That is how I found the place originally. I am a clothes horse. I have met so many lovely, positive, family-minded people here. It is my happy place. There is a garden. There are art exhibits, poetry readings, Raga music on Wednesday nights. But mainly, it is about the people -- especially the littlest ones. The children. They are so welcome here. Tiffany or Ryan will likely make your cocktail. Tell them Karen sent you. read more

Art Cafe + Bar - The soaring painting you see behind the cello player is Ryan Bartell. His work is on view until the end of January. - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Cute spot. Love the ambiance. Looking for somewhere to chill and stumbled in. I wasn't blown away by the chicken gouda empanadas the waitress raved about. My friend loved her rum punch. My favorite part of the experi was the outdoor seating. read more

The food was absolutely terrible. Please ask exactly what is in the food before ordering so that you are not surprised when you get your meal. The aoli sauce were poorly done and tasted like pure lemon. The waitress had an attitude and our food was served 20 minutes apart. There were dogs roaming around where people were eating and not all of the workers were masked. When we attempted to get my card and pay cash, after being told we could, an incident transcended where the owner put his hands on my partner, while I was berated by his wife as she tried to film. We were then ambushed by other attendees. This restaurant appears to be friendly and open but is not COVID regulated and racist. BLACK PEOPLE DON'T BE FOOLED, not all of us are welcome. read more

Underwhelming we ordered a Heineken, Corona, 4 mini empinadas (two chicken two vegetarian), one regular sized vegetarian, and an order of plantíns. It came up to 39.72. There was barely any plantains in the empinada mostly rice and beans and when I say barely I mean a singular piece. $8 They claim to make a fresh basil and aioli sauce which guess what you're paying for, but does the bartender tell you ? No, it just shows up on your bill. The bartender washes dishes in a sink by the bar and places utensils on the counter. The bar was dead on a Saturday, maybe because it's not summer? Apparently they've been open 8 years and it seems no one has made any changes since. Definitely could use a revamp. read more

If you ever miss the feeling of being home, this place gives you all the lovey, cozy, comforting vibes. Especially if I'm feeling under the weather because their magical concoction Therma Brew is made of all the love from all the mamas and nanas thinking about the children they love. The staff is so friendly and charming - it's easy to get stuck sitting at the bar with them. Great community vibe and cool art. FRESH patio area with chill movies projected huge onto the building next door. It's the jam! Great for large parties and very family friendly! read more

Absolutely atrocious place. Have been in a few times now and honestly don't know why we come back. Time and time again I've experienced relentless rudeness from the owner (Who also smokes weed outside all day and in the truck where they cook their food - ew). He also every time we have been in has been shouting and screaming at the staff (who seem to have all either been fired or left? Which is a shame because the previous staff have always been the only saving grace of the place. Also a woman who works there who I believe is actually his wife? Is always being spoken to in the disgusting vile way - and aggressively so in front of customers. Seems like a terrible man and my friends and I will not be giving our money to him anymore. Drinks have potential and are pleasant but food is always burnt too. How this owner gets away with his actions I have no idea. read more

Sangria snob loves their sangria! I was skeptical but I got the sangria flight and really enjoy every version. I also shared a pineapple Mimosa which was great. This place easily accommodates groups and has a nice outdoor space that would pleasant is general but is especially so during social distancing. Spent a few hours here with a group of 7. Will be back! read more

Unbelievable treatment. Wish I could give this place 0 stars. DO NOT COME HERE. The employees and the owner here does not care about their customers or quality of their service. Recently had an experience trying to inquiry about an event and the owner was rude and dismissive for no reason. Weeks of planning all gone to waste. read more

I'm in a very happy place right now, sitting in a bouncy porch chair and sipping on an absolutely delicious pineapple mimosa on the porch of Art Cafe + Bar. I love the worldly vibe from the music, decorations and menu. Friendly staff. Not wheelchair accessible so only 4 stars. read more

Art Cafe + Bar - Pineapple Mimosa - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Ordered lunch to go since the outdoor tables out front weee full and the wait was like an hour. Indoor was obviously not open since Covid but goodness when I used the bathroom inside I saw how adorable and quaint the interior design and balcony seats were!! I love the vibe. Anyway didn't realize the place was vegan since a friend chose the place but that's ok the menu has food to stuff u even tho there is no meat. I got the sabich and coffee. Everyone else got heartier stuff. Highly recommend if ur passing through this area! read more

Entered in at 12am! Even though they close at 1am and we're going to close at 12am! Tiffany greeted me and let me know that whatever I wanted she'd grab for me! Food and drinks! There were only 3 people inside, including me. I appreciated how accommodating she was. I really needed to unwind and she must have sensed that. I thought that was so dope! I ordered a mimosa and potato wedges.... As a vegan finding a bar/lounge that's open late with food options that fit your palette is super hard. I was happy to see there was something I could consume. However, I do wish bars/lounges paid more attention to the fact that not everyone eats meat/fish! The mimosa was perfect! The potato wedges were your standard thick cut wedges. Needed a little more flavoring but tasted freshly made and not simply frozen and warmed (actually watched her place them into the deep fryer behind the bar!) Definitely could be shared with 1 more guest if you aren't too hungry. This place has dope low lighting and a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. I love the chandelier in the middle with all the "dead" roses hanging from it. Super cool. Looking forward to checking this place out in the summer months. read more

Art Cafe + Bar - cocktails! - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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If you like paying an exorbitant price to drink watered down cocktails and stare at trash decor, you've found your perfect bar hell!

Warning to anyone who has applied to work here. Almost trained for a job here but it was implied that if u work there as a bartender, you're also a cook, maid, organizer, etc all for $10 an hour not included tips the first 3 shifts and u wont get paid until the end of ur 4th shift which is very stretchy + extortion. Not worth it. The owner gave me a good vibe at first but the white women was cold, unfriendly & super uninterested. I just read all the comments of multiple people having a similar experience. Its sad because this place has so much potential & I was very excited to work there but he was upset that I came in 6 mins late (when the other times I have ALWAYS a few minutes early) & went on & on about my tardiness & sent me home after i work up super early & commuted there in the freezing cold... which I understand punctuality is very important but so is professionalism. But whatever its their lost. read more

My friend and I had been on a mission last night. Her bday had just passed and I was looking for a venue to host a premiere. We were advise to stop by and immediately fell in love with the decor. The outside seating reminded me of a place in my beloved New Orleans. The inside was decorated in rustic wood, acrylic paintings on the wall and a projector playing contemporary dance. The music was also comforting for a catch up for dinner and drinks kind of night. It was perfect. I ordered: bean balls with kale salad $15 Cinnamon ginger whiskey $11 Asparagus and veggie empanada And veggie empanada My friend order the same empanadas as I and the organic fried goat with plantains $22 We shared a bacon egg and Gouda empanada that also came with a kale salad $10 Her drink was a habanero margarita $11 By this time the aroma was so enticing and welcoming, this was one of the reasons we sat down for food. I mean the spices alone made me think that I was about to have the meal of a lifetime. Not only did the food take a while, we didn't mind because we were the only ones there but the first bite was so nasty a dog would spit it out. How the heck do you ef up empanadas?? How? Tell me how? It was like they didn't mix any of the inside ingredients and just threw the patty in a frying pan. Which by the way, you could certainly tell that they cooked everything in that same frying pan. Okay whatever about the empanadas How do you screw up kale salad? Everything was premade and I swear I think the sweet funny and friendly bartender/waitress cooked everything behind the bar on an electric 2 range stove top. I saw her clean it off and I definitely didn't see anyone come out of the kitchen. The plantains were also pretty horrible. No salt. And I hate cooking with salt. But plantains??? My friends fried goat was very tender and fresh,bland, but edible. Did I mention that they only gave her two pieces of goat? Did I mention it was $22?? The drinks legit came in a 6oz glass filled with ice and the most bitter concoction I've ever had in my life! Did I also mentioned that this meal came in paper plates and foil bowls? I wonder how long this place has been around? I wonder how long it'll be before they close? So sad because I could've definitely seen me coming back even if it was just to have wine and absorb the ambiance BUT I'm afraid even the wine would taste bad! I feel really bad for leaving this review too read more

I truly don't understand the negative reviews below. Maybe they're coming from non-New Yorkers or those not familiar with Brooklyn cocktail bars? Anywaysss, I love this spot and hope it stays open. It's a great outdoor area, relaxed, good music, they screen weird avant-garde films on a projector outside. The owners are super personable and it feels like a true "community" spot. Decent HH, although the cocktails can be pricey, they're just like every other place in terms of $. I don't normally get the food, but the vibe of the place is read more

The drinks were good as were the aioli sauce and the kale salad, but the meals were a bit overpriced. Additionally, the fried chicken was probably the worst fried chicken I ever had. While the skin was well seasoned, the meat was incredibly dry. The ambiance, however, is charming. I would probably only come back for a cocktail, though it's hard to imagine me going out of the way to do that when there are so many other options in the neighborhood. read more

The entire time I was there they were doing everything in their power to make me want to leave. They were blasting outdated music so loud that I wasn't able to hear my friends, who were the only other people in the entire place. Empanadas were surely microwaved. read more

I visited this place yesterday. it looked nice and cozy. We sad down inside with the menu, no one came over to take our order. We waited for a while then had to get up and go to the bar to order while the servers went back and forth outside to serve other customers totally overlooking us right in front of them. When I receive my drink it was really sour so I returned it and told the waiter that I could not drink it even if i tried because it was horrible. He then gave me the menu to choose another drink but never came back to take the order (I was afraid to order another). the service was lacking surprisingly especially since we were indoors. When the waiter brought the bill he proceeded to charge me for the drink that I gave back and said he could not take it off the bill, but I can order another drink which i did not want because we were leaving (so I was forced to take a drink i didn't want). The fish and kale salad was good but the service was horrible. I also have never been to a bar where if the drink was bad and you return it you are forced to still pay for it... needless to say we will not be returning. read more

Wow I wish I had read the reviews before sitting down. My partner and I stumbled upon this place and on the outside it looks great. Though it took 20 minutes before we were served inedibly burnt small empanadas that were soo disgusting we broke down in laughter. It is pretty unfortunate that a place with such a nice vibe can be so expensive and terrible, for the sake of your hard earned money AVOID!!!! We had their canned beers, so I can't speak much for the mixed drinks. I would say regardless you can get those anywhere in Brooklyn with way better food so hit the reviews. read more

Came here with friend and was absolutely shocked at price levels and lame pouring of fairly standard drinks. First got sangria which came in a kind of shot glass, which I have never ever seen sangria served in, with ice bizarrely included. This meant basically I had 3 sips of sangria before it was all gone. Next got a shot of Bulleit Bourbon with ice on the side at an outrageous $13 dollars. Seriously, just getting straight up bourbon cost more than their cocktails and was *very carefully* poured to ensure not a drop extra was included. In about 6 years of drinking whiskey, I have never had a more expensive price for this very standard drink. When I heard the price, I let out an audible gasp, and nothing was done. The best part of the evening was departing honestly. Only reason not 1 star because service was adequately engaged and as the seating outside was nice on a summer evening. read more

The drinks were excellent and the service was friendly but rather meh, and the food was atrocious. I really had high hopes for this place, but upon closer inspection, its a poorly kept. My friend and I came here not too late on a Friday and only 2 other tables outside were occupied. The drinks, especially the Watermelon Fizz were tasty and strong. The bartender (he also does all of the cooking?) seemed rather clueless. More on that in a moment.. We each placed an order for fried chicken with kale salad and one order of savory plantains. What we received (40 minutes later - inexcusable since no one else had ordered food in the entire place - the other two tables were only drinking) was probably the worst meal I've ever had. The chicken hadn't been dredged in any flour or egg but had been tossed directly into the fryer - it was akin to what a tire might taste like - and unseasoned. He ruined what was likely perfectly good chicken. The kale salad was also unseasoned/dressed and the tomato pieces in it looked old. Lastly, the savory plantains were burnt maduros. FFS! The only reason we didn't send it all back is that the drinks were so strong our judgement was impaired! We paid and promptly left. I live in the neighborhood, but I'll go out of my way to avoid this place. read more

Bartender was amazing but food was horrible. So mad my friends and I wasted our money. Geez, get some better food!

Very interesting location. I've been here twice, tried to like it but its one of those places where the longer you stay, the worse it gets. The food isn't good, and it's overpriced. All the drinks are full of sugar. The staff is constantly changing, I don't think I've seen the same person twice (especially anybody of color). The owner & his wife seem to both have a bad attitude, especially if you don't like the food. They will make you pay for it regardless. The owner is usually drinking and smoking weed outside. The inside is basically a day care with toys and awkward furniture everywhere. Its also crazy seeing food being cooked behind a bar that isn't equipped to be treated as a kitchen. The bathroom is dirty and the downstairs seems unfinished with holes in the floor The outside had a few mice running around the garbage area. This place is pretentious and not worth your money. There are plenty of other bars in the area who actually WANT customers. read more

Stopped in with a friend to grab an empanada to go. Were treated extremily rudely by the (male) bartender on Friday night (6/21). Would not recommend it. We regret having tipped for our takeout meal just to be treated so unprofessionally afterwards. Was excited to visit for so long and now I'm afraid we'll never go back, a real shame. Avoid at all cost. read more

We've been going to Art Bar + Cafe over the few years we've lived in the area, and have never been disappointed. We just swung by to pick up some refreshing to-go cocktails to help kick off the summer. The papaya mezcal mule (a new special) was delicious, as was the rum punch. The owners are so nice and welcoming every time we go, and the atmosphere is perfect for a sunny day. It's unlike any other bar in the neighborhood. Even during this pandemic when the outdoor space is temporarily closed, it's still definitely worth a trip! read more