The bar tender was the absolute worst! I get when things are hard and rough but when you're dismissive and condescending to your clientele that's just bad business! It's a cute spot but service was just BAD! read more

Nice little dive bar in this cute neighborhood. It's a bit hidden unless you know you are looking for it and or wanting to go to it. For us was the later. Visited with some friends for special hour drinks and had a few beers from the vast selection. Steve Scoops (hope I remember that correctly) was our bartender and also helped us with local food recs as we were visiting in town. A little dark and cozy but still welcoming and friendly. Very clean bathroom and that I liked. Prices are affordable for what you typically pay in NY for drinks. read more

See all

This is one of my favorites. This is a great Dive Bar. Their happy hour is the best for beer lovers. There's parking available after 5pm or 17:00 hours. This is a Chicago sports bar "Da Bears ". No food options however you can order in. read more

In general great local - dive bar vibe,, service sitting at bar great, (no more PCorn but dog friendly) - but wow $8/9 a draft for Pilsner/Lager from chalk board w no prices. Silly me - I saw a good beer/shot price and assumed draft would also be in line - maybe check out happy hour ?? read more

See all

Small Gowanus dive bar with happy hour specials and a bitchin' backyard. Get a PBR draft + shot combo and get comfy with the crew. Not a bad spot to chill, hang, kick it, etc. read more

Dark This tiny, homey little place is removed from the scene on Fifth Avenue or Smith Street, instead tucked away in industrial Brooklyn. The clientele is a eclectic group of construction workers, writers, firemen, and hipsters, and the vibe is friendly you'll need to expect a little conversation along with your drink. The space is pretty narrow, with old-school backless bar chairs running down the length of the bar; the walls are busy with beer advertisements, a few American flags, and photos of servicemen and black-and-white New York scenes. Good spot to grab a drink and meet some different people. Thanks read more

Great little neighborhood spot with inexpensive drinks, a friendly staff, and good ~vibes~ all around. Also, great backyard!

Amazing vibes and people and drinks. Nice backyard with a projector screen to watch games. Free Chicago style hotdogs during halftime of Bears games (plus Malort shots if they win) make for a fun time! read more

Reasons I Plan To Move Into Canal Bar: 1. The first time I came in here, I ordered a High Life, which turned into six picklebacks, and two High Lifes. So I think the bartender could offer me valuable training in sales, which will jumpstart my career. 2. There was almost some toilet paper in the bathroom. 3. They have popcorn (free) and picklebacks (not free), which I think is a complete protein when combined (plenty of nutrition available). 4. This is the best place to drink when you're waiting to get into Royal Palms, Dinosaur BBQ, or another Gowanus hotspot. More importantly, you could just stay here and drink and never go anywhere else, which is also fun. 5. There's a sweet backyard, board games, and a jukebox. That's basically everything I need in life. read more

We like to check out dive bars, so we stopped in here. It isn't fancy, of course, but it was cozy, like a neighborhood bar should be. The bartenders were attentive. It felt comfortable. I had a good time. read more

Canal bar has been transformed into a Chicago Bears bar on Sundays. Great bartenders, nice owners, free hot dogs, popcorn, and hamburgers. Lots of beer specials (buckets of beer) too. The only thing it's missing is OLD STYLE beer! Luckily, they have Goose Island. A great vibe and an excellent place to watch the Bears and Cubs. Also... the owners recently opened Crooked Tail Cafe next door to Canal Bar. A cafe with coffee, sandwiches, and Chicago-style hot dogs. read more

Nice little bar that pulls off its dive aspirations: decent beers from Goose Island, et al sit alongside solid drink specials (pitchers, shots) while free (and quality) popcorn keeps people in their seats. And it's in the not yet exploited 3rd Avenue Gowanus strip, which is a nice escape from the well-trodden areas further east. Oh, and TVs for spacing out/watching sports. The boisterous bartender seems like a character for those who like to chat them up. There was an inordinate amount of dudes, including a party of bros gathered around an ironically or academically bearded dude who commanded their attention. I was a bit curious but didn't get a chance to find out if he's a wizard, hipster magi, mad wiseman, or grad student. read more

Well i decided to give it another chance... Wow ive never experienced a more rude pretentious bartender in my life!!! I simly asked if i could run a tab and she shouted ' 15 dollars' at me ( i guess there is a min to run a tab) . i payed cash for my beer, drank my beer, and left... I went up the street to dinosaur bbq sat at the bar and was treated like a human being... This IS a fake pretentious dive bar .. I've been going to dive bars all my life. A good bar treats humans with dignity. There is a vibe at this bar that you are lucky to be here. Don't go here. Avoid this fake place! read more

It's a dive bar. Enjoy it while you can. 4th Ave was rezoned, high rises are going in, a Whole Foods is being built, all just blocks away. Maybe if we cross our fingers, this won't be the new Williamsburg a few years from now. The owner is great, the bartenders are surprisingly hot and friendly, the prices are through the floor. The jukebox is an eclectic collection of mix CDs, $5 gets you like a babillion plays on it. Pool, a couple fancy TVs above the bar, clean working bathrooms. BBQ occasionally grilled out back. I promise its a dive bar though! mmmm, Jameson.... read more

Canal Bar - the entrance to canal bar - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I'll be the first to admit, I pre-judged this place. I always pass by when I'm traveling north on 3rd. There are tacky neon signs in the windows (super divey looking) and it always looks dead, or for an older neighborhood crowd. I'll also be the first to admit I was pleasantly surprised by what this place is actually like. They have board games, a backyard (that was unfortunately already closed), a popcorn machine, friendly bartenders, and a surprisingly good beer selection. You can also get buckets of mini-Millers for pretty cheap. But they're, like, really mini. Will definitely try to come back and check out the yard! read more

Its my 2nd home, been going there ever since I moved to Gowanus. Met some of the most awesome people I have ever encountered there. Awesome Bar! read more

Sometimes it seems like the authentic dive bar is going the way of the white rhino. But just like that last male, with no future in sight for its kind (at least in the area), Canal Bar persists. You can order in food if the free popcorn isn't enough for you, there are fun cheap drink specials, and every time I go there are 4 to 7 people at the bar (mostly regulars), which is the correct amount of people. read more

Cool place to grab a beer and popcorn! Small spot very cozy. People and staff is really nice and helpful. $6 bottle for hard cider on a saturday night. FREE POPCORN(pretty awesome). Great music. Bar stools and also tables next to a big television. No food but you can pick up food or get food delivered. Definitely would go back, read more

Two Tecates, two campari sodas, one PBR, and free popcorn: $20. Watching the Dodgers win game 1 in a bar full of Cubs fans: priceless. Really, though, I appreciated the prices and the laidback, intimate space. Bartender seemed a little unnecessarily overwhelmed but was friendly enough. I'd go back on purpose to hang out (as opposed to this last time, when I scurried in after dinner two doors down at Claro took entirely too long and bled into the start of the game). $15 card minimum. read more

Great neighborhood bar! Another local restaurant recommended this bar and we couldn't have been happier. Bartenders are all so nice and welcoming. Definitely recommend stopping in for a few! read more

I waited the length of a Game of Thrones episode for a drink, and about as long to close out. I know that there was a big Cubs game that night (and there would be a lot of people there as per the theme of the place), but the management was WAY off base staffing just ONE bartender for a packed bar AND outdoor area. I couldn't be too upset with that poor bartender for having to deal with that volume, but it was a shame to have to waste so much time on what should have been shorter transactions. read more

This place is about as divey as they come. Came here on a Friday night with some friends after hanging out at Royal Palms. Pros: --free, good popcorn --not crowded even on a Friday night Cons: --I ordered a gin and tonic, which was horrible. That's a pretty basic drink, folks. --This is clearly a Chicago themed bar (as others have noted), which is obvious when you walk in. My boyfriend and I used to live in Chicago, so he asked the bartender about the Chicago connection, and she seemed completely mystified. Ok... --The clientele was...interesting. At one point a group of douchebags sprayed a fire extinguisher on a car outside and then drew stuff on the windshield with their fingers, including a swastika. Charming. Later, a couple came in who clearly should have gotten a room at the Super 8 across the street, but instead just chose to take care of business in the women's bathroom in the bar instead. That last con could be a pro depending on how you look at it. If you want to see some characters, this is the place to go. As an added bonus, you might get to see police activity at the Super 8 (we did). read more

Whenever friends that come visit to my neighborhood of Gowanus and say "Hey, lets get a drink. Where should we go?" Canal Bar is my go to. A list of things: 1) The drinks are good. Happy hour is $4 imports I think until 7pm, and other specials for each day of the week, and it's good beer. A few weeks ago they had Abita Turbo Dog with happy hour. Then other nights they have $4 domestics which is Honker's. 2) Staff is friendly. Not like other bars I've been to where the bar tenders seem like they're hating being alive. They'll come up to you if your drink is empty, and get you drunk on your birthday. 3) Music isn't so loud you cant hear yourself talk. They also have TVs for games and such. 4) Free popcorn. It's a bar for normal folks I'd say, no catches involved. Go there, have a few drinks and hang out with friends. read more

The neighborhood is too nice now for a bar like this. Everyone complains about the outside noise. The inside is dark and depressing. A super dive. read more

Great dive bar - my friends and I came here after a night of drinking for a final beer before going home. Drinks are reasonably priced and the bartenders and regulars are pretty nice. They also support Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue, too! I noticed by the flyers for a festival coming up Sept 14th outside their bar to raise money for saving dogs. Extra star for that! read more

I love the popcorn, it's a tasty hook. A Hash House Harrier group meets here on Monday nights sporadically. Good happy hour beers (3-8pm). read more

Canal Bar - a bowl of popcorn and a glass of beer - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

There is a badge of honor that comes with being known by the Canal Bar. Whether you want that badge is up to you. Great owners, great vibe, fan-freakin-tastic juke-box (punk/alt/indie/ol' school rock/ [little-crap-that-I-hate-but-others-like]/hard metal) strong drinks, cold beer and free pool on Tuesdays. Man-up (wo-up?) and embrace the darkness during the day or night. The locals are some of the best people you'll meet within a huge radius. Come with an open mind, ask to change the tv if you want, get the Coney Island Pilsner or a BKLYN Lager, talk to the bartenders, meet the locals! You can get menus for delivery from the bartender. read more

Awesome Chicago-themed dive bar in Gowanus. Honkers Ale on tap. Endless popcorn. Ms. Pac Man. Sports on TV. What's not to love?? Love the back patio in summertime. read more

I stopped in for a beverage while walking by... an unplanned visit. Right off the bat I was greeted warmly, served quickly and all the staff were nice and engaging. Some other newbies followed in after and the fellow behind the bar noticed one was a smoker (not smoking but holding a pack) and let them know there was a patio out back if they wanted to sit outside. Nice attention to details. The other patrons were laid back and enjoying themselves as if it were a living room, and not a bar. I guess that's the overall vibe I got... it's a cool spot run by people who treat you like a guest at a small party in their home. They make sure your drink is correct, that your basic needs are met, and then that vibe transfers over to the patrons. Kudos to them. read more

Whoa, is this the best bar I've ever been to on this end of Brooklyn, after Sunny's? I think so, but I'll hold back on that 5th star until at least one more visit. In the lowlands of Gowanus sits a Chicago-oriented neighborhood bar with an excellently-stocked CD jukebox (complete with stool to rest on while you make your selections). Great bartender, great vibes. I really liked the way I felt here and will certainly be back next time I am in the area for a show at Rock Shop or Littlefield. read more

Sadness strikes my heart.This is a Bears bar, and they're closed during the biggest game of the year. I weep.

This may be the best bar I've ever been to. When my friend and I walked in, we were greeted by 2 dogs (the bartender's dogs) who hung out with us for the two or three hours we were there. Already, that's a five star bar. I think it is cheap (but I didn't pay). The bartender was great and so were all the people who walked in (btn 3 and 530 PM on a Tuesday). Plenty of good conversation. And it's a Bears bar! Awesome. Plus, I hear there is a backyard. Where they grill. So, yes, I will be back. Even though it is the biggest trek ever for me. read more

I Like the Bartender, Free popcorn, and A patio but the prices should drop. read more

There was a time when 'dive bars' didn't try so hard to be a dive. Canal bar doesn't need to try, it's as genuine as it gets: a neighborhood bar of the finest variety. Cheep beers, great bartenders, photos of midgets doing gymnastics on the wall, and free popcorn which is not a substitute for dinner.... I've been fed huge pork stews homemade by the bartender...while my dog chews a bone in the corner, we've set up obstacle courses with the bar stools, random dance parties, random hot dog eating contests (my dog won), I always find myself in a conversation with others, never expect to find a certain type of person walking in but always expect to feel a welcome guest. Sad they got rid of the pool table but it was funny they had plywood on straw bales instead for months after. Great to see the beer selection has improved drastically over the years, mmmmm. read more

I really wanted to like this bar as a Chicago native. They have games and cheap drinks which were awesome!! Girl bartender was awesome. But the male bartender tonight was pretentious for no reason. Ruined the experience. read more

It's ok but nothing special. They do have a backyard which is cool, but prices are a little expensive if you ask me for Bud ($3 is what I think is standard, this place charges $4). But the arcade games and free popcorn are pretty clutch. read more

4.5 stars.. This is a great neighborhood dive. When I came Saturday night it wasn't that busy, the bartender was really nice, and the bar has a lot going for it. For starters they have board games, a decent size back yard, free popcorn, and events like outdoor movies Sunday nights during the summer. Beers are $4-6. Happy hour makes all drafts $4 ($2 off) M-F 3-8pm. I thought the backyard was super quiet, oddly bright, and could have used a little more decor or personality to it. Overall Canal Bar was pretty great and I'll definitely be back. read more

Solid little bar, great range of specials each night. Has a very small back yard with a bbq set up there. Free popcorn It's a bit off the beaten path but I'll definitely be back, very chill vibe and friendly staff read more

Good bloody marys here. And only $5 too. I get the bottle of tobasco for my own heat level, which is quite high by the way, on the side. The bartenders are friendly and will remember you after just one visit, provided that you did talk to them. And why not, they're so nice. Watched the football game here about a week ago and it wasn't completely packed. Just comfortably crowded. I sat at the bar before moving to the tables in the back. There are only 3 low tables with chairs and 1 high table with high chairs that most of the time gets snatched for the bar area. The owner, Louie, is super nice. He sometimes brings in his dog(s?). So heads up for those who are allergic. read more

Perfect bar. Dark, two TVs, unassuming but friendly barmaid. Place screams tie one on and leave quietly. Nothing not to love. read more

Canal Bar - Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York