I don't even want to call this a dive bar. They have dive bar prices but ambiance is too good. Neat memorabilia everywhere. Every time I come I make sure to take a coaster. They're cardboard so it's no problem. They don't serve doubles but there's nothing stopping you from double-fisting your drinks. This is a bar that you can do real drinking in. They give good pours. The crowd is nice, the music rocks, and you can order food in. If Duff's was closer to me I'd be their Norm within a month. read more

Great place to get a couple drinks. Bartender was extremely friendly. This is a classic rock or hair band lovers dream bar. read more

Solid dive bar with everything you could possibly want - grunge atmosphere (incredible music and decor), cheap drinks, and no cares. Service was friendly, but what you'd expect from a bar of this caliber. Oh and there is a wheel! Do yourself a favor and check it out! read more

Duff's Brooklyn - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

What a cool bar! It's one of my favorites. Every inch of this place is decorated with some heavy metal or horror movie memorabilia. There are posters, electric guitars, album covers, and much more. The drinks are also affordable. Apparently, musicians from rock and heavy metal bands are known to visit it. The jukebox is also great! It contains a selection of all sorts of bands. And the red lighting - love it! 5 stars. read more

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Still the metal mecca and legendary. Life is not all about running, eating clean, and sleeping. Sometimes you need to rock out and get your metal fix in. Another fun night here and great time to chill out with some awesome music. Plus, the beers are cheap, the bartenders are nice, and owner Jimmy Duff is the best! Either your get it or you don't. Those who do are the cool ones. \m/ read more

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Amazing this has to be my favorite bar. The music and the people really make this what it his and the ambiance second to none.

This is a good place to go to if you want to drink an ice cold beer among many other beverages. They have lots of great posters, props, memorabilia, beverages, and compact discs. (Most of the compact discs are in the jukebox.) This place is affordable which is great. If you don't like metal music you would still have a good time here if you like cheap bars with ice cold beer. Michael J Fox signed a drum head and they have it up. I thought that was an interesting thing in the bar. I am going to look into whether or not he loves the drums. read more

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Decoration is so cool, prices are quiet affordable. A little Bit touristy but good to grab some beers read more

Duff's Brooklyn - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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If you like horror and metal, it's the perfect place for you! Or you just want to visit a themed bar, it is perfect for you as well. The bartender was super nice. I paid $12 for my halloweeny drink. It was a lovely drink! Stop by, have a drink, and snap some photos of the amazing scenes. read more

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Very cool hang out love the vibe the music, the drinks, the staff! And it's very convenient to Manhattan and the surrounding areas.

Good vibe dive bar with hard rock music playing and interesting scenery throughout . Great bar tenders and good prices! Tall boy PBR's too

Why didn't i give duff's 5 stars what is wrong with me. anyways it deserves 5 stars. go there. drink. have a night.

Fuck this place!!!! Turned 21 in the spring, first trip to New York, so excited to visit. 3 fucking forms of id later and I was still refused service!!! Should have saved the trip and stayed in Vegas!!! read more

Coming from california I didn't know what to expect but honestly the drinks are well made, everyone's chill, & they have a great mfkn selection of metal bangers playing that you could also select and queue :") read more

All the horror and allll the metal. I loved the music and the vibes. Was there a man that sat next to me that smelled like pure butt? Yes, yes there was. But such is life. I'll never forget that smell and I'll never forget the amazing horror vibes at this spot. read more

Duff's Brooklyn - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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One of a kind metal dive bar. Its a real gem to have such a place filled with metal and rock memorabilia. Horror memorabilia, if you are lucky you might get to ride a hurse. The drinks aren't watered down like most places in the area yoy get what you paid for. Staff is always laid back and a chill. Whenever I am in the area I always stop by this place. It rocks, welcoming to everybody even non metal fans but don't except Justin Bieber here unless it a chair to sit on his face. (That may sound like a joke but visit the place and you will understand the reference) read more

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A really cool metal bar. There's not much to dislike if you like metal. There's a ton of photos, memorabilia, signatures and more. It's fun to just glance around and see what bands you recognize. There's a fake electric chair in the back too. The drinks are as expected and okay prices. If I lived closer this would be one of my go to bars. read more

Metal! Metal! Metal! Shout at the Devil!! This is hands down NY's metal bar. Are you looking for an electric chair, coffin seating, autographed metal photographs and insanely cheap booze? This is your place!! Be warned that if you are a woman, there's only gonna be you maybe one or two others and a busty bartender. I guess they want to go for the whole metal cliche but it wouldn't hurt to have some Peter Steele or a Tommy Lee bartenders at this joint. Maybe there would be more women clientele. When you come here pay to spin the wheel. It's a total must at Duff's! You win fun stuff or more drinks! I love coming here with groups for a couple quick ones. And then back to a show or event. Perfect for all the photo ops! From the creepy stuffed man on the bench and the Iron Maiden Eddie rug. This place is a total blast. I also love that there is so much decor that sometimes I spot something new, like the Type-O-Negative neon light. As a heads up, this doorway is hidden if you don't know where you are going. And the Marcy Ave stop is still fighting itself out. Worth a commute or detour. Look for the smokers and listen for the metal. Long hair don't care at Duff's! read more

Duff's Brooklyn - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Really cool vibes, decor, and drinks! You can buy a ticket to spin this wheel and get a mystery prize (mostly drinks of various types). Literally the floors and walls are covered in different types of music related art. It's a fun place to chill with your friends in a booth. It's a very metal/goth first bar, and I definitely stood out in a white floral dress lol. But didn't feel like any one treated me any different because of it! read more

All metalheads should make a point to go here, if just to see the walls. Very friendly people, glad to see they're still open post pandemic. read more

Tiny spot, but awesome ambiance and creative cocktail offerings. We happened to be in the Marcy area while visiting NYC for a weekend in February of 2022 and stumbled upon Duff's. Total metal and camp and awesomeness. It was a customer appreciation event/anniversary (?) and we met some really great people there. It was packed, yet accommodating, and drinks were prepared quickly in spite of the crowd. Right up our alley. read more

Just came from Duff's and they don't seem to have the 6-9 PBR happy hour anymore. We went about 8pm on a Wednesday and the PBR's were $3 each instead of the deal they used to have at $1.50 each. It makes sense if they did away with the deal due to covid. It's still the same clean, gorgeous bar inside with good music. Happy to return more often now that we're out exploring the city again! read more

Love this place. Ambiance is chill/easy going & punky. They won't hesitate to kick the crazies out which I can appreciate.

Sunday night bartender was a total b*tch. Rude af. Don't you work for tips? So unfriendly and impatient. After that horrible exchange of ordering a drink, I went into the bathroom, there must be a plumbing problem because there was feces and urine all over the women's bathroom floor. I almost barfed trying to piss. How is this up to code? Being metal doesn't mean being a POS asshole with crap smeared all over your bathroom. F- read more

My only complaint for Duff's is that every time I've walked by and wanted to grab a drink, they weren't open yet. They open at 6pm and I'm literally like a 15-20 minute jaunt on that brown line from my job. Walked past a million times and was like $1 pbr?! Shut the hell up. Open your doors. Cries. Finally managed to walk in with friends a few months ago and had quite the experience. It's a metal bar. Or in the back of my mind, it is an Addams Family bar. Which fits in pretty well with my general morose demeanor in life. You might be the only chick in the bar unless you come with girls. There's an electrocution throne, coffins, skeletons, fun records on the walls. The whole shebang. Not to be boring I couldn't pull myself away from having an Iron Maiden beer. It was decent and also cheap. I'm a fan. read more

Duff's Brooklyn - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Nice spot. The decorations and theme of the bar is very vintage and rock n roll. Drinks sre good and affordable. They have drinking games. Only complaint is it's alot of Satan/Devil things they have in there. read more

Great Theme This bizarre place is NYC's ultimate metal destination. Everything here is metal, starting from music over to pictures and accessories on the wall and dominant red lighting. There are two spaces here, one with the bar which is loud and one smaller loungy area with some great perks such as old but functional dentist chair, Frankenstein sculpture or HR Giget inspired posters. Bar staff is patient and just great, they'll take good care of as a customer. Overall great, acclaimed dive with story and history. How can you beat a place that is blaring King Diamond right when you walk in? Super Cool Spot Thanks read more

Duff's Brooklyn - Metal music and skulls. I couldn't be happier - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Easily one of my favorite bars in NYC- and it's not just because I'm a metalhead! As others have said- don't let the decor intimidate you. All are welcome! The bartenders are never douchey and they always have my favorite Iron Maiden beers. The jukebox is regularly updated with new metal/rock music and they even feature local artists from time to time. Spin the giant wheel to win prizes, or sit in the fake electric chair in the back for some cool pics. Every inch of the walls is covered with something unique- so it's the perfect date spot with tons of conversation starters. Duff's has a worldwide reputation of awesomeness- and they absolutely live up to it. read more

Amazing ambiance! Great service, overall wonderful experience. Would come back to Duffs anytime I find myself in Brooklyn!

One of the best metal/dive bars in the city let alone Brooklyn. As soon as you grab the door to go in this place, you know it's metal. The handle for the door is a guitar. Inside, the bar is to the right and there are tables and seats on the back. He place is littered with posters, plaques, guitars, picks, laminates, etc of metal bands. There are two TV's behind the bar, old school TV's too not flat screens, which are usually playing music videos, porn or some terrible but great horror movie. The bartenders are very cool here. Attentive and they just put out a good vibe. read more

Let me start by saying I am not the biggest heavy metal guy out there. Growing up I loved Motley Crue and Metallica and others but I am far from a die hard. Had no clue this place existed but my friend took me there. Walked in and was pleasantly surrounds at all the decor. I didn't even have enough time to check it all out bc it was last call. Everyone was super friendly and looked like they all we're in some 80s heavy metal band. It was amazing actually and I will definitely go back if I am anywhere near there read more

Even though I'm not super into partying these days, this is the best bar in NYC. That is undisputed. Jimmy is the man! Even if rock or aggressive music isn't your thing, the atmosphere and people are super chill. A must for any fan of rock/metal/music in general. read more

Really great metal bar. This is what I wish my favorite hometown metal bar would be like. Alas, my favorite hometown metal bar often had growling bikers and overly intoxicated stumbling girls. The vibe at Duff's felt friendly and welcoming, even. (Note: aside from my myriad tattoos, I don't really fit in here - I like designer purses and pearls). I never felt like anyone was looking at me weird - the crowd seemed pretty mixed and friendly. Bartenders seemed friendly as well. The decor was awesome - lots of metal and horror memorabilia. The back area has an electric chair and a dentist chair you could sit in. Also a gimp cage. For a few bucks you can spin their wheel and win any number of prizes - a special drink called the Coney Island whitefish (served in a condom) or a less awesome prize like a dog biscuit or a Jesus Juice shot! Great drink specials. PBR! read more

Burn baby burn. Cigarettes fly at anti nowhere league. Bad patrons get electrified. Dark dingy. Girls barely dressed. Cheap drinks. Lowlife clients. It's perfect read more

Love love love Duff's! The entire bar is awesome and something to be seen. Chili pepper lights, a huge back room with cool signs and such to look at and take pictures of, and the bathrooms (no men and women here, you're either a Bastid or a Bitch). You're more than likely going to see Jimmy Duff walking around while you're there. The spot is in an awesome location. And there are people from all walks of life here. read more

Oh Duff's! When I get married, I want it to happen at Duff's. When I die, I want the last hours of my life to be lived @ Duff's. Yes, I LOVE Duff's!!! Nestled right under the Marcy Avenue stop on the J, M & Z lines, (also several bus routes stop right at the corner) lies this awesomely amazing rock dive bar. It's pretty much the basement of the house it occupies. As soon as you walk in, you feel right at home. Very relaxed and cool vibe. Super sweet and friendly bartenders. Always been spotless when I've been there. Kinda small, but always roomy, with plenty of seating. You have your bar stools and across from the bar you have some unique table seating. Then off in the back you have a few booths to sit and hang at. Along with a fabric coated coffin to lounge on and some other interesting seating including an electric chair. This is the PERFECT bar for rock and/or horror fans. From the Eddie from Iron Maiden rug adorning the floor to the metal concert posters, to the framed concert tickets. You can sit, have some extremely cheap drinks and have hour long conversations about the decor. Once you've had a few drinks in you, you can almost swear that the life sized Frankenstein is staring you down! My favorite part of this place is most definitely the jukebox!!!!! Best one ever!!! In one night, I've played David Bowie, Faith No More, Queensryche, Ice Cube, Motorhead, Slayer and Corey Taylor. Amazing mix. They also even have Donna Summer and Stevie Wonder among all the rock and metal c.d.'s! They try to have a tiny mix for some since there is always an eclectic crowd there. Just be careful because sometimes it eats your money without playing what you picked. Also, sometimes it takes a while for your songs to play. Other times, it's speedy. When songs from the jukebox aren't being played, they play Sirius XM's Boneyard which is great. Only friendly, non-judgmental people frequent this establishment. Always take a chance and spin the wheel. You may get a free drink, shot, etc. The bathrooms leave a LOT to be desired. No paper towels in either the men's or women's. Yes, I went in the men's by mistake since the doors just blend in the walls that I didn't even notice there was a women's right next to it! I love this place so much though that I refuse to take away a star for the paper towel thing and cleanliness. Hey, just wipe your hands down with some t.p. (as annoying as that is) and you're done. I've never been here when it has been packed so I can't say how crowded it gets here, but on the weekends I'm pretty sure it gets that way. For the people who say that they "don't get it" regarding this place, that's just the thing. You don't get it at all, have no clue and this place is not for you! My goal in life is to get everyone I know who hasn't been here, to come here and know the awesomeness that is Duff's!!! read more

Duff's Brooklyn - Love their business card! - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Pros: BYOF, as they don't serve food. Cheap drinks and if you are metal AF the walls full of memorabilia will keep you as busy as a grandma admiring the walls at Applebee's. Cons: Greeted by a sign that reads "alcohol abuse center", creepy AF electric chair decor and you are in a strange smelling basement where I was certain rats were going to crawl out of the booths. Effective environment. But I'll skip it next time and forever. Thanks for the recommendation by the bartender at Velo which is just down the street?! read more

If you love Metal and/or Horror films, go there. Do not pass Go, do not collect your $200. Just go straight to Duff's. There's visual homages to classic Metal and Horror film posters on display. Prefer this place over the previous location on Kent. The only reason why I'm dinging it three instead of four is because they don't have a beer tap. NOT a place for douchebags though. No...wait...actually, if being a douchebag is your profession, then yea, go there. One of the bartenders will put you in your place, providing the rest of us patrons free entertainment. read more

"I don't get it" I probably do not get the bar because it is not really my flavor, which does not mean that it is bad or anything. The drinks were relatively cheap and the bartender, who was very glammed up for the bar, was really nice. I am not too much a fan of the heavy metal and I did not know that it was a "metal" bar but the people there seemed into the place. Also, I assume that many of the folks at the bar were locals from the neighborhood. Although I did not have a horrible experience at Duffs, I probably will not be back unless I really want a beer. But, if you are into metal, loud music and a bright red setting then this is the place for you. read more

I have to admit that I never went to the original location of Duff's down on the North Side, and wished I had for comparison sake. The new location might be a tad easier to get to if you can access the J or Z trains, but if not its a little bit of a trek to get there and you would likely be better suited to driving there. Just make sure that you have a designated driver if the drinking gets a going. Visually the place is interesting as all hell, and inside are a ton of Rock and Metal posters, various pieces of related memorabilia and some great looking neon. The bar itself has an interesting surface that fascinated me and off to the corner - the jukebox. You will be hard pressed to find another like this one as inside its casing are the likes of Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica and a number of bands that might make a generic Metal fan scratch their head but are totally in sync with an adept study of the genre. It's a Metal bar without question and hence most of the patrons are Metal fans and sometimes even the touring bands drop by for a drink after their performance. Duff's has been known to have jam sessions and gigs from area bands and if you are lucky you might just find one of the Metal notables performing with the up and comers. The bands perform in the rear space of the bar and while very tight for such a display it manages to work. A four piece band with a reasonable drum kit can work fine. There is also an outdoor section in the front, and since the bar now resides at the bottom of a small apartment building, this portion has a really urban NYC vibe to it. A friend once said that on his visit he felt unwelcome, but I had to say that I did not get this same vibe. It might have been an off night of crowd and for him, and in the end I managed to strike up some conversations with new people and joke at the drop of a hat with long time buds who had joined me. In NYC you never know what the night will hold, but often by being oneself without any pretense will find you good company. This place is worth a visit, but based on my own location and means of travel its a bit of a chore so I seldom get there. I enjoyed my single visit and will get back there sometime, I just don't know when. In the end if you love Metal and want to breathe in an example of its scene here in NYC should you be a visitor from abroad or another state it is worthy of the trip. read more