Nice ambiance, good drinks. Remember the soup nazi episode in Seinfeld? This place is the cocktail equivalent. There's no menu, which is fine, but you need to order your drink in a specific way or they won't make you one. You have to choose a base & they will not recommend anything or guide your choices until you do. Staff are unfriendly, unhelpful, and their cocktail range & knowledge comes across as limited, but the drinks they do make are good, so if you're patient & if you care primarily about the base of your drink, you'll love it. read more

Sweet spot for casual drinks with friends right off Grand St. I've been here multiple times waiting for a nearby restaurant reservation, or for happy hour. They specialize in well-crafted cocktails, so don't be shy to tell the bartender what you like. It can get packed during busy times and on the weekends. Drink prices are standard for the now fully-gentrified Williamsburg ($11 for a drink is considered a bargain during happy hour, and when you live in New York, you take that and run with it). Pic-worthy drinks, too, so if that's your scene, this place is your spot. The booths in the back are the most private! read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Can't remember the names, but their glassware and ice machine are cool. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This bar is amazing. No set menus. The bartender makes every cocktail based off of your preferred spirit. Very few cocktail bars I've been to do this. But it makes it such a unique experience. Despite the cocktails being on the pricier side, the experience is worth it. You get custom made cocktails specifically crafted for you. What beats that! read more

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Fresh kills bar is a place I would always recommend to friends who are trying to find a fun place for a night out. The vibe is great in here, if you're lucky you'll score a table to hang out. There's no menu you can pick from, but you can let the bartender know what you're feeling and they'll whip something right up! And let me tell you... these drinks are 10/10!! You can consider things like alcohol forward, creamy like with egg whites, they're known for their fresh fruits, etc. I'm already thinking of new flavors for my next visit! read more

While wandering aimlessly around Williamsburg one recent Sunday afternoon, we decided to check out a cocktail lounge that we would not typically be in the neighborhood to visit. Since it was mid-day, it was technically happy hour, so we wanted to locate a spot that had great libations and those same reduced costs on Sundays. We came across Fresh Kills Bar, which we had both heard great things about. Luckily, they offered their happy hour from 5-7 pm DAILY! We walked into the small, but cozy bar, which felt like it really catered to locals. It was like a classier neighborhood bar perfect for someone that lived on the block to stop in at any time and just grab a drink by their lonesome. In fact, on the day we were there, the space was fairly empty; very few people had accompanied us on this beverage journey. The $10 discounted beverages were mainly versions of mules. Since we loved ginger, we were pretty happy about it. My Headless Horseman was essentially a Moscow Mule, as it contained vodka, house-made ginger syrup, fresh lemon juice, Angostura bitters, and soda water. The inclusion of the bright red bitters added a hint of herbs and a colorful impact that was seen through the clear glass. The traditional copper mule mug was no where to be found, but a metal straw was utilized. My brother's version, the Bourbon Ginger Highball, did not include the bitters or vodka, but centered around bourbon, infusing it with a smokiness. Also, neither of us could get enough of that ginger syrup, which was spicier and bolder than any other one I have tasted. The drinks were terrific! Fresh Kills Bar was a very cool spot. I would definitely check it out again if I was in the area, but I would not say it was a "destination" bar. read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Headless Horseman - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The queens mark swizzle (with mezcal) made by the man the myth the legend, this dude. Amazing cocktail read more

Fresh Kills Bar - The queens mark swizzle (with mezcal) made by the man the myth the legend, this dude. Amazing cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Came here for happy hour which gives you more basic cocktails for like $11. Basic meaning they have you lemon or lime juice mixed with a sweetener and your alcohol of choice. We would probably come back to try the other more craft cocktails but would skip happy hour as it didn't seem to be quite worth it. read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cool spot in Williamsburg with a unique premise. This is one of my go-to spots when I have friends or family in town and want to give them a one-of-a-kind experience. This is a lounge where you give them drinks you like or flavors and they'll make a special cocktail for you. Obviously you *could* just order a standard drink like a Manhattan but that takes away from the purpose of the lounge. There's inside and outside seating with low, lounge style lighting. The one thing that's often a little difficult is service. From trying to order another beverage to closing the tab. But overall, a nice place to go and have a little fun! read more

I don't drink much, so I can't say if the drinks are ok the pricy side ($15 each), but boy are they worth it! This place is quaint and little, with self seating and tea light candle lit tables. The menu is all drinks minus a few things to nibble on so don't go on an empty stomach expecting to eat. The server we had was super nice and had the bartender make a custom drink for me. I don't drink often enough to answer alcohol related questions (He asked me what my favorite spirit was and all I could do is shrug and laugh) so I explained to him what I did like in a drink and the bartender made me something special. The drinks we had were all VERY smooth. They went down easily, tasted great, but you could certainly feel it within a few minutes. The next time i visit New York, I'll be back! read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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My friends and I came here for a pre-dinner drink, and the ambiance of this bar was really aesthetic and cute. There are a bunch of tiny tables along with a long bar area, but there's not a lot of place to sit so I wouldn't recommend coming here with more than a couple buddies. The drinks were unique and yummy, but this place is SUPER expensive so don't come here prepared to get four or five drinks, unless your wallet is deep enough. read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My husband Matt B. and I are total suckers for cute hipster bars with complicated $15 cocktails, so when we made dinner plans with friends in Williamsburg, we decided to gather everyone up early for a couple rounds at Fresh Kills Bar. We hadn't heard of it or anything (we live in L.A.), but it was the top hit for bars in Williamsburg on Yelp, and it looked like it was designed to trap us. It turned out to be even better than we expected. We walked in just after 6:00 on a Saturday last month, when the sun was still shining. The place was adorable, small and charmingly decorated, with textured walls and artful light fixtures, leather banquette seating and cozy wooden booths. The windows let in plenty of natural light. There was already a solid crowd going when we arrived, which I'm guessing means it gets crazy during peak hours. Matt and I got there first, and were able to grab one of the tiny tables lining the front of the bar, draped in an attractive structured covering that looked like a leather bottle cap. We were helped by a fantastic host/server, who looked out for us when we told her we had four more people coming. We moved to a corner with two bottle cap tables when that spot cleared, and when a booth freed up, she saved it for us. Really above and beyond for a busy bar. We were also able to order drinks from her without going to the bar, which made it easy for us to just sit back and hang out in our nice, spacious booth. The cocktails were outstanding. We were there during happy hour, but we actually got drinks off the main menu--the happy hour drinks seemed less interesting, less discounted than they were just cheaper cocktails. There were fourteen cocktails on this menu, a mix of Fresh Kills originals and drinks borrowed or adapted from other bars or vintage recipes. I enjoyed that all the drinks were attributed, like orchestral pieces. Fancy as fuck. I loved every one I tried. We drank all three of the "built in a glass over a rock" section of the menu, and these were all superb. The Malocchio (Richard Boccato, Fresh Kills, 2017) was a smooth, boozy cocktail made with orange and chocolate bitters, Averna, coffee liqueur, mezcal, Calvados, and an orange twist. It tasted like one of those nice orange dark chocolates, which I know might sound kind of weird but worked spectacularly well. The In the Pines (Richard Boccato, 2017) (I guess Richard Boccato is their guy) was a lovely, balanced drink with a bitter herbal touch, with genepy, Aperol, blanc vermouth, Singani 63, and an orange twist. The Hat in Hand (Alicia Lombardo, Raines Law Room, 2015) was a brilliant use of cognac and dark rum, strong and mellow, enhanced with sea salt, Angostura bitters, banana liqueur, and an orange twist. The others were shaken cocktails, and both of these were Fresh Kills interpretations of old recipes, from decades before the $15 cocktail renaissance. The Madhatter (Ted Saucier, "Bottoms Up", 1951) was a refreshing whiskey drink, made with fresh lemon and lime juices, rye, and an absinthe rinse, served up with a wedge of lime. The Bourbon Gun Club (adapted from "Original Polynesian Tropical Bar Recipes", Dick Moano, 1963) seems to be a favorite, and for good reason. It's a sweet, easy, creamy, delicious cocktail, with fresh lemon juice, passionfruit purée, honey, cinnamon, bourbon, and egg white, served down with a wheel of lemon. I'll bet a pitcher of this would make a dinner party fun and sloppy. I'm glad we were able to check out Fresh Kills while we were in New York. It was a fantastic bar, full scores for ambiance, service, and cocktails. I'd go back immediately if I lived in or around Williamsburg. read more

This bar is so unique, and I love the concept. You let the server know your likes & dislikes, and the bartenders concoct something just for you. Starting with the good stuff...I love our cocktails and the experience of getting something catered to me. I got to try cocktails from the 1950s with mezcal, which was so up my alley. The bartenders were very kind and attentive. The bar itself is also beautiful! I won't let him effect my rating because he was just a small blip in the experience but the bald server with glasses was beyond rude. He specifically asked my friend if she wanted a twist or olive juice, and she said olive juice and that she had been craving it all night. We get our cocktails and hers comes with a twist. We didn't ask to send it back or anything like that. All she asked for was to get some olive juice on the side to mix in! When I tell you this grown man had the audacity to SCOFF and roll his eyes. We all looked at each other, took a deep breath, and had a "he is so not worth it" moment...there are A LOT of bad reviews based on service, and I am surprised that has yet to be rectified. read more

Ambiance is on point here for a chill night out with drinks. The Bartenders give you the option of ordering a drink of your choice or having them create a cocktail according to your taste buds. I decided to wing it and boy am I glad I did. Unfortunately I couldn't remember the names of my drinks but they were both devine. My friend brought me here as I was visiting from the Bay Area, glad to have checked this place out. read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Somehow, after being in this area a million times, this was my first time visiting Fresh Kills Bar. It is my ideal cocktail bar. Casual, friendly, and approachable. Drinks that seem complicated but are actually very simple--I love their mix of original and older cocktails. I decided to go big (because who knows when I'll be back?) and get the Jet Pilot. So so so tasty. And the lobster tiki cup helps. :) And the space is also ideal--you could either sit at the bar, at separate stools/tables, or in booths if you have a bigger party. Whether you're on a date or just doing happy hour with a friend, the atmosphere is just right. And I love their happy hour! No-frills, refreshing drinks for $11. Not bad. As far as regular-price drinks are concerned, I think it's pretty on par with the area and more reasonable than a few other spots for the quality. read more

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Went to this bar with a friend after reading some great things about their cocktails online. We were able to grab a seat at the front of the restaurant and both ordered the pineapple and mint drink--which was actually very good. The waiter we had was friendly and attentive and the drinks came out quickly. Definitely not the cheapest drinks, but they are sure tasty. read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

All about the bartender's choice! Just give the waitstaff an idea of your usual go-to / preferred flavor profile and they'll do a delectable spin that you never knew you needed. While the drinks took quite some time, they were worth the wait. My husband loved his mezcal and grapefruit cocktail and he also kept trying to steal my negroni variation, despite usually disliking campari. Cute vibes for date night, though expect a bit of a wait depending on the time of your visit. read more

Asked them to make me an inspired drink à la Whiskey Sour, and they made me an amazing Strawberry Whiskey Sour! This was mind blowing as I've never had anything quite like this before! Great booths and small tables for two. Great place to bring on a date or get a 6 people group going at their booths. read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Custom Made and Inspired by Whisky Sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Lovely, lovely, lovely. Best cocktail bar in Brooklyn! Great team here! Always a blast!

Fresh Kills is killin' it, now that indoor dining is back. It's always been a beautiful space, with tan leather seats, slight art deco elements and dim mood lighting, and now we actually get to enjoy it. They aren't operating on a menu right now, and so you just ask for what you want. I like being a little pretentious and I gave this direction: take me back to the Swiss alps; give me a whiskey-based cocktail, stirred, with a herbal digestive. I was given an utterly delicious cocktail that fulfilled the brief. It's called Signal Fire, and was featured on an earlier fall menu. It tasted exactly like it's named - like a smoky, woody campfire with notes of winter pine forest. Mmm, can't wait to come back here for more. read more

Visited during COVID. Service was friendly, respectful, and followed social distancing guidelines. Ordered a bartender's choice and requested: summer, refreshing, not sweet with gin. They made me a grapefruit concoction and it was perfect for the beautiful sunny, July summer heat. The drink was also quite strong even after the ice melted. Glad they remained open! Can't wait to come back! read more

I wish I could give this place less than one star because that's how disappointing the experience was. As a black woman, it sucks you have to be extra cognizant of places in nyc that will discriminate against you especially when you are not surrounded by a group of white girls, but that's my experience here. I don't recommend this place at all and one day soon, they will have to rebrand because that's how openly discriminatory they are to people of color. read more

I had the chance to come here for a date night and the vibes definitely were on point. I'd recommend making a reservation before hand since this bar isn't like most. When we arrived we waited about five minutes since the spot was at capacity. When a table opened up we were seated near the main entrance. The bar itself is spacious but the layout is interesting. Booths in the back across the bar for larger parties and sectional seating in the front for groups of two or three. The lights were dim here and they were playing vibey music. They don't have a set menu that you order from, instead you tell the server what kind of drink you'd like in terms of taste. This has pros and cons since you may end up getting something you don't really like but it gives an interesting touch to the overall drink experience I guess. Service here was fast and the place was nice! read more

I wasn't even allowed inside this establishment when the server saw me standing outside(there was a rope blocking the entrance) they asked how many I would be (this apparently isn't somewhere you can come alone). When I said I was waiting for an undetermined amount of people(I was meeting with a few friends who had been out already so I wasn't sure who was there) he told me I would have to wait outside until people left despite the open booths. Otherwise I would need to wait for 2-3 more people in order to be seated. read more

This spot is amazing. Extra cautious with Covid so I respect it. No menu and all custom drinks - tell them what you like and they will make you something amazing. Friendly staff and a wonderful atmosphere. I will definitely come back and try different takes on liquors. read more

Fresh Kills is probably one of the more visually stunning cocktail bars I've seen in quite some time. High ceilings, lots of sunlight from the garage-style windows in front. Leather everything (table clothes, booths, and yes, even the door handle - leave the vegans at home). Their Happy Hour are $11 simple cocktails, a $6 German beer, or $5 wine. I went with a rye buck, and it was perfect. As refreshing as you'd expect. Their secret is instead of using ginger ale/ginger beer, they do club soda with house-made ginger syrup. It really makes a difference! Bartenders were super cool, and I hope to be back for a proper cocktail from their main menu! read more

My favorite Williamsburg cocktail bar. The way it works is that you give the bartender broad guidance about what you want, and then let them surprise you with something. I've been quite a few times and have never been disappointed. read more

Visited Fresh Kills on a unseasonably warm November evening and easily got a table in the outdoor back patio. My temperature was taken on my way in, and I was required to fill out a contract-tracing form once I sat down.  The server told us that they weren't "really doing a menu" during COVID, and that we had two options: if we had a cocktail in mind that we wanted them to make, they could do that, or we could tell them what liquors/flavor profiles were appealing to us, and they would make something for us.  I went with the latter option for both drinks. For the first, I asked for a gin cocktail that was not too sweet and was more vegetal. I was given basically a cucumber gin spritz. It was very refreshing, but not too ground-breaking as far as creative cocktails go. For my second drink, I asked for something that was anise forward, and was brought something that was very absinthe and raki forward.  Neither drink was mind-blowing, but neither disappointed, either. I look forward to going back to Fresh Kills to explore when they have their normal, full-fledged cocktail menu available for me to explore some more developed drinks. The atmosphere was extremely pleasant, and the indoor booths (which I walked past to get to the back patio) looked like an amazing spot to hang out. I definitely would like to return post-Covid. read more

This spot was pretty much exactly what I'm looking for out of a bar. There's enough seating for people, but not so much space that your servers lose track of you. It's cozy, but not so cozy that you can't carve out a spot for yourselves and have an intimate conversation if you want. I didn't sample much of the food offerings, though, the beef jerky and beer nuts are a great combo, I highly recommend those to go with your cocktails. The highlight of the experience here for me is asking the bartender for a Bartender's Special. It says "MP" on it, because obviously it's going to vary depending on what you ask them for, but this is what I go to a bar for. I want the bartender to experiment with flavor combinations I've never tried before, just like I want to taste what interesting flavor combinations a chef can devise. I don't just want their take on a steak, I'd rather stay home and get 95% of that experience by making one myself for a 75% discount. So, getting new things I've never tried and enjoying them, to me that was as big of a rush as the drinks themselves. If you've stopped in here and you want to spice up your night, flag down a server, ask them to make you a special, give them a base liquor to go with, and taste the magic. I definitely plan on returning the next time I'm in NY. read more

Love this place they're very considerate of your safety. My friend , Crazily kept trying to order me drinks and they asked me permission to get those drinks. If you're going on a first date come here ! read more

This bar is a joke. The guy literally gave us two options that determine what kind of drink they will make you - either fruity or spirit forward with zero follow-up questions. I tried to explain I don't like sugary drinks but I don't mind fruit in my drink but that was too complicated for this "mixologist" to grasp. 40 dollars for two drinks, and we both ended up with an old fashioned. Vibe was also off in there, the decor is cheesy and nothing special. Lastly, there is no happy hour between 5-7 on weekdays, so Yelp and some other online lists are incorrect. read more

Did not appreciate getting grilled at in the front door with snarky passive-aggressive remarks. Seems to be a trend in new Williamsburg. I used to work in the service industry, I was kind all the way through and asked if there would be a table for 2 and was told there are no seats. I'm ok with being told that. I proceeded to ask how long or if there is a waitlist, instead of just saying it's first come first serve (which I'm totally fine with) I was told : "we're not a restaurant and we don't do that kind of thing here, it's first come first serve so you're first in like" *smile with an eye roll and walks away* Fake BLM liberal "allies" who disapprove of serving anybody who isn't white or Asian, she did not treat my Asian boyfriend that way or the white couple behind me that way. This establishment was my last straw with Williamsburg and I just left the neighborhood completely. Not a safe space for black or brown people. read more

Fresh Kills kills it on every level: cozy/cool ambiance, sexy lighting, a wide range of original cocktails, friendly service, great crowd. It's a small place but if you're lucky you'll get a spot at one of the little booths that allows for intimate conversation even as the room fills up. As for the drinks, I really liked how their menu laid out and explained the different styles of drinks - made the whole craft cocktail ordering process a little less intimidating for a dumdum like me. My personal favorite drink of the night was the Enzoni, which featured some yummy things like gin, campari, and concord grapes. Sweet but not too sweet, and (almost too) easy to throw down. Personally this is one of my favorite bars in the neighborhood and there are plenty to choose from around here. And don't sleep on the happy hour! read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Enzoni - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Probably the best cocktail bar I've ever been to in my life. Great ambience (intimate/romantic & perfect for date night), knowledgable bartenders and amazing drinks. Came here on a Monday night after dinner and was blown away. There are sizable booths in the restaurant, bar seating as well as tables lining the wall of the bar. First, ordered the GRUYERE CHEESE SPREAD ($9), which came with crackers, red pepper jam and sweet onion jam - a perfect combo with cocktails. As for drinks, ordered the BARTENDERS CHOICE ($15) four times and each drink was better than the last. I just described the type of alcohol I wanted and the flavor I was looking for, and the bartender captured it perfectly each time. If you don't know what you want, don't worry because the bartenders really know what they're doing and this is clearly their craft. The care and detail that goes into each drink was amazing from the garnishes to the ice. *FYI - the clearer the ice, the purer the water, which slows the freezing process for my precious little cocktails heh. And the ice here was clear as can be. Also, as we were wrapping up our bartender gave us a dessert drink on the house to top it all off. It tasted of biscotti and was absolutely perfect. Overall, the service was impeccable and everything was executed perfectly. Can't wait to become a regular here. read more

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This place is really nice... great ambiance, good drinks and all. Lauren was very nice, attentive and helpful. Great service. Robert, on the other hand is why this review is 2 star. If it wasn't for Lauren, this would be a 1 star. If I had one bit of advice for the owner, you may want to find another person to replace Robert. He ruins the experience at this wonderful place! read more

I don't have a ton to say about this place, but I came here one night recently for a few drinks before dinner nearby and had a good experience and wanted to share. The space is small, like most of the places in the area. The front has a few tables that seem to get a little loud, and the back of the area closer to the bar has more quiet booths. I was there early enough in the night so it wasn't crazy, although I'm not sure what the scene is like a little later in the evening. The cocktail list is a little limited--it includes about 15 cocktails--but they seem to have a fair variety of options to cater to most people's tastes. And the bartenders seem to put significant effort into making the drinks. If you're in the area, this spot is definitely worth a visit! read more

What an amazing place, one of my favorite bars so far. Prices are average for the area. They don't have a menu everything is created on the spot! read more

Nice diggs, great drinks! I love the ambiance and decor, very unassuming from the outside. read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Was exploring Brooklyn with a friend who knew I love tiki and cocktail culture. Brought me here and it was great! It was a Sunday so they were slow, but the staff was very friendly along with the drinks being delicious. I asked their opinion between two and the drink I decided on was just like their description. They made a delicious non-alcoholic option for my friend who wasn't drinking and went on to strike up conversation with us. I really appreciate when staff humanize in conversation and don't just make a drink and walk away. During the conversation, I shared I came to NY once a month for work, and While Brooklyn is outside of the are I normally frequent when I visit NY each month he said good bye and said "see you next month. " While I can get a great cocktail a lot of places in Manhattan, I would make the drink back to Fresh Kills for their staff alone. read more

Got exactly what we wanted after walking in. Me and my buddies were looking for a cozy spot to grab some old fashions in BK. Not many places make the well. You'll find that the use normal ice that melts to quick, or simple syrup that makes them to sweet. They made them perfect and not to mention the service was great. It was busy so 4 if use were standing at the bar and a host or server cleared up and a table for us without asking! Perfect experience overall read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I would rate this place a 4.5! This is an ideal, trendy spot to grab drinks after work. I came here with my boyfriend on a Friday night at around 5:30PM and we were lucky enough to score a table right by the entrance. It wasn't overly loud and it was nice not to have to shout over one another. The waitress was very patient and friendly. Right when we were seated, she served us water and asked if we had ant questions. For our first round of drinks, we ordered a pineapple drink that was served over crushed ice and another one that was similar to a lime based gin and tonic. I can't remember the names of the drinks but from other reviews, it looks like the menu is constantly changing. read more

Fresh Kills Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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