This tavern was nearby our Airbnb, and within walking distance. It seemed real enough for me, and sure enough, we got talking with some locals including the owner, hanging out at a picnic table outside the bar in back. Old school charm with a long bar, we just had beer and didn't eat there just taking in the oldness and dark wood interior. This is the kind of local flavour I love to visit when travelling so highly recommended for doing just that. read more

Kelly's Tavern - View from the rear of the building - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

It's a very low key bar and the nicest people in it. The pool table is in a separate room and the music doesn't reach there which can be great! Inside is well kept and has the look of an Irish bar that you'd expect. Beautiful wood, ceiling, stools everywhere. Bring a friend or two and sit and chat. I promise you'll have a good time. It's cash only but there's an ATM on premises! read more

Kelly's Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Fastest pore I bay ridge. Nice people. Very friendly. cold taps. All the beers you might like.

Updating my old review that is 11 yrs old now. Not much has changed, but since Covid I have a new appreciation for establishments that have survived through the years. Kelly's is a true institution, and I don't say that lightly. I was prob too harsh in my last review. Dive bars are supposed to have a little "character" to them, but here it's more about the people. The people are the best, but if you're a newcomer, do more listening that talking. The bartenders are cool, and they take care of you. Corrine is the BEST! :) The patrons are REAL Brooklyn people and that is always shifting anyway, so just come, and check them out. The people that deliver your mail and drive your subways probably come here after work. (without being too cliquey) They have great prices and it's always a fun time. You'll be happy that you did....and if not...they probably won't miss ya. :) Seriously, come and see something that is real and genuine!! read more

Great place for inexpensive drinks. Tommy and Tony are worth seeing. Tony likes to be called Boss & Turbo!!!

It's very much OPEN! Has been for a good while. This is the quintesential Irish American tavern. No, it's not one of those newer,upscale Irish joints. Its a BAR! Friendly staff, customers who like to chat, games on the TV. You'll find older gents during the day and a younger crowd at night. It is a favorite hangout for Iron workers from upstate and Canada, members of the Iroquois tribes. They built New York! read more

Fire your bartender IMMEDIATELY. Asked for a water, and after he asked whether or not I was vaccinated I responded yes. He goes "you sound annoyed when I asked you that." That's when I told him my friend just died. Instead of having the SLIGHTEST amount of empathy or consideration for the fact that my close friend just died in a car crash, he responds with "That's not my problem. Asked if you're vaccinated." This person needs to be forbidden from ever working a bar again. read more

It's the bar that time forgot. We went in on a blazingly bright Sunday afternoon. It was just as bright inside the bar. The barstools were filled with twenty or so patrons who could've passed for extras in a 1970's movie set in a Kentucky masonic lodge. One bald, early-sixties dude in non-ironic aviator glasses looked me up and down like he wanted to eat me all three times I had to walk past him. No thanks, creepy guy. I have a friend who loves this place and swears by it. Now, I like a dive bar every now and again, but this is just too sketchy, far gone, and sad even for me. read more

Kelly's has been in Bay Ridge for ages, which is part of its charm. Kelly's is a dive bar, nuff said. The decor, drinks, prices, atmosphere all speak to that. Sometimes at 3AM you want a drink that isn't $25, Kelly's is the place to go. Basically, keep your expectations at that level and won't be disappointed. They are open late most nights, a round of shots will be super cheap and they probably wont make to any fancy cocktails. Recommended if you are in the area and need a drink and its 3AM on a Saturday read more

Old school tavern with some really creative stained glass work. Easy to pop in and pop out, excellent place to stop by after work on a Friday. read more

See all

Cheap beers nice locals not so much of a ghost bar as other area bars read more

Kelly's Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

See all

Great old school spot. Will def be back. Super nice staff and attentive bartenders. The band on parade day was perfect for the occasion and a great band. read more

I love this bar! I am a bartender nearby and this is where my coworkers and I go to unwind after our bar closes. The bartenders are knowledgeable and sweet and there is a pool table and a dart board. read more

Kelly's Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Whenever I come in with co workers, Tommy is the bartender. When I come in with the hubby, John is there. Either way, I always get a well made drink, have a good time, and the regulars are pretty approachable. Bottom line, everyone has a story and I don't mind listening. Came with my cousins from England/California last year and they enjoyed the music, pool table and darts. Most memorable character: the guy that introduces himself with a whole rhyme that ends with "I'm like rolling thunder" said with a brogue. All in all, my go-to bar. Chill and mature crowd. read more

Always a good spot for a few beers and some lively banter. The locals might have an average age of 65 but these guys drink hard and are in the main friendly. The beer is cheap and has it has a good atmosphere. The lick of paint it got earlier in the year has really brightened the place up. Also has a great pool table and room where you can relax from the bar. No shortages of tvs and channels, never a problem with requests to watch soccer or rugby matches in the bar either. Fun spot this is, you can't go to far wrong. read more

The most bizarre bar in brooklyn , the bar takes up a whole block you enter on 4 ave and leave out the door on 5 ave I'm sure a lot of derelicts that hang there have used that to their advantage when running from the police . The a/c is bumping during the hot summer month the beer is cheap and cold and you get plenty of buy backs . It's like if CHEERS was filled with junkies , neighborhood derelicts , on duty drunken MTA workers , Irish immigrants , prostitutes , alcoholics , Native American iron workers , neighbourhood drunken floozies and old men watching mets games . Don't you want to go where every skid knows your name ??! read more

Albeit...the reviews are all accurate in some form or another..I must admit...and be perfectly candid here, THIS is the attraction for me. Nothing better than walking in and seeing the one poor soul sleeping ZZZZZZZZ at the bar. My first visit here was truley baptism by Fire, with someone shouting 'in tongues' across the bar! and then a 3am pool match with some guy from the former Yugoslavia area. I have a friend who shares the ame enthusiasm for these colorful inhabitants of this ....watering hole, and I likewise have ones that threaten me with bodily harm if I even suggest going here. What can I say,, I like the view of the bridge from the front door ! read more

Gotta say, I love this place. It is a bit of a dive -- but a very well taken care of dive. The people in there are middle aged and protect that place like it's their child (don't expect to be wild and crazy, they likely will force you out). The drinks aren't too expensive and so far, all the bartenders that have served me drinks comped me a couple times or made the drinks really strong. On Sunday's they do a BBQ outside with hotdogs, burgers, and sometimes the most delicious grilled chicken wings I've ever tasted. Overall, everyone is very friendly and as long as you're just looking for a quiet spot to grab a strong drink and watch the game, you're good at this place. read more

This looks like your typical Irish dive bar. It's spacious and there's a pool table inside. It's a good place to chill and hang out at night. read more

The genius of Kelly's is that if you're hassled on the 4th Avenue side by the oldster in the crusty Notre Dame jacket who invites you to "climb inside my parka, pussy boy," you can always escape on the 5th Avenue side. They inexplicably have "Legalize It" on the jukebox, which reliably infuriates the clientele when it's played. Most nights, though, if you act like a normal person, you'll find that it's a friendly place with cheap beer. Short mugs used to be 50 cents, but I'd be surprised if it's north of a dollar today. read more

Stopped by for a drink one night after moving a friend in. Was a pretty decent place, not a real big crowd, but it was a Thursday night after all! read more

Old school local tavern. Sports & horse racing on the TV sets. Beers are cold, 50's Doo Wop on juke box, and buy backs. Authentic old school ny that's dying in NYC but especially in Brooklyn read more

"It was the kind of place you wouldn't go into, unless you knew how to use your dukes. Then--I saw her. I had to ask the sailor next to me to pinch me to make sure I wasn't dreaming..." read more

Low key bar, good older crowd who knows how to have a good time with a juke box!!! Pool table in the back room normally with one or two decent cues. (All the other cues have broken tips cuz of idiots.) Older full size table but playable for $1.50 per game. Grab a roll of quarters!!! They have darts too! read more

Nice place. Old and fashioned pub. Cheap beers with free snacks. Bartender Tony makes this place better. Bartender lady rude!!!

The drinks are cheap and so are the patrons. Easy to be yourself and a great jukebox...all the bartenders ate sweethearts...you know who you are...wink wink read more

Kelly's is old school Bay Ridge, rich and poor side by side all dressed down looking for a good game and cold beer. If you don't 'get' Bay Ridge then you won't 'get' the place. 'Nuff said Linda B' Seems must come often if you keep updating review, what's up with that? read more

I really like this place. No pretense, just good drinks and a good time. Best prices in the area. The bar tenders that I've met are good and so are the patrons. Definitely worth visiting if dive bars are your scene. read more

I agree, they live to love to gossip, it's inquisitive here your business goes in everyone's ears, mouth, out and about. "Enter at your own risk" somebody told me, but I'm not facing any challenge when I can be the challenge. If you walk in this place, tightin' up your verbal skills, with some guts and bull, you keep these yokels in line. Woman under 60 seem unhappy. I walked in one Sunday night from the 4th ave door, male heads started to bop and turn to stare at me to see who I was. When this failed they just turned back around. Goes to show, what nosy low testosterone men you have. I think some of these men still live with their mother and are over 45. and are sort of sissy boys. They need a whole new set of patrons here. I would be embarrassed if my business fell into hands like a witnessed this one night. The moral that comes to "mind" don't interact unless you have a game plan, and keep it superficial. I always urge any friends to come in after horse race nonsense is over on Saturday's, one day inspecting it was quite enough, and another day is long overdue. read more

Yikes. Just Yikes. Stay away from this place unless you enjoy a pervading sense of impending injury and misfortune. Do you think if we all wished hard enough it would turn into a brand new "fun time USA"? Worth a shot. read more

I love this bar. Everyone is very friendly. If you're new to the establishment, before long you will be making new friends. It's also a landmark as it's been here for more than 75 years. I started going to this bar in the '80's and have seen many changes since the then owner, William Kelly, died. The present owner has done wonders with this place. The daytime bartenders are lovely. Prices are reasonable. too. It's the only bar in Bay Ridge that goes from one avenue to the next, from 4th Avenue to 5th Avenue. It's also a no-nonsense bar. It has become a sports bar too, with about a total of 7 TV screens. They can have 2 or 3 different sports going on at the same time, plus one screen usually always has the horse races. People of all ages congregate here and everyone gets along quite well. There is also a party room that can be rented for parties. read more

I stopped by Kelly's Tavern after a terribly long week around 5:00 pm. It was my first time in Bay Ridge and Kelly's was a welcoming place to me. Sometimes these places are a real "clubby" environment where not being from the neighborhood and sticking out would work against you but the bartender was nice and the patrons, while middle aged and up, were really welcoming and friendly. I wasn't looking for anything more than beer and some Sportscenter and the place delivered. I ended up having a great time and I even got a few freebies for reasons unknown, but hey, all the better. read more

Just a note about Kelly's Bar. It has been in the same place since 1934. It was started by a true irishman from County Kerry, Ireland named Michael Joseph Kelly. He came to the United States looking for a better life and settled in Brooklyn with many of his family. MIchael Kelly's dream was to open a bar that would bring the neighborhood together. Kelly's has been there for almost 80 years. Many of you think it is a dive, but after 80 years what would you look like. Kellys' has taken care of it's clientel for many years and will continue to do so. You ask how I know all this. Michael Kelly was my grandfather. read more

Yes, first appearance is a bit dive-y. Stay out if you're a yuppie/ snob. Drinks are cheap, and you do get "comped" if you're even a semi regular (or the bartenders like you). This is a neighborhood bar, no pretensions, with a good many old guys who go because that's their social life. There's a barbecue on Sundays, as a previous reviewer mentioned. Corned beef & cabbage dinner on St Patrick's Day, as well as on the day of Bay Ridge's St Patrick's Parade..free Thanksgiving Dinner on the day. They have trips to ball games, the track, golf outings, as well as benefits for patrons who've lost loved ones & have trouble paying bills, or who have health or other problems. The owners are good-hearted Irish brothers who care about their community. Heard a funny story once about a guy who'd had too many and was ejected by the bartender. He stumbled around the block, and tried to come in on the 5th avenue side..the bartender told him to be on his way, again, and the guy said.."Jeez, do you work in every bar in Bay Ridge"? read more