I have mixed feelings about this place. I loved the way it looked with it's chinese newpaper covered tables and duct work, the funny displays in the front of the bar and the back room. But goddamn, it was crowded and full of dudes with bag that like to hit you in the back of the head with them. The bartenders were nice, sort of prompt and gave me an umbrella in my drink. The prices were as expected and there was seating to be fought for if you felt feisty. The music venue of the night was a dude with a beard and a guitar. It's a good thing there was no cover because me, a non guitar playing unhip bastard, can play more chords than the main act. Alright, I guess it all comes down to musical preference. I prefer talent. Others prefer entertainment, it's cool. More exciting was the opening act that features balloon animals! I can't not mention this bar and omghipsters in the same sentence. Yup. read more

This place is an institution with a devoted fan base. It used to be our local until we found another spot that's slightly less cool but better beers on tap. The vibe is great and Pete's draws a pretty chilled out crowd. Nice bar to hang out at. They have way more space in the back with one room used for a lot of live music. Great patio in the back for summer. Look out for the empanada guy who comes past occasionally. Looks dodgy but worth a try. Deserves a bonus star for being the only bar open during the blizzard in February 2016...and you got an applause and lots of high fives for making it there. read more

(This pertains only to the bi-weekly spelling bee Mondays.) Can you spell "enervating", "protracted" or "vexatious"? Then you, too, can write a review of the spelling bee. Okay, I honestly don't mean to be that snarky. As a lover of words, I really wanted to like the spelling bee. Like, reallyreallyreally. I was psyched for it. And I totally knew that I wasn't even going to win or even come close. (And I didn't.) I realize it's a spelling bee for adults in a bar. I'm not asking for complete reverence regarding the spelling ritual. I am, however, asking for it to, you know, move along. The pace was sluggish with the constant badinage between the emcees. The words were challenging from the first round with most of the contestants getting elimmed in the third. The difficulty, as it was explained, is to keep the game from going all night. But why not have more rounds that move quickly with a realistic increase in difficulty and, most importantly, fewer comments from the emcees? You know, instead of slow rounds with words so baffling that everyone is blindly guessing in round one. And the emcees were totally funny at times, but the signal-to-noise ratio was considerable. Many people come to spell, after all, because they enjoy words. Why not give them more of what they want in an efficient way? Sigh. The crowd and other contestants could be evenly assigned into categories of Dorky-Cool, Dorky-Uncool, and Douchey-Douche. I would be lying if I said I wasn't thankful when Kam and I got the boot. If you don't have any strong feelings about spelling or just want to enjoy the comedy, you'd probably have a good time. But for ardent word lovers, it really is kind of a letdown. REALLY wanted to like it, too. read more

I saw a friend's band play here and loved the train car back room. This is one of those music venues I had heard so much about, and I had been perusing the calendar for months, but when I actually walked around inside, it was nothing like I imagined! That was a good thing, however. It's fun imagining when this place really was a candy store, or luncheonette back in the day. The music is almost always free and there is a lot of "programming" throughout the week: trivia, spelling bee, even bingo! Sweet cocktail list. read more

I don't know how that guy met Mel Brooks there, but I'm very jealous. So many reasons to go to Pete's. - great happy hour ($2 or $3 yuengling) - yummy sandwiches (the green apple/walnut is wonderful) - free live music - Wednesday night trivia (although don't ever expect to win - there's always two dueling groups each week that cheat - ok, maybe they just win all the time and maybe i'm just a little jealous.) You need to go a bit early to get a seat though. It fills up. read more

Very charming and very cozy. You just feel warm in here. It's comfortable. It has a good beer selection. It provides a good setting for conversationalists. It's mellow. I adore this place. I don't think this place is for everyone, but I think everyone should at least check it out. If you like this place, you will probably love it. read more

I live in the neighborhood and I've always wanted to go there. I just left and super disappointed. My vodka soda was lemon water and my husbands grilled cheese was cold. I feel like maybe this was the wrong day to go because the staff was horrible. Especially the bartender! I work at a bar and service is everything... unfortunately the service today was AWFUL! I live so close maybe another day I will walk by and make sure these people are not working so maybe I can have a real drink and some decent snack :) read more

The live music situation at Pete's Candy Store is really cool: the stage is in a separate and intimate room that is well insulated (sound-wise) from the rest of the bar, so there's a rowdier crowd at the bar and a quiet, coffeehouse group listening to the music. The back patio/garden area is also gorgeous but seems to be pretty full on the weekends. So, between the stage, the bar, and the garden there are three pretty decent places to have a drink at the same establishment. There are also live bands every night and no covers. read more

I'm really not much of one for hanging out in bars -- not even Pete's very often -- but I'm really, really pleased to live right around the corner from it. It's just about the only bar where I ever want to read a book alone in a corner booth, or meet friends for lazy beer-drinking and conversation, or check out a performance by somebody I don't know. It helps that Yuengling pints are $2 (and Brooklyn pints $3) until 7pm; that the chill bartenders don't seem to mind 6:55pm orders of multiple beers; that their iPods' content so closely mirrors that of my own; that the clientele is so low-key, local, bookish and friendly; that the interior is so warmly well-worn without being too dingy; that the back yard is treed and quiet. There's a free show or reading almost every night in the back room, which has always reminded me happily of the Stromboli scenes in Disney's "Pinocchio" (in terms of their decor, not their human trafficking). Pours at Pete's seem heavyish, and the sandwiches are pretty good but a little overpriced. Oh, and I used to be pretty confident in my nerdy trivia abilities -- until I tried to become a regular at the routinely mobbed and competitive (but still fun) Wednesday quiz events. Yikes. read more

This place is a solid bar. Good pour, relatively cheap. I will say definitely better during the week, since on the weekend can get a bit obnoxious. The outside area is great for a party. The music is awesome and the bartenders are friendly. Like I said. Solid. read more

Great place to grab a drink! They have an indoors and an outdoors. Stopped by here for a quick one on Friday night and definitely was great atmosphere. I know they have trivia on wed so I def. want to come back! read more

Great bar in williamsburg with affordable drinks and the bartenders are extremely nice. The vibes are cool and the music room in the back is unique and intimate. I went for a first date couple of weeks ago and it was so much fun !! read more

On a recent trip to NYC, my boyfriend and I stayed in Williamsburg. That was a great decision. Close to NYC by train and packed with excellent bars and restaurants of which Pete's Candy Store is one. I was initially apprehensive about coming in thinking it might be too hipsterish for me but the crowd seemed to be a nice mix and I felt totally comfortable. I ordered a drink off the cocktail menu (don't remember what it was called) but it was excellent. I watched the bartender prepare it and he did so with care. No mixers here. We didn't stay for music but there is nightly entertainment and I've heard good things. We'll definitely stop in again on future visits to Williamsburg. read more

Everything was just A-OK. - Cheap Yeungling but expensive cocktails - Uninspiring but decent sandwiches - An OK band (for a 5pm show) - free though - A weird but somewhat cozy layout - Benign/apathetic bartenders Nothing off putting, but nothing outstanding. read more

What made this place for me was the outdoors area - nice tables out back that were packed but still had room for everyone, plus you get to hear the music from the performance room inside. Atmosphere is decidedly williamsburg hipster divey (graffiti on the bathroom mirror and all that). The drinks were pretty cheap ($10 for a beer and a gin and tonic), too, and the bartenders were friendly. Definitely a good place for a cheap drink, friendly crowd, and a decent song. read more

As cigarette smoke wafted through this dark, dimly lit and rustic establishment, I asked myself, "Am I still in New York?" So, I followed suit, and reluctantly lit up a Camel, looking at the bartenders while doing so, inhaled, and exhaled as my drunk got even drunker. So yeah, this place is pretty cool. I was already tipsy, mind you, as I entered PCS, and it was also like, 2AM but the night was still young. PCS was still filled with the Williamsburgers and the hipsters, talking, laughing, and indulging in those $1 PBRs. I don't remember much from this evening, but I believe the bathroom was clean, the music not too loud, and the scene being lively, not at the least annoying. I just wish there was some actual candy. read more

I felt that my 100th review on Yelp should be on Pete's. Its fitting that I am writing it today, because two years ago today, I walked into Pete's Candy Store and I met this guy...... :) Best- place - ever. Hands down. Go grab some hot apple cider here and find your special someone. read more

I'm feeling succinct tonight: dark, cozy, not cheap drinks, but well worth the penny. Coctail specials are, without fail, genuinely special--REAL ginger, mango, what have you will invariably end up where it should be. Great bands, fun to sit outside when there aren't any. There. 'Nuff said. read more

I love the backyard here, big bulb christmas tree lights. The panini selection can save the evening... The only bummer is that the back area for live music is so narrow and small, it's been pretty packed every time I see friend's bands.... but that's probably good for everyone else. I wish the backyard was open forever. and ever. read more

My first impression of this place was that how could this place used to be a candy store. It's tiny and very narrow. I went on a weekend so it was packed and they had live bands playing way in the back. I got our drinks at the bar. $5 each for a beer and cran and vodka. Again decent - thank goodness prices are nothing like in Manhattan. Finally some friend we were meeting showed and introduced us to the outdoor seating. It was a super nice night - not too cold or hot. And they string up twinkly lights back there. There's also plenty of tables and chairs. It's very chill. It's not too loud either - everyone talking normally and you couldn't even hear the band. Just the occasion puff of cigarette smoke, but that's the only downside. We probably stayed an hour before heading off to our next bar. Good times. read more

Neat dive bar with cheap bear, a back room for performances and an even more back back outdoor area for... being outdoors. The sandwiches look pretty good too. read more

That photo is a bit more glamorous than the actual venue, but its a cool little bar tucked away off the Lorimer stop that is homey and a good place to enjoy pints with friends. Never been there on a crowded night, but I've heard the regulars and locals are warm and relaxed here. You go in, and all the light wood exudes a dusky kind of feel, with the small bar on the left, some tables on the right, and if you stretch back through the hallway, you come upon more seating and a tiny, tiny stage that is constantly filled with the next small thing. read more

When a friend asked me to check out a band here last Saturday, I was worried. As stated in my original review, this place is the about the size of my studio apartment. For whatever reason, the place felt less crowded on a Saturday then it did for weekday trivia, but I'm not complaining. After checking out the band (better than expected), our group of six easily found a table and hung out for the rest of the night. While it was still a little cold to be outside, I discovered their awesome outdoor space and will definitely be coming back once summer (finally) shows up. read more

This place has neat events. And the cheese sandwiches are decent. The two times I was here were for the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, and the debate between the Hipster community and the Jewish community about bike lines on Bedford Ave. read more

Nice little venue to see and listen to live music. They have a good format that keeps it interesting. There's a small menu of panini style sandwiches, a full bar and a very friendly staff. The music set is in a pretty tight space with good acoustics. They pass a bucket to tip the musicians. A good time and its not going to break your budget. read more

There are a lot of reasons to love petes candy store but my number one reason is that they have cup holders on stage so you don't tip over your drink when you're playing a show. What pleasure! read more

Really cool spot. Had cider on tap, great little outdoor patio and had some fun cocktails here to try out. Also have live music (listened to some folk on a Friday night) and that was cool. Not too packed or too loud, so totally my style. Would highly recommend read more

A surprise place, for the working man. If you don't mind to go outside your comfort zone, don't mind windy Brooklyn, Pete's is saturated in low lights, acoustic sounds and cheap beer. They have couches and darts. Some nights there's live music. Waits at the bar; are three chaps deep. They needed an extra bar back. Revel in the borough's rowdy, rawness. Girls here were pretty and shy. Good convos, not like Midtown snobsters. I'll be back. read more

Super cute divey little bar. My friend liked the bar stools because they have backs on them and you can get comfortable. This wouldn't have occurred to me, but there you are: comfy bar stools! Nice mid-20th century ambience, from back in the day when Pete's was still a candy store and the bar was a counter where they served egg creams and ice cream instead of Kahlua and cream. Takes me back, because I was a kid in the 50's and little candy stores like Pete's were on every other corner. Back to the present: the drinks had a nice amount of alcohol in them. Thank you, Bartender. We came to hear a musician (very good by the way), and they have a back room for that purpose. I wonder what would happen if the performer drew a large crowd, because there aren't many seats, just a bunch of old-fashioned grade school chairs lined up along the sides. Maybe you just stand, or they add chairs? Dunno. Anyway it was a nice place to hear live music and I'll come back for that again. read more

It's an interesting, small place where people can come grab a drink after work. The atmosphere is very laid back. The crowd seemed cool and nice. Great for hanging out with friends or exploring new music. By the way, the night we went, Mattison was the band playing. I liked their music and especially the singer's voice. I'll definitely go back to Pete's Candy Store. read more

Cute spot with great live music in the back, a backyard, and amazing pressed ceilings. Credit card minimum is a bit annoying but no big deal. One thing I noticed caught me off guard - the tables emblazoned with the Japanese "rising sun," on top of Chinese newspapers. Eye catching design, but a bit odd considering the nature of those two country's history (Nanking Massacre...etc). read more

We held our event at PCS yesterday and had an amazing night! The space is rustic but is very warm and inviting. They were very accommodating and allowed us to use the back yard all night. The bar staff were amazing and prompt. We also made use of the stage area which was really cozy and beautiful. I would recommend this space for small events and get togethers in a spot close to the G/L train. Really happy with our experience and hope to hold more events here. :) read more

I really loved Pete's when I popped in there for a late night beer after work during the week.... but on the weekend, Smoking inside? isn't that illegal? I asked the bartender if it was sanctioned and they said it's fine in the back room, so I left. Would have called 311 but it was 1:30am and I went home. I'll never go there on the weekend ever again. read more

It's a hip dive bar but looks a little different in places than any other hip dive bar. Admittedly I haven't gone here for a show-show, but I go for the zine fest that they do every year. The backyard is awesome! read more

I love this place. Tiny performance space that makes you feel like you are in a train car. Cheap drinks. Large outdoors area. They make sandwiches if you are brave enough to try one. note: they do not sell candy. read more

I sucked it up last night to go to a neighborhood that I dislike greatly in theory. Oh, and in real life as a I found out. The grand Williamsburg Spelling Bee is an adult spelling bee that happens twice a month on Tuesdays at Pete's Candy Store. I went with a pal that was once a state spelling bee finalist and thought we'd have a grand time. Boy, were we wrong. First of all, as other Yelpers have mentioned, the back area where apparently performances and the Spelling Bee happen is too small and cramped. It gets fairly stuffy in there when the sliding door is closed for noise reasons as well. Second, the people in the Spelling Bee are the people that populate my own imaginary hell. When one of the contestants was asked, "If you could combine the mind of any person with the body of any other person, who would they be?" his response was, "Well, I like MY brain a lot." in a completely non-ironic tone. I can spell D-O-U-C-H-E-B-A-G. There were awkward girls who took too long and plenty of other awful characters that made me secretly pray that my friends would be eliminated in round 1 so that I could run, screaming to the hills. Alas, this was not the case. Third, the hosts are funny and their banter is decent, for maybe the first half-hour. Then you realize that the Spelling Bee is taking way too long because they are using this more as their personal stand-up comedy routine, rather than moderating the goddamn Spelling Bee. Also, hearing about one of the host's personal fantasy of stabbing someone in the face was quite the disturbing moment. Oh, the well drinks are around $5 and beers on tap around $3-4, so that was decent, but I would need an open bar to ever return to that God-foresaken spelling bee. read more

Full of hipsters, but not pretentious, this is a laid back, youthful bar. Nice range of drinks, including 5 or 6 craft beers on tap. There's a romantic patio in the back that feels like someone's backyard, in a nice, intimate way. It's quiet and a good place to talk to friends without shouting over bar noise. There is great live music in an area that's separate from the main bar, which is also great for acoustics. read more

Not a bad place. But I just wanted to offer a word of warning concerning trivia night (every Wednesday). I used to go every week, then stopped for a year (for forthcoming reasons), and tried again last week. And I remembered why I stopped. There are trivia regulars who are just insufferable. They feel the need to yell "clever" things CONSTANTLY throughout the evening. They make inside jokes. They correct pronunciation. If the clue is a song, they sing bits of it so everyone knows they know the answer. They call out the host's name, and yell "you would!" and things of the like. We get it. You know the host. We are all impressed. And, without fail, one of 3 or 4 teams of regulars wins every week, with the other couple teams following. I just find that going here feels like playing trivia at someone's house, and they all know eachother, and the host, and I'm just not in on it. And everyone is a pretentious ass. One Stop Beer Shop is not far away and offers more enjoyable trivia, in my opinion. read more

The best spicy margarita ever!!! Great atmosphere and to sum it up "old school brooklyn" in all the best ways.

Love this spot! Cute garden in the back, affordable drinks, nice bartenders, and great live music. Local favorite.