Pinky Swear has quickly become one of my favorite spots in NYC. I originally discovered it through…read morean event held here, and I immediately fell in love with the food, the people, the energy -- honestly, everything. The service, food, and ambience are all top-notch. Huge shoutout to the entire staff, especially Bryan -- absolute best! Everyone is so warm and genuinely makes you feel welcome, which can be surprisingly hard to find in NYC. And the oysters during happy hour?! One of my favorite things to order. Their Pinky Power Hour is such a good deal, and I could easily make an entire evening out of oysters and drinks. (Pinky Swear) But what really keeps me coming back is that Pinky Swear is so much more than a restaurant or bar. There's art everywhere, and not just art that you look at -- there are interactive installations that actually invite you to play and explore. Every time I go, there seems to be something new to discover, so it never feels like I'm having the exact same experience twice. (Pinky Swear) I think that's what I love most about this place: my curious, spontaneous inner child comes ALIVE here. There's something wonderfully unexpected about wandering around, discovering the art, trying something new, having a great drink, and just seeing where the night takes you. It's great for a date night, a girls' night, after-work drinks, a birthday, or honestly just whenever you want to do something a little different. You can come for dinner and end up staying much longer than you planned because there's always something happening. This was one of my favorite little NYC gatekept gems... but I guess the secret is officially out. Pinky Swear, please never change. I have a good time EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I'm here. Thank you for creating a place that feels so playful, creative, and alive.

My first trip to NYC and I just happened to explore into this restaurant as I was sight seeing on…read moremy walk. I actually came across an Instagram reel upon my scrolling fingers and this restaurant popped up but had forgotten about it. The restaurant ambiance gave me an electric feel with the lighting and fun things to look at as part of their decor. It was happy hour time so I grabbed a seat at the bar. I settled for oysters, fries and a dirty water drink (seltzer boozy water) because I knew I was going to eat again, I kept my intake on the smaller side. The bartenders working at the time treated me well and was able to interact with me...chit chat about my trip and my LOVE for NYC!! It was less busy so I would love to check this place out when the crowd is rolling in towards the night owl hours as I will be taking more trips to NY. Thank you all for the welcome in and service provided.

4.5 stars. I have…read morefinally found THE BEST FRENCH FRIES IN THE CITY! (see chicken sandwich photo) Burger was delicious. Salad was solid. The paloma tasted like a marg so i don't know...drank it anyway!

We stopped by for a post-dinner libation, so we didn't get to try the food and sat at the bar. What…read morea cool bar vibe. I loved the neon sign, the bar lighting and how cool and friendly the bartenders were. I ordered a dirty martini, but was immediately jealous of my husband's frozen pina colada. I usually don't order frozen, blended drinks but this was more like a real cocktail... it was super smooth and not icy, very rum-forward, flavorful and refreshing and not too cloyingly sweet. I might have helped him finish it. Get one, you won't regret it! I'd love to go back and try the food but this was a great nightcap.

Absolutely loved this place!! The people, the drinks, vibes and food! Highly recommendread more

The vibes and scenes are exactly what you see. Expect to have a good time, with a variety of genres…read moreplaying throughout the night. Expect the bar to be crowded but stick it out for your drinks. Went for a late-night party but the bar service seemed to be moving quickly enough to serve whoever was getting drinks.

Great drinks. They were well balanced and strong enough especially for the price. The bartenders…read morewere friendly and helpful. The interior is small and cutesy, but seating is limited. We came for the weekly Sunday day party and it was empty. So I want to come back at night time.

Finally getting around to writing a review for one of my favorite bars in Brooklyn…read more The decor blends old school neighborhood bar charm with subtle modern touches, but it still feels warm and homey. During the day it's bright inside, and at night it turns into a moody, intimate setting filled with conversation and/or people singing. The space is small and fills up quickly, so I recommend getting there early if you want a seat because there isn't a ton of seating inside. Staffing is on the smaller side, so expect delays when there is a packed house. Now onto the food. The menu is classic bar food like wings, burgers, and fries. For wings, I've had both the Sticky Mezcal and the Shaquanda wings. The Sticky Mezcal wasn't my favorite, but I loved the Shaquanda wings. If they were fried a bit harder, they would be perfect. I've also had the burger, which was good, but for the price point, I do wish it came with something on the side. Drinks-wise, I'm a creature of habit and always order the Ginbella. This is genuinely the only place that got me into drinking gin. I will say, though, the portion-to-price ratio feels a little off lately. It seems like the drink has been served in a smaller glass recently, and at a $15 price point, I do wish it were a bit more. Also to my espresso martini lovers, the ones here are also very good. They have different DJs in rotation, so the music can be a hit or miss depending on the night. In the many times I've been here, I've heard hip hop, R&B, and some old school reggae. As for the crowd, this is definitely more of a 27+ vibe. Between the music and the overall vibe, it feels catered to that age range and up. All in all, you'll catch me here year-round. It's a great spot for girls night, guys night, a pregame, watching a game, or even as an after stop for a date night.

I heard about Fireboat right before summer kicked in, and I knew I had to check it out. I'd been to…read morethe old Pilot boat bar before it sank, so I was curious to see what replaced it. Now in its place is Fireboat -- a former FDNY tugboat -- and it's such a cool spot. Before actually going on board, I stopped by a couple times during the summer to take pictures of the exterior. Labor Day weekend couldn't have been a better time to go. Perfect weather, not a cloud in the sky, and views that were honestly too gorgeous to describe. I'm a nautical gal at heart, so the moment we boarded (it's docked), I was in heaven: blue skies, waterway traffic, and the NYC skyline all around. The boat definitely rocks, so keep that in mind, but I found it soothing. We started at the bar and ordered the Tropicalia, a vodka‑watermelon drink. Good, a little watered down, but refreshing. Great music and a chill vibe made me feel I was on vacation. The plan was to have one drink before dinner... but I didn't want to leave. The rocking of the boat was surprisingly calming, so we stayed and ordered another round -- Smoke on the Water -- plus Ceviche with Nacho Chips. We moved to a table (there's also an upper deck), and that second drink was fantastic. Smoky mezcal with a hint of banana -- really unique and delicious. The ceviche was great for sharing: a gazpacho‑style cup filled with seafood in a tomato broth, paired with thin nacho chips that worked perfectly with the cocktail. Even after finishing our last drink, I still didn't want to leave. The whole experience was just that good. They're open through mid‑October, and I highly recommend stopping by. Stunning experience!

I'm hanging onto the last bits of summer and spending as much time outdoors as possible, so when it…read morecame time to look for a late Friday afternoon cocktail, I went looking for a cocktail on a boat and found Fireboat. It's located on an actual former Fireboat, and they kept some of the old architecture on the structure and did an excellent job with it. I was able to walk on around 6pm without reservations and was seated right at the bar. I ordered a couple of cocktails and watermelon with tajin. Our drinks and watermelon came out promptly and we enjoyed fabulous cocktails with equally fabulous views. The boat is somewhat small and can get a little rocky so those who are sensitive should be aware.

What a unique place to be having food and drinks!! The…read moreweather was perfect the day we went but might be more challenging during rainy or windy times. We ordered a couple of bottles of wine and discovered that it's tap served. So you could actually try before making up your mind. Scallops could have been better seasoned but the aïoli that they serve with fries goes well with scallops too. Lobster roll was tasty. Get the fries if you think you might be still hungry. Service was a bit slow but we didn't care since we had our wine and loved the rocking of the boat. Great views of the lower manhattan!

Finally tried this place after biking past so many times over the years, and after one missed…read morereservation. We walked in and sat at the front bar on a Tuesday evening. We ordered strawberry cocktails and enjoyed the romantic sunset behind the cityscape. Love the yellow and white striped canopies over the tables. The fries with sage aioli and spiced ketchup were a bit too salty but perfectly fried and crispy. It was a complementary pairing with the watermelon tomato salad with shiso. Had to taste the chocolate gateau made for two garnished with rum-pumped raisins and served with three small scoops of ice cream. Honestly, I wish the proportions of ice cream were in line with the cake. Could've used several more perfect bites. Anyway, the bar seating was decent, we had to move once because they seated us near the silverware rollers which was pretty noisy and also blocking our view. We had asked to be seated at the 10+ empty tables but they said none were available and by the time we had left, those tables were still empty. So I recommend making a reservation if you want an actual table.

Came here on a quiet weeknight by a total mistake!…read more We came to grab some drinks at the rooftop bar and catch the sunset and gorgeous views. When we saw "Water Tower" on the elevator we decided to press it. SO GLAD WE DID. We landed at the Water Tower and walked into a fairly empty space decorated with art all the way to the ceiling, filled with natural light coming in and the views of the skyline were out of this world. We had to try their drinks of course to enjoy with the incredible view. Though the drinks are $21 and served in a plastic cup that evening, I was NOT expecting my drink to be this insanely delicious. I ordered the inferno Paloma which they infuse themselves with- and it was true perfection. By the way, each bar has their own menu which is pretty awesome and makes it even more fun. Also, Axel is the most incredible bartender and we absolutely loved his creations. Later that night we ordered a custom mandarin margarita, with a spicy twist, and WOW. He's truly talented and absolutely made us some awesome drinks that we can't stop talking about. Sunset with a view and a spicy mezcal drink? Yes and YES. We had this place all to ourselves and can't wait to be back. Friday nights they have DJ nights and you can also book the Water Tower for your own private events which is pretty cool!

Chill bar, cool view, NYC rooftop drink price. I was here when it wasn't that busy, so nice to get…read morea seat. Tips is included automatically in your bill, and i appreciate they're not asking for more tips when you pay.

I grew up coming to Rockaway beaches so I am familiar with the area. I haven't been here in a while…read morebut I was invited to stop by the rooftop. As soon as you approach the hotel, it is already a different vibe. Once u enter, you don't feel like you are in NYC! Before I went up to the rooftop, I checked out the poolside area on the 1st floor. It was so lively with full bar and seating. There was a DJ in the back. If you continue walking, you'll bump into the pool in the back. They had cabanas and poolside chairs. With the DJ, it just gave me Miami or Vegas vibes! I proceeded to the rooftop which was another incredible experience! Staff were great and welcoming. The vibe gave me Nashville up there I am a big fan of this hotel. The hotel rooms are pretty pricey but I would return for food & drinks!

Had a great time hanging out on the rooftop of The Rockaway Hotel this past Saturday. The staff…read morewere super friendly, the mocktails were delicious, and the views were impeccable. I really love how you can watch the shows from above without even having to get a ticket (at least that was my experience, YMMV). They've created such a beautiful space here and it really feels like you've somehow been transported to the Hamptons or Montauk... except you're right in the heart of the Rockaways!