This place rules. While the name is misleading and you'll be disappointed if you're coming here…read morelooking to do any sort of skating, what you'll find instead is a charming bar with nostalgic decor and an entire room of arcade games. Whether it's NBA Jam or Pinball, the games here actually work and give you something to do as you imbibe. I went around Thanksgiving weekend and appreciated the creepy human-sized Chewbacca that moves it's face, greeting guests under the lovely disco ball above. Frozen drinks, wine, hard seltzer and cocktails occupy most of their menu space, at great prices. Mostly I'm charmed by the kitsch of it all, and the booth seating that is perfect for 6 friends but no more. Their full calendar of events include drag shows, dance parties, and karaoke nights. Apparently if you actually do come in skates they'll give you a discount on drinks, so go on and live out your skate dreams here.

Tasty drinks and a super fun vibe in here! Very kind bar staff. Would love to return sometime for a…read moredrag show or check out the arcade.

Every visit here smells awful -- probably from the cats and dogs roaming around. The bartender is…read morerude and even put a cat on the cutting board used for limes. The place is dirty, the dog barks nonstop, and she said she was sick but still made drinks without washing her hands. The only good thing? Cheap drinks

Excellent corner neighborhood bar. Amanda and Danni are great as well as Al. Been a regular for a…read moreyear now. Great little hole in the wall where you make good friends and everyone knows you!!! Feels like family! Danielle

I came out on a Friday evening to enjoy the start of my weekend at The Steel Mill in Bushwick, and…read moreI had a great experience. The bartenders provided excellent hospitality and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The food was amazing. We ordered the teriyaki wings and chicken nachos, and both were full of flavor. Even with the sauce, the wings stayed crispy and crunchy, which made them even better. The drinks were also really good -- definitely not weak. You could actually taste the liquor, and everything was made well. On top of that, the place was clean and had a great vibe. I'd definitely come back again for food, drinks, and a good time. Love the music too. Thank you Alyssa for making it a good experience and welcoming.

What's not to like about this local gem? Service, food, and good vibes. Omg get the teriyaki…read morewings, top 5 on my list.

This was scary! For quite a while this place was closed, but thankfully it reopened and I got to…read morereturn on my most recent visit to the city. Not much has changed honestly. I got to have some Detroit style pizza from upstairs, which I still think is hilariously bold in NYC, and I tried a few new drinks. I had one new friend in town who was trying them for the first time and was also delighted. It's also helpful when you have a bartender or staff in general that genuinely engages with you and is excited that you are enjoying yourself. I forget his name, but he made sure our party really enjoyed ourselves. Great way to kick off the birthday month, that's for sure!

Tucked away in Bed-Stuy beneath a pizzeria, this small speakeasy is the kind of spot you'd only…read morediscover if someone let you in on the secret. I'm sure I've walked past it countless times without realizing it was there, until now. You enter through the pizzeria, where you'll be asked to wait for a host to escort you down. Once inside, you're greeted with a cozy, intimate space and a menu full of creative, delicious cocktails with clever names. The bartender and host were both warm, friendly, and quick with a joke, which made the atmosphere even more welcoming. The space is small, but that's clearly part of its charm, it feels intentional and inviting. I'd definitely come back. No photos this time, I was too busy enjoying the experience and soaking up the vibes. You'll just have to check it out for yourself to see how cool it really is.

Obsessed! Vinyls line the walls while the bartender darns suspenders and I'm instantly transported…read moreto another time. I'm glad I got to see the bar striped down, and before I came in for a themed night. I got to see it in its full form. It's gothic charm is mysterious and inviting. I wanted to stay there all night, but I was only there for two drinks. The first one was the "Fancy Tin Cookie" and it tasted like dessert. There was literally a cookie in this whiskey based cocktail. My next beverage was a creation by the bartender which was a pineapple rum cocktail. This was exactly what I was looking for. Something light, refreshing, but not too sweet. This was a lovely experience, and I look forward to coming back for sure.

I've heard that the Aftermath is a staple bar at Ridgewood & after visiting I can see why. First…read moreoff, the vinyl records & space itself is very cool. Second, it's a very spacious bar as well. Third, the drinks are great. I didn't get any of the classic cocktails & just got a classic gimlet from the HH menu. However, it was great & I loved that there was a generous amount of fresh lime juice given. I also love that this spot has restaurant pop-ups as it's spreading word about up & coming places.

I had their Bloody Mary at the Bloody Mary Fest. It was on the minty, watery side, and a bit too…read morepeppery for my taste. Still, I liked the atmosphere, and I'd come back to give it another try.

Randomly stumbled upon this gem after the lounge I planned to visit was closed, and I'm so glad I…read moredid! Located in Bushwick, this Black-owned jewel was exactly what my friends and I were looking for. It's laid-back, with a backyard that's perfect for enjoying drinks in the warmer months. The music set a cool, relaxed vibe, and the bartender served up quick, delicious drinks without missing a beat. Filthy Diamond is the perfect spot for an afternoon drink with friends or a casual date. Don't believe me? Go see for yourself. Who knows, maybe we'll run into each other, and you can tell me how right I was about this place. Cheers! *Sorry, I forget to take photos when im enjoying myself. Promise to take pics the next time I visit.

Nice and intimate spot, good happy hour until 8 during the week. It is really a hidden gemread more

Friendly neighborhood bar good food had beef empanadas they were good a lil small but u get 2 for 5…read moreso it's a great deal my bartender Bella was amazing she was attentive even though she was working alone on an early Saturday she was friendly and down to earth they have hookah as well prices are great my new go to for bushwick

I'm going to miss Father Knows Best! This place has had such a special place in my heart for soo…read moremany years. I can't believe it's already been 10 years since i first stepped foot into FTB. I know that ownership has big plans for their renovation and a brand new concept for the area. I can't wait to see what Chris and his team has in store! I know whatever it's going to be, it's going to be incredible.

1. Staff moves very slowly. Though there were about 4 people behind the bar it took several minutes…read morebefore they acknowledged the line. 2. More importantly, the matcha latte was not good. It was extremely grainy. I can see all the powder at the bottom of my cup. I couldn't drink it. I haven't had many great experiences but continue to give it a try. They need to hire better staff that cares about the customers.

This place was really interesting! When I found out all the cocktails were on tap, I was a bit…read moreskeptical. What do you mean you're not going to mix my cocktail right in front of me? However, I was quickly proven wrong. Not only was the service topnotch, but the drinks were surprisingly delicious and refreshing. There's a ton of options which is also surprising considering the tap only format. Upon further reflection of how tiny the bar is, it makes sense why they would go this route. It would be challenging for one person let alone two to be behind that bar shaking and stirring. I also heard there's a back area with more seating but we didn't explore much further than the front bar stool seating. Seems like a cool spot for happy hour or late night drinks and I would definitely return!

Came here for happy hour as our dinner was in the area. The happy hour deal is great! Old…read morefashions/Manhattan/daiquiri/margarita for $8 even on weekends feels unheard of in the area. We were lucky to grab 2 seats at the bar as the rest of the seating actually seemed a bit cramped and uninviting. They advertise a heated back patio but I don't think the heat was on and no one was there, which is a bummer. Regardless, the theme is nice with everything attributable to their "laboratory" ambience. Everything is served in beakers or similar glasses. It can get a bit crowded sitting at the bar as that's where everyone orders drinks but otherwise this was quite enjoyable. Will definitely keep on the list for HH.

My adventure out to the Purgatory club was to see the performance of an artist from Japan named…read moreIsiliel. This show was the first of two in the USA with the second being on the West Coast. It would start on the very early side (3PM) so I headed out there via the MTA and while the ride was long, it was more straightforward than I would have first thought. There are currently quite a few clubs for shows like this in Bushwick and Williamsburg but today's adventure was going to be my very first time at Purgatory. Once onsite, I went in to meet with the artists manager since I was going to do some PiercingMetal stuff at the show. The bar part was not yet open but its a nice sized bar with plenty of chairs around it and a couple of smaller lounge areas that I really liked the vibe of. Outside in the front there were a number of small tables and chairs forming a sort of patio space. Their rather remote location probably let's them do this with relative ease and the train is right near them so if you're out there you can watch them go back to the city or deeper into Brooklyn. There was also a photo booth area downstairs if you like that kind of stuff. Upstairs is a small but rather awesome concert/event space. The stage is a tight one and I felt that the room itself would fit about 75 people. Spatially speaking, if you've a three piece of guitars, singer and drums you'd be okay but the kit needs to be small or digital and you need to be mindful of the space you have to share. This might be great for an intimate acoustic event or even a live podcast of some kind. I felt that the lighting was good for the artist I got to see and the sound was solid and a nice surprise. There is an upstairs area reachable by a gated stairwell but I think this is for tech and artists waiting to go on stage. There is also a small bar upstairs and an alcove for artists to sell merchandise. I was there to see an artist from Japan named Isiliel, and this was one of her two US shows. I didn't see any notion of food being served at this place so I apologize if they do and I didn't make note of that. There was an open Wi-Fi signal which let me do some social media between groups. Depending on who the performance is from I'd definitely come here again. I don't know the general area so cannot even determine what other options might be around here but the folks behind Purgatory have really set up a cool spot.

Drinks are amazing and service was enjoyable. I use to live in the area, I think this will be my…read moresummer spot