(Updated August 2018) Manhattan, you’ve got some grade A competition when it comes to cocktail bars. Sure, you’ve got Dead Rabbit, Death & Co, and Raines Law Room. But sometimes, I just want to be able to walk for three minutes to get to my next bar instead of schlepping my stuff 20 minutes on the subway, you know? That’s why we’ve created this nifty Brooklyn cocktail bar crawl itinerary for everyone out there who wants an amazing cocktail without the hassle of taxis and trains.

It’s Five O’Clock Here: making your bar planning as easy and fun as possible. Oh man, that sounded way too cheesy.

Read on to discover where you should go next time you’re in Brooklyn, NYC’s coolest borough.

Stop #1: Clover Club

Clover Club, a classic Brooklyn cocktail institution, opened its doors in 2008. Founded by Julie Reiner (who opened Flatiron Lounge and Pegu Club in Manhattan), this spot is a great place to begin your evening.

In addition to their killer cocktails, Clover Club has a scrumptious food menu to sop up all that alcohol you’ll have consumed by Bar #4. Start the night off right at one of their cozy tables with some pulled pork mini sliders or the lamb burger with goat cheese.

What Drinks to Order Here: Try the Port of Call, which features gin, ruby port, lemon, cinnamon, aromatic bitters, and cranberry preserves. If you’re a fan of brown spirits, the Log Cabin has apple brandy, hazelnut-infused bourbon, maple syrup, and Angostura bitters.

Essential Info:
Clover Club is located at 210 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201; website here.
Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM; Fridays, 4:00 PM to 4:00 AM; Saturdays, 10:30 AM to 4:00 AM; Sundays, 10:30 AM to 1:00 AM.
Price for Cocktails: $13; a few are $8 during happy hour, which runs Mondays to Fridays, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Transportation Tip ⇒ Clover Club is closest to the Bergen Street F/G stop. It’s about a 3-minute walk from the subway station.

Directions to Next Stop: Walk across Smith Street from Clover Club to Leyenda.
Walking Time: 30 seconds, unless you like to walk at the pace of a zombie from The Walking Dead, in which case it will take 3.1415 minutes.

Stop #2: Leyenda

Leyenda is the brainchild of Ivy Mix, who also happens to be Clover Club founder Julie Reiner’s protégé. It’s perhaps unsurprising, then, that her cocktail bar and restaurant is across the street from our previous stop.

Mix was awarded the “Bartender of the Year” award at Tales of the Cocktail in 2015, which is basically the equivalent of winning a Best Director or Best Actress award at the Oscars. Her bar focuses on Latin American spirits, like tequila, pisco, and mezcal. This place can get packed quickly, so be sure to factor in some extra time if you plan to sit at one of their tables. Delicious culinary dishes–like the ham and cheese croquetas or tinga tacos–from Chef Sue Torres complement Mix’s complex cocktails. We’re also maybe slightly obsessed with Leyenda’s churros…

What Drinks to Order Here: The Tia Mia, what I’d call their signature drink, finally got me into mezcal. This drink contains mezcal espadin, Jamaican rum, orange curacao, lime, and orgeat. If you’re into all things spicy, try La Sonambula for a challenge. Ingredients include Jalapeño infused blanco tequila, lemon, chamomile, mole, and Peychaud’s bitters. (But don’t say we didn’t warn you…)

Essential Info:
Leyenda is located at 221 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201; website here.
Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM; Fridays, 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM; Saturdays, 11:00 AM to 3:00 AM; Sundays, 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Price for Cocktails: $11-$14 each
Transportation Tip ⇒ Leyenda is closest to the Bergen Street F/G stop. It’s about a 3-minute walk from the subway station.

Directions to Next Stop: Walk down Smith Street from Leyenda to Brooklyn Social.
Walking Time: 6 minutes at normal walking speed; 8.5 minutes at tipsy person walking speed

Stop #3: Brooklyn Social

Brooklyn Social was once an Italian social club, and the bar manages to retain this vibe throughout its current iteration. The place has a less fussy, more divey kind of feel than other places on this list, but you can still expect some good drinks. It’s also the hardest to find, which makes it more fun to get into. Brooklyn Social features a pool table in the back, outdoor patio, and hot-pressed panini. You’ll likely be standing here, as the popular bar can get crowded. Pro Tip: This place is cash only.

What Drinks to Order Here: The Pinky Fizz, which has gin, fresh lemon, aperol, egg white, and soda.

Essential Info:
Brooklyn Social is located at 335 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231; website here.
Hours: Sundays to Thursdays, 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM; Fridays and Saturdays, 5:00 PM to 4:00 AM
Price for Cocktails: ~ $12
Transportation Tip ⇒ Brooklyn Social is closest to the Carroll Street F/G stop. It’s about a minute’s walk from the subway station.

Directions to Next Stop: Head south on Smith Street toward Carroll Street. Turn right on 1st Place, then left on Court Street and head into August Laura.
Walking Time: 3 minutes for normal people, or 7 minutes if you are busy gabbing to your friends and walking slowly to catch their every word about the upcoming season of “Game of Thrones”

Stop #4: August Laura

Update as of August 2018: Sadly, August Laura has closed its doors permanently. RIP — that’s how the cocktail biz goes in NYC. We suggest spending more time along Smith Street after visiting Clover Club, Leyenda, and Brooklyn Social for more fabulous bar-hopping.

Saving the best for last? I think so. Since August Laura opened in May 2016, it’s become a beloved neighborhood institution. They take their drinks seriously, yes, but they also seriously know how to have fun (hence why you should end the night here instead of starting it–you may find yourself inexplicably joining a merry band of Christmas carolers or celebrating neighborhood locals’ birthdays with shots).

August Laura is the creation of Alyssa Sartor (formerly of The Bar Room) and Frankie Rodriguez (formerly of Death & Co). The place is named for Sartor’s deceased grandfather, and focuses on Italian spirits and cocktails. The staff are tight-knit and really take the time to treat you like “one of the family”–fitting given its Carroll Gardens location. Because of this, try to score a seat at the bar if your group isn’t too large.

What Drinks to Order Here: The Amaretto Sour is a staple of this Brooklyn cocktail bar, and with good reason. The drink features amaretto, nocino walnut liqueur, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, and ground nutmeg for garnish. Also noteworthy is their Black Manhattan, which features Templeton Rye, Carciofi Amaro, and black walnut bitters.

Essential Info:
August Laura is located at 387 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201; Yelp page here.
Hours: Sundays and Mondays, 6:00 PM to midnight; Tuesdays to Thursdays, 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM; Fridays and Saturdays, 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Price for Cocktails: $13
Transportation Tip ⇒ August Laura is closest to the Carroll Street F/G stop. It’s about a 4-minute walk from the subway station.

You Can Haz Map!!

See below for a handy dandy map of this expertly crafted, 100% guaranteed fun Brooklyn cocktail bar crawl. (Mainly we’re just proud that we can incorporate maps into our posts now. We got mad skillz, yo.)  ↓↓

Bonus: Optional Add Ons for Your Brooklyn Cocktail Bar Crawl

Still have some energy after these four cocktail bars? You don’t say. Here are some options that are a quick car ride (e.g., 5-7 minutes or so) away from this area:

Seaborne

Located in Red Hook, Seaborne earns an automatic spot on this list because it was the legendary Sasha Petraske’s final project. This Brooklyn cocktail bar is cash only, but it’s worth it for the drinks. Seaborne is located at 228 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231.

Dirty Precious

If you’re heading toward Gowanus or Park Slope after this Brooklyn cocktail bar crawl, hit up Dirty Precious. They’ve got some pretty cool cocktails on tap; highlights on their menu include “The Bends,” featuring aged rum, chamomile, and citrus bitters. Dirty Precious is located at 317 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215.

Le Boudoir

Marie Antoinette theme bar? Check. Craft cocktails fit for a queen? Check. See related post about this Brooklyn cocktail bar here. Le Boudoir is located at 135 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

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