Carmelo’s

TLDR: everything is horrible except the staff. AVOID THE POOL TABLES. There’s a reason everyone avoids Carmelo’s. This place has a wonderful staff who deserve raises, but the general environment is awful, especially after midnight when folks get drunk and ridiculous. Cash bar, but that’s cool. If you’re playing pool, expect at least two or three drunk regulars trying to steal the table. I’ve been here 4 times playing pool, and every time, either someone wants to fight, or someone tries to steal the table. It’s very frustrating, since other bars in the area take care of their pool players because they know we’re generally chill and buy lots of drinks. Even on off nights (M-W), it’s horrible. Just don’t go upstairs, or to Carmelo’s at all lol. Again, blessings to the staff and bouncer, who looked tired and annoyed they had to excuse the regulars’ drunk BS. Overall, avoid this stupid place and go to an actually good Bushwick bar.

I love this place! The bartenders really know what they are doing yet and the drinks are cheap. It's just an overall great vibe.

A classy, diveish spot. The vibe is laid back. The space is sexy. The prices are amazing. The bartender, Emily, was super nice. I'm so glad my friend and I listened to the person who recommended this place. I will definitely be coming back. Finally got back to Carmelo's on 1/25/25 and it is still a vibe. Had a different bartender and he was also very nice. The prices are as great as ever. Love this place.

Honestly this bar is great and it’s huge, many places to sit or even hide but don’t worry the bartender Wilson will find you to make sure he fulfills your thirst needs…. If you go make sure you go when Wilson is there. He’s the best bartender, plays the best playlist, has the best attitude and is the only reason to go! Wilson makes all the drinks, plays all the jams and is the coolest guy !

I give this place four stars because it’s exactly the type of dive bar you want to be at. Deep in Brooklyn but still close enough to the L train - you feel like you’re at a neighborhood spot that everyone goes to. When you arrive your ID is checked and then you walk into the ground level. There’s a wrap around bar with booth seating throughout. I went in the winter of 2024 and the upstairs was closed for construction, but I’ve been told when it’s open there’s even more space for large groups to gather, play pool, and have an overall good time. Drinks are CHEAP (draft bud was $3 and a martini was $10). Staff were friendly and brought your drinks out fast. Remember, this is a cash only spot and they do have an ATM within the establishment.

TLDR: NOT A SAFE SPACE FOR WOMEN VIA THE STAFF. A great bar. BUT a man came and was absolutely harassing me and my friends saying that he liked that we looked 15. We told the bouncer and he refused to kick him out because “that isn’t enough” even when the guy wouldn’t leave us alone. NOT A SAFE SPACE

Wilson is the greatest! He was so kind and so awesome! I’m a local and come in all the time and he’s the best in the business. There’s pool upstairs and the perogis are out of this world!

I haven’t been to pianos in like 4 years, I always saw it as a jump off spot for like 21-24 year olds who are just starting to get into the bar setting. I’m very impressed with the slight changes in the bar. It’s still cash only, you either love it or hate it. They raised their $2 draft Bud to $3, they now have a great selection of natural wines on the menu & I happened to be there during happy hour so I bought a bottle of chilled Red🍷. They also changed the layout of their upstairs to outline the pool tables with little orange banquettes for a more lounge vibe. They also reduced the number of pool tables from 3 to 2. I will say, this feels like a much more mature bar already and I can now secretly pull up and be okay with it. The name still carries weight from what people my age have known before. GOOD WORK!

A cash only bar Dark and dank and divey bar* Shady characters *good place to finish the night, weird place to start the day

nahhhhhhhhhhhhhh they had the quesabirra tacos right but they also had this Dorito pack which was like some nachos made from Doritos but they put it back into the bag. Well I took some of those Doritos and put them onto the Quesabirra and wow really just a top-tier experience I love New York and

Overall rating: 4.8 I LOVE CARMELO'S. Only downside is cash only. Love the vibe but when I went there was like no one there. I went around 6pm on a Saturday. Probably too early. The staff was so friendly. Definitely want to come back here when I am in the area. Highly recommend!

Popped in for a quick drink here and immediately, the atmosphere is cozy! I have heard it gets crowded on weekends, but on the weeknight I went it was pretty tame, ideal for catching up with friends. It's pretty big, and they have a whole upstairs area which has three pool tables, which I appreciate because there is nothing worse then wanting to play pool and having to spend half your night at a bar just waiting for your turn to play. It's cash only but there is an ATM inside!

I give this place four stars because it's exactly the type of dive bar you want to be at. Deep in Brooklyn but still close enough to the L train - you feel like you're at a neighborhood spot that everyone goes to. When you arrive your ID is checked and then you walk into the ground level. There's a wrap around bar with booth seating throughout. I went in the winter of 2024 and the upstairs was closed for construction, but I've been told when it's open there's even more space for large groups to gather, play pool, and have an overall good time. Drinks are CHEAP (draft bud was $3 and a martini was $10). Staff were friendly and brought your drinks out fast. Remember, this is a cash only spot and they do have an ATM within the establishment.

Good food and atmosphere that offers fine dining in a comfortable setting. My favorite is the eggplant lasagna and pizza. The drinks are well made by friendly bartendars.

Looking for a dimly lit house cocktail scene? Caramelos is definitely a decent time. Bathroom lines can be a wait. But the Pool tables on the second floor if you can snag one will be a guaranteed action spot. Drinks were good, a little pricey, but definitely a great starter to your night. Bodyguards and Staff were all extremely helpful and cautious of the patrons. Albeit a little pushy at some points

Cool spot. Moody / dark ambiance at the bar, pool tables upstairs in the loft. CASH ONLY!

Why are places still doing cash bar only in 2023? Lame.. I mean come on. No one carries cash anymore.

The bar looks nice and the drinks are well mixed but cash only is pretty crazy. Luckily I had cash but the place needs to modernize.

Hidden gem in Bushwick- Divey atmosphere with cheap drinks ($2 bud light drafts, where else can you get that in NYC?). They have plenty of space and a second floor with pool tables. Great spot for grabbing a few drinks in Bushwick and 1 block from the L train.

Carmelo's is a divey two story bar/lounge/arcade. The first floor is a bar that is cash only with limited options. A few house cocktails and wine($9) and beer. Upstairs is a seated area that has games and pool tables. First come first serve from what I can tell. Crowd appears to be 25-30 in age with a diverse mix of people.

I've been to Carmelo's several times and have never had a bad review. This doorman shoulder checked my friend crossing the street as he was walking up then refused to let us in. I have never been so disrespected by a doorman in Brooklyn - it's giving toxic masculinity and multiple girls have shared similar stories since talking about this happening

I came here for a a quick drink after an event with my girlfriend and her family. I ordered a club soda and tequila. I covered my drink and went to the rest room. Upon returning my drink was missing and my seat was taken. I asked the bartender what happened to my beverage. He advised me that I finished my drink and that my seat was bow occupied. Before I could dispute anything the bartender called security and attempted to have me escorted outside. To prevent any further escalation I opted to leave the establishment. This Incident left a bad taste in my mouth. This incident could have ended badly and escalated for no reason. As an active law enforcement officer I understand the burden placed on contract security to keep the peace for the patrons and staff. I will be filing a grievance with the better business bureau and the department of labor relations. As a native of this neighborhood this is completely unacceptable and borderline racist as I was not causing a disturbance. I was judged based on my race and I was discriminated against.

I can dig this place during the week but the young crowd on the weekends can be a turnoff. I don't mean young like late 20s, I mean they are probably mostly 21-22. Regulars (who are also very young) can make it feel very clique-y. Everyone, do your drugs faster in the bathroom so the line can move faster.

I've always had a good time at Carmelo's but the real star was my bartender last time. Denia! She was so nice and charismatic. Anyways, good place to go with a group of friends. Yeah it's cash only I really don't know why that's such a big deal it's not that hard to take it out and then you don't have to pay any extra fees like some bars/restaurants will make you do if you use a card. Minus one star bc it's kind of grimy but sometimes you need that vibe

If you're looking for a good time in Bushwick head to Carmelo's! The prices are great and the space is amazing - they have pool tables, two levels with seating & outdoor seating (perfect when it's warm and sunny). The vibe in here is very Bushwick

Come here on a Friday evening to kickstart your weekend the right way! Also, bring some cash.

I really enjoyed the vibes here. $2 Bud all night, $5 cocktails before 9 (yay long happy hour!!), $5 shot and beer -- really solid prices for an NYC bar. The room itself is also really cool, and the upper and lower levels were two completely different atmospheres. This made for a great hangout spot and I'll be back pretty frequently.

Weak beers but cheap . Bathrooms are always super dirty and bartenders are rude . You can order food from outside

Ehhhhhhh this place is ok. Idk maybe it's just not my scene but the drinks really really sucked. They may be cheap drinks for New York and that's how they get people in but the drinks all are so weak by the time you get a buzz you've spent the same ...(ps we tried plenty of different ones and different bartenders) the bar is big and has potential but the music wasn't really doing it, the set up wasn't doing it but mostly the drinks weren't... with all the competition in NY they need to step up their game!

I came here to shoot some pool with the boys. Here I am winning, as usual, when my buddy Ralphie looks over the balcony (most likely deciding if he should put himself out of his misery before he inevitably loses to the champ) and tells me he sees his daughter lined up outside the bathroom. Now mind you it's a Saturday and his ex-wife gets the kids on the weekends, so now on top of Ralphie boohooing over his weak pool game he's moaning to me about how of course his wife don't know how to raise her daughter that she's over here needing the assistance of four friends to excrete his wife's bad cooking. After I sink another solid I take a look, because why not, and see that among Ralphie's daughter's friends is none other than MY GOOMAH! Now mind you unlike my pal Ralphie I am very much NOT divorced, so I got the hell out there as fast as I could before anyone put too many puzzle pieces together. Ralphie followed me out, that b*st*rd was just happy the game ended in a tie by default. Anyway 4 stars because the beer was good and cheap, I'm deducting one star though because I tripped on a skateboard on my way out.

So much fun! Love this place!! They always play great music. The drinks are super cheap! Great place to bring your friends. They throw an awesome New Wave party on Sunday. Great addition to the neighborhood.

Love this neighborhood, and this was once my favorite bar. Unwelcoming atmosphere at the door. Didn't even get our first drink before we leaving. P.S. burger place next door is incredible

Good place to hang out with friends and not spend a fortune. Good music tracks. Like that it is 2 floors -- especially enjoy Tuesday Ladies Night (gt to play pool for free). Bouncers are serious -- must have legit ID.

Multiple horrible experiences at this bar. No stars. I kept trying to make it ok but yesterday I was with a friend who is disabled and she had her small service dog with us. I mentioned that we had a service dog, who is small and very quiet- the staff person at the front was rude, insisted on us showing papers for the dog even though we had the tag with the info. The tone and comments by this person working for this establishment were repeatedly rude. We had just come from another reputable restaurant in the neighborhood where they kindly gave us a table with the service dog without a problem. I am a bartender in the industry in NYC for 15 years- asking for service paperwork for a service dog is illegal and clearly ableist. I will be pursuing this further because of how the whole dismissive and completely unprofessional attitude was disgusting. The staff person rolled their eyes at both of us, put their hands in our face and was quite aggressive which was totally out of line. Discrimination clearly at play here. The place is serving at full capacity, they do not adhere to Covid requirements and overall such an awful experience. I will definitely be reporting this to 311 and sharing on social media.

obviously you go here not expecting much but i will never be going again. last time I was there, I got grabbed at my some random guy and then bouncers said I was lying and kicked me out because they were friends

The perfect neighborhood spot with all the trimmings of a chronically northeastern watering hole. Carved out of an old church, it's got a Cheers-meets-Brooklyn vibe, complete with an overpriced bike shop next door. Strong drinks, cheap prices, cash only, friendly bar backs. Plus, they let you order food in from anywhere. A great Thursday night stop on the way home from train. Glad to see Bushwick expanding with local integrity.

Great place to drink cheep beer. Good music. Great stay

Great drinks! Great ambience! Awesome bartenders! I love it here! CASH only, but it's alright! The pool table parts are the best!

We loveeeee this place. Drinks are so affordable, the space is so charming, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the upstairs pool table area is remarkable (three pool tables!)

$2 Budweiser. $1 pool. FREE Assorted chips. When Brooklyn has you feeling frugal or when you're in need of some classic Americana, Carmelo's . That is all

My friend got called a n***er bitch by a white man at the bar and security did not kick him out. All we got was a pitty shot as the person who said said slur to her apparently knew the manager and was exempt from such behavior. Watched as the bouncer was ready to "explain the whole situation as soon as they (us) left the bar". When I tried to order a double I was told "you've been drinking your drink for over an hour and a half and I won't serve you that. You can have one" whole time I've been nice, cordial and tipping. I don't understand why I'm being clocked for how long it takes me to finish a drink as I am speaking to friends and have spent around $80 on drinks. I live around the corner and have been coming to this bar for at least 4 years now. Absolutely unacceptable and horridly rude. Bar backs are nice and so are the bar tenders aside from the man I had the miss pleasure of meeting tonight. Not sure I'll be back. Real action has to be taken. Still, CANNOT believe they think it's okay for a white man to call my black friend a n***er bitch and him still be allowed to stay in the establishment. Completely disappointed.

This is my third time at the bar and 3rd time having a bad experience. The first time I came here was a Friday night and it was super packed, the bar back cursed me out because I was in the way but I was turned away and didn't notice him. He pushed me out the way and told me to "f****** move". The second time I came here my friend was visiting and we got turned away because they assumed her id was fake. Never coming here again. Horrible service. Rude staff. I work at a bar and know what good customer experience is in NYC , the bartender was from Florida , completely condescending to our whole party. Management needs to step in.

Cool spacious spot for drinks. Just don't do the pool table. There's some dictator douche lord that takes the sport too seriously. Like chill, we all drunk, no need to get competitive. Otherwise everything else is chill. Cash only, no atm inside. Go to the bodega across the street.

Get prices! Cash only. Really busy with quite a young loud crowd on the weekend late nights. Bartenders are nice.

Easily my favorite bar in all of nyc. Feels as though you are stepping back into the 70s. I've had so many great nights here.... it's cheap, nostalgic and a magical time machine full of good vibes and hipster cheer.

$2 draft Budweiser in Brooklyn - can you really complain? Nice vibe at the weekends and good pool set up in upper level. Hip spot.

Nice atmosphere but weak drinks and we witnessed a bartender get aggro on someone in a really weird way, it was offputting.

Great great spot for some cheap drinks and pool! $2 buds are a win! Also they have $5 beer and shot combo. Pool is only a buck but the people there seem to take it seriously just a heads up! Over cool atmosphere and great bar!

Cool chill bar with very much bushwick vibes. The inside is all wood paneling and massive ceilings. Very cool diverse crowd as well with tons of seating. Awesome beer and shot specials and the bartender is pleasant. Can get a little loud but nothing too crazy

Great local Brooklyn hipster hangout. Not too pricey, great staff and ambiance. They have two pool tables upstairs that are beat up and perfect for bar pool. The upstairs is quit spacious and allows groups a table to lounge. The bartenders are really nice and know their stuff. Looks like a place if your single you can mingle. Really good vibes.

awesome , highly recommend this place for the average every day human being just trying to get by in this crazy world

Best bar w the best workers and owners Two levels with two pool tables up stairs, plus free UTZ party mix as the bar snack :-) great prices and great people

Great new bar in North Bushwick. Housed in an old chuch - like building I used to pass by and say to myself - hey that would be a great place for a venue! Two floors, pool tables, big booths and plenty of room. Owned and run by a very nice family who take good care of the joint. 70's decor with an LA vibe. Sure, Ed Koche's photo is on the wall but I still get a warm California vibe. Cheap happy hour until 9pm on weekdays. Busy since it opened. Will go again.

Awesome! $2 bud drafts and other cheap drinks, really nicely dressedhipster crowd with nice bartenders and staff. You can do a beer and shot for $5 and play pool upstairs. Air conditioned on the hot days and a late night taco truck.

Is a great bar with amazing prices. Great pool table space. Cannot come in with a service animal at night, according to bouncer. Was a bit embarrassing not to be let in after the sun went down, especially after having visited often in the past, so hoping to prevent future embarrassment from others who are accompanied by certified service animals.

Place was great but after I caught people pissing in front of my apt (I live across the street) not so rad. Please open more bathrooms. Also get people to leave the area after bar closes (isn't this the bouncers job) there have been many nights where it is 4:30am and it's a Sunday and needless to say I wake up.

Nice vibe, nice owners, cool vibes. Check it out!!! Sometimes they have live music. Affordable drinks, owners seem to care. Upper level has a few pool tables and is spacious. Great addition to neighborhood and am a fan!