Metropolitan

"Despite the smell, this Williamsburg dive bar has become somewhat of a landmark for the Brooklyn queer nightlife scene. On any given day you might walk into an open mic night, a drag clothing auction, or a backyard BBQ hosted by a drag queen. You’ll see the same cast of characters over and over again, which makes it a great spot to make new friends and meet people. The backyard has ample seating and is usually where people hang here, especially in the summer, and the bartenders here are both friendly and quick to make sure everyone’s taken care of." - rob anderson, matt clifton, nikko duren, neha talreja, bryan kim

"One of Brooklyn’s original queer bars, Metropolitan is a straight-up dive, and it's always a fun choice. The drinks are cheap, the (tiny) dance floor is usually packed, and on Sundays in the summer they've been known to use their back garden to host free BBQs. Because meeting people is even better when burgers are involved." - Bryan Kim, Kenny Yang, Nikko Duren, Matt Tervooren

"Most people know Spuyten Duyvil as the place you go while you’re waiting for a table at St. Anselm. And while it definitely works for that, it’s also just a good spot to drink outside in Williamsburg - especially if you like beer, since you can choose from more than 100 options (they have wine and snacks, too). The big backyard is surrounded by a brick wall covered with hanging ivy, and the seat-yourself tables are constantly becoming available as people head next door for steak." - bryan kim, matt tervooren

"Tired of sour beers that taste like soapy skittles or quintuple IPAs? Us too, honestly. Spuyten Duyvil in Williamsburg specializes in Belgian beer, which means you can confidently proceed without worrying you accidentally ordered alcoholic Gatorade. Also, their backyard is one of the best in the neighborhood, and the most pleasant purgatory setting while you wait to eat dinner at St. Anselm next door." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, matt tervooren

"Despite the smell, this Williamsburg dive bar has become somewhat of a landmark for the Brooklyn queer nightlife scene. On any given day you might walk into an open mic night, a drag clothing auction, or a backyard BBQ hosted by a drag queen. You’ll see the same cast of characters over and over again, which makes it a great spot to make new friends and meet people. The backyard has ample seating and is usually where people hang here, especially in the summer, and the bartenders here are both friendly and quick to make sure everyone’s taken care of. When you’re done getting drunk on cheap beer and shot specials, you can make your way across the street to Bagel Smith for a nightcap (it’s open 24 hours)." - Matt Clifton