Sunny's

"Red Hook has several breweries, a winery, and even its own distillery, but if you’re picking one place to drink in the neighborhood, it should be Sunny’s. This tchotchke-filled bar opened as a saloon for Longshoremen to drink and hang out after working on the shipping docks, and it feels like a relic you’d find in a time capsule. Sunny's hosts live music nearly every day of the week, and the space out front turns into a pseudo-block party every night." - willa moore, hannah albertine

"Sunny’s first opened in 1890 as a saloon for longshoremen to hang out after working on the docks. They probably weren’t cracking open that chilled orange wine that smells like feet, but we appreciate that we can get a $10 glass of natural wine here now, or $5 Miller Lights if we want to save a few more bucks. Sunny’s isn’t the cheapest bar on this list, but a little country music and Red Hook history makes it feel a world away from the city’s $20 cocktail scene. " - bryan kim, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore

"As I mentioned earlier, a trip to Red Hook generally feels like traveling back in time. But it's really Sunny's that truly takes you there. Open for (in one way or another) over 100 years, the somehow sleepy yet lively vibe that you can clearly imagine back in the day, is still intact. Open Wed–Sun, you're bound to get down to some bossa nova or bluegrass with the locals and the newbies on Friday and Saturday nights. Get lost inside, and in the back garden, exploring all of the bar's unique quirks and intricacies." - Michael Ciancio

"Since 1890, this unapologetically quirky institution has been serving drinks near Brooklyn's windswept Red Hook waterfront. It became Sunny's in the 1990s and has since cultivated a loyal community of people who self-identify as poets, teamsters, painters, or all of the above. Expect friendly banter among the locals and various performers who come to play live music every night except Mondays. While this isn't the place to go for an elaborate custom cocktail, the full bar serves skillfully-made Negronis, Manhattans, and other classics, as well as an array of craft and macro beers, natural wine, and non-alcoholic drinks." - Emily Saladino, Devra Ferst

"Even if you don’t get one of the seats near the band in the small back room at Sunny’s, you’ll still be able to hear the live music that goes on here every night. That’s because the speakers throughout the narrow Red Hook bar play the music from the stage, and the open windows next to the band mean you can hear the blues, swing, or R&B when you’re hanging out in the nice backyard." - neha talreja, kenny yang, nikko duren, molly fitzpatrick