Sunny's Bar New York
Red Hook dive/longshoremen's bar
My friend Jane drove us in her PT Cruiser out to Red Hook, to Sunny's, to hear the rising band 79.5 (named after a Brooklyn FM radio station frequency). She's a big fan, and a few weeks later they played in her loft for us, and to a fascinating crowd of kids from Brooklyn, Queens and elsewhere. A few weeks after that, I read about the band in the New York Times, and now that they've played the Bowery Ballroom, it's likely everyone has heard of them.
Well, the kind of foresight it takes to spot and hire bands with their talent is, I guess, something someone at Sunny's has. Promoting good bands and cheap beer attracts a money spending crowd.
Sunny's is way out there in Red Hook which means that if you don't use a car service, you'll have to get off the subway at its highest point --- 90 feet, the Smith/9th Street station --- then walk for 20 minutes alongside the 'Toxic Ball Fields' of Brooklyn toward the East River. But you'll get a good return on your time and energy, because they close at 04:00 on the key nights (Wed, Thu, Fri).
It's neither insulting nor promotive to label it a dive bar; it's also referred to as a saloon, and it has the predictable fare, but it's 'hot' and it's in Redhook, which is also 'hot', so there's that.
Even the NYTimes wrote about it.
Upcoming shows.
About this spot
Find your way with 301 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:
Discover all other hidden gems in New York
John's Pizza / Times Square
Pizza Tabernacle
John's Pizza is situated inside a former tabernacle with a domed stain glass ceiling about 50 feet above, and ‘sliced’ into 8 sections, just like a pizza.
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
'Fearless Girl'
Wall Street History
On Broad Street stands a bronze sculpture named Fearless Girl which exudes bravery, pride and strength but not, according to the artist, 'defiance'...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
The Hungry and Healthy Marketplace
Comedy / Deli
The space functions day to day as a bright and modern-looking upscale deli and on certain evenings, it doubles as a performance space for stand-up comics.
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Manhattan Community Boathouse
Free kayaking
It’s all free, on a first-come, first-served basis. You'll get a life jacket, a paddle, a 'kayak', and a locker, for a session of approximately 20 minutes.
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
The Cage in West Village
Hoops & handball
The Cage in West Village is a chain link fenced, bagel-sized basketball court in New York. Here you can also find handball, a citywide spectacle...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
The Seasoned Vegan
Food you love, veganized
"The Seasoned Vegan" in New York is crowded (in a good way), energizing and really fun. I got the Harlem Chopped Cheeseburger, and I'd order it again...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
TAP - NYC
Brazilian tapioca's 'home base'
"TAP - NYC" makes Brazilian tapioca from yuca! I really love their Pão de Queijo, tangerine-sized, feather-weight bread-puffs with molten cheese...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Bethesda Terrace
Central Park
"Bethesda Terrace" in New York's Central Park is home to Bethesda Fountains, sculptural balustrades and breathtaking magical depictions of wild animals...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Bodegas
NYC convenience stores
"Bodegas" are NYC convenience stores that are as much an essential part of urban culture as are chippies in Whitley Bay or curry shops in London, England...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Johannes Vermeer
At the Met & Frick
You can see eight of the thirty-six paintings by "Johannes Vermeer" in New York City. There's a ninth one, but it's behind closed doors...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
35 Times, Toby Buonagurio
Subway art 10
"35 Times - Toby Buonagurio" in New York are small artworks in the Times Square subway station, maybe even 16 inches square, lit on the inside. Jazzy!
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Heading to New York?
301 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
... for just €9.99
Heading to New York?
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 301 Insider Tips
✓ Escape the Crowds
✓ Find Spots nearby
✓ Authentic Stories
... for just €9.99
City guides by those who know the city in and out!
Our Locals' Favorite Bars
Our team loves New York
Get to know our other Spotters from New York
As featured on:
