Rent the perfect cocktail bar in Williamsburg

Allow me to infuriate you immediately with a recommendation for one of the pricier cocktail bars in Williamsburg. Maison Premiere serves not only cocktails but also over 20 varieties of oysters, alongside scallops, lobster rolls, and caviar. And no, it doesn’t actually serve crayfish tails, and yes, I know the header doesn’t properly rhyme. Sue me (please don’t actually sue me).

Quipping aside, this is a really nice spot that has almost as many accolades as it does oysters, and supplements its occasionally ostentatious menu with simple dark wood upholstering and bare walls left consciously unfinished after stripping the wallpaper. There’s an ambient outside area, resplendent with luscious greens and simple garden furniture. The cocktail menu is extensive and creative, featuring not only classics but also in-house recipes and an array of absinthe-based drinks. I’d definitely recommend trying one of these, along with the Maison Jungle Bird.

Maison Premiere offers a wide variety of private hire, dinner, and event options. From dinner for 10 in their lavish enclosed rear-patio garden to a full buy-out of 70 guests, this venue can accommodate all but the largest gatherings.

Okay, so it really isn’t my fault that a lot of the best cocktail places in Williamsburg also happen to do some sort of cold seafood and carry a French name. It may, however, be my fault that I am again willing to sacrifice factual accuracy for a cheap rhyming couplet - you won’t actually find Whiskey Sours here, But you will find a carefully chosen selection of house cocktails against a truly tasteful background of dark wood and emerald tiles under gently vaulted ceilings.

Deux Chats offers a French-inspired menu with a focus on seafood and well-crafted cocktails. The raw bar features oysters, shrimp cocktail, and seafood towers, while the small plates include options like deviled eggs and lobster rolls. The drink menu leans toward classics with a twist — think martinis, negronis, and seasonal cocktails with fresh ingredients. It’s a cozy spot for sharing plates and enjoying a drink in a relaxed, low-lit setting.

Deux Chats seats 60 indoors and 35 outdoors, and they take private event requests directly, with flexibility the name of the game. Or should I say, flexibilité?

Time to change gears. If you’re not convinced by my sumptuous but pricy French suggestions, I invite you over to Greece, where, according to Medusa’s own website, “art-deco elegance meets Greek mythology.” Well, I’m not sure I saw too much in the way of art-deco elegance, and any semblance of Greek architecture is more the type you’d find in Vegas than Athens, but the influence of Poseidon is clear: this place is a dive, and a great place to drown your sorrows and quench your thirst nonetheless.

The cocktail menu, accordingly, is of the kind imagined by the great Greek philosophers John Stamos and Zach Galifianakis. Whether you feel like a “Dark n’ Horny”, a “Medusa Sour”, a “Snakes on a Plane” or a “Naked David”, cheap and cheerful is the preference amidst a sea of cocktail bars taking themselves extremely seriously. I’m even having fun writing about this place, which really is a fun night out despite my affectionate mockery.

Medusa Bar takes event bookings, and you can start that discourse through their website. Perhaps best suited to an event with a suitable layer of Williamsburg post-sincere irony, you too can get yourself to the Greek (bar), but without the ever-increasing headache of Russell Brand, at least until the morning.

Fresh Kills Bar is an opulent yet minimalist experience, focusing its aesthetic on a blend of deep reds, blacks, and wooden veneers to create an intimate atmosphere great for date nights, after-dark, or anything else. This popular spot often has a line, but it’s well worth a wait that rarely exceeds 15 minutes. Even in April, as I write this, the fact you won’t find yourself in one of Manhattan’s 150-food glass wind tunnels (otherwise known as “streets”) will make this an endeavour worth your time.

Fresh Kills Bar is a no-menu cocktail experience, meaning that everything is Bartender’s Choice (or “based on vibes”, as I was informed). So far, so Williamsburg. What that means in practice is that you can have something that is pretty unique, based on core flavors or drinks that you like, or are curious about. Pineapple and whiskey? You’re covered. Just explain whatever twisted fantasy you can think of to the bartender, and they’ll work with you to come up with something memorable.

Nestled behind Wanpaku, a Ramen restaurant straddling the border between Williamsburg and Greenpoint, The Hidden Pearl is an intimate, Japanese-style cocktail bar that, by its own admission, bases its aesthetic and cocktail menu on the traditions of tropical Japan.

Upon entering Wanpaku, patrons can find The Hidden Pearl at the back, marked by a discreet door. Inside, the bar features a minimalist design with navy blue accents, tan leather seating, and brass fixtures, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The space is small, accommodating around 20 guests, making it ideal for intimate gatherings or date nights.

The menu boasts a selection of craft cocktails infused with Japanese flavors, such as yuzu and miso. In addition to cocktails, the bar offers Japanese whisky, sake, shochu, and a variety of small plates like spicy tuna crispy rice and shishito peppers.

The Hidden Gem only takes walk-ins, but encourages enquiries for private events and buyouts.