Where to Drink Alone

Reviews of Bars and Drinking Establishments to Go and Drink Solo.

Whether wifey is out of town, you are new to the area and have no friends, or you are a complete loser and just want to go out and drink all by your lonesome, my goal is to help you find the best place to grab a drink with #1. You could always just stay at home and watch the game, but as George Costanza once said “if I watch it at my apartment I feel like I’m not doing anything. If I watch it here, I’m out of the house; I’m doing something”

These reviews are not places to go and find that sexy lady or sweet bro to take home for the night; in fact, quite the opposite. Although some of the places reviewed could help you find that special one, the higher rated places are good for just simply going out and having a drink by yourself. Going out alone can be awkward for sure, so there are certain aspects I’m looking for to make you feel less lame. Each bar is ranked based on the following 5 categories for a possible 50 points:

Atmosphere — I love dive bars, so a dive bars get extra points, but any bar that that makes doesn’t make you feel like a complete loser and is fun will get a higher score. If you are going out alone, with no intention to impress anyone, why go somewhere fancy?

Drink Selection — As I said above, I love dive bars so they get some slack here, but the better beer selection, the better score. You are going out to drink, so why not drink the best. Craft, local, rare beers are what we are looking for here.

Entertainment — I’ve always said, if you are going out drinking alone, you need a TV at the bar. A lot of bars where I live do not have TVs which is great when going out in groups, but if you are by yourself you will eventually run out of things to check on your phone.

Music — Live music is a huge plus in these ratings, but a great juke box and song selection are all very important. The choice of music should fit the vibe of the bar.

Patrons — Don’t forget the other people at the bar — also very important. A completely empty bar is bad, a crowded bar is bad, and a bar with the wrong crowd is bad. Just need some relaxed people hanging out and we’re all good.

45–50: (Fantastic — Becoming a regular)

40–45: (Great — I’ll definitely be back)

35–40: (Good — I’ll probably come back)

30–35: (Ok — I might come back)

25–30: (Not Great — Hopefully I don’t come back)

0–25: (Terrible — I’ll avoid in the future)

Reviews are listed below sorted by most recent. These started August 6, 2016 so check back soon for new reviews. Remember that these bars could be great for going in groups or on a date, but the ratings are based on going to the bar solo.

Enjoy.

August 9, 2016

Smith’s Tavern

Atmosphere (9) — Ever walk past and wonder what it’s like inside the windowless Smith’s Tavern? I finally built up enough courage to enter (alone of course) and was pretty surprised by the inside. I was expecting a pretty good shit hole of a place, but it was actually nice and clean. Is it a dive or a pub? Not entirely sure, but it doesn’t really matter. The place was roomy and had a nice long bar with plenty of bar seats (great for the solo drinker). There was also a mural behind the bar of a man, that I assume to be Smith, which was pretty sweet. To top it off, the bartender was super friendly.

Drink Selection (6.5) — Not much for a craft beer selection which is why the low score. However, the beer they did sell was pretty cheap and the selection was exactly what you’d expect from a divey place. If you are drinking alone, no need to always spend a ton of money so the cheap prices saves a 6.5 rating.

Entertainment (9) — Plenty of TVs behind the bar and even some others on the side wall. They all had a different game on and the bartender gladly changed the channels on request. No complaints.

Music (8.5) — Really good classic rock mix throughout the time I was there. There were a few misses that didn’t fit, but the bartender was paying attention and actually changed the song a couple times when a dud came on.

Patrons (7.5) —The place was somewhat empty while I was there so this is tough to say, but the people that were there seemed normal and coherent and didn’t bother me. There was a few people that seemed left over from an after-softball drink session having a couple pitchers of bud light, but there were also two people drinking wine at the bar — a somewhat strange mix, but it worked.

Total Score: 40.5 (Great — I’ll definitely be back) — This place really just needs a better beer selection and it would be a place I’d come back to a lot. I don’t mind having a PBR every once in a while, but would like the option for something nicer.

August 7, 2016

Buttermilk Bar

Atmosphere (9) — A classic dive bar feel, but this place was weirdly clean and uncluttered and I couldn’t tell if I liked that or not. Nevertheless, Buttermilk Bar was an unexpected surprise considering the two sketchy people sitting on the bench outside. Once inside I was greeted kindly by the bartender and felt at home.

Drink Selection (7) — They had some decent craft beers to choose from — I grabbed a Smuttynose IPA — but they also had the standard dive selection with PBR and High Life. They get an extra half point for the nice beer and shot combo deals that almost tempted me in.

Entertainment (8) — They have a few TVs in the place, yet only one was one at the time. The TV was also on the opposite side of the bar so I had to spin in my stool to catch some of the Olympics. If there is a way to put a TV behind the bar, that 8 likely becomes an 9. A pool table, pinball games, and buck hunter are also available, but not so fun when you are drinking alone.

Music (9) — I couldn’t tell if the music was coming from a juke box or somewhere else, but the tunes were fantastic so I didn’t care. A nice mix of old school rolk and folk were nonstop.

Patrons (7) — I can’t help but factor in the sketchy duo sitting out front even though they probably weren’t ever in the bar that night. Other than that, there was a lonely, depressed looking girl to my left and two guys chatting about start ups to my right. Behind me were two more playing pool. It wasn’t a bad group to be drinking alone with. Then a half dozen hipster wannabees came waltzing in and stood in front of the TV instead of ordering a beer.

Total Score: 40 (Great — I’ll definitely be back) — Put a TV behind the bar and add some local craft beers and I’d visit this place a lot more — even with the junkies out front.

August 6, 2016

Paddy’s of Park Slope

Atmosphere (6) — This place is more of a sports bar than an Irish pub. The place is too modern looking to be considered a pub. The lights are too bright and there is wine on draft. The bartender was nice, but the owner (at least I think was the owner) was annoying and loud.

Drink Selection (6.5) — Nothing special about the beer selection. They did have the obligatory Guinness and Smithwicks along with the standard craft choices, but nothing too great.

Entertainment (7) — They did have a good amount of nice TVs and all had sports on. Might be good to come for football, but I’m afraid they will run out of seats.

Music (7) — Irish music was played non-stop while I was there. This would have been great if I felt like I was at an Irish pub. Atmosphere takes the hit for that, but music was enjoyable.

Patrons (4) — This category really depends on when you go, but you can only make a first impression once. Who seemed like the owner of the bar, one guy was loud and obnoxious talking about how much he knows about Ireland. He was talking to a few of his friends (the only other people at the bar) and it’s all I could hear. It was most likely I was too sober at the time, but I drank my beer quickly so I could get the hell out of there.

Total Score: 30.5 (Ok — I might come back) — May be great for watching sports with a buddy, but not a great bar to drink alone.