The Best Bars to Visit in the Bronx

With an ever-shifting selection of more than 40 beers and well-executed bar foods to pair them with, Bronx Alehouse is the solution to all of your “Where should we go?” woes. Enjoy garlic fries, deliciously sloppy two-handed burgers and complimentary popcorn, and then wash it all down with whichever on-tap brew looks appealing. The bar’s website even provides a real-time tap list so that patrons know what’s available no matter when they visit.

New York’s history as America’s primary brewing and hops-growing state, circa the early 1800s, inspired Gun Hill Brewing Company. The bar brews all its beer on-site, near the historic Gun Hill, using unusual ingredients such as cheese rinds, caramel and watermelon to create complex and unique flavors. Stop by for a pint or a flight and be sure to pick up a to-go growler of your favorite beer on the way out.

Thanks to a program of live musical performances, open-mic nights, theater and rotating art shows, traditional Irish pub An Beal Bocht Café has cultivated a loyal community of patrons since it opened in 1991. The menu features beers brewed in the borough (and from across New York State) alongside whiskey and typical Irish pub grub: bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potato), beef stew, and bacon and cheese toasties (grilled cheese).

A tapas spot whose taste-it-all approach extends to the drinks menu, Tin Marin serves cocktails, beer, wine and spirits alongside shareable plates. The beverage selection at this Spanish and Latin American eatery features flavors from Mexico, Argentina, Chile and beyond, and includes guava mojitos, strawberry margaritas and, of course, sangria.

Charlie’s Bar & Kitchen has mastered the art of the boozy brunch. Cheesy chorizo-spotted shrimp and grits, smothered chicken and waffles, and fan-favorite biscuits are washed down with the bar’s speciality cocktails, which feature unique add-ins such as Thai-chili-spiced agave, cucumber and lychee.

The Bronx Brewery has been serving the borough’s beer-loving residents since the 1960s. Some of the brewery’s standout features include a dog-friendly backyard that regularly hosts live music and a tasting room where you can sample an impressive selection of perennial and seasonal ales, barrel reserves and, because this is the Bronx, hip-hop-inspired brews.

The team at Clinton Hall has considered everything with care – from its highly curated selection of brews to its gourmet take on beer-hall cuisine. The spot’s menu, which masters the art of high-low combos by featuring ingredients like truffle aioli and sushi-grade tuna alongside Fritos chips and guacamole, makes Clinton Hall worth a trip to the Bronx.

A little-known offshoot of the Bronx, City Island has the vibe of a sleepy fishing village. At neighborhood watering hole The Snug, traditional fish and chips, fresh fish tacos and top-notch burgers are served alongside affordable beers and cocktails. The pub also hosts a variety of live entertainment.

This article is an updated version of a story created by Esme Benjamin.

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