Bar Rêve in Cobble Hill is inspired by Belle Époque Paris, with plenty of red velvet and crystal chandeliers. They'll shake and stir all the classics, but their original cocktails riff off different paintings from masters like Renoir and Monet.
One sip here and you might think you've stumbled into a Parisian salon from another era, not a cocktail bar tucked into the heart of Brooklyn. Bar Rêve opened earlier this month at the corner of Smith and Butler Streets in Cobble Hill, bringing a cosmopolitan flair to its craft with a curated selection of specialty cocktails. Guests receive the cocktail menu in a bound book, which can also be purchased, and is refreshed every 12 to 18 months.
You could go to Mr. Mahjong's several days in a row and have completely different experiences each time. This Financial District cocktail bar packs its calendar with near-nightly events, like live music, comedy shows, calligraphy workshops, and, naturally, mahjong nights. Depending on what's happening, you'll find the action either upstairs or downstairs, both of which have the same dark, speakeasy feel with glowing red lanterns and the occasional Chinese lion head.