There are two types of drinking establishments: The dimly lit, cramped ones that you go to when you feel like wetting your whistle as anonymously as possible — and the big, noisy, boisterous ones where the pleasures of booze are on full display and shared with a lot of loud, like-minded fellow imbibers.
Nothing personifies the latter better than the beer garden. And for a city where real estate is precious, New York has a surprising number of them, serving up ales, stouts and lagers in a sprawling, summery setting.
Here’s a roundup of some of our favorites, for when the siren song of suds hits your ear this summer.
Beekman Beer Garden
Take a 6,000-square-foot space, plunk down some plywood seating and throw in a couple of taps, and voilà! You have a beer garden. This one down at the South Street Seaport offers Brooklyn views and a bit of sea air, as well as foosball, pingpong and pool tables and a life-size chess board. The good atmosphere makes up for the modest selection of beers (there are eight), which run about $8 a pop. 89 South St. (on the north side of Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport); 212-896-4600
Harlem Tavern
Something strange happened to Frederick Douglass Boulevard over the past two summers: It grew beer gardens. Two of them. First came Bier International, then last summer came Harlem Tavern, three blocks north. Both are eminently respectable drinking establishments (with surprisingly good food), but for the full-on you-think-you’re-in-Munich beer garden experience, try Harlem Tavern. It features a massive outdoor patio that can comfortably accommodate hundreds of revelers, and has live music on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There are 20 beers on tap ($6 to $10) and a respectable array of bottles ($5 to $11). 2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd., 212-866-4500
Spritzenhaus 33
OK, we admit that we’re stretching the definition of a beer garden slightly with this one. The traditional beer garden is about the outdoor space as much as the beer, and Sprtizenhaus 33 doesn’t have more than a few tables out front. Still, with an airy interior sporting retractable floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto the sidewalk, a top-flight beer selection (drafts run $6 to $8) and a menu of artisanal sausages, this one gets the beer garden feel right. 33 Nassau Ave., Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 347-987-4632
Studio Square
As far as Queens beer gardens go, the Bohemian Hall Beer Garden is much better known. But if you’re in the mood to try something new, consider Studio Square, which offers more than 20 different beers on tap (starting at $7 a half liter) as well as a fun, party vibe and some decent brats. 35-33 36th Street, Long Island City, Queens, 718-383-1001
Zeppelin Hall
With a dimly lit interior and a sunny outdoor space with long communal tables and a Bavarian beer hall vibe, this spot near the Jersey City waterfront covers the bases. There’s a menu of wursts, spaetzle and potato pancakes along with standard bar fare like wings, and some 50 beers on tap. Take note: they’re all half-price during weekday happy hours, from 4 to 7 p.m. 88 Liberty View Drive, Jersey City, 201-721-8888