Bar Spotlights Grub/Spirits — 11 April 2014
The Diamond – Greenpoint: Drink Here Now

Our correspondent vowed to have a drink at every single bar in Hoboken and did so successfully with Spirits in the Sixth Borough.” Every Friday morning, we’ll pick up where he left off, showing you distinctive bars in each New York City borough perhaps for the very first time, perhaps to refresh your memory of a fun place you’ve ducked into, or perhaps to suggest a new spot for you to check out as you gear up for the weekend. You can follow our sudsy travels every week with LocalBozo.com’s “Drink Here Now.”

The Diamond
43 Franklin Street near Calyer Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
718-383-5030
Getting There: G to Greenpoint Avenue
http://www.thediamondbrooklyn.com

Look out, here comes a big time cliche. In the developing ‘rough’ that is Greenpoint Brooklyn, we stumbled upon…a gem. Okay fine. A diamond. The Diamond, to be specific, is a smallish beer bar with a ton of character that embodies everything that we love about New York City bar life.

First off, the place is not overly noticeable from the outside, which might not be great for business, but a visit feels like you’re stopping by a place you found on your own. Second, The Diamond features all of the elements that make ducking into a bar worth leaving your apartment for. A jukebox? Check. An outdoor patio? Double check – a nicely sized cool one. An artistic portrayal of Michael Landon? Check. And a full shuffleboard table to boot? Yes! Even the bathroom has character with a wall of old audio cassette tapes used so spice up the ole’ toilet room.

The Diamond is rather small, but you won’t be entirely out of luck if you don’t secure a seat at the front bar. You can take solace in their selection of many, many beers, with almost ten on tap and enough bottles and cans to satisfy lovers of Session styles, medium bodied domestics and plenty of international favorites. They’ve also got a limited menu with pies from Tuck Shop along with some assorted charcuterie and small bites, but really, you’re here for the beers and the overall atmosphere. Kick back at the bar with a $6 pour of Newburgh Paper Box Pale Ale. It’s from New York and with an ABV of just 4.5%, it’s insanely drinkable.

The Rundown

Bar Type - A beer bar for the beer drinker. They also serve wine and sake for any of your ignorant friends or girlfriends.
When to Visit – Unless you live nearby, it’s a bit difficult to envision hitting up The Diamond after work hours. But weekends here are all yours. The mood is quiet (until you ask that they turn up the juke) and relaxed for you to sit, chat and imbibe.
Value - The Diamond runs beer promotions from time to time, but with their eclectic collection of brews, they’re priced according to your level of drinking. They can skew fairly high though so make sure you price out each drink according to your own expectation.
The Lowdown – Even if you’re not a connoisseur of beers, there’s plenty to love about The Diamond. They’ve been open since 2007 with good reason amid a flurry of new activity around the neighborhood. Warm weather months are ideal for their secluded back patio and shuffleboard games make the place entirely unique. And if all you’re looking to do is grab a seat and a pop and relax, then there’s no other place in the area to frequent than The Diamond.

- Alex Corrine

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