Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Brooklyn Drinks: Rebar
By
Nick Kindelsperger
Published Jan 26, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Nick Kindelsperger
Published Jan 26, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Rebar resides upstairs in Retreat, a Dumbo “gathering space” that advertises its “5,000 square feet” as more of a dare than a boast. What to do with all this space in a city not known for having much of it? What they ended up with was Rebar, a new bar that tries a little of everything.
There are the ubiquitous tapas, a wine list that leans more towards to France than Spain, and a massive beer selection. The 15 unique beers on tap, and many more bottles, highlight Belgium, pause briefly in Brooklyn, and all look great. They are also offering live music on occasion.
The generous amount of space seems enormous and disproportionate at first. Iron bars separate the large well-lit lounge area where coffee drinkers in search of wi-fi hang, from the dark, brick hue of the bar. At first, it has the appearance of a gated off drinking spot in an airport, complete with signs telling you that no drink may pass beyond this spot. If all this sounds scattershot, it surprisingly doesn’t feel that way. And it’s probably all because of the space. It's beautiful. The spotlighted terra-cotta ceiling, large tables, and gorgeous long bar create a place that feels intimate, but never cramped.
Unlike some tapas restaurants, the food is affordable (nothing is over $10, most around $3) and very small (you're warned that some things are 3 bites). Which is exactly the way it should be. You’ll pay for this with the drinks, which are never cheap, but they are mostly excellent, and punctuated with the food, we ended up staying a while. It has been open for 7 weeks or so, but only in the last 10 has it gotten any food, "And that's made all the difference," said the bartender as he handed over a big glass of cava. “They used to drink and leave. Now people linger.”
Rebar in Retreat
147 Front Street
718.797.2322
Tagged
bar
bars
brooklyn
coffee
drinking
food
Front Street
live music
Music
people
restaurants
wine
Nick Kindelsperger
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .