5 Best Bars In Bed-Stuy

What happens when three musicians get together and open a bar? Find out at Bar LunÀtico, run by three folks based in Brooklyn who make their living as touring musicians. This means they know a lot, an awful, awful lot, about what makes a great bar, and they've poured all that knowledge into their space. Look for a highly curated selection of wine, beer, and cocktails, as well as great bites (think cheeses, meats, some mains). Best of all? The live music. You'll find performers of all stripes here, from jazz to DJs. to gospel.

Newly opened Casablanca Cocktail Lounge is too cool, and too busy, to even update its website or get a phone. Nonetheless, a bar with "Casablanca" in its name has been on the site since the 1940s or so, and the Casablanca Cocktail Lounge is just the latest iteration in a long line of watering holes. The vibe is low-key and welcoming, due in part to the reclaimed furniture and furnishings, including a pressed tin ceiling, a floor made from an old barn in Wisconsin, and a sign that hails from a previous Casablanca. Bottoms up!

Run by a husband-and-wife dynamo, Doris is a fun spot. DJs spin several nights a week, or one of the many vintage records adorning the wall just might get taken out and played for a while. Depending on the weather, you can hang out in the backyard, getting your fill of light and air while you imbibe, although, truth be told, the bar's white walls give it a light, airy feel inside too. You can order one of the house cocktails like a rum-based planter's punch, or get your favorite usual drink. (Doris also has a good selection of imported beer.)

"Intimate. "Warm and friendly." "Unassuming." "Chill." What do these words have in common? They're all apt ways of describing Dynaco, located next door to the restaurant Do or Dine. It's run by two brothers, and named for some stereo equipment their dad had when they were growing up. The focus here is on drinks: the music is played low enough for you to talk, there aren't performers, and the wood-burning stove heats up the cozy space on cold nights. You won't find food on the menu, but you will find a mean chocolate cake and glass of milk.

Tip Top Bar and Grill really puts the "old" in old school. This bar was around when Bed-Stuy was steeped in violence, when times were harder and so were the patrons. Nowadays, the tenor of the place is decidedly different. Check out the Christmas lights adorning the ceiling, the jukebox playing soul, the super-cheap beers. You can't smoke inside anymore, but that hasn't stopped the smell of cigarettes from lingering. Yup, this bar is a dive, most indeed-y, and proud of it.