The Woods Bar / Live Music Venue / Lounge

WILLIAMSBURG, NEW YORK –

The tall, dark windows of this unmarked venue may seem to blend in with the derelict industrialism of South 4th Street, but just beyond them lies The Woods, a cavernous den fueled by the hip creativity that Williamsburg is famous for.

Sky-high shelving lined with top-shelf liquor and rustic taxidermy looms over the diverse crowd of tattooed club chicks, skater-artists, and wealthy punkish types, who mingle and flirt under the dim red lanterns over the bar as they peruse the chalkboards for new microbrews or cocktails to try, like the unusual Pickle Back, which combines a shot of Jameson with a shot of pickle juice.

A small elevated platform in one corner hosts local rock bands for the occasional secret show, as well as nightly DJs who throw eclectic theme parties for the relaxed sway-and-bop crowds, while a few soft leather couches hugging the wall offer space for both hipsters and music industry pros to chat and contemplate the giant scrap-metal stars hanging on the walls above them.

Those who prefer to drink their margaritas under the real stars can mosey out to the picnic tables on the wide tree-lined terrace, where local devotees gather around a taco truck to put down a spicy base before the night gets deep.

An exciting oasis in a dead part of town, The Woods is worth every step off the beaten path for patrons who like a mix of down-to-earth weirdness and uncompromising cool.