Pete's Candy Store Bar / Live Music Venue / Lounge

WILLIAMSBURG, NEW YORK –

A dive bar at heart, Pete’s Candy Store has an understated sense of cool that places it a cut above the rest.

Awash in the glow of retro multi-colored Christmas lights, the main bar attracts a laid-back clientele of Williamsburg professionals and artists content to watch the tattooed bartenders pull pints, while black-clad folk rockers and hipsters gather around café tables adorned with Chinese print to chat and peruse the signs touting specialty drinks like Dragonfly Punch and snacks.

A narrow brick and checkerboard tiled hallway leads patrons to an intimate lounge featuring a domed ceiling, lacquered wood seats, and a tiny stage occupied by the evening’s live acts, usually no more raucous than an indie rock quartet.

Artistic types will also appreciate the bar’s lecture series, artist residencies, and poetry readings, while trivia nights offer the chance to win free beer and grub.

Slightly off the beaten path and a little quieter than the average Billyburg venue, Pete’s Candy Store provides a sweet respite for bar-crawlers looking for a low-key night out.