Williamsburg. We can already list what you're probably picturing with the very mention of the name: walking American Apparel ads, obscure (noisy) bands, relentless cocaine chatter and that damn PBR fixation. But there are reasons people party—and bars constantly open— here, not the least of which are single-digit drink prices, raucous crowds and an absence of gimmicks. Sure, there are some insufferable spots...what trendy nabe can't you say that about? But one of your "cool" friends is going to drag you here eventually, so you may as well be prepared to impress with knowing where to have a good time, and a good drink.


The pick-up bar: The Woods

Finally, an alternative to Union Pool! The Woods—over a year in the making—finally opened with a bang last Friday, and we're looking forward to getting to know the place a little bit better. Spearheaded by the owners of Savalas, this huge place is packed with disheveled hotties, cheap beer-and-a-shot specials and a booming sound system (for both DJs and live music), plus a perfect chill-out patio complete with a taco truck. It's the quintessential Williamsburg bar, without the Williamsburg bar attitude (yet).

The dance floor: K&M Sure, it doesn't look like much from the outside. But arrive on any weekend night, and you'll find the charming room packed to the gills with young, good-looking condo-dwellers bumping to the best '80s-hip hop-soul dance parties in the 'Burg. Great news, unless you're the sort that can only groove to deep house...in which case, you might have two bridges and tunnels to take home.

The fancy place: The Richardson If this place were in Manhattan, it'd be called a "speakeasy." Since it's in Brooklyn, it's merely referred to as a "nice bar." Which means, goodbye faux-secrecy and double-digit prices! If you're getting homesick for the ol' 212, grab a comfy seat and sip your expertly-made Apple Blossom (bourbon, orange bitters and schnapps for $9)—you'll feel like you're right back in the Lower East Side.

The music venue: Bruar Falls Normally we'd mention the The Knitting Factory, but we already wrote about them. Equally impressive is this smaller space—opened by the owners of Cake Shop—which has already become one of the best venues for underground music in the borough (even without the cake). The bills are eclectic and well-curated; the stage, artfully ramshakle and lit like Andy Warhol's secret clubhouse. This is one of those “I saw them when...” places.

The hang-out spot: Radegast Hall & Biergarten Hey, we're as surprised as you. After all, a German beer garden is the exact sort of thing the typical Williamsburg bar owner would overthink and ruin (see Seafood shack and Surf Bar). Still, no matter where you are, it's hard to go wrong with communal wooden tables, HUGE mugs of Radeberger and a freshly-grilled kielbasa... and Radegast didn't go wrong.

The craptastic dive: Duff's It relocated to a suitably decrepit block beneath the J train earlier this year, and sadly, the place has real bathrooms now. Duff's has also taken on a strangely futuristic vibe, having moved into—and barely refurnished—the spot previously occupied by Kubrickian hellhole Boogaloo. But don't let that disuade you headbangers, because where else in the world are you gonna go for pure metal music, a light-up white and purple bar, and a drink wheel where you could win a shot of Bailey's...served in a condom. Okay, other than Eastern Europe ...