If you thought middle America’s fascination with all things Brooklyn died with the trucker hat, you were wrong—at least, according to MTV. By selecting downtown Brooklyn as the setting for the 21st season of The Real World, the cable cronies (besides inspiring predictable eye-rolling from too-cool locals) have proved this fair borough still holds a mythical allure to suburbanites. The show’s photogenic stars are unpacking their bags at this very moment (at Belltel Lofts, 365 Bridge St. @ Willoughby, to be exact), so don your trendiest duds and check out these downtown Brooklyn hotspots for a chance to chat up your favorite cute-but-troubled cast member.
Jelani Lounge
507 Waverly Ave. (@ Fulton St.)
Ft. Greene 718.230.5227
Jelani Lounge resembles a modern Manhattan bar and attracts trendy and attractive locals every night with weekly events like Flirtatious Fridays (dancing to the latest hip hop and R&B) and Network Tuesdays (where multitasking entrepreneurs come to drink and swap business cards). The lime-green walls and comfy leather couches make for a chic and relaxing atmosphere—the perfect backdrop for drunken confessions and dramatic betrayals.
The Chocolate Bar
45 Waverly Ave. (Park & Flushing Aves.)
Clinton Hill 718.643.6373
The requirements for a Real World hangout are pretty basic—it should look good on film, be well-stocked with beautiful, devastatingly hip young people, and it doesn’t hurt if it’s a bit off-the-radar. The Chocolate Bar, Clinton Hill’s most secretive nightspot, fits the bill and then some. This seductive lounge, decorated sparsely with a backlit bar and long plush benches, looks as good as the upscale crowd it attracts. Check out their thumping dance parties on the weekends, where you’ll be sure to see some carefully choreographed bumping and grinding courtesy of our television friends.
Floyd NY
131 Atlantic Ave. (Henry & Clinton Sts.)
Boerum Hill 718.858.5810
Bocce, bourbon, and Kentucky beer cheese are the draws at this old-fashioned Atlantic Avenue haunt. The abundance of cheap canned beers, from Schlitz to the Beast, make Floyd NY the ideal place to enjoy a lowbrow dive experience without actually deigning to enter a dive—in short, it’s perfect for MTV’s commercialized interpretation of the Brooklyn scene. The indoor clay bocce court is a bit smaller than its counterpart at nearby Union Hall, but the wait is usually considerably shorter, making this a great place to grab a cheap beer and brush up on your bank shot.
Moe’s
80 Lafayette Ave. (S. Portland Ave. & S. Elliott Pl.)
Ft. Greene 718.797.9536
It may not be a ritzy lounge or a celebrity magnet, but Moe’s is the undisputed king of Ft. Greene bars for a reason. It is the very definition of a neighborhood bar, a mainstay that stays alive despite rising rents and increasing competition, thanks to the fierce support of local residents. The daily happy hour (from 4:30 to 7:30pm) offers the most entertaining kind of two-for-one deal—every draft beer purchased comes with a ticket good for the next round—along with reduced-price frozen mojitos and well drinks. The MTV kids won’t be able to resist this pre-gaming mecca.
Deity
368 Atlantic Ave. (Hoyt & Bond Sts.)
Boerum Hill 718.222.DNYC
To say that Deity is a bar with atmosphere would be a gross understatement. Nearly every element of this dramatic space—from the front gates to the hexagonal bar to the gorgeous stained-glass windows—has been carefully thought out and lovingly custom-created. If ever there was a bar made to be preserved on film, this is it. You’d be a fool not to try one of Deity’s specialty cocktails while you’re there; concoctions like the BAM (with Coole Swan cream liqueur, Chambord, espresso, and Madagascar chocolate garnish) range from $10 to $15. Or you could just mooch off the Real World kids’ bottle service. It’s not like they’re paying for it.
Sputnik
262 Taaffe Pl. (DeKalb & Willoughby Aves.)
Ft. Greene 718.398.6666 The Real World has featured plenty of boring, fancy clubs over the years, but they came to Brooklyn for its funky, homespun vibe, and Sputnik embodies this bohemian spirit effortlessly. Their retro style and super-fresh beef, bison, elk, and ostrich burgers are an attraction in their own right, but music and dance are the heart and soul of this rowdy party space. Live DJ and band sets keep customers on their feet most nights, while the first Friday of every month is reserved for the titillating gyrations of the Wasabassco burlesque troupe. So throw on your favorite ironic t-shirt, grab a burger, and prepare for your new career as a background player.
