Over the Eight
594 Union Avenue (at Richardson), Williamsburg
No phone
What it is: Modern public house and event space catty-corner to McCarren Park; comedy hotspot and all-around creative event hub.
Why we love it: There’s something fun and engaging happening nearly every night of the week, whether it’s comedy nights “The Tuesday Special” and “Hot Crowd” on Wednesdays, “The Kings of Karaoke” every Sunday night, or a totally awesome one-off of live music, a literary reading, a movie screening—anything goes.
What to order: Have one of eight rotating craft beers on tap, or select from the menu of classic and signature cocktails. To eat, don’t miss the “Perro con todo” from the food truck Santa Salsa out back, named “Best Hot Dog” by the Village Voice in 2014.
Regular tip: Oh, and it’s also a great sports bar—with five projector screens, two HDTVS and NFL, NBA and NHL packages.