Lavender Lake
383 Carroll St
(between Bond & Nevins)
Gowanus
(347) 799-2154
What it is: Destination drinking spot on the shore of namesake Gowanus Canal with seasonal menu and local brews on tap.
Why we love it: Besides well-priced drafts and crafted cocktails, the multi-level yard is an outdoor drinking utopia, even in the depths of winter, owing to a crackling fire pit. That high water mark on the outdoor wall (almost 6 feet high) really makes you appreciate the heart and hard work that went into recovery after Sandy.
Who to bring: A date (there’s a nice makeout opportunity on the Carroll Street wooden draw bridge, assuming the namesake canal is not malodorous that evening), a large crowd of friends, anyone who enjoys tasty local brews around a fire pit.
What to order: It’d be hard to strike out with anything from the taps here, it’s all about how you’re pairing it. The $10 burger gets rave reviews and salty homemade potato chips are divine with a late night Manhattan on the rocks.
Fun fact: Lavender Lake is an old nickname for the Gowanus Canal, earned from the murky, oily, technicolor sheen from years of waste runoff.—Rachel DeLetto