A Beer Lover’s Guide to Lower Manhattan
It’s a good time to be a beer lover in Lower Manhattan. In January, the neighborhood’s beer fans got a treat when Sixpoint Brewery opened its first Manhattan location at Brookfield Place. The new spot from the Brooklyn-based brand is the latest place in the neighborhood to cure what ales you, joining a handful of other local beer halls and gardens that offer up craft beers, hearty snacks and loads of games to keep everyone entertained. Here’s our guide to finding the best drafts, free popcorn, game rooms and good vibes downtown.
Sixpoint Brewery at Brookfield Place
Sixpoint: it’s not just a Brooklyn thing any more. The brewery that got its start across the river in Red Hook has opened its first tap room in Manhattan, and conveniently, it’s at Brookfield Place.
The new Sixpoint taproom — the first of its kind in the Brookfield Place complex — fills a spacious 7,500-square-foot location on the ground floor, with an additional 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio for the warmer months. The space has plenty of seating, making it an ideal spot to sample Sixpoint’s craft beers on tap, snack on burgers and bar bites and catch a game on the TVs lining the walls. There’s also a merch store for folks who want to rep the brewery on the outside, or just enjoy skeletons. (200 Liberty St., Suite 106-A)
Clinton Hall
The name of this brew hall owes its origins to Lower Manhattan: it’s named after the historic Castle Clinton, which was installed in Battery Park in the early 19th century to defend Manhattan against British invasion by sea. Fittingly, in 1824, Castle Clinton was also the site of America’s first beer garden.
Clinton Hall has a cozy indoor area with communal tables, but really shines with its sprawling outdoor seating area, which is filled with TVs, games and some heat lamps to stave off a chill until the spring. The bar offers 19 craft beers on tap and a lengthy assortment of cans, which you can pair with some hefty food options that include a donut grilled cheese and a fondue burger. If you’re feeling particularly daring, try the Challenge burger: if you finish a 20-ounce patty loaded with toppings in 25 minutes, the burger is free. (90 Washington St.)
Treadwell Park
There’s a little bit of something for everyone at Treadwell Park, a vast communal table-filled beer hall located just a block from the Hudson River. Treadwell Park has 20 craft beers on tap, in addition to an extensive bottle list. The food menu features sophisticated takes on classic pub fare, like Wagyu pigs in a blanket and shrimp ravioli. Once you’ve got your beer and grub, the bar has plenty of games and activities to keep you busy. There are a number of TVs, but also a free popcorn machine, pinball tables, Big Buck Hunter and a whole arcade game room in the back. Beer halls are often a popular hangout for parents with young kids, and Treadwell Park certainly has enough to keep the tots entertained while the adults sample the draft list. (301 South End Ave.)
Returning in Spring: Oculus Beer Garden
Hey, March isn’t that far away — might as well start getting ready for outdoor drinking season! The colorful beer garden outside the Oculus is slated to reopen on March 31 and run through November, giving you plenty of time to check out its craft beer selection, snacks and live music. Consider our calendars MARKED. (2 World Trade Center Plaza)
main photo: iStock