3 Best Nightlife in Red Hook and the Columbia Waterfront District, New York City

This intimate dive bar is a Red Hook landmark, known for its laid-back atmosphere and live bluegrass and jazz. The music is in the back room; up front is the bar and a few banquettes. The small, leafy side patio has eclectic thrift-store furnishings.

A former social club and bait shop for local fishermen, Bait and Tackle’s most recent incarnation, as a laid-back neighborhood bar, opened in 2004 and quickly became a favorite hangout. The eclectic decor perfectly suits the atmosphere and the history: the walls and ceiling are hung with taxidermy and fishing paraphernalia.

The food is good at Fort Defiance, but the bar scene and the inventive cocktail list are an even bigger draw. Try the Breukelen Corpse Reviver (made with Breukelen Gin), the Little Italy (a take on the Manhattan), or go for one of the fun tiki drinks. Brunch means specialty drinks, from the excellent Bloody Mary to a breakfast martini with a touch of orange marmalade.