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New York City Nightlife – Pubs

Iona

Housed in an 1850s building that was once a malt shop, this Irish pub adds breezy charm to Williamsburg.

The Scene

While the neighborhood's lusty Stinger Club and Black Betty turn on the red lights, this newcomer (named for a Celtic island between Ireland and Scotland) proves a worthy complement. Wood-toned and gently lit, Iona reverberates with the Pogues and other alt-rockers as it fills up with conversational folk on the weekends; the two glass-enclosed side booths, which jut ahead of the front door, offer great window seats for lucky customers.

The Draw

Although the bar does not serve hard liquor, Iona's beer selection--largely Irish, Scottish and Belgian--is top-notch. Twenty varieties are on tap (including Guinness, Stella Artois and Fuller's London Pride), and 30 in the bottle (such as Hoegaarden, Duvel and Schneiderweisse). In addition to beer, ale and bitters, the chalkboard menu offers four wines by the glass and snacks like potato chips and Mars bars. Irish-born bartender and part-owner Ailish Keating, who runs the pub with her friends Robert Hennah and John Crilly, has opened up the bar's back garden--an attractive green space with tree branches overhead.

180 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: (718) 384-5008