Kings County Bar in East Williamsburg (Bushwick) is too easygoing a place for a hipster makeover. The bar, under new ownership for the past few years, is in one of those “changing neighborhoods” that someone from The New York Times will write about one day after it has completely redefined itself. Inside, the decor is bare bones, minimalist. No neon sign out front; you were meant to be here.
Inside, a dimly lit main room with steel tabletops opposite a bar with a concrete surface. Like Jason Bourne in a tight fix, Kings County is that self-assured. Go inside, and here is the situation: cheap drinks, poured well. There are five beers on tap and bottles of good, middle-class whiskey sit on the shelves.
The crowds are young, artistic, and as if taking a cue from the bar itself, not very pretentious. At times they will retreat to the narrow back patio for a smoke break or towards the rock jukebox that has enough sense to include a Ghostface Killah album. Owner Jesse Levitt also runs a well thought of craft beer bar in Prospect Heights named Minor Arcana. He seems acutely aware of his audience. “(Our neighbors) appreciate something fun and different where they don’t have to trek into Manhattan to have a good time.”
To that end, Kings County makes a point to be fun and different in all the ways that matter. This bar has more to dos on its social calendar than Kate Middleton. There are the DJ hosted dance parties with free macaroni and cheese on the first and third Wednesdays of every month; burlesque-themed “Go-Go a Go” nights, boasting scantily clad performers on the third Saturday of each month, no cover; there is a happy hour between 4pm-8pm and a night happy hour between 12am-2am, 1am-3am on weekends; And yes, the ‘No-Pants Party’ upcoming on May 19th.
Plus, art! Mr. Levitt displays the work of local artists on the walls of his bar and hosts art events like an upcoming open studio as part of the Bushwick Arts Festival, first weekend of June.
Even with all of that going there is a television, but it is seldom turned on. Special occasions only. Mostly Kings County Bar is for the conversationalists. Nothing churns too loudly during off-peak hours. You can hear yourself think when you drink. Then when that gets boring, wait a few hours, and you can think yourself drink when you hear.
How to get there: Take the L train to Morgan Ave. Stop and exit on Bogart/Harrison side, then turn right and walk 1/2 block to Seigel St. Turn right on Seigel and cross to the other side (behind the Brooklyn Natural grocery). “Look for the crown.”
Kings County Bar (286 Seigel Street, Brooklyn, NY, 718.418.8823)
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram