Review: Union Pool in Brooklyn

I recently went to Union Pool, a bar in Brooklyn, NY, to see a band play. Unfortunately, our GPS directed us to the wrong Union Ave., so we didn't get to the bar until after the band had played. The bar is located in Williamsburg at 484 Union Avenue, at the corner of Union & Meeker, and is barley noticeable from the street. From the car it almost looks like a classroom with those old fashioned large white blinds in the windows and a green unmarked entrance. It is strictly 21+ and unlike most NYC bars, I can assure you that they carded everyone.

While I was there a DJ was spinning in the first room that you enter when you first enter the door. Outside the main room is a large, open courtyard when you are free to both smoke and drink and there is ample seating space. On the Saturday night I was there I found the crowd to be bearable with more than enough seating space and a reasonable wait to get a drink. Otherwise the décor is pretty drab and dull, very much your typical dive bar. The crowd was more rock/indie while there was a broader range of females in the crowd. Overall it was a 21-35 year old crowd, and even 35 is pushing it. I imagine in the nice weather the courtyard is a very lovely addition to the bar but in the cold and/or hot and humid weather I cannot imagine it being a large attraction.

The bar has a photobooth in the corner of the main room next to the restrooms that is a cute touch, but probably not in the most accessible area. In the courtyard there is a both a small circular pond and a small taco truck that serves food in the corner. The most surprising thing to me was the amount of people actually consuming pabst blue ribbon at this bar. I really can't recall going to a bar in my life that sold and in which people willingly drank this awful beer. The bar accepts credit cards (although from the look of it I was very nervous it did not) and is open until 4 am. In the main/first room there are a couple horseshoe shaped booths with seating for 4-5 people and a couple of old wooden bar stools both otherwise most of the seating is outdoors. Overall if the bar were down the street from me I wouldn't mind stopping in to meet up with friends, but I didn't really find the scene to be my type, especially not enticing enough to drive to Jersey to hang out at. I prefer a more upscale bar, and at the end of the day I don't think any dive bar is really worth driving an hour to go too.