Matt Torrey’s Puts New York on Tap

I totally respect anyone who decides to name a bar after themselves, and the self-named bars are almost always the best. Jimmy’s Corner in Manhattan, Sharlene’s in Prospect Heights, and now there’s Matt Torrey’s in Williamsburg. Not that you can see the name on the building. It’s only marking is a neon sign that says “bar.” But it’s hard to miss, because it’s the only building on the block with giant windows. Matt Torrey’s is not really a place to go on nights when you feel like raging it on the dance floor and gettin’ it on with strangers in a bathroom, but it’s my new favorite place to sit and have a relaxing “adult” beer or three.

It’s spacious on the inside, making the risk of getting spilled on extremely low. (Unless you run with an accident prone crew). The bar, stools, tables and booths are all made of wood in that sleek modern way, not the “we’re about to put out our carved bear that we dress up as Santa” kind of way. Their schtick is serving all New York State beers on tap. There are the usual Sixpoint’s and Brooklyn’s, and a few from upstate. (I tried once again, and failed, to like the Ithaca Brewery’s Apricot Wheat. One day my taste buds will change…). If you’re looking for a New York beer with a funny name, don’t worry, they sell Pork Slap. I ended up staying for three hours the first time I went to Matt Torrey’s, and the jukebox never played a song that caused me physical pain.

Matt Torrey’s
46 Bushwick Avenue
Between Ainslie and Devoe Streets [Williamsburg, Brooklyn]