The Hideout

Tried to go to The Hideout the other night. It’s closed.
A server at the restaurant next door said it’s been closed for some time now.

What can I say… but that I love a delicious well made drink!
The bar resides in a carriage house — like building with no sign or give away of its existence (except for the bouncer at the door). Inside the bar boasts a small and sexy interior and atmosphere that almost transports you to an another place and/​or time —
The bartenders are indeed professionals, very nice and each drink takes a moment to make. Fresh ingredients are spread across the top of the bar from mint to raspberries and get this… sometimes they have fresh lychee… yumm!
I recommend this place any time for any occasion that you want a quality experience, but especially if you have out of towners that you want to impress.
This place absolutely rocks.

It’s small, it’s cozy and dark. It is the man cave I wish I had. The Hideout is my favorite bar in Brooklyn.
I can’t tell you if the fruity drinks (elderberries and lychee nuts and rose water, etc.) are as good or better than other craft cocktail places. I can say that their classic cocktails, e.g., Manhattan, Sidecar, etc. taste better than other high-​end cocktail spots in Brooklyn that people seem wont to compare the Hideout to.
Ultimately, I measure a cocktail joint by how well it makes a Sazerac and the Hideout’s is one of the best around.

Clearly, the person who created the concept behind The Hideout had a very similar childhood to me and my friends. You know what we did? We didn’t play video games. We didn’t watch a lot of TV. We were creative. We built forts.
Sometimes out of sticks and plywood and tarp, sometimes out of pillows and blankets if it was raining outside. We’d stock up with provisions like Kraft cheese slices, juice boxes and books. We’d spend hours tucked away in our private forts, hidden (but so close) from the world, doing nothing but being mischievous.
The Hideout is a fort for adults. Adults who like to drink good cocktails. It’s hard to find, yet right there. It’s far enough away from things, yet a short walk to the subway. It has provisions: a bartender, awesome (new and old) friends to chat with and a bar full of delicious, hand-​made ingredients for the making of libations.
Sometimes, as a kid, you snuck away to the fort to plot or just get into some plain old trouble. That’s kind of how I felt at The Hideout. Here I am, sitting in a dark, cozy, small bar with some people I hardly know, drinking some certifiable cocktails, watching the bartender, (between his stints on the microphone) pour cup after cup of Hendricks and Chartreuse into a giant pitcher to make a cocktail that’d knock King Kong on his ass. We all got a taste and watched as he lit other drinks ablaze, while quietly kept sneaking glances at the door half-​expecting the fuzz to bust in, our worse – our parents!
For the comradery, the escape, the amusement and the taste, I’d set foot in The Hideout again any day.

After a long day of walking around (Upper West Side to Chinatown to Hells Kitchen to Murray Hill) my friend and I stopped in around 11PM.
Even though I’m taking two weeks off drinking (recharging my battery, just for the heck of it), my friend and I spent about three hours here, leaving around 2AM… I love the small, dark, intimate, cozy space — and the bartenders are extremely knowledgable and gregarious and generous (at one point «the house» bought everybody a round, even me, which, of course, I gave to my friend)…
I enjoyed an extremely intricate «mock-​tail» of my own devising — fresh ginger and fresh grapefruit muddled, mixed with agave nectar and fig preserves, shaken, strained, and topped with soda water — it took a good few minutes of devoted attention, and never once did I hear a single groan or sigh of complaint or annoyance… It was delicious and well-​worth the wait… Through the course of the evening I had a few other non-​alcoholic beverages but don’t really remember everything in detail… What I remember most, however, is the super friendly service (thank you, Amanda).
My friend sampled some Absinthe, some Scotch (Ardbeg — one of my favorites, which I recommended), some old-​fashioned Gin (Anchor’s Genevieve — one of my favorites, which I recommended), some Poire William, and had a couple complicated and complex cocktails — but I was honestly paying more attention to the bar’s unique and incredibly interesting liquor collection than I was in what my friend was having (also, I was trying to distract myself, avoiding temptation).
We both left really happy and satisfied… After a long walk home (across the Williamsburg Bridge — Hell’s Kitchen for him, and Upper West Side for me), I slept like a baby… I’ll definitely be back — perhaps I’ll try walking _​to_​here next time (hopefully it’s less scary on the bridge in the day time)!

This review for the Hideout is not based on its merits as a speakeasy cocktail bar, but as an actual hideout in the event of a pandemic zombie takeover. Its dark, anonymous façade and overall architectural structure are obviously the strongest arguments for why shacking up in there with two or three (maximum) of your closest friends would be a safe bet when the legion of undead come slowly storming the streets of Fort Greene. While others less fortunate than you are having their eyeballs eaten by ravenous, moaning crowds of decaying assholes, you’ll be drinking martinis and feeling pretty jazzy. At first.
There’s no food, just Goldfish and M&M’s. So you’ve got a square meal of salty and sweet, and enough alcohol to kill yourself happy with. Worst case scenario, 100 proof vodka may be used as torch fuel to burn the shit out of Satan’s Army. If the hunger situation gets really dire, one of you will have to sneak across the street to Chez Oskar and forage for lamb burgers and coconut pudding. But, as we all know, you can pretty much kiss that unlucky fucker goodbye because their ass is guaranteed toast. Even if they make it inside safe, there will be a rogue zombie or two waiting for them in the cellar, and they will be very hungry for soft tissue.
Unless: You’ve got guns.
That changes everything.
The Hideout’s ground level carriage house structure may seem less than ideal, but is actually perfect for zombie murdering. The roof is just high enough to keep one safe from the crowd below’s festering reach and fetid odor of death, but low enough to blast the brains out of their clammy foreheads. Even if you’re an amateur marksman, you are guaranteed to score a few hits, and you will feel pretty good about yourself. Just don’t get too carried away shouting things like, «Yeah what’s up, eat THIS you shitty zombies!!!» etc. because as Greek mythology warns, hubris and schoolyard braggadocio are the quickest path to a faceplant downfall. What’s more important than your sense of self-​worth in the face of adversity is your ability to distract dozens of mentally retarded corpses long enough to keep them from noticing, chasing after, and eating your friend while you watch. So don’t fuck it up, and focus on the now, which is to just STAY ALIVE and get some Chez Oskar delivery.
If your friend is able to procure some French provisions, escape the gaping mouths of those clumsy bastards waiting in the cellar, and make it back alive, good job, but depending on how much they were able to carry, that cache of nutrients is probably not going to last for very long. Best case scenario: Government scientists develop an airborne serum (like DDT!) to make the undead dead again, and after hearing the good news on their ham radios, the weary masses slowly emerge out of hiding, blinking their fear-​ravaged, sunken eyes in disbelief at the strange, glorious sunshine. But that shit only happens in Roland Emmerich movies, and Bill Pullman is not our President, okay?
So back to the Hideout: after about two weeks of Goldfish, M&M’s, booze, and a pain au chocolat split three ways, group morale has dropped, at least one of you has developed an unattractive physical tick, and you all smell like utter fucking shit. Decisions will have to be made, and the end draws near, but at least for a while you were able to keep a glimmer of hope alive, thanks in part to the structural and alcoholic integrity of the Hideout.
As for reviewing it as a speakeasy cocktail bar: claustrophobic, kinda corny, and overpriced. Eh. 2 stars.

The cocktails are great!
We ordered the Snow Mosquito, The Hideout, and a Bartender’s Choice. We also tried the Pisco Punch that was pretty great also. In total we ordered 6 drinks. When the check came we were confused because one glass of punch the bartender said was on him, yet it was on our check. He also had put a cup of punch in front of my friend when she didn’t order it and then put that one on our check too. Then there was a fourth cup on there and when we questioned the check he said that we ordered five and he gave us one for free. We never ordered five because we only had a total of three, two of which should have not been on the tab according to the bartender.
I would have gone back. I probably won’t now. I will stick to Weather Up in Prospect Heights.

Frank Obvio says,
«Hard to knock on The Hideout despite the stiff prices.»
«I mean, if you want to get hammered on the cheap, head up DeKalb a block-​point-​five to alibi. That’s a real classy joint. You may catch more than you are fishing for.»
«But if you want to sip some finely crafted cocktails in chilled glasses — the tiny details! — and DJ or listen to one of the most eclectic iPods in the neighborhood, duck into The Hideout with that gal of yours.»
«Hit it on slower nights, make friends with John the Bartender and the chilled-​out patrons.»
«Stop crying; appreciate the limited but varied imbibing venues Fort Greene and Clinton Hill has to offer.»

Hit or miss. Since it’s so small and there’s only one person working at any given time the quality of your experience largely depends on the bartender serving that night. If there’s a good bartender working the place is great; but the opposite holds true as well.
We stopped in for a drink tonight and the smoke detector was loudly and obnoxiously chirping every 30 seconds because it was running out of batteries. The bartender didn’t seem to care. His solution? Turn up the music on the stereo to try and drown it out. I was about to offer to change the damn thing myself but in the end we just went to another bar.
A place like The Hideout is all about atmosphere. An ear-​piercing chirp every half-​minute spoils the experience, just a little. How many bartenders does it take to change a smoke detector?

Pros: Cool interior and delicious drinks.
Cons: Bartender is an unbearable jerk.
A real bummer since this place has great potential. But it seems to me that if you’re hoping folks will trek to Fort Greene to buy $ 14 cocktails, you could at least not treat them like dirt.

Chill lounge with delicious, creative drinks. My martini came on a pedestal and had rose petals in it.

Lovely little speakeasy that you have to search for, and that’s part of the charm! We swung by on a rainy Thursday to meet some friends and sample the delights, and we were definitely not disappointed! The Blood and Sand is my favorite now (I love sweet vermouth in cocktails, and the scotch added an interesting complement). All of the other cocktails (which of course I cannot remember, can you blame me?) were fantastic as well.
Go by, if you can find it, and if Martin’s working, send him a kiss from me!

What a bummer. Such exciting cocktails so it seemed on the menu. I was THRILLED to try and bunch of them. Fresh ingredients, interesting combinations, YUM right?
Nope.
Everything was sickly sweet. There was no subtlety to the drinks. It was something a kid might have liked. They need to refine their menu and flavors a bit more. One of the drinks we had tasted like what Xmas potpourri smells like.
The décor was kinda cheesy and mildly «cool» hotel lounge. I was expecting a lot more. The bartender was extremely nice though and I enjoyed the gold fish.
For better drinks and atmosphere in the area go to Weather Up. Infinitely superior.

Lovely cocktails, everyone agrees. But goodness… it’s impossible to make it a pre or post dinner spot lest you spend the equivalent of one months rent. It’s such a nice treat, but seriously I can only afford to go once a month… on payday.
‘recession cocktails’ anyone?

It seems that the Hideout has given up on its own premise. No longer is it necessary to buzz at the unmarked carriage house door, be checked out by a pair of scrutinizing eyes through a peephole, and breathe a sigh of relief as you’re granted entrance into the tiny but nicely-​appointed cocktail den. Now, a bouncer sits on a stool outside the door, though he doesn’t check IDs. Or at least, he didn’t check mine. I’M OLD!!!
While this may be an acknowledgment that the whole Speakeasy phenom has jumped the shark somewhat, one thing that apparently hasn’t is $ 14 cocktails. Which, as my fellow reviewers also note, is way too much, especially for Fort Greene. Don’t get me wrong – Fort Greene’s great and all, but if Little Branch can give me first-​rate cocktails with table service for $ 12 in the West Village, then a Brooklyn bar where you have to retrieve your drinks from the bar yourself should be charging $ 10, tops.
And the drinks… well, they’re hit-​or-​miss. The Poisoned Rose, garnished with an actual rose petal, was delicious – complex and perfectly balanced. However, their signature drink, The Hideout, was little more than a glorified strawberry daquiri – too sweet and just plain uninteresting.
All that said though, the Hideout still has a few things going for it, not the least of which is that it’s pretty much the only high-​end cocktail bar in the area. It’s lovely inside, and as long as it doesn’t get too crowded (which, if the fact that we had no trouble getting seats on a Saturday at midnight is any indication, it doesn’t) it’s a very pleasant and romantic place to have a nightcap. Plus, they have goldfish crackers! I love goldfish crackers!

I absolutely loved this place. The bartender, Drew, was actually quite possibly the best bartender I have ever had. He was informative and helpful. Despite the cool atmosphere and purposeful design, it was not a pretentious feel.
He was sooooo excited about the drinks, asking about what kinds of liquor we preferred and telling us about each drink. Everything was so carefully done. Tops, there were only about 8 people in the place at a time, so it was relaxed and uncrowded. Each drink may take longer than opening a beer, but it didn’t take LONG. I will be back!

While my experience seems to be a little more positive than many i will say that i can see how some people could have taken issue with the size, the service, the locals-​only feel etc but frankly i thought the drinks made up for it…
The drinks menu is much like those at «milk and honey» and «The Campbell Apt» etc but frankly i think the imagination and actualization of the drinks here makes it special…
The menu is like a chef’s trip to rock-​candy mountain with boozy concoctions with all of the imagination and complexity of a top NYC restaurant… amazing
i had the «fig fizz» with Jameson, fig preserves, lime juice, aromatic bitters and egg whites is absolutely amazing. What should be a bizarre mix is actually complex, rich, tasty and smooth! the Snow Mosquito was also very nice (basically a mojito with raspberry) but not as dumb-​founding as the fizz
NOTE: the bartender went out of his way to say that he did not do any of the creations on the menu but was changing them all soon which is not encouraging «if it ain’t broke…»

Several friends and I went to this bar last night and found it easy to get past the two doormen. Inside we found an attractive, yet rather small, bar with tasteful décor and lighting. The crowd, though, was small and kind of tacky: a few women in leopard prints, a few men who weren’t friendly or chatty, and oddly no white people at all.
However, after we sat around a small table we were quickly approached by a brusque waiter who accused two of us of being intoxicated (none of us were), angrily discouraged one of us from placing our orders at the bar, and insisted we place all our drink orders at the same time to him directly. He seemed visibly upset that one of us wasn’t going to drink (but the other five were). Another member of our group scooted around him and went directly to the bar, where she found the bartender friendly and quick. For the waiter who took our orders, he gave us the check with our drinks — a clear sign we were expected to leave thereafter.
Kasim, the owner, was actually our waiter. Maybe you could have a different experience, but none of us are going back. Overly expensive drinks compared with similar, and better, offerings from Weather Up and Milk & Honey and flat-​out hostile treatment from the owner garner Hideout the lowest rating.

It’s a good idea. I liked the décor, the music and the crowd. Also the cocktails are awesome (especially the Snow Mosquito). But! There was only one bartender working when I was there on a Saturday night. The drinks are pretty labor-​intensive, so we ended up waiting a looong time to get served. We weren’t the only ones either; as we looked around the (tiny) bar, we noticed that nearly everyone was anxiously looking for the bartender.
It’s worth checking out, but I think it would be much much better if they hired another bartender or two for busy shifts.

I love fancy cocktails and am so desperate for more bars on par with Pegu Club to open in BK. So… I went to hideout with high expectations. The décor is great – I came at 7:30 and it struck me that this was a place you would probably want to check out much later in the eve. It’s tiny with black curtains covering the windows, candles flickering everywhere, tin ceilings, a nice wood back bar, and some funky floral wallpaper thrown in. Not bad for Fort Greene.
The cocktail list though, is quite another thing. The special drinks are all $ 14, save for a few $ 12 cocktails. I’m sorry, but that is just way too overpriced for this hood. $ 10-​$ 12 drinks, with one or two $ 14s thrown in would have been way more palatable. Plus, they have bottle service. Yes, bottle service, so that if you are too lazy to get up from your seat, two feet from the bar, you can pay $ 200+ for a bottle of whatever within arms’ reach.
Now, the drinks: I got the margarita with elderflower liqueur, and it was super smooth, sweet, and refreshing. Me likey. My friend got a redwood snap – some kind of bourbon drink finished with red wine on top, and it was really, truly awful. She told the bartender – a real gem – that it wasn’t very good, and the bartender took a sip, and admitted that it was heavy on the wine, but that was more or less what it was supposed to taste like. Still, she comped us the drink – so bonus points there.
Ok, last critiques: the door to the bar is unmarked, and there is a doorbell beside it despite the fact that the door was open. So people were constantly ringing the very loud doorbell when they could have just walked in, which was totally annoying and somewhat comical. The music was also really bad – it went from hip hop (which was fine) to commerical rock junk (which was not ok) back to hip hop – and the phone rang loudly often. You notice all of these things because the space is like 250 square feet – smaller than smooch I think.
Overall, I think the cocktail menu is a little too complicated and overpriced, and the doorbell/​music situation needs to be worked out. But since there is such a lack of bars in this area, I’m sure I’ll be back – especially when it’s warm enough to sit outside for a drink.