Canal Bar

Bartenders never buy you a drink back! Drafts are expensive _​_​a fake dive bar with expensive beer

Nice and divey spot located far enough away from trendy things that it doesn’t seem to have been colonized by clipboards and high prices. Canal Bar has a small, but reasonably diverse selection of beer that while it doesn’t offer any truly exciting beers, has something for everyone. It also appeared that they could make just about any cocktail pretty well.
The inside is super dark and filled with sports memorabilia, but Canal Bar doesn’t feel like a sports bar. The back yard might be its best feature.

Perfect neighborhood dive bar, but with good rotating craft beer selection in addition to your pbr and miller. Reasonable prices, free popcorn and a good personality. Backyard is great in warmer months and sometimes you can catch a bbq by the regulars. Grilled clams and lobsters one random Saturday last summer, but more often burgers and dogs.

What is not to love about this fantastic dive bar??? No Edison bulbs in sight, no attitude, insanely friendly staff, big pours, incredibly mixed crowd (while never crowded), back yard (sure you feel like you are at the bottom of a well, but just enjoy your drink and pretend you are in a Murakami novel). Seriously a great remnant of why I ditched Manhattan a decade ago. May it never change.

Perfect bar. Dark, two TVs, unassuming but friendly barmaid. Place screams tie one on and leave quietly. Nothing not to love.

Great dive bar — my friends and I came here after a night of drinking for a final beer before going home.
Drinks are reasonably priced and the bartenders and regulars are pretty nice.
They also support Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue, too! I noticed by the flyers for a festival coming up Sept 14^th outside their bar to raise money for saving dogs. Extra star for that!

4.5 stars.
This is a great neighborhood dive. When I came Saturday night it wasn’t that busy, the bartender was really nice, and the bar has a lot going for it. For starters they have board games, a decent size back yard, free popcorn, and events like outdoor movies Sunday nights during the summer. Beers are $ 4 – 6. Happy hour makes all drafts $ 4 ($ 2 off) M-​F 3−8pm. I thought the backyard was super quiet, oddly bright, and could have used a little more décor or personality to it. Overall Canal Bar was pretty great and I’ll definitely be back.

Love love love love love love
outdoor patio is great
love the vibe
love love love

I’ll be the first to admit, I pre-​judged this place. I always pass by when I’m traveling north on 3^rd. There are tacky neon signs in the windows (super divey looking) and it always looks dead, or for an older neighborhood crowd.
I’ll also be the first to admit I was pleasantly surprised by what this place is actually like. They have board games, a backyard (that was unfortunately already closed), a popcorn machine, friendly bartenders, and a surprisingly good beer selection. You can also get buckets of mini-​Millers for pretty cheap. But they’re, like, really mini.
Will definitely try to come back and check out the yard!

Great Dive Bar right off the Subway. Good happy hour prices and a great bartender.

This place is about as divey as they come. Came here on a Friday night with some friends after hanging out at Royal Palms.
Pros:
–free, good popcorn
–not crowded even on a Friday night
Cons:
–I ordered a gin and tonic, which was horrible. That’s a pretty basic drink, folks.
–This is clearly a Chicago themed bar (as others have noted), which is obvious when you walk in. My boyfriend and I used to live in Chicago, so he asked the bartender about the Chicago connection, and she seemed completely mystified. Ok…
–The clientele was… interesting. At one point a group of douchebags sprayed a fire extinguisher on a car outside and then drew stuff on the windshield with their fingers, including a swastika. Charming. Later, a couple came in who clearly should have gotten a room at the Super 8 across the street, but instead just chose to take care of business in the women’s bathroom in the bar instead.
That last con could be a pro depending on how you look at it. If you want to see some characters, this is the place to go. As an added bonus, you might get to see police activity at the Super 8 (we did).

Cool place to grab a beer and popcorn!
Small spot very cozy.
People and staff is really nice and helpful.
$ 6 bottle for hard cider on a saturday night.
FREE POPCORN (pretty awesome). Great music.
Bar stools and also tables next to a big television.
No food but you can pick up food or get food delivered.
Definitely would go back,

The bartender Jennifer hate Haitian people. She told me her self, not knowing I was Haitian. Last time I come to this bar. Jennifer” I I hate Haitian people, Haitian are the worst.” Wtf really.

How do I love Canal Bar, let me count the ways!
1) Its got a small, dark interior that makes you feel comfortable and at home.
2) Its got a huge, open back patio for when you want to see the light of day.
3) Drinks are affordable and the entire staff is friendly in the most kick ass way.
4) Its a CHICAGO BEARS BAR. I feel like I should type every possible keyword that associates with that because when you are searching for a Bears bar in NYC, it is NOT easy! Okay so what do I mean by Bears bar anyway? Day to day Canal Bar is just regular olé awesome, but on Bears game days it becomes Chicago central. They show the game on every tv, including on a large wall in the backyard while its still nice out, and they play the sound nice and loud. There’s a great Bears crowd that gathers weekly, cheers the team and sings the fight song, and generally has a wonderful time together. Not to mention, at half time they grill up real Chicago hot dogs, and they’re free! But don’t go trying to hone in on our dogs if you’re cheering for the other team, no dogs for you!

Love this joint! Extensive draft list, friendly bartender and free popcorn! it’s a Chicago bar also which makes it extremely convenient for my ex-​pat girlfriend to watch the Bears.
The people who patronize the joint come from different backgrounds and creates a calm and no frills setting on a Friday night in Gowanus!

A great dive bar. I sincerely hope their business has picked up since Dino BBQ opened around the corner. That’s what you should do… go put your name in at Dino… then when they tell you it’s gonna be 1.5 hr wait, say okay and head over to Canal Bar to pass the time. Good scene, good vibe and good drinking.

It’s ok but nothing special. They do have a backyard which is cool, but prices are a little expensive if you ask me for Bud ($ 3 is what I think is standard, this place charges $ 4). But the arcade games and free popcorn are pretty clutch.

Oh, Canal Bar, how I love you. Where to start? The bartenders, Mel and Sarah, are friendly and attentive. They’re always so happy to serve their customers, which is so appreciated.
The bar has a backyard, a welcoming crowd, board games, and it’s dog friendly. You can order food to the bar, and catch your favorite game on one of the many TVs.
Canal Bar ALWAYS has specials, so you can get a cheap drink any day/​time of the week. The bartenders love to come up with creative events, like comedy night every 1^st Monday of the month, or movie nights in the backyard, to keep their customers engaged.
Canal Bar also takes donations and hosts events for Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue. Definitely a local business you want to support!

Nice little bar that pulls off its dive aspirations: decent beers from Goose Island, et al sit alongside solid drink specials (pitchers, shots) while free (and quality) popcorn keeps people in their seats. And it’s in the not yet exploited 3^rd Avenue Gowanus strip, which is a nice escape from the well-​trodden areas further east. Oh, and TVs for spacing out/​watching sports.
The boisterous bartender seems like a character for those who like to chat them up. There was an inordinate amount of dudes, including a party of bros gathered around an ironically or academically bearded dude who commanded their attention. I was a bit curious but didn’t get a chance to find out if he’s a wizard, hipster magi, mad wiseman, or grad student.

I stopped in for a beverage while walking by… an unplanned visit.
Right off the bat I was greeted warmly, served quickly and all the staff were nice and engaging.
Some other newbies followed in after and the fellow behind the bar noticed one was a smoker (not smoking but holding a pack) and let them know there was a patio out back if they wanted to sit outside. Nice attention to details.
The other patrons were laid back and enjoying themselves as if it were a living room, and not a bar.
I guess that’s the overall vibe I got… it’s a cool spot run by people who treat you like a guest at a small party in their home. They make sure your drink is correct, that your basic needs are met, and then that vibe transfers over to the patrons.
Kudos to them.