Turkey's Nest Tavern

Profile

The old-time locals who remember Williamsburg before it became the East Village gather at this no-frills sports bar on the edge of McCarren Park. Mullets and thick Brooklyn accents are common among a hard-partying crowd of women and bearded men screaming for a makeover. (In fact, one-time "Queer Eye" guest Kevin used to live in an apartment above the tavern.) Middle-aged regulars tend to watch one of the bar's eight TVs or stand outside smoking (sometimes as early as 8 a.m.), while twenty-year-olds in various states of ironic garb gather around the small billiards table and video games like Big Buck Hunter II. Despite appearances, the crowd is surprisingly hipster-friendly. Gregarious bartenders serve even newbies in under a minute, and we’ve seen boys with backpacks full of vinyl hop off their bikes to check out Yankees scores (though we suspect Mets fans might not have such luck). And you’ve got to love a place where the bartender actually laughs at you for asking—at a very non-happy hour—if the twenty you gave him for four beers is enough. — Jada Yuan

The venue is cash-only, but there is an ATM on the premises.