Commonwealth Introduce
Commonwealth: A Park Slope Bar Where Art, Cold Beer, and Community Converge
Introduction / Overview
For New Yorkers seeking a neighborhood bar that offers more than just a drink, **Commonwealth** in Brooklyn’s bustling Park Slope neighborhood provides a unique and engaging experience. This establishment is recognized for successfully blending the casual comfort of a local watering hole with a surprisingly elevated cultural touch, often hosting and exhibiting "great art." This feature creates a stimulating and enjoyable atmosphere that stands out in the competitive New York bar scene.
Commonwealth boasts a diverse and well-curated drink menu, offering something for every palate. The selection is anchored by an impressive range of beers, including popular local and craft brews like **Other Half Forever Ipa** and **Six Point Sweet Action**, alongside traditional favorites like **Guinness** and **Brooklyn Lager**. Beyond beer, the bar offers refreshing signature **Cocktails** like the **Strawberry Vodka Lemonade** and classic **Fresh Lime Margarita** for $12.00, as well as a full **Wine** list. This comprehensive offering is complemented by a popular **Outdoor seating** area, making it a fantastic spot to socialize and relax. While the bar generally offers a "very welcoming" atmosphere and "excellently cold" beer, a candid customer review highlights that service experiences can sometimes be inconsistent, particularly regarding product quality and staff response during busy times. Nevertheless, for many, the bar remains a "fun" spot with a "cool crowd" and a beloved community feel, driven by its unique ambiance and quality drink selection.
Location and Accessibility
Commonwealth is conveniently located at **497 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA**. This address places it directly on **5th Avenue**, a main commercial and social corridor in the highly sought-after **Park Slope** neighborhood. The bar benefits from the area's vibrant, community-focused energy and its easy access for local residents.
The location is well-served by New York City’s public transportation. The bar is within walking distance of the **4th Avenue-9th Street** subway station (serviced by the **D**, **N**, **R**, and **W** lines) and the **Union Street** station on the **R** line, making it a simple journey for patrons across Brooklyn and from Manhattan. For those utilizing private vehicles, **Paid street parking** is available nearby, though, as is common in NYC, spaces can sometimes be challenging to find. Its central location ensures it's a popular and accessible evening destination for those seeking a fun, local night out.
Services Offered
As a dedicated neighborhood bar, Commonwealth focuses on providing a classic, social experience with a few modern conveniences:
- **Onsite services:** Full bar service provided, allowing patrons to order and enjoy drinks and available **Food** while seated.
- **Outdoor seating:** A highly valued amenity in New York, offering a "cool" patio area for drinks and socializing.
- **Happy hour drinks:** Provides discounted drink specials, making it an attractive option for after-work socializing.
The core amenity of the business is its comfortable **Seating** and welcoming **Restroom** facilities.
Features / Highlights
Commonwealth stands out in the Park Slope bar scene due to its unique features and high-quality drink offerings:
- **Art-Focused Atmosphere:** The bar "exhibit great art," which enhances the ambiance and makes for a more interesting and visually appealing environment than a standard bar.
- **Exceptional Beer Selection:** Offers a wide variety of beers, with a strong emphasis on local and craft options like **Other Half Forever Ipa** and specialty items like **Transmitter Grape Sour** and **Ale Wife Dbl Ipa Death Before Dying**. The beer is noted for being "excellently cold."
- **Signature Cocktails:** Provides a curated list of refreshing house cocktails, including the popular **Strawberry Vodka Lemonade** and **Fresh Lime Margarita**, all priced accessibly at $12.00.
- **Seasonal Fare:** Features unique, cozy **Seasonal Fare** drinks, such as the **Hot Toddy** and **Hot Strawberry Cider**, perfect for cooler New York evenings.
- **Comprehensive Drink Offerings:** The menu covers all bases, including **Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Hard liquor,** and a simple but solid **Wine** list, with all wines priced at $9.00 per glass (or bottle price equivalents).
- **Welcoming Social Environment:** Patrons frequently describe the atmosphere as "fun" and "very welcoming," drawing a "cool crowd" and encouraging a lively social scene.
Contact Information
For general inquiries or to ask about current art exhibits, you can contact Commonwealth using the following details:
Address: 497 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA
Phone: (718) 768-2040
Mobile Phone: +1 718-768-2040
What is Worth Choosing
For a New Yorker in Park Slope, **Commonwealth** is worth choosing primarily for its unique fusion of an engaging, art-filled atmosphere and its excellent, diverse drink selection. It’s the perfect spot when you're looking for more than just a quick drink—it's a place to soak in the local flavor and enjoy a stimulating environment.
The depth of the drink menu is a major draw. The impressive variety of **Craft Beer**, ensuring both local favorites and unique finds, alongside the affordably priced **Cocktails** ($12.00) and simple, well-priced **Wine** selection, means there’s a high-quality drink for every preference and budget. The availability of **Happy hour drinks** further enhances its appeal as an after-work or pre-dinner destination. Furthermore, the **Seasonal Fare** options like the **Hot Toddy** show a thoughtful approach to customer comfort throughout the year.
Crucially, the **Outdoor seating** area is a highly valued amenity in New York, offering a relaxed social space. While customer experiences can vary, the overall sentiment is that the bar delivers a "fun" atmosphere and high-quality core products, especially the "excellently cold" beer. Choosing Commonwealth means selecting a bar that feels authentically local, offers great drinks, and provides an elevated visual experience, making it a favorite for many in the Park Slope community.
Commonwealth Food & drink
Beer
- Allagash White
5.1% abv
- Transmitter Grape Sour
5.7% abv
- Tiny Juicy Ipa
4.2% abv
- Smithwick's Red
4.5% abv
- Ale Wife Dbl Ipa Death Before Dying
8% abv
- Guinness
4.1% abv
- Ebbs Lager
5.3% abv
- Panga Drops Pilsner
6.2% abv
- Kölsch
4.8% abv
- Two Roads Accelerator Double Bock
7.2% abv
- Bells Two Hearted Ipa
7% abv
- Downeast Cider
5.1% abv
- Oskar Blues Dales Pale Ale
6.5% abv
- Other Half Forever Ipa
4.7% abv
- Six Point Sweet Action
5% abv
- Brooklyn Lager
5.2% abv
Cocktails
- Strawberry Vodka Lemonade $12.00
- Fresh Lime Margarita $12.00
- Moscow Mule $12.00
- Dark-N-Stormy $12.00
Seasonal Fare
- Hot Toddy $12.00
- Hot Cider $12.00
- Hot Strawberry Cider $12.00
Wine
- Chardonnay $9.00
- Sauv. Blanc $9.00
- Pinot Grigio $9.00
- Rose $9.00
- Malbec $9.00
- Pinot Noir $9.00
Commonwealth Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Delivery
- Takeout
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Food
- Happy hour drinks
- Wine
Dining options
- Seating
Amenities
- Restroom
Parking
- Paid street parking
Commonwealth Photos










Commonwealth Location
Commonwealth Reviews
popcornjukeboxpricespatioatmospherepinballhappy hourselectionsolidboard games
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1So fun to find a fun bar as they exhibit great art. The atmosphere was very welcoming, the beer was excellently cold, cool crowd. Outside patio area.
August 26 · Tatiana HooverI love this bar. I am frequent customer, but when I am served flat, stale beer and am ignored when bringing it up, I feel obliged to write a review. I love pale ales—they’re my favorite beer. So when I tasted the blood orange pale ale, I was surprised it was flat and stale. I even had my entire party taste it because I wanted to be sure it was not just my preference. They all agreed it was a stale beer. I also want to be clear that never in my life have I ever considered sending back a beer. I have had beers that weren’t what I was expecting, and that’s okay, but this was so unpleasant I wanted to inform the bar that something may be off with the keg. I told all three bartenders working, only to be met with “that’s how it always tastes” and a suck-it-up shrug. While I know it was busy since it was pride, as a queer woman, I felt so disrespected and ignored, I left the bar in tears. I know what a pale ale tastes like. It’s not my first rodeo. And it wasn’t about getting a replacement beer— I had just been gaslit, ignored, and disrespected at my favorite bar, on pride no less. I don’t know if this behavior is a result of new management after Ray’s tragic passing, but I have never felt so belittled at a bar and feel as if I have no other choice than to write a review.
June 14 · Jacqueline RischGreat, chill neighborhood bar with friendly bartenders and several specials—definitely recommend if you’re in the area!
September 21 · Nick KaiserUsed to live across the street from this great little classy dive. We used to order Coffee Boy shots... not sure if that's still a thing. As a woman, it's a bar that I can go to alone and feel totally comfortable.Drinks a great. Beer and wine selection is also great. There's a juke with so much to choose from for a great soundtrack to your time spent there. Also, popcorn.Bartenders are very nice and attentive. I moved away, but visit any chance I can.
February 09 · dani bSuper chill laid back vibes, with an old school jukebox, pinball machines, and quality cocktail menu with equally cool bartenders.
May 12 · Steve Ignatious
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