Astoria Bier & Cheese
Front Toward Enemy
The Queens Kickshaw
Sek'end Sun
Studio Square NYC
DRINK

These are the winners for the best bars, cafes, beer gardens, and coffee shops. Grab a drink!

Best Bar-Atmosphere

1st Front Toward Enemy

40-11 30th Ave, (718) 545-2269, fronttowardenemynyc.com

Survey says: “Three words: velvet patterned wallpaper.”

2nd The Strand Smokehouse

25-27 Broadway, (718) 440-3231, thestrandsmokehouse.com

Survey says: “Great music, communal tables, good drinks and food.”

3rd Sweet Afton

30-09 34th St, (718) 777-2570, sweetaftonbar.com

If you’re looking for a taste of Brooklyn in Astoria, Sweet Afton is your spot. Although it can get a bit crowded, you will feel on trend among the exposed brick, wooden furniture, plants, and swarms of hipsters. Also great for brunch or deep-fried pickles any time.

Best Bar-Cocktails

1st Front Toward Enemy

40-11 30th Ave, (718) 545-2269, fronttowardenemynyc.com

Front Toward Enemy has a great cocktail menu, and they can make whatever you want!

2nd Mar’s

34-21 34th Ave, (718) 685-2480, lifeatmars.com

If you want an old school Old Fashioned from a bartender in suspenders, this is your place. The cocktail list isn’t huge but a lot of thought is clearly put into their menu.

3rd Sweet Afton

30-09 34th St, (718) 777-2570, sweetaftonbar.com

We want to try every cocktail on their menu! The summer menu includes a long list of refreshing drinks, and the prices are reasonable.

Best Bar-Craft Beer

1st Astoria Bier & Cheese

34-14 Broadway, (718) 545-5588, and 35-11 Ditmars Blvd, (718) 255-6982, astoriabierandcheese.com

A wonderful place to pick out a couple of unique craft beers and smelly cheeses to bring home and eat, or sit and enjoy a flight with a sandwich or cheese plate.

2nd Snowdonia

34-55 32nd St, (347) 730-5783, snowdoniapub.com

Survey says: “Great selection, wonderfully genial staff, and fantastic trivia night with the charismatic and hilarious Adam.”

3rd The Queens Kickshaw

40-17 Broadway, (718) 777-0913, thequeenskickshaw.com

A small but unique list of beers on draft complemented by an amazing bottle list. Try any of their ciders, one of the local craft beers they’ve chosen to carry this week, or a flight of four beers.

Best Bar-Sports

1st Break Bar & Billiards

32-04 Broadway, (718) 777-5400, break-ny.com

Break boasts having 10 high-def televisions with state of the art audio and video capabilities.

2nd Twist & Smash’d

34-02 Steinway St, (718) 806-1542, twistandsmashdsports.com

They have a calendar on their website to let you know what game will be playing. However, if you stumble in and it’s not your team, try your hand on the bocce court!

3rd Gleason’s

33-08 Broadway, (718) 626-5393

Sit at the bar and you can watch three or four different games going on at once on big HD TVs–a true sports fan’s paradise.

Best Bar-Trivia

1st Front Toward Enemy

40-11 30th Ave, (718) 545-2269, fronttowardenemynyc.com

We love the Trivia Tuesdays at FTE! The categories are varied and cover a wide array of topics. The bonus rounds are also a nice touch that add to the enjoyment, with the winners of those rounds getting free pitchers of beer. Even if we lose, we never feel defeated.

2nd Sissy McGinty’s

25-67 Steinway St, (718) 545-4286

On Wednesdays at 8pm you can bring a team of up to 6 players to get schooled in trivia. Play for gift certificates & bar tabs. Prizes change weekly.

3rd Sunswick 35/35

35-02 35th St, (718) 752-0620, sunswick3535bar.com

Friendly local bar which hosts a popular weekly trivia night on Wednesdays at 8pm. Bring your own group for a fun night and prizes.

Best Bar-Wine

1st Crescent and Vine

25-03 Ditmars Blvd, (718) 204-4774, crescentandvine.com/

Survey says: “An intimte environment that occasionally has live music. Astoria’s own You Bred Raptors rock!”

2nd DiWine

41-15 31st Ave, (718) 777-1355, diwineonline.com

Looking for a quiet place for a first date? This wine bar is simply romantic!

3rd Winegasm Bar & Eatery

31-86 37th St, (718) 932-3331, winegasmeatery.com

Their focus is natural, organic, bio-dynamic, sustainable and local wines, and they are known for their fondue.

Best Beer Garden

1st Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden

29-19 24th Ave, (718) 274-4925, bohemianhall.com

Survey says: “Good food and great atmosphere if you love being outside!”

2nd Studio Square NYC

35-37 36th St, (718) 383-1001, studiosquarenyc.com

Two indoor areas, and one huge outdoor courtyard make this spot a popular destination any time of the year. When the weather is warm, televised sports events are projected onto a huge screen outside.

Best Cafe

1st Astoria Coffee

30-04 30th St, (347) 410-7399, astoriacoffeeny.com

Survey says: “Go to the Drunk Vocabulary Bee! It’s a great night out!”

2nd Grand Cafe

37-01 30th Ave, (718) 777-7321, grandcafelounge.com

This is an easy place to meet up with friends or a date since it is close to the 30th Ave subway station.

3rd 60 Beans Coffee and Tea

36-02 Ditmars Blvd, (347) 967-3994

Survey says: “Check out the sign in the bathroom for a very cool explanation of the cafe’s name.”

Best Coffee

1st Astoria Coffee

30-04 30th St, (347) 410-7399, astoriacoffeeny.com

Survey says: “The Twitter feed is amazing and the coffee is even better!”

2nd The Queens Kickshaw

40-17 Broadway, (718) 777-0913, thequeenskickshaw.com

Their pour-over coffee is life changing. Come in, order it black, and savor the subtle flavors listed in the menu’s tasting notes.

3rd Bagels on the Ave

33-15 30th Ave, (718) 721-0600, bagelsontheaveny.com

Survey says: “I’m not kidding–try it.”

Best Happy Hour

1st Front Toward Enemy

40-11 30th Ave, (718) 545-2269, fronttowardenemynyc.com

Front Toward Enemy has different Happy Hour specials every night. Be sure to check out tempura chicken!

2nd Sek’end Sun

32-11 Broadway, (917) 832-6414, sekendsun.com/

The happy hour is 5pm-8pm, and the special is $2 off draft beer and wine. There is also a late night happy hour on Monday through Wednesday from 10pm till close, for all those night owls out there.

3rd Mar’s

34-21 34th Ave, (718) 685-2480, lifeatmars.com

One of the great happy hours in the city. In addition to a reasonable beer, wine and cocktail selection, they have $1 oysters that are fresh and delicious. Mars is a good prelude to a meal or if you have a hankering for good oysters and don’t want to pay $2.50 a pop.

Best Outdoor Drinking

1st Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden

29-19 24th Ave, (718) 274-4925, bohemianhall.com

As the oldest beer garden in all of New York City, this is an Astoria staple, especially in warm weather. Grab a couple pitches with friends, enjoy the live music and entertainment, and soak in the unique atmosphere.

2nd Sweet Afton

30-09 34th St, (718) 777-2570, sweetaftonbar.com

Survey says: “Best outdoor eating, best outdoor drinking!”

3rd Sek’end Sun

32-11 Broadway, (917) 832-6414, sekendsun.com

They have a cute patio with what will become an iconic neon sign.

Best New Bar

1st Diamond Dogs

34-04 31st Ave

Survey says: “Not only best new bar, but best bar overall IMO.”

2nd The Bonnie

29-12 23rd Ave, (718) 274-2105, thebonnie.com

The Bonnie is a great addition to the Astoria bar scene!

3rd Sek’end Sun

32-11 Broadway, (917) 832-6414, sekendsun.com

Cute patio with what will become an iconic neon sign.

Survey results from July 2015. Click here for the results from January 2015.