BOYFRIEND co-op café + bar

Verdict: A Brooklyn Co-op Bar Worth the Myrtle Ave Detour; With the Right Expectations

The most common mistake people make about BOYFRIEND is assuming it fits neatly into one category. It is not a straight cocktail bar, not a coffee shop, not a traditional bar. It operates as a co-op café and bar on Myrtle Avenue in Bushwick-adjacent Brooklyn; and that hybrid format is the thing to calibrate around before you book or walk in. If you arrive expecting the polished cocktail programs of Amor y Amargo or the sleek late-night energy of Angel's Share, you will be misreading the room. BOYFRIEND operates on a different frequency: community-first, deliberately informal, oriented toward a neighborhood crowd rather than destination drinkers.

The Space

Spatially, BOYFRIEND reads as intentionally low-key. The co-op format shapes the physical environment, this is not a designed-for-Instagram room with curated lighting and banquette seating. Expect a relaxed, lived-in layout that feels closer to a community gathering space than a cocktail lounge. For a first-timer, the shift from Brooklyn's more polished bar scene can take a moment to settle into. For a returning visitor, that ease is exactly the point. The space rewards regulars who know what they are there for, it works particularly well for small groups looking for a low-pressure place to settle in without the performance of a destination bar.

Spirit Specialty and Drinks Focus

The venue database does not confirm a specific spirit category, the co-op format suggests the drinks program is likely broader and more flexible than a single-spirit specialist. What is clear from the venue's positioning is that the bar component sits alongside a café operation, meaning the drinks offering spans daytime and evening, the spirit focus is almost certainly approachable rather than deep-cut collector territory. If you are arriving specifically for a serious whiskey or mezcal program, BOYFRIEND is probably not your primary destination. Pair this visit with something nearby rather than making it a standalone spirits pilgrimage. For a genuinely focused spirit-specialist bar in New York City, Attaboy NYC or Superbueno will deliver more depth.

Practical Details

BOYFRIEND is at 1157 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, accessible by subway, situated in a part of Brooklyn that still skews neighborhood over tourist. Booking difficulty is easy, which is consistent with the co-op ethos. Walk-ins are the natural mode here. Hours and specific pricing are not confirmed in available data, so check directly before visiting, particularly if you are timing an evening visit around the bar rather than the café side. The address sits close enough to Bushwick and Bed-Stuy that it works as a stop within a wider Brooklyn evening rather than a standalone destination requiring advance planning.

Who Should Go

BOYFRIEND makes the most sense for Brooklyn locals, people already in the neighborhood, or anyone looking for an easygoing alternative to the more programmatic cocktail bars Manhattan offers. If you have been once and want to go back, the regular experience is the designed experience, this is a place built for return visits, not one-time pilgrimages. For a broader look at where it sits within New York's bar scene, see our full New York City bars guide. Planning a wider trip? Our full New York City restaurants guide, hotels guide, and experiences guide cover the rest. If you are curious how this kind of neighborhood-first bar concept compares to similar venues in other cities, Jewel of the South in New Orleans and Julep in Houston offer interesting points of comparison for community-rooted bar programming, while Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu shows what a co-op-adjacent bar ethos can look like with a more refined cocktail lens. You can also browse our New York City wineries guide if your evening extends beyond spirits.