The Islands

The Verdict

The Islands sits at 671 Washington Ave in Brooklyn's Prospect Heights, and getting a seat here is easier than at most of the cocktail bars generating comparable buzz in Manhattan. That accessibility is a genuine asset, not a consolation prize. If you're looking for a Caribbean-inspired drinking destination that doesn't require a month of advance planning, this is worth the trip across the bridge. Book a few days out and you should be fine — walk-ins are plausible on weeknights.

What This Bar Is

The Islands leans into Caribbean spirit culture, which means rum is the organizing principle. For a special occasion or a date night where you want something with a clear point of view, that specificity works in the bar's favor. Rum-forward cocktail bars remain genuinely rare in New York City — most cocktail programs treat the category as a minor chord. The Islands builds the whole set around it, which gives the experience a coherence that more eclectic programs in the same price tier often lack.

Prospect Heights is a low-key neighborhood for a night out, which cuts both ways. You won't be fighting the Williamsburg weekend crush to get through the door, and the surrounding blocks have enough solid restaurants to make a full evening of it. The tradeoff is that the area doesn't have the cocktail bar density of the Lower East Side or East Village, so if The Islands doesn't work out, your backup options are thinner. That makes booking, even a loose one, a smarter move than arriving on spec.

As a special occasion venue, it works well for dates or small groups who want a clearly defined experience rather than a maximalist options menu. The Caribbean focus gives you something to talk about and order around, which is actually useful when you're trying to make a night feel considered rather than arbitrary. For larger groups or anyone who needs a full dinner alongside serious cocktails, pairing this with a nearby restaurant rather than relying on the bar for a complete meal is the safer play.

For context on how The Islands fits into the wider New York bar scene, our full New York City bars guide covers the category in depth. If you're building a full evening itinerary, our New York City restaurants guide and experiences guide are useful starting points. Traveling from outside the city, the New York City hotels guide covers where to stay.

If the rum-and-Caribbean angle appeals and you want to see how it's executed in other cities, Jewel of the South in New Orleans is the clearest point of comparison, a heritage-focused cocktail bar where rum and island influences run through the whole program. Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu and Julep in Houston represent different regional takes on spirit-focused bar programs worth knowing about if you're building a broader frame of reference.

Booking and Practical Details

Booking difficulty is low by New York standards. A few days' notice should secure a spot on most nights; weekends may warrant a slightly earlier reservation but this isn't a venue where you need to plan weeks ahead. The address is 671 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, accessible by subway, and direct to combine with dinner in Prospect Heights or nearby Crown Heights before or after. No phone or online booking details are listed in our current data, so checking directly with the venue for their preferred reservation method is advisable before you go.