Bembe
Brooklyn, NY 11211-6026
Phone: (718) 387-5389
- Cross Street:
- Berry Street
- Directions:
- L at Bedford; J, M, Z at Marcy Ave
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 7:30pm-4am, Fri-Sun 7pm-4am
Editorial Review for Bembe – by Karen Hudes
The Scene
This two-level South Williamsburg lounge has the rustic air of an out-of-the-way Caribbean dance hall. Talented nightly DJs, often joined by live percussionists, spin Brazilian, Afro-Latin funk, rock and reggae tracks that saturate both floors through an excellent sound system. The main room is furnished with a long, cushioned banquette, woven-straw chairs and a festive hammock; exposed brick and richly crafted wood walls hold Cuban photos as well as nooks for candles, incense and instruments.
The Draw
Coasting on vibrant tunes, a lively, sociable crowd mingles at the bar and spills into the large, poured-concrete rec room below. Guava margaritas, potent rum punch and dessert-like capetas (with fresh coconut milk, sweet condensed cream or honey, fresh coconut meat, coconut rum and fragrant guarana powder) keep the buzz going strong.
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User Reviews for Bembe
07/08/2008 Posted by fotogenx
Great place to bump & grind, and work out a sweat. Once you step in, you absorb the upbeat energy and you can't help yourself but to shake those hips to the floor shakin' dance beats. Oooh, and the mojitos are dangerously good!
Pros: music
Cons: crowded
06/08/2008 Posted by oddfielder
The rating "average" wouldn't quite describe it because it has some great pros but also some pretty serious cons. The music is great, especially the live factor. Creative drinks and all that. It's also quite smoke-friendly downstairs, but I won't go into any of that because I'm sure it's been covered. What I didn't see anyone mention though is the obvious - Bembe is the epitomy of a meat market, in a bad way. It's a very old school, 50s inspired meat market. Many people will tell you not to dare going there as a woman alone on a Saturday night. I have, and still do occasionally. Let's just say many men have been confused by that. (A lot of drama.) Can we please get more ballsy women in there to introduce their sorry asses to the twenty-first century? I'm tired of doing that alone.
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