07/15/09

Great on a war summer evening

by ehanson

The interior is nice, if a bit generic for Brooklyn bars, but the real draw for this place is its sizable patio, complete with a number of tables for gatherings of many sizes.

• Pros: Nice atmosphere, the large patio in back
• Cons: Bigger beer selection would be nice

02/22/07

Come for the jukebox; stay for the eclectic group of neighbors.

by Erin Behan

The Scene
Dedicated south Slopers have been waiting for this bar a long time; so long, in fact, that most of them are in their 30s and have mellowed from the wild days of youth. Despite its clean-cut atmosphere--wooden bar, red walls and modern light fixtures--the space gets enough of an edge from the framed concert posters.

The Draw
The lights are kept low, and the genial crowd fans out around wooden tables and a sizeable bar. The jukebox is the prize, though, as underscored by the presence of its very own stool. Filled to the gills with all relations of indie rock, plus a healthy smattering of soul, it has such oft-played gems as the Travis cover of "Baby One More Time" and "Papa was a Rodeo" by the Magnetic Fields. Find Brooklyn Brewery beer on tap; mixed drink fans should try the spicy ginger kamikaze.

01/18/06

Beer and Bourbon

by deuputyandy

This is a great place with an elcectic jukebox, a magnificent selection of bourbons, an entertaining assortment of regulars and a great patio during warm months. The crowd may be 30-something, but that just means they have had more time to fortify their livers and cultivate a taste for great music and conversation.

• Pros: regulars, staff, outdoor space

10/31/05

brody rocks

by ditmar

went to commonwealth sunday afternoon and boy did it rock .new bartender brody had the place relly going,gouls and goblins aside i had a ball. thank you brody for introducing me to what i think is my future wife,we single guys need more bars and bartenders to not just sort out our drinking needs but help putting our social lives in order.one happy camper today at least.

• Pros: great jukebox, comfortable, friendly
• Cons: , more food needed

09/29/05

Good Atmosphere Good Bartenders

by dane10128

Its just a good place to go after work or on the weekend. Juke Box is great. Charlene is a great bartender.

09/07/05

The best bar anywhere!

by alnermcgunn

I've done a lot of drinking in my day, but nothing compares to Commonwealth in Brooklyn. Amazing Jukebox, great bartenders, great lighting, and fantastic customers. And it's cheap! Get thee there!

09/05/05

great neighborhood bar

by star5

I was in there the other night and I had a great time! Everyone was friendly. The jukebox was a little intimidating at first but you can't make a mistake. Every song is good and I like that there are no TVs. People talk to each other.

09/02/05

Park Slope's Best Bar

by stereolablover

The jukebox is lovely to look at and has loads of my favorite indie rock as well as other sorts of rock I like to hear. I'm happy to feed it dollars, but if the other drinkers beat me to it, that's fine with me since, really, any song on it is welcome to my ears. The bartenders are a fantastic bunch. I would go to Commonwealth just to see the bartenders, but the patrons turn out to be friendly and intelligent, too. Is my favorite one the guitar god from Long Island with an eleven-year-old daughter? Or maybe it's that twentysomething editor of nonfiction who has something interesting to add to almost any topic and who, if you're lucky, will get drunk enough to sing along to a country song and fall asleep with his head in his hand.

• Pros: The chalkboard, outside, is funny
• Cons: My boyfriend, stays there, too late

08/18/05

A boring bar with boring people

by jmnyc

If you are someone from the mid west looking for a beer then this is your placehowever if youve grown up in any sort of a city your better off passing it by. The decor is non-existent, the crowd is 20 somethings floating there way trying to make it in the citynot good

• Pros: you can get a beer
• Cons: boring, boring, boring

08/14/05

apology from a manhattanista

by coldmtn

i'm sorry. though i know i should just stay in my own damn neighborhood, once the northwest corner of the 'lower east side,' now the center of the 'east village' on the island of manhattan. and i leave my neighborhood, but almost always on foot for points within a few minutes walk. but occasionally i must take the subway south and then east over to park slope, get off at the 4th ave stop, infiltrate. i go for one reason only, i don't litter during my walk from the subway, i go straight there, and i keep to myself. but i have to go now and then to the bar, to the commonwealth. i miss it when i'm not there. i miss it when i'm in other bars. i'm sorry... (but don't try to stop me)

• Pros: gunner, jager shots, motor away
• Cons: iliveineastvillage