With spots like 929, Record Room (both in Long Island City) and Alphabet City’s Studio 151 opening this year, it would be an understatement to say this is the year of the listening bar, and before the year comes to a close NYC is adding yet another one to its roster.
Mr. Melo, a vibey, analog dance bar replete with compost cocktails, Greek dishes, and great music, has officially opened its doors in Williamsburg.
The space was meticulously designed for the music lover, but it’s the furthest thing from pretentious. Rather, it takes the classic elevated listening bar format but reimagines it an affordable and universally accessible experience.
Guests are invited to sit back and enjoy their tasteful, intentional cocktails and bites while the bar’s extensive vinyl collection sets the mood. Teetering the line between elegant and casual, it’s the perfect place for a first date, chill night with friends, or anything in between.
What sets Mr. Melo apart from other listening bars is its cocktail menu, which feature a selection of “Compost Cocktails” which repurpose the byproducts from their kitchen into imaginative libations.
Highlights include the Baba Rita, which is made with the kitchen’s smoked eggplant skins infused in tequila, and the Feta Brine Martini, which features brine leftover from their whipped feta dip.
A selection of cocktails on tap are also offered (and go down dangerously easy) like the Staten Island Iced Tea, which combines eight Italian Aperitifs and housemade cola, and the John Dough, an oat milk clarified passion fruit and mezcal martini.
Beyond Mr. Melo’s innovative cocktails, order a glass of natural wine or a beer, all of which are straightforward and specifically curated to harmonize with the space and its food menu.
Speaking of the food, bites like Smoked Mussel Toast, Drunk Greek Fries, and a Crispy Eggplant Sando make for elevated, yet easy bar snacks that pair perfectly with your drinks.
Slinging cocktails and spinning records, Mr. Melo will feel like a second home and a true neighborhood fixture to any Brooklyn local. Guests are invited to come together, share cocktails and bites, and explore analog sounds both familiar and obscure.
Learn more on their website.
📍 61 Withers Street, Williamsburg
🗓️ Sunday – Thursday 5 p.m. – 1 a.m., Friday – Saturday 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.