This place is always a vibe. Interesting bands, reasonable drinks.

Love it here and the taco truck built into the bar is a wonderful touch! Love the indie feel of the bands that play there. If they can get more power house performers there, that will really put this place on the map.

Monday nights here with Rev. Vince’s dirty gospel bend are truly legendary—one of the best nights I’ve had in Brooklyn and I will keep coming here! Also, my favorite to eat here are fish tacos!

Comfortable atmosphere and a great place to see a show.

Drink and be merry! Awesome cocktails and great bartenders. You'll love this place, and should probably call a cab or have a DD once you leave. The food is good too! Poke bowls are my favorite here.

As Williamsburg changes to be young influencers and high fashion stores, Union Pool stands strong. Rev. Vince on Monday night can breathe life back into your soul. They may go on earlier than they used to, but it’s still a hell of a good time. Weekends are just as young as they’ve always been, so if you were coming here in the 00s, I’d wait for a week day. Love you, Union Pool!

Cheap drinks, good vibes, photobooth!

Bar staff are amazing! Sarah makes the best drinks.

Great place. Music was awesome and the atmosphere is exactly what I expected. Mature crowd even though it's a younger crowd.

Honestly, this is an all around awesome bar. It's not my personal cup of tea all the time but it's got a dance floor, a taco truck, a sit down bar area, an outdoor bar area. There's something here for most bar patrons. Drinks are reasonable price too (not cheap but reasonable)

Awesome spot to grab a drink and hang out. Everyday there are concerts from 8pm-midnight plus live DJ.

It’s a really great place to either dance or chill. They have this big patio where you can buy drinks and food. I’m usually here for the dancing vibes 😎🕺🎉 They also have a drink special! I think it’s one beer and a shot of your choice for $10. There’s few places that does that so don’t miss out :)

Such a cool venue. It feels like a movie set with an assortment of characters. Drinks are made well. Bands are creative. Easy place to talk and chill with a taco truck in the courtyard. Fun place for all ages. Cheers.

Great atmosphere and vibey bar where you’ll meet a really diverse crowd. The staff and people here were nice. Drinks were ok as well. They have live music on the weekend and some other nights. I recommend this spot if you’re looking for a lower end spot with a you get crowd.

Cool spot to kick back and get a drink in the old school booths with a bonus back patio equipped with a taco truck.

Loved it here! Great outdoor seating, fantastic food truck, and a very nice happy hour menu.

Came here on a Monday night and it had live music and was popping! The drinks were pretty good too, but the overall vibe was awesome. There's also a food truck and areas that are quieter, but I spent most of the time in the room with the music.

Fun place with a nice taco truck man in the outdoor backyard. It was freezing and he let me wait inside for 5 minutes. There is also a dance floor, open area with trees and layered seating, and a bar area. The bar area had a mix of funk and Latino music. Had a fun night!

Cool spit. Gets very busy at night. Great mix of a crowd. Drink prices are a little steep but you can see why. Taco truck in the back is a nice choice. Their concert venue is great too.

Been coming here for almost 5 years and I’ve never had a bad experience. Music here is amazing and spans from house, hip hop, techno, R&B, pop, to even reggae. The bartenders and staff are sweethearts, the food is great, bar inside and outside kept clean, bathroom line well maintained. What else can I say? Union Pool is a gem, for all genders and orientations. If you want to find someone new, you will find them here.

My favorite music venue in Brooklyn, NYC. Intimate concert performances with top level artists and musicians. Amazing happy hour selections in a very casual, respectful bar scene. Food menu choices include quesadillas and burritos. Nearby short walk from the L NYC subway line.

Been around for longer than most places. You can catch some great bands, hang out outside on a beautiful day, eat some tacos.. a neighbor classic. Long live union pool ❤️

Cool vibes with a food truck and an outdoor place. Really fun in the summer.

"vis la vie de bohème", in pure Williamsburgian style. Excellent bar to drink beer at the bar enjoying good music or be on the patio like a Beergarten and to complete being at the live show of El Reverendo. What more could you want?

The food is top quality, just don't expect regular sized tortillas with your tacos. But you do get double wrapped mini tacos so eat the first tortilla and let your spillover create your second serving!

Best place for a vibey laid back hang with friends, cheap drinks, and always fun meeting interesting new people.

This place is usually crowded on Saturdays nights but I kinda like it. The bartenders are overworked and therefore slow but if you come here to crowd watching while you wait you’ll have a good time.

Thank you for the kindness shown to me by you in 2014. I was stranded in the middle of the night and you guys helped me to a cab to the airport.. thank you so much.

Union Pool is a solid spot in Brooklyn. The vibe is laid-back, with a great mix of indoor and outdoor spaces. The drinks are good, and the backyard area is perfect for hanging out with friends. It’s a great place to chill, especially on a nice day. I especially love the live music.

Their summer Saturday deals are great, including free entry to a live band, awesome drink prices and an unbeatable taco truck

Great drinks, happy hour. Back room has a cool stage with good DJs or bands + another bar.

the drinks are reasonably priced, and they have a great selection. the bar/venue itself is very stylish, interesting, and comfortable. the sound system/mixing was perfect. they always book interesting bands/artists, and attract an interesting crowd. only complaint? the tacos weren't as good as everyone says they are! but hey, you can't have everything.

Saw an awesome punk show in the venue. I love the amount of space this place has. The yard had 🔥 tacos. Drinks priced well.

The taco truck in the yard/patio area serves up delicious food, the crowd is nice and social and the dance floor is lit. It’s all around good vibes. Took my cousins there when they were visiting and we all enjoyed the place!

Really enjoyed the open backyard space & their frozen margaritas!!

Go on Monday night to see Rev Vince Anderson! (In video is free ;) Overall dope spot, good beer, good tacos in the back what more do you need?

A wonderful place to catch a beer and talk with friends. Ample space inside and out as the back patio area is spaceous. They have happy hour specials and a good beer selection.

No food, just some ginger beers on a Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to stay long enough to see some of the bands they had (next time..). Really fun spot, with different areas for music and meet ups. The design is really cool, feels like stepping into a Time Machine a bit.

Great service and the concert was free as they regularly have live music, the only negative is that the drinks were very expensive but I cannot complain as I saw two awesome bands live for free.

+5

I absolutely love this place. It’s the best ,a real Brooklyn vibe. The staff are genuinely kind and welcoming, and the people there make you feel at home. There’s so much love in this space, you can truly feel it the moment you walk in. Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who makes this place so special.

Rev Vince and the Love Choir are so much fun. Outstanding musicians entertaining the city of New York for free. They are on every Monday, I think. They’ve been at this for 25 years. Do give generously. Some really thoughtful lyrics and very engaging of the crowd. Check ‘em out if you’re in New York and give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram.

+1

The place is well designed that gives a cool young atmosphere! You can choose either to sit inside and enjoy the coziness or outside to enjoy the fresh air, plants hanging above your head and don’t even get me started on the AMAZING TACO food truck! Simple and tasty, exactly what needed after a nice beer!

This bar is an absolute gem! The vibe was energetic yet laid-back, making it the perfect spot to unwind. What made the night truly special was the live music—there was a small concert happening, and the performers were incredibly talented. The intimate setting made it feel like a private show, which was such a treat! The drink menu was excellent, with a great selection of cocktails, beers, and wines to choose from. Everything was reasonably priced, and the bartenders were friendly and quick, even with the crowd. If you’re looking for a place with great drinks, amazing music, and a cozy atmosphere, this bar is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be back for another fantastic night!

Perfect spot to catch your new fave band. Week nights preferred. Taco truck is the bomb: chorizo, shrimp, and fish taco trio por favor.

Awesome club - Bklyn so rockin these days and it’s because of small clubs like this; Mary in the Junkyard sellout with 150 people; set right out of Pee-Wee Herman…?!? More, please…!

Favorite dancing club in Brooklyn. They have 3 different spaces. One is like a usual nice bar with American music (Rap/pop/others). In the second one there's usually live music; they invite great musicians with fun attitude. after the performance they play "party" music (techno, reggaeton, pop, etc). The third it's an outdoor space with tables and places to chill or smoke, for those who like it. There's also a good taco truck inside.

Such a great fun bar. Reasonable prices and great atmoshpere

+6

Came here for the photo booth and to grab some drinks before a concert. The photos came out great!

Fun spot with plenty of room for groups and an outdoor area equipped with a cash only taco truck

M- T-

Came here for salsa night on Thursday. The DJ was 🔥🔥🔥🔥FIRE! Sure small cramped spot tho but you come to get it done anywayyyy.

Kim

Walked here from LES with my sister who used to live here and go to Union Pool back in the day. We came for a quick drink and to use the photo booth which was awesome. Love the atmosphere of the bar, reminds me of back in the day in the early 2000s lol

Allie Borisuk

Super cool bar with kind staff, huge outdoor space and affordable cocktails. Also loved their taco truck- highly recommended the shrimp and steak tacos.

Yelena Mirko

I have great memories from this place. Went to see live music and had a fantastic time.

Itza Vela

Underground music, a way to discover what New Yorkers really experience. Friendly staff, fast food, beer, and soft drinks. Easy location, enclosed terrace-style area with benches.

Cain

Cool hipstery Williamsburg beer garden vibe with lots of space, a taco truck, and a music venue/club area. Supposedly the building used to be a pool supply store, which is reflected in the theming.

Ash N. Smith

Such a fun bar in Brooklyn. Live music with outdoor seating and a taco truck. If you come on Sundays you may get to meet a very legendary bartender! 🤫

+29

David Kronick

Great Williamsburg institution. Great bar, taco truck and intimate music venue

Mario Nicolas

Great place for live music. Saw two great gigs here. I also enjoy the room with wooden benches. Shoutout Reverend Vince Anderson and the Love Choir’s weekly show on Monday nights!

Kiera K

I went to the Summer Thunder event to catch the legendary Kid Congo Powers perform a free(!) show. I do wish that the venue was clear about the music starting 2 hours after the doors opened, because I would’ve arrived a bit later, but the show was great. I got a whiskey sour inside and it was delicious, as well as a steak tostada from the taco truck in the backyard. It hit the spot and I wish I had another, two days later. I ate it too quickly to remember to take a photo. Bring cash for the truck!

cassy

A very expansive place. They have the main bar area, with a photo booth, pinball machine, and a good amount of seating. I also saw a DJ. There is then an outdoor garden area with another bar, taco truck and tons of seating and aesthetic ambiance. Then there is the music venue, for the night I went tickets to the show were $20. Overall, good experience, reasonably priced drinks compared to the location.

a bit of a discrete bar from the outside, but warm and inviting atmosphere inside. had a fun pre dinner drink here with my cousin, and we had a great time. \nthey also have a photo booth! loved that!

a bit of a discrete bar from the outside, but warm and inviting atmosphere inside. had a fun pre dinner drink here with my cousin, and we had a great time. \nthey also have a photo booth! loved tha…

This place was a lot bigger than I expected! Lots a great room to come and hang with friends when you want to go out but also have your space. Even looks like they hold events here, which I would lov…

we go to union pool every friday, they always have great djs. great divey bar with good drinks and bartenders and big outdoor space

we go to union pool every friday, they always have great djs. great divey bar with good drinks and bartenders and big outdoor space

Wonderful dive like bar with a fun patio and ambiance for a casual happy hour or hang anytime\nThe patio tables are first come first serve, but there is also space to stand or sit inside. \nThere a…

Wonderful dive like bar with a fun patio and ambiance for a casual happy hour or hang anytime\nThe patio tables are first come first serve, but there is also space to stand or sit inside. \nThere a…

Like most millennials, Union Pool holds a special place in my heart. I spent many nights in my 20s here drinking outback in their outdoor area into the wee hours of morning, subsisting off cheap be…

great brooklyn bar. perfect for big groups. cheap drinks and quick service. live dj. perfect for summer

great brooklyn bar. perfect for big groups. cheap drinks and quick service. live dj. perfect for summer

Great little dive. Photo Booth, indoor/ outdoor seating, music space, and great selection of drinks. Friendly / efficient staff, even on a jam packed weekend.

Great little dive. Photo Booth, indoor/ outdoor seating, music space, and great selection of drinks. Friendly / efficient staff, even on a jam packed weekend.

Great little dive. Photo Booth, indoor/ outdoor seating, music space, and great selection of drinks. Friendly / efficient staff, even on a jam packed weekend.

Great bar for summertime adventures. They have a massive outdoor patio with a taco truck that serves some phenomenal Mexican food. There is also a decent sized back room for concerts to be held in with decent sound. Definitely check it out if you're in the area on a nice day or evening. Great for hanging out with large groups, but be weary on weekend nights as it can get massively over crowded.

Large space with patio. Drinks only. Hard to find bartender at times. Lol

Cool place. Young crowd. I read reviews about bad service but I found everyone very nice. We were probably the oldest ones there, maybe they were respecting their elders. We went for a show, nice room to see a show. The patio part was packed, and people were not nice about moving, regardless of smiles and excuse me's.

Fun bar, I like the 3 spaces they have. In the summer the food truck area is very essential (for me ), I love taquitos mexicanos 🌮

Great venue for live music. It's intimate, standing room only, and features a small bar with reasonable prices and Six Point on tap.

Love the vibes at union pool. Love the photobooth. It’s pretty expansive it’s like 3 big areas. Love the outdoor area. Drinks are okay. Taco truck is a plus (cash only).

A reliably good time will be found at this spot, which is popular for groups and singles. Late night, after a performance set ends, a back room off the patio opens up for a DJ set and dance party. Don't miss it!

Louis Claverie

The local drinking hole with music venue, and a pretty darn good taco truck. Gets busy and a bit rowdy. Just what you want on a Friday night

A. S.

We haven’t been in Brooklyn for six years and we were very surprised how everything changed in this part of it. The alternative scene nearly disappeared and it’s becoming extremely posh. The only bar which remained the same is Union Pool. We had a very nice evening, listened to a DJ and had many beers.

Lucila

Such great fun! We went to see The Reverend and it did not disappoint. The concert venue is fantastic and the outdoor area is great for conversation. Didn't eat so I wouldn't know about the food. Would give it 5 stars except that I heard a bartender say to a group of tourists "if you don't tip we'll stop serving you". Ouch. Never heard of a place that demands tips and refuses service if they don't get it.

+1

Particularly outstanding. The food impresses while the bill doesn't shock. Sharing dishes enhances the experience here. Every employee shows exceptional niceness. Really happy with my meal. I can't…

I went here with a friend on a Thursday night for drinks. The backyard is huge and it's a great place to hang out with a group. There is a taco truck in the backyard, but we didn't get any food.

I went here with a friend on a Thursday night for drinks. The backyard is huge and it's a great place to hang out with a group. There is a taco truck in the backyard, but we didn't get any food.

It's hard to describe Union Pool since there's so many things going on. There's the main room when you walk in, the garden area, the dance floor, the outdoor patio with the taco truck, etc. I'm sur…

I had a good time here, and the tacos they sell in the taco truck are amazing. That outdoor place in general is really cool. I thought the music could've been better, to be honest I didn't really enjoyed the music, and the drinks weren't that good. Overall a nice place to hang out, but it is not great.

The word "Diverse" is a description I would not use. Look at the crowd & band photos. 1 or 2 folks of different ethnicity/nationality does not a diverse place make. Most of the 1 & 2 Star reviews center around non-diverse comments and 4 stars are from the "non-diverse" and wanna bes. Early happy hour for the $5 drinks was decent. Although the bartender was less than enthusiastic, but hey everyone has a bad day.

fun stop in the neighborhood. the place is spacious with two bars, outdoor patio area, and a performance space. there's also a taco truck in the patio area. the place was not too packed and the crowd seemed pretty chill. we ordered two beers and hung out in the outdoor for a little while. we also partake in the photo booth but be warned tho, it will start as soon as you put the money into the machine. we didn't know and wasted a few takes. regardless, it was still a fun experience and would do it again when in the neighborhood.

Miss me with the $8-a-taco truck. \nI'm sure it's a hit with the inebriated Williamsburg crowd and tourists so good for them but that feels like robbery. \n\nThe bar's good I guess.

This place is very odd, and somewhat off putting. A bar placed in a neighborhood as historic and “diverse” as Williamsburg Brooklyn was able to transport me back to the antebellum south through the ambience of the music being played, and hostile vibes from the patrons. But instead of being stereotypical southerners it’s just white hipsters in beanies and Birkenstocks. Drinks were strong though!

Seems low key but everyone in there is pretentious. Weird place.

Came to Union Pool with friends last night and started off having a good time. We ordered a round, tipped well, no issues. Moments later I went back to grab a single High Noon (literally just had to be cracked open), didn’t add another tip that time - and the bartender, a giant Guy Fieri lookalike, suddenly yelled at me in front of everyone saying he wasn’t going to serve me again. He even announced it to the whole line like I’d done something outrageous, then launched into a rant about not making a livable wage. He likely didn’t recognize that I had just tipped moments ago, but even if he didn’t recognize me, there’s no excuse for that kind of attitude. It was strange, aggressive, and made us all uncomfortable. Not sure if this is just a one-off bad apple or a bigger issue with the place, but either way, we won’t be back.

This place is so ridiculous. God forbid you request a song, you will be thrown out for having an opinion. I am a mild mannered individual and will always treat people the way they deserve to be treat…

3/8/24 having a great time for a friends birthday. Male bartender skips my friend who already spent a lot of money as well as the rest of the group. My friend just states he won't be tipping on a b…

The bar was good, great atmosphere. the tacos man, he is so lovely but The bartender guy working on Sunday night at the bar, he didn't care or take my order like he didn't see me. I've been waiting…

I've been to union pool many times. It's normally an okay bar with a decent staff. However, I visited this bar on a Friday night and was immediately targeted by the staff. Me and my gay friend we…

Two young, small ladies were violently harassed, pushed and grabbed by five large men working as bouncers for the bar. The girls had gone to the bathroom together as women often do for protection. Th…

Two young, small ladies were violently harassed, pushed and grabbed by five large men working as bouncers for the bar. The girls had gone to the bathroom together as women often do for protection. …

The worst bar in NYC. They are racist and not respectful. I dont recommend to anyone. I tried to grab a friend from the concert side and the security pushed me, hurting my back right away. Super aggresive and racist.

As much as I love this place and come here all the time. The bartender that made our drinks in the outdoor area (bigger, older, tatted, bald guy) threw limes that he picked out of our drinks at both my friend and I as she was reaching for a cash tip, because he was under the impression that we weren’t going to tip on card. When we clarified that we had the cash in hand his response was “I’m short tempered” & “ohh you tried to do a nice thing and it back fired boohoo”

I went to see my friends play their gig. I got there an hour early and out of nowhere they changed the line up and didn’t tell anyone. I missed their whole set. The “door” person just kept repeating she was sorry…. A literal waste of time and Money!!

Bartenders are nasty miserable people. A bunch of better options in this neighborhood with people that actually respect customers.

Bouncer/security was disgustingly rude. Frankly, will not be returning due to his incredibly impolite and immature behavior.

I came in with a group of friends on Friday , and the bouncer singled me out because I wore a turban and didn’t let me in. The other bouncer didn’t say anything and stood by his guy. I’d been to Union Pool 3-4 times before this and always enjoyed respectfully, but now I’ll never go back. This was a shameful act of discrimination.

great vibes and crowd overall but the the service was terrible. the bartender was so rude and condescending. she was very entitled and rude. specifically Sarah. her attitude towards my group and it felt targeted when she came back out with a mask after talking to us.

Had a very bizarre, unpleasant, hostile experience. In a group visiting NYC for live music, all were fairly easily let through the door with out-of-state drivers licenses but they do not recognize Federally verified, Real ID compliant, Native American tribal photo IDs. An expressly discriminatory practice and clearly in the wrong, as every other bar, TSA, etc. scan and recognize the validity of such ID cards easily. Rude bouncer was of no help repeating to us “read the sign” - the “sign” in question implied that only NY-issued ID’s are acceptable (which makes no sense as the rest of us with out of state ID’s, those of us who are white, were accepted). One bouncer was relatively understanding, but the other + the manager were outrageously rude and even aggressive. They seemed to just be looking for a reason to discriminate. Tribal enrollment IDs are uncommon but valid and legal forms of identification.

Chicago Haynes

Doesn’t accept digital IDs 🍅🍅🍅. Feel like if it’s good enough for Cops, government buildings, and JFK airport, it’s fine for a random bar under a highway. Would’ve settled for a stamp that said I was under aged even though I litterally could have fathered the security guard.

Victoria D

Came here for a friend's birthday. Was getting drinks and tipped well enough every time. The one time I didn't tip a bartender flipped me off????? Disgusting. Spoke to other staff about it and got an excuse for the behavior. Never coming back.

Ivan Cordova

I was grabbing a few drinks for a friend's birthday and the bartender is totally out of line. The guy flipped me off for not leaving a tip. Even though I had been up a few times before, left them a tip on each one and the one time I didn't, I get flipped off? Absolutely wild. I wasn't rude to him. I asked for my drink, didn't say anything else and that's how they treat customers. Never come here

H S

This place is a health and safety hazard. glass and metal all over the floor which ended up getting stuck in my foot. Staff is unhelpful the bartender spent 20 minutes looking for a bandaid and I ended up receiving emergency care because of the dirty wound. Not only were the staff unhelpful and rude, one of the male bartender was clearly drunk and useless when I asked for first aid. There is also no accountability as they blocked me on social media and removed anything to do with this incident. Besides the fundamental safety issues with this place, it’s a mediocre bar overall with little to no diversity and extremely drunk individuals

Tammy Chun

Experienced what many others have in the reviews - my friends and I had an extremely unprofessional encounter with the bartender, believe her name is Sarah. FYI, harassing and berating customers over tipping is not going to get you far in life. Not only is it unprofessional, it's quite sad behavior. If you want to be tipped higher, try providing good service? Or, try asking with respect (something you'd think any civilized person would do). There was nothing special about the way she opened my beer can, yet she felt entitled to a certain tip and went as far as to make snarky remarks, intervene my payment and return back to the tip screen to force a higher tip. I truly have never encountered a more sad, abysmally bitter, and unprofessional bartender in my life. Quite a unique experience. TLDR; Staff here are clearly unhappy with their compensation at this job (seen multiple reviews of complaints regarding weird staff behavior over tipping), management should consider either paying employees higher or overhauling the staff who don't know how to speak to humans with basic decency. Don't worry, will never be back

Monty PY

Been here twice hoping things would improve, but it’s still the same. Great venue, nice ambiance with amazing bands, but the bartender is a disaster—an overgrown, tattooed tough guy wannabe. Rude, entitled, and quick to scare off customers. Tips are appreciated, not a ransom especially for tourists who may not know local customs. Refusing to serve people isn’t just unprofessional, it's pathetic.