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Open for Business: Die Koelner Bierhalle, 84 St. Marks Place
Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at 4:20PM
One of the city's largest drinking establishments, Die Koelner Bierhalle, has officially opened for business at 84 St. Marks Place, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. It's a sprawling, German-style beer hall, serving up 70 varieties of beer (30 drafts, 40 bottles), pretzels, and seven varieties of German sausage, it seats over 200, and it's already packed.
The much-delayed grand opening brings what is sure to be a nightly (daily?) party to this quiet stretch of St. Marks, a street dominated by small townhouses and brownstones. Ten giant communal tables plus a ten-seat bar are sure to do a good job of transporting patrons to the Old Country, helped along by plenty of wooden furnishings and liters of beer. Did I mention beer?
Photos via UrbanDaddy
Die Koelner Bierhalle, 84 St. Marks Place Brooklyn NY 11217. 347-227-7238.
Open For Business in Bars
Reader Comments (34)
Pitch black darkness, probably because it was about 100 degree and humid inside. No A/C?? And a mob of kids playing like it was recess.
Was there around 8:30pm for about 2 hours and there wasn't a child in sight. ac worked just fine. It's a tremendous new addition to the neighborhood. You weren't at the same place I was, "first day"
Do they have takeout?? Brats & Pretzels YUM!!
Got there around 9 last night, it was packed! Before realizing there was waitress service, sent the beau up for two beers and it took him about 20 minutes. He said the bar was understaffed for opening night.
It was a bit hot and sticky in there even though we sat near the exit hoping for some outside air. Maybe the A/C works better the further you go in.
All in all, I think I'll need to go back a few more times before I figure out what I really think of this place. Aw shucks, more beer for me!
(P.S. Even as a vegetarian those brats looked delish).
The original place on Fulton does a wonderful "Babies and beer" afternoon for parents and kids that really hits the right spot on an afternoon with a youngster. Childless cranks be damned, I hope this location continues that. I promise we'll be gone by whatever time the sad and lonely want to show up in the evening.
Beer selection at the Fulton spot is awesome as well. I love my Sixpoint, but I'm glad to see a place only focused on European brews. Really good stuff and good prices. I will love checking this new place out.
Was there last night from 6:30 to about 8:30. At first it was a romper room but the kids cleared out by about 7 or so. It's really dark in there so it gives off a pretty non-kid-friendly vibe.
Was warm but there were plenty of fans blowing. Took a while to get beer (would have helped if the waitress took down our orders) but the draft list is amazing- lots of beers I've never even seen in this country before.
My main issue was with the food: You need to order and wait at the grill in the back, and it's incredibly unorganized. Stood around for 15 minutes before giving up, and saw the grill man actually arguing with patrons because he simply "couldn't find" what they were asking for (Bauernwurst, for example). Fries were sitting around forever and had to have been ice cold. Was a dreadful system even without a line, so I can only imagine how horrendous it'll be when it's full of hungry drunk dudes. Radegast this ain't.
Will be back for the beer, but will most likely give them a lot of time to get their act together food-wise before I try to eat there again.
Stopped in to check it out around 9pm (didn't actually order anything). Very dark interior, and every table was mostly filled. They have to fix their A/C! It was hot in there. Several people were fanning themselves.
The beer selection is about the best I've ever seen anywhere in NYC. Yes, they need to work out a few kinks, but the place was packed and everyone was having a good time. I don't think these places (also Greenwood Park) expect such huge turnouts on their opening days, but with social media lots of people are clamoring to be "the first to try" this or that and tell all their friends. Great new spot, the neighborhood has really become a drinking destination now with this, Greenwood Park, Bierkraft (now with garden), all the new South Slope bars, Mission Dolores and the soon to open Pork Slope and Terroir.
Got there around 7:00. Didn't notice any kids but it was really warm inside.
Finally was able to order at the bar. Did anyone else have trouble reading the menu? Not because it was dark but because the font was impossible to make out on some beers?
Last point, is there more than one bathroom? I only saw one men's with 1 urinal and 1 toilet. For a place this big, that could be a disaster. Should be interesting with people drinking all that beer.
I just dont get this anti kid stuff. Go anywhere in Europe and beer gardens, beer halls, pubs have kids. In the case of beer gardens thats part of the culture that created them in the first place. Theres a ton of bars all over the neighborhood and beyond where kids have never gone-if they infuriate you so much go there or just show up after bedtime
I'm with Jbob on this one
The anti-kid stuff is because people are afraid of who they're eventually going to become. Call it "The FIPS Phenomenom" and ignore it.
My kid's not old enough yet to be up at a time where he'd be intruding on someone's awkward date anyway, so I'm certainly not the guilty party on evenings. Even when my kid is older, I have no desire to have them intrude on someone else's happy hour plans. A weekend, or even weekday, afternoon, though? Fair game. I didn't die. I don't need to be quarantined. I only became a parent.
I'm not anti kid at all (and think those people are weird and yes afraid of what they will become) BUT I've been places in Park Slope and noticed some really awful parenting. The kids are running around screaming and pulling hair and being loud and the parents are just sitting in a corner talking to their friends, having a beer and not even paying any attention. It's maddening and it's the reason why many of these people are anti kid, because parents these days don't parent. They want to be friends with their kid or something and seem to have no clue what it means to reprimand your child. it's also why we have so many problems with attention span general entitlement because parents these days think their child is the most gifted being on the planet when in actuality they are spoiled little brats because you never tell them no.
So I see both sides.
stjohns: I hear you, but that's a pile of complaints as to perceived activity that have nothing to do with whether kids should, by default, be at a place like this. I also have to ask if you, yourself, are a parent. It's much easier to point fingers at others when you haven't walked in their shoes.
You won't be a perfect parent. I'm sure your parents weren't either. Mine certainly weren't and, try as I might, I certainly am not one.
Re: anti-kid
Not everyone is afraid of what they will become; they just don't want to deal with it while they themselves are still childless.
To use a touchy analogy, it's a bit like death. You know you're going to die and many people are fine with that. But that doesn't mean you want to spend your evening around a bunch of caskets, tombstones and weeping loved ones.
I dont like misbehaving kids any more than anyone else and yes you have a responsibility to parent anywhere you go inc a beer hall but Ill take a 5 year old enjoying the joi de vivre of youth over the standard drunk, lewd, obnoxious, loud twenty something that can be found in every bar in every city any day of the week.
Jbob, if you don't like seeing drunk people don't go to a bar. Your comment is so stupid. Bars are not set up for children, they are set up for adults who want to drink. You would rather see children, go to the playground or to a froyo shop.
If you'd rather see a 5 year old than a drunk person AT A BAR, it might be time to seek some help from a trained psychologist unless you want to end up on some sort of list.
"but Ill take a 5 year old enjoying the joi de vivre of youth over the standard drunk, lewd, obnoxious, loud twenty something that can be found in every bar in every city any day of the week."
Biased much?
As a previous poster said, if you don't like the "drunk, lewd, obnoxious, loud twenty somethings" (not entirely accurate by the way -- plenty of us pay a premium to go to bars that don't attract this crowd) then feel free to go elsewhere that is more suitable for the enjoyment of the joi de vivre of youth, such as some place that does not deal in the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Tell your parent friends and have them tell their parent friends. I've nothing against the youthful energy of children, but If I want that I'll go relax in the park. Thank you.
Babies and bars are not a good mix. Outdoor beer garden, yes.
Parents who bring their children into bars are selfish. Period. You decided to have children, be a mature adult now. You're not supposed to drive a car under the influence of alcohol, but it's okay to raise a child drunk? No wonder this country has gone to shite.
I'm gonna get my hella drunk on and fall on your babies!
can I getta what-what!
Raise a child drunk? I didnt realize you only go to bars so you can fall flat on your face piss drunk-perhaps if youre still getting over being liberated from mommy and daddys house.
A lot of people go to beer halls to socialize and drink responsible amounts. The same amounts theyd drink at home, at parties, restaurants or anywhere else where kids are around.
You said you'd rather see a 5 year old at a bar than a 20 something having drinks.
That makes no sense. It's a bar. It's none of your business how much people drink unless they are trying to harm you.
To get back to the topic on hand!
Last night was great! The crowd was a bit larger than I thought it might be, but given how long people have been waiting for KBH to open, perhaps it shouldn't be too surprising.
With regards to the A/C, I don't think they have one, just lots of fans and ventilation. Beer was fantastic. I'm veggie so I can't comment personally on the fodo, but people seemed to enjoy it, though that system definitely needs tweaking.
Overall, good evening with a packed crowd that was starting to dwindle, but still busy, a bit past midnight. Hope things continue in their favour!
Also, if you've ever been to Wiesn (Oktoberfest) then you'll know that kids are often present during the day along with everyone else and the younger crowd rolls in at night - http://tinypic.com/r/11al9bo/6
No A/C??? In New York City where it's often 90 degrees and 100% humidity for 3 months of the year?
Hell no.
The problem with little kids in bars is that they are always getting a couple drinks in them and kicking the shit out of me.