BROOKLYN BARS

Rope
Nearby Pratt Institute ensures an arty crowd, but don’t expect Williamsburg-style posing and $100 haircuts. Rope caters to serious drinkers who like their booze cheap and their music loud, courtesy of a killer jukebox stocked with indie, punk and hip-hop gems. Sexy nude paintings line the walls, and plenty of couches and stools mean you’ll almost always have a place to sit with your pals. 415 Myrtle Ave between Clinton and Vanderbilt Aves, Clinton Hill (718-522-2899)

Sputnik
This out-of-the-way Soviet-themed haunt attracts a very specific crowd: The majority of patrons on an average night have wandered in from the numerous loft buildings in the area (the ladies from the neighboring Sisters of Mercy convent rarely stop by). But even if you don’t live across the street, the high-ceilinged room—filled with Communist propaganda murals and ’60s-style furniture—is worth checking out, as are the wide variety of events, which range from hip-hop shows and book-release parties to a monthly queer bash. 262 Taaffe Pl between DeKalb and Willoughby Aves, Bedford-Stuyvesant (718-398-6666, barsputnik.com)

Sweet Revenge
This onetime gym has been transformed into a lounge with a Formica-clad bar, wood-grain wallpaper and spacious vinyl booths. Despite the throwback feel, the drinks follow a modern script. Caribbean locals sip Red Stripe, while gabby Pratt students glug Miller High Life and Wildwoods (spiced rum and orange soda) before dancing to hip-hop or puffing a cig in the cozy backyard. 348 Franklin Ave between Greene and Lexington Aves, Bedford-Stuyvesant (718-398-2472)

Vesper Bar & Lounge
The lights are a little bright and the decor a little bland, but it’s rare not to get a seat at this not-quite dive (it’s too clean). Sometimes, when you’re running around in the cold, you just want a warm place to sit, chat with a friendly barkeep and thin your blood. An MP3 jukebox provides tunes, but the crowd usually has its attention on a sporting event on the big flat-screen TV. 493 Myrtle Ave between Hall and Ryerson Sts, Clinton Hill (718-399-1984)

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They need a drink!
From Cosmo girls to finance guys, these recent victims of cutbacks share their picks for where to buy yourself (or them) a cocktail (or two).