BROOKLYN BARS

Barrette
Plush red-leather banquettes and lacy black curtains give this small space a Jazz Age feel, minus the pretension of speakeasy-style joints. There’s a nice selection of draft beers (some seasonal), and a cocktail menu divided into tipples both “Classy” and “Trashy.” Fans of the former can sample the nook’s signature drink, made with grapefruit juice and bourbon, while less discriminating types can get bombed with a combo of cheap-ass beer and cheap-ass liquor. 601 Vanderbilt Ave at Bergen St, Prospect Heights (718-230-5170)

Franklin Park
Not much has changed here since it opened this spring—the garden is still big, the beer selection is still local, and the crowds are still a varied mix of young newbies, neighborhood residents and the inevitable Park Slope parents. Now that the cold’s setting in, though, look out for a spankin’ new indoor space—complete with Skee-Ball and a DJ booth—opening any day now. 618 St. Johns Pl between Classon and Franklin Aves, Crown Heights (718-975-0196, franklinparkbrooklyn.com)

Soda
The anchor of Vanderbilt Avenue’s chain of watering holes is part hipster enclave, part neighborhood hangout. It’ll satisfy any drinker, assuming you can squeeze in—the bar is packed on weekends. Alt-rock fans will get a kick out of the jukebox, which is known to play an all-grunge revue (back-to-back Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Audioslave and Nirvana), while a modest menu sates appetites for greasy, ale-soaking treats. 629 Vanderbilt Ave between Prospect Pl and St. Marks Ave, Prospect Heights (718-230-8393)

Weather Up
If you don’t look carefully, you might miss this cocktail bar—its plain, ivory-brick exterior is situated between a bodega and a cab company. Once you do find it, take a seat at the long counter—the better to watch your bartender prepare one of the menu’s fancy-pants offerings, including classics such as a Dark and Stormy, or the joint’s signature drink, the Weather Up, which includes amaretto, cognac and lemon juice. 589 Vanderbilt Ave between Bergen and Dean Sts, Prospect Heights (no phone)

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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).