Tip Top Bar & Grill

This bar is ridiculous and wonderful. The people who work there are super friendly, and the backyard is excellent when it’s nice out. The late night dance parties can be super fun, and the drinks are cheap enough to keep you there for hours.

My $ 8 tiny tequila and soda tasted like fish. Wtf! I genuinely felt they were more eager about ripping off the new neighborhood patrons than welcoming them to old traditions. Disappointed.

a+ family owned bar. $ 5 drinks no matter the drink, so go as big as u can is what i would recommend.
i’ve come here for birthday parties and poetry readings and casual hangouts. it’s truly perfect for all of them. the door man will play ‘happy birthday’ on the juke box repeatedly if he feels like it. it’s perfect.
really spacious backyard area with tons of seating and tables. go sit if u want.

The owners have been here for 40 years. The atmosphere is one that allows for everyone to be themselves and the sirens blaring outside the building keep the customers who wouldn’t appreciate The Tip Top away from enjoying one of the best bars in NYC.
Cash Only, No Drugs Allowed, $ 5 for any beer no matter if it is domestic lite beer or an IPA. The back patio area can be made into a makeshift friend gathering area where conversation dominates. No loud music, no pretentiousness, real people, lovely bar. I recommend The Tip Top to everyone who cares about getting to know better the people they are with, best friends and strangers alike.

OK, so we’ve established that Tip Top is notoriously a «fantastic dive bar.» A decided «must do» on the list of neighborhood joints to visit in BedStuy. And it is. Heed the advice of all of these other Unilocalers, and pop in for a cheap drink. Since other reviews clearly outline the ambiance and décor, I will just tell you all about my recent Tip Top experience.
My boyfriend and I finally strolled into Tip Top the Sunday before Christmas. After getting a little tipsy at Berg’n, it was a logical last stop on the walk home. We had to ring the doorbell to be granted entrance, and I’m not sure that we would have been allowed in if it weren’t for the regular entering before us. I haven’t read of anyone else having to ring the bell… so I’m not sure if this is the norm. It could have been because it was late on a Sunday, or because they were having their company Christmas party… who knows.
Anyway, we took a seat at the end of the bar, and quickly realized that we were the youngest people in there by at least two decades. The bartender (Rosy, I believe) sized us up in a friendly way, asking if we were from the neighborhood, etc. Everyone was very friendly and the regulars around us quickly welcomed us into conversation. I felt like I was visiting old friends.
The man who answered the door kept watch while simultaneously keeping quality tracks coming on the Juke Box. Rosy explained the token system to me – if someone buys you a drink the bartender places a token in front of you, to let you know that your next one is on them. A regular then proceeded to buy my boyfriend and me a round, wishing us happy holidays.
As we were getting ready to leave we were told to grab a plate of food in the next room. This is when we realized they were having their holiday party. Drunk and hungry, we eagerly accepted and enjoyed an early Christmas feast with the lovely staff and regulars of Tip Top. This is by far the friendliest bar I have been too in BedStuy. We’ll definitely be back.

Yeah I’ll be back! Seems like lately I’ve been giving away 5 stars! Hehehehe.
Isn’t it awful how we judge a book by it’s cover? I was told that this joint was just for a mature (they said old) crowd and judging from the look of it I thought «nah, not my cuppa tea». I should have know better. I march to my own beat.
Brooklyn! This is your spot! I finally found my LARRY’S PUB (Long Island Valley Stream) in BROOKLYN! If you’ve read my reviews on Larry’s you’d know how much I love that joint! To find the equivalent where I spent some of my time is an awesome discovery for me.
The drinks cheap! The staff mature and helpful (yes helpful).
The pub is olé skoll (as we would write it in Trini. But the vibe is definitely awrite!
There’s a long bar and a «lounge» area at the back that seems to turn storage, turn domino, turn smoking room.
After the day I had, it was just what I needed and I’ll be back. Hey! They told me to! Lol
The End.

Great neighborhood spot for a affordable drink. Friendliest staff! Couple random video games and a fantastic juke box with an eclectic mix of tunes. Cant go wrong steppin in to Tip Top. Oh and there a free snacks Thursday night!

I came here eons ago after a Unilocal Elite event that was held nearby. Apparently this housed our rowdy crew and became the home to the « Unilocal Event Afterparty». Upon walking in I was handed a glass of bourbon neat. Yeah, um, okay. I’m cool with that, lol.
Tip Top Bar & Grill is the ideal personification of the term «dive bar» and I say this endearingly. Myself and another Unilocaler went postal using $ 5 to dj the night away using their sweet, kinda old-​school juke box and we played all the Michael Jackson and 90s Destiny’s Child that we could. Trust me, the bartenders and bouncers were NOT ready for this jelly in the least!
Well drinks in this fine, divey establishment will run you only about $ 4 – 5 a pop, as will beers on draft and bottle. Beer selection had all the usual suspects and the most exciting you’re gonna get here is probably Blue Moon. But still, not bad.
Between the ability to choose your own music and the friendliness of the bartenders, bouncers and staff, Tip Top is a fun place to go to have a fun, no-​frills night out, wind down after work or cap off a night of debauchery.
If I were in this hood I would totally come back.

Remember that time you went to the bar and began fighting your friends with plungers, a muffler and some fishing rods?
No!!! Well than you certainly haven’t lived life.
Tip Top is a wonderful wonderful dive bar. You see many bars these days attempting to ironically be a dive bar. This place is a legitimate dive bar. It’s super dirty in the bathroom. It has junk just laying around. The back seems like someone’s garage. And the drinks are cheap.
To it’s credit the place is pretty clean. The bathroom though, ummmmm. Yeah it’s gross. And I have to admit, it makes the place a bit more charming.
I love the signs and pictures around the bar. You’ll immediately notice ones that state «No Drug Use Allowed. We Are Watching You!» Pretty random to have in a bar like this, but that is law here. So do all your drug use outside on the streets of Bed-​Sty before coming in here. Next you have random pictures of Oprah, Magic Johnson and Obama all over. It’s awesome!
The back is nice and chill. They have old school school chairs. No, I didn’t write the word school twice by mistake. «Old school» school chairs. You know what I’m talking about if you went to New York City public schools. The best part though is the random junk in the back. It’s like a hoarder’s garage. Pieces of a carburetor, dog bowls, fishing poles, lamp shades and a partridge in a pear tree.
The drinks are very reasonable here. The bartenders are very cool and friendly. Got to love the staff here. The place even has a bouncer. That’s right, this place has a bouncer. You better watch yourself here!
If you’re on some mission to check out some of the best diver bars in New York City, this is a must do!

I generally disagree with most of Spike Lee’s recent public indignation re: the Christopher Columbus syndrome, but I can’t help but feel some of his exasperation when I come to Tip Top (and read some of the Unilocal reviews). Having spent my fair share of time in South Central LA and pre-​gentrification West Philly and having seen some of the «gentrification» process in Brooklyn, I get a bit of a sense of whether an existing neighborhood spot is seamlessly evolving with a changing neighborhood, isn’t keeping up and simply falls to the wayside, or seems to piqué an interest in the changing demographic because of its «Other”-ness or exoticism. I can’t help feeling that Tip Top, in particular, falls into that last category. I’m not going to expound on the merits or demerits of it– I’m no Edward Said. But it’s all to say, I feel some amount of Spike’s argument when I come here (which is not necessarily true for other places in the area).
All that being said, Tip Top is a great neighborhood spot. Drinks are cheap. Vibe is super lowkey. Music is great. Includes an outdoor space where you can breathe the fish frys. I wasn’t served once because I forgot my ID. That sucked, but I respect that they took the time/​made the effort to enforce the rules.

What a great dive bar. I came here after a Unilocal Event for a Unilocal after party to consume multiple plastic tumblers of whiskey. What? I don’t drink whiskey. How the hell did that happen?! House drinks run $ 4 – 5. The music here was great, emitting from an old jukebox. Very drunk. There were a lot of lights strung up. I would come back if around the area and wanted to get schwasted. Kind of feels like being in mom and dad’s basement without mom and dad there.

Great dive bar. I wouldn’t come here looking for anything fancy, duhhh, but if you want to get yer drank on and drunkenly storm the juke box, this is your place.
The beers are 5 bucks and the staff is super friendly. I spent a good hour talking to the woman who was managing the bar and the bouncer/​owner.
This is a great old school place and I would come back if I am in the area.

SO divey and perfect.
As Peter commented, «feels like a church basement.» Throw in a dash of Knights of Columbus and you got yourself a serious dive bar.
Love the décor (fake plastic jukeboxes) and an actual old school juke box which plays all old school music. Loved the SALT N PEPPA late night style. Serious woman dance party ensued. I think we also played some Thong Song. In love.
I want to come back to Bed Stuy just to come here (and Bedford Hall).

Hidden gem. This is run by a guy in his eighties who also functions as the bouncer. No frills in the best way possible.
Make sure to get the bartender to turn the volume up on the jukebox… which has a killer selection. It has Levert, Sweat, and G (I forget what the G stands for).

Legit dive with door man — Cha Ching!

It’s scruffy, cheap and friendly. And they gave the lady a free hot dog.

This is a true dive bar. If you’re looking to pre-​game for cheap, this one’s for you. If you are having an amazing night and are looking to wind down but can still go for one or two more, this one’s for you.
This was my last spot for the night. We were greeted by an older gentleman who scrutinized out IDs, no doubt making sure we were of age and that our ID matched the person. We then proceeded to the bar. I had two more beers while my friend had one or maybe two shots that came in a larger than average shot glass.
We enjoyed looking at the random assortment of people that came through the door. No one ever stayed too long so it never got crowded.
They have a jukebox. There is also a room in the back. So if the liquor puts you in the mood to dance, there’s room for that. And if the bar area gets too crowded, you can go to the back and watch people dance poorly to Michael Jackson’s «Bad». All very entertaining.
They also sell food but I suggest you stick to the drinks.

This bar is amazing. Great prices ($ 4.50 for a rum and pineapple? Yes please and keep it coming), greasy food (fish and chips, fish sandwiches), friendly old bouncers, and a weird, spacious outdoor area.
Though, if you’re a Republican, you might want to skip it– they have President Obama and his family’s pictures plastered all over the place.
I love it. This might be my new favorite place.

Me: «Blue Point Toasted Lager for $ 4.00 ?
What a great happy hour, when does it end? «
Bartender: «Happy hour is over. This is normal price «
How can this not be a 5 star review ?
One of the best dive bars around. While it’s cheap it’s not too dirty, I don’t fear getting the clap when I use the bathroom. If you like classic soul and R&B, this is one of the best jukeboxes around. The covered back area looks like a picnic area and is spacious and a place to smoke (just no drugs, it’s forbidden, read the sign).
FYI– When the kitchen is open they make one of the best fried fish sandwiches around.
Sadly, unlike many of my friends, I haven’t seen Jesus here.
Plain and simple this place is cool.
Always a great time, great price and great service, what more can you ask ?
.

I felt like I was tripping back in time on a stone cold picnic as I entered this strange but vaguely familiar dive-​tastic bar.
A bunch of us alcoholics from the Unilocal event at Do or Dine a few blocks away decided to keep the party going at the Tip Top. As I walked in I felt like I was in someone’s old semi-​fixed up basement rec room. Groovy lights, makeshift bar, hot dogs on a little grill, no beers on tap, good tunes. Pictures and newspaper clippings of Obama everywhere. Sketchy but fun clientele. Cheap booze. Perfect dive bar for the Bed Stuy area.
We basically took over the whole backyard patio area. This spot is even more fun as it’s covered in tarp, old birthday signage on the wall, deflated balloons, old lawn furniture, NO DRUGS signs, etc.
Love it! This place has friggin character!
The bartender was awesome. She kept coming by to take drink orders and to see if we were ok. Even gave us bowls of party mix. Hey, many of us at this point were feeling no pain. Those drinks were magical!
Tripping the light fantastic for sure!