Checkmate Inn

The Mate. It is a weird place. If on your first visit, you look around and feel like everybody knows something that you don’t, it is true. It is very much a «locals place», a lot of the same faces there regularly. An odd mix of uplifting/​inspiring and lonely/​depressing depending on what happens to crawl out of the walls on the night you attend… There is a fireplace, darts, a claw machine, games, popcorn machine, jukebox, more outdoor seating available than indoor seating… Good beer selection, bartenders friendly. Only one bathroom for women and a long line on a busy night — there is one bathroom for men too, but it is utterly filthy. Women, use it if you dare. Super old building, sometimes you may have the feeling that the ceiling will crumble and fall on you. I haven’t seen that happen yet in the 10 years I have gone here. If you are looking for quiet, weird, down to earth, and a little creepy, then go on a week day night. If you are looking for busy, bustling, exciting, squeezing through a crowd jammed into this tiny place, then go the night of a Holiday like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. There are often bands playing live around the Holidays.

Very down to earth bar. It is literally a home converted to a bar. I have enjoyed in the past coming here with friends to have a few drinks with some complimentary popcorn. The crowd the goes here is generally older, but is mixed with a variety of age groups.

What can I say about the ‘Mate besides it’s my most favorite bar in the history of ever. One reviewer said it was like «dive bar nirvana», and they were spot-​on.
It’s a house in the middle of a residential street — hidden gem if you don’t know where to look. Roaring fireplace in the winter, outdoor drinking in the summer, crane machine with love toys, darts, Deer Hunter, jukebox and hot, fresh popcorn. And they’re open till 4 am. The drinks are strong (and cheap), and they have a pretty decent beer selection — something sure to please everyone. The bar area is tiny so most people grab their drink and move on.
Same friendly faces without that need to dress to impress like at other bars down Port.

Facts about the mate:
* Sweet fire place
* Cheap juke box
* Cash only
* 2 dart boards
* Staff is cool
* Popcorn machine
* Vibrators in the claw machine
* Tables inside and out
* That means you can drink outside
* Cool shit on the walls
It’s the staple dive bar of Setauket that’s been around since the 70’s. Ya just can’t beat it!

Holy crap. This place makes the park bench look like the Ritz Carlton. Old, filthy and disheveled clientele. Old skunk beet. SKIP IT
Cute on the outside, vile on the inside. Took a year to finally catch it open… what a downer

Awesome dive bar!
First off, it didn’t open until 7:30pm. Good beers, no food (except for the fresh popcorn), they have a fireplace, jukebox and/​or live music and an awesome bartender.
The bar area is smaller, has room for about 10. There are a few tables, mostly standee area. The place has a video-​game hunting machine and a crane machine with a personal massager (!!!) as a prize.
Very clean for a dive bar, and I hear it stays open super late. I had a great conversation with the bartender and if I’m in the area again, I will definitely return.