1 Knickerbocker

1 Knickerbocker, a beautifully crafted bar and restaurant that opened in disputed East Williamsburg/Bushwick territory—just off the Morgan L stop—last weekend. The eatery is the pet project of Jesse Levitt and Aimee Arcuiolo, veterans of fellow Bushwick spot Kings County Bar; it's modeled, as required by law, in the style of a turn-of-the-century speakeasy, a nod to the address's storied past as such, in addition to stints as a dance hall, brothel and textile factory. The restaurant is spacious and offers two rooms, with an elegant bar and intimate tables up front in addition to an area with more dining space in the back. And it is one of, if not the loveliest space in the neighborhood, offering an antique aesthetic that feels neither forced nor kitschy; the walls are decorated with aged wood, intricate metal panels and artfully peeling paint, in addition to textile work the owners found while renovating the building. The tables are romantically simple by design and the long, wooden bar beckons you to sit on a stool, sip an Old Fashioned and argue with the bartender over the benefits of the gold standard. quote Gothamist.