As soon as you’re in the door of this brand new Brooklyn bar, you’re met by a portrait of an elderly gentleman wearing a stern expression and an unruffled suit. “He’s the original Black Rabbit,” says owner Kent Lanier of his great-grandfather, and the bar's namesake. 

The past seems to be the theme here, as Black Rabbit conjures up a Prohibition-era speakeasy vibe and combines it with the feel of an old-time Western saloon. In fact, nearly every aspect of the former 19th-century row house is a thoughtful creation inspired by the hush-hush spirit of the roaring ‘20s, with hefty influences from Louisiana-born Kent and wife Anne Lanier’s favorite European pubs. “Every fixture, from the lights to the chandeliers on the ceiling, is pre-1945,” Lanier says. “The floors are salvaged from an 1880s mill in South Carolina. They have holes and scratches, and the planks are all different lengths.”

About a 10-minute walk from the Bedford L stop in Williamsburg, Black Rabbit is a visual standout with its jet-black exterior, red wood-paneled ceiling, and antlers, vintage lamps and portraits adorning the walls. “That’s what I wanted to do,” Lanier says. “A neighborhood bar that has cheap drinks. I’m getting a feeling people are walking by, thinking it’s fancy somehow. But it’s not.” 

Drinks: Ten beers on tap and a cocktail menu that rotates daily. Try the signature Cactus Berry, a concoction of tequila, rioja wine, fresh lime juice and triple sec
Decor: Prohibition-era speakeasy meets old-time Western saloon. Four “snugs” (half-enclosed booths) give Web surfers and diners a bit of privacy
Crowd: Easygoing neighborhood folks
Service: Husband-and-wife team Kent and Anne Laniers juggle dishes and drinks with ease; booth dwellers get push-button service (waitstaff can, literally, be summoned with the push of a button)
Sounds: Jukebox-hater Kent Lanier controls the tunes, a mix of ‘90s indie rock and local Brooklyn bands
Food: Welsh rarebit with cubed bread, smoked trout plate, mixed olives, cheese plates with brandy-soaked cherries