Rock and Roll, baby!
Hard rock. Heavy metal. Brews served in humongous chilled goblet glasses. Old school beer memorabilia, classic rock star photos, shuffleboard, and 70’s style wooden paneling on the walls. Classic cheesecake posters of Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Tiegs in the game room. This is the world you discover at Rocka Rolla based in Brooklyn, NYC.
It’s like a demented version of a bar if the Wayne’s World dudes decided to open a bar in their basement with partners Beavis and Butthead!
It’s one of those joints that has all the attributes of a dive bar including the graffiti scribbled nasty looking bathroom, the almost grungy vibe, and the stereotypical locals clientele. Yet, it’s not really a dive bar, and is hard to pinpoint or assign a label to it. The terrific feeling of wonderment I had upon entering and taking it all in was one I sorely miss with today’s generic NYC bar and pub scene. The classic rock and metal music blasting over the speakers “had me at hello”! You won’t hear crappy Rap, today’s Top 40 junk, or garbage Pop tunes playing here. Thankfully.
This has to be one of the most awesome NYC bars I have been to. Cheap overall, the happy hour is sweet, tattooed and friendly female bartenders, a back patio area, neon Judas Priest logo light on the wall, old rock album covers adorning the entrance, vintage beer lights hanging from the ceiling, large wrap around bar, cool jukebox tunes, and booth seating throughout. Did I just walk into my fantasy bar?
They even have a boozy frozen drink called “The Coffee Thing”. Yes, it is really good. Coffee and booze slushy? Oh yeah. That Thing was loaded!
As soon as the bartender handed me that huge ice-cold chalice of tasty beer I knew I had found my mother ship as Iron Maiden wailed in the background. If you’re one who misses the 80’s rock scene, fondly recalls the paneling of your grandparents basement rec-room, or just yearns to enjoy a solid non-pretentious bar experience while throwing up the Devil’s horns then by all means head here.
In the words of Han Solo – “Chewie, we’re home!”
Rocka Rolla –
I’m giving rock horns to this place. Love AC/DC, Judas Priest and most hair bands of the 80’s. Sounds like my kind of place, Phil, especially when they mix coffee and beer! Yum! Thanks for sharing this place and bringing back nostalgic memories of my youth.
Hey Mary!
I’m still living my youth. As long as these kinds of places exist I can still bang my head and rock out! Also, did you see that Judas Priest was nominated for the rock n roll hall of fame? Throwing up my devil’s horns!
Wow – sounds cool. Nothing better than an ice cold chalice of beer on a hot summer day while rock and roll wails on in the background.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Hey Patricia!
You said it perfectly! That chalice of beer is huge and ice cold! Now this is a real bar to have fun in.
This place looks awesome!!! I’ll have to add this to places to go next time we’re there. Love me some rock n roll and old beer nostalgia lights.
Hey Holli!
Oh, it is. Such a fun throwback kind of bar. Old school paneling on the walls too. A real Wayne’s World joint.