LocalBozo.com correspondent Link Cromwell vowed to have a drink at every bar in Hoboken before running the 2011 New York City Marathon. With every bar visit in the “Sixth Borough” now completed along with a successful race now finished, it’s time to reel our reporting back toward the City. And as such, every single Friday we’ll be taking over where Link left off, showing you distinctive bars in each borough perhaps for the very first time, perhaps to refresh your memory of a fun place you’ve ducked into, or perhaps to suggest a new spot for you to check out. You can follow our travels as we approach each weekend on Friday mornings with LocalBozo.com’s “Drink Here Now.”

Boulton & Watt
5 Avenue A, East Village, Manhattan
646-490-6004
Getting There: F to 2nd Avenue

As the “Drink Here Now” crew gets older we have learned to truly appreciate change. In a space once inhabited by the outdated dive bar Nice Guy Eddie’s, a new watering hole has taken it’s place yielding terrific results. In the past year a forward thinking team has taken over this prized corner location to help improve the neighborhood one beer at a time. It’s Boulton & Watt and on a recent weekday the crew and I decided to step inside after months of just talking about going.

In the late afternoon we passed through their tall glass front door and inside the highly eclectic space that transports the customer to a relaxed environment for some seriously good spirits. Once seated at the bar we took a few minutes to soak in everything that was going down. Their draught lines sport some of New York City’s greatest craft beers and at happy hour, pours were just $5 along with equally priced wines. We ordered up some frosty pints of Brooklyn’s own Kelso Pilsner and a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc. As we sipped our drinks, we chatted with the Irish bartender who gave us some great advice on where to visit when we make it to the Emerald Isle. We pounded some beers and got some culture all at once.

As we moved onto more beer and wine, we took some time to truly drink in the decor of Boulton & Watt. The owners really put a wealth of care (and money) into redesigning the space. Old school belt fans and gear and pulley systems line the light brick walls providing customers with a ton of eye candy while they drink and eat. The music, while it was present with some bluesy rock, was far from overpowering allowing people to talk to each other without screaming. We can honestly say that change is good. Sometimes it’s healthy to be out with the old and in with the new and Boulton & Watt proves that and then some.

The Rundown

Bar Type - Laid back, eclectically designed craft beer and cocktail bar

When to Visit – If you want to truly appreciate Boulton & Watt, then make your way over on a weekday evening to get both a seat and drink in the cool decor. The brunch here is also dynamite.

Value – Weekday specials will keep your liver and wallet very happy with $5 draft beers and wine and $2 jars filled with pickles.

The Lowdown - In a space formerly inhabited by an outdated dive bar, the team behind Boulton & Watt have taken several solid measures to provide patrons with a terrific bar experience with great value. The food, it should be mentioned, is nothing to shake a stick at- far exceeding run of the mill bar fare. Whether grabbing a drink or grabbing a bite, make your way over to the area and pop a squat at Boulton & Watt.