Where to follow the call of the disco ball in 2023

By Maggie Stein

Party lights dimmed dramatically in Brooklyn during the pandemic as vibrant nightlife venues shut down — some of them forever. DJs, party purveyors and dance-floor denizens disappeared into the sadly silent night.

Luckily, lunar-leaning fun-seekers can leave the couch behind, as hedonism is back in business and new nightlife experiences and unique music-oriented concepts have opened for business.

For those who need to dance with wild abandon in a dark space as part of their own self-care, welcome back to the night. It’s time to follow the call of the disco ball. From new clubs for dancing into the wee hours to chiller nightlife venues, here’s where to get your groove on in 2023.

Newly minted dance floors across the borough

8 Wyckoff
8 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick
@houseofyesnyc
8 Wyckoff is a swanky room connected to the large-scale fantasy funhouse venue House of Yes. This space is classy, candlelit and intimate, with a warm sound system. It’s more subdued than its funhouse counterpart and features occasional events with smoother, grown-folk grooves played by quality DJs in a chic yet cozy atmosphere.

Cafe Balearica
44 Berry Street, at North 11th Street, Williamsburg
@cafebalearica
Cafe Balearica is a duplex venue featuring two different
options depending on your mood. The upstairs is sexy and softly lit, and has a more social bar dynamic. But if one is looking to lose oneself in a dance frenzy, the downstairs area is deliciously dark and features little hedonism coves nicely set up for group gatherings with friends, or other mischief. Both floors book high-quality local DJs that deliver sounds suited to their respective setups.

Mansions
46-63 Metropolitan Avenue, Ridgewood
@mansions.bar
Although Mansions’ cozy spot lies a few steps over the county line in Ridgewood, it’s worth mentioning because this cozy space boasts a shag-carpet dance floor. This cushy coverage is a gift to out-of-practice dancers because the floor’s got give and helps people bop more comfortably. The hangout has an auntie’s house meets a 1980s rec room vibe that makes events at this charming suburbia-on-steriods venue feel like a house party.

Nightmoves
295 Grand Street, between Roebling and Havemeyer, Williamsburg
@nightmovesnyc
Ciao Ciao
97 N. 10th Street, Williamsburg
@ciaociaodisco
If low ceilings and dim mood lighting isn’t the vibe you’re seeking, check out Nightmoves and Ciao Ciao, two freshly opened venues with delightfully playful light-up dance floors. It’s impossible to be grumpy when the ground illuminates in step with your every swivel. Nightmoves is interesting because the space is dual purpose and changes over from day to night. LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy is one of the people behind the hot spot, and his affiliation helps bring in high-quality DJs who have a little bit of a punk-funk edge.

Eat to the beat

New Yorkers love to multitask, and now there are one-stop nightlife destinations that offer a combination dine-and-dance experience. There’s no shame in that, or in admitting that your post-pandemic physical or mental state might not have the stamina for a marathon dance session — so this is an in-between option for anyone who might want a taste of nightlife but also enjoys appetizers.

Eavesdrop
674 Manhattan Avenue, between Norman and Nassau, Greenpoint
@eavesdrop.nyc
Eavesdrop is a posh hi-fi listening parlor that offers intimate seating setups, craft cocktails, natural wine and a tasty small- plate menu. Highly sought-after local selectors play swirly sounds through a level system that’s perfectly tailored and suited to the space’s architectural design. This glamorous outing is a worthwhile date night choice, but reservations are required for table seating and those usually fill up weeks in advance. The bar does take some walk-ins each night.

Trad Room
266 Malcom X. Blvd, between Halsey and Macon, Bed-Stuy
@tradroom
The Bed-Stuy restaurant Trad Room bills itself as a Japanese Izakaya bar, but it’s more than an Asian snack spot. This convivial, bustling eatery has an upscale rustic style, with the room adorned with warm wood and shelves lined with a collection of quirky antiques. Every Wednesday and Saturday starting at 6 p.m., DJ Yuji Kawaski, one of the city’s more respected DJs, creates an elegant soundscape for diners and drinkers. It’s a rare chance to hear him in a charming space while indulging in a shared meal of tasty Japanese home cooking.

Any Thing
453 Rogers Avenue, at the corner of Lincoln Road, Prospect Lefferts Gardens
@anythingbklyn
Any Thing is a fun bar with a mid-century mod style, small but darling dance floor, and standout space-age-era dance floor. Describing the spot as a “danceteria” is actually accurate since there’s a connecting door leading into Names, its sister restaurant, where revelers can dine on Asian-inflected dishes. The restaurant’s high-end bar snacks can be ordered and then received on the dance floor, which is just plain convenient.

Record stores as gathering places

Secondhand Records
23 Lawton Street, between Broadway and Bushwick Avenue, Bushwick
@secondhandrecordsnyc
Secondhand Records recently moved into a large airy space, and its glow up is impressive. The store is filled with a deep inventory of old and new vinyl, but the visit is highly enhanced by the atmosphere from a skylight that drenches the room with warm natural light. The rays reflect and bounce off the disco ball overhead, and keep the jungle of giant, lush plants happy. Shoppers can browse and breathe and become intoxicated by the enriched oxygen. The store also hosts events on-site, including a variety of flower-arranging workshops by floral designer Ayako Shida of Suiryu.

Razor-N-Tape Flagship
110 Meserole Avenue, Greenpoint
@razorntape
Beloved local dance music label Razor-N-Tape opened its own flagship store in October — a great expansion for Brooklynites JKriv and Aaron Dae, who have put out over 100 releases during the past decade. Their quality catalog of modern dance-floor fillers, punchy disco edits, and recordings from local groups including 79.5 and Phenomenal Handclap Band, is highly respected all over the world. The shop sells the label’s releases along with books and apparel. Fridays are the time to visit as revered local DJs play sets on the store’s system, enticing record enthusiasts to come shop and socialize simultaneously.

Sacred Rhythms and Cosmic Arts
56 Bogart Street, Gallery 1J, Bushwick
@cosmicartts
Cosmic Arts is the headquarters of beloved local record producer and DJ Joe Claussell. He opens his workspace to the public every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and record lovers, dancers, musicians and artists from the creative scene in Brooklyn gather each week to connect and commune as DJs play dreamy sets and those inclined to play on live instruments join in. The shop sells a wide variety of dance music, including both newly released and classic disco plus house and global grooves, as well as African print tote bags, audio gear and clothing. It hosts artist exhibits and interactive musical experimentation sessions, too.

Record Shop
360 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook
@360recordshop
Record Shop in Red Hook has always stood out as a store with
a mission to be a real part of its community. The quirky shop sells well-curated secondhand records at excellent prices alongside a large array of used books. Every few weeks, the jovial owner, Bene Coopersmith, books DJs and local musicians at night and invites locals to come in and hobnob with neighbors, adding to the small-town feel Red Hook possesses. The gathering usually spills into the streets and has a block-party vibe, with a barbecue set up on the sidewalk and an abundance of good cheer and friendship formation.