The back room of Irish Haven. That tile floor is gorgeous. Photo: Craig Nelson

Although it’s a long trek by subway from Upper Manhattan, I love traveling out to Sunset Park in Brooklyn. It’s a great neighborhood filled with tacos, dim sum, an old-school bowling alley, and incredible views, of yes, the sunset. But somehow I had never been to Irish Haven, a perfectly-preserved dive bar with friendly folks behind the bar and on the stools. The cheap beer doesn’t hurt either. And as pointed out by my friend Clay, it was a shooting location for The Departed. Yes, that famous Boston-set gangster movie had many scenes filmed in New York. Who knew? But even more impressive are the vintage phone booths and foosball table in the back room. Hanging out back there felt like home, even though it was my first time in the place. Now I just need to figure out how to get there quicker. I wonder if the Second Avenue subway will add a Sunset Park extension in 2043?

The coolest foosball table in New York City. Photo: Craig Nelson