Top Hops
“Great craft beer on draft and in bottles, you can either drink at the bar or shop for beer to take home (in bottles or growlers).”
“The bonus, there are fridges in the back stocked with craft beer and if you want, you can buy and drink there!”
“$10 beer flights, drafts that are regularly rotated, awesome service, and a laid back vibe…what's not to love?”
Top Hops
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Apple Pay: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range Moderate
8 reviews
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Top Hops is a cute hipster craft beer bar in the LES. The tap selection is great, and the bartenders are friendly (can't say that about every place in NYC). Besides the taps, there's also many fridges with plenty of bottled selections. Plenty of seating early on Saturday night.
This is pretty much my usual bar in the LES.
Beer selection is solid. I've started ordering the pretzels as well lately, which for 4 bucks are pretty good. Small, not too salty and toasted well. The cheese and mustard condiments make this a cheap and crowd-pleasing finger food item, especially when you have a group of friends.
This is the kind of beer bar I love. It's a well-curated, rotating menu that prioritizes local brews. The charming chalk menu is descriptive enough that you can easily make your decision, and the bartenders freely offer samples for the indecisive. The ability to take any beer from the fridge and drink it there is also very welcome.
Any time I go out in that neighborhood I try to make a stop at Top Hops, and you should too.
I like Top Hops because they have really nice selections. Drafts rotate frequently and they even write when the lines are cleaned (props!). My only complaint is the 2 dollars uncork fee for if you decide to drink your bottle in the store. I mean, what if I want a small bottle or a can. I'm going to get charged a 2 dollar fee for the same as a can versus a nice large craft bottle? Ok I'm done with that rant.
Been here several times now as my old stand-by for craft brews in the area. Not a lot of seating, yet a big draft list, and bottles along the walls.
Drafts range from $7-10, with a variety of IPAs (mostly), porters, pales, and maybe a saison or fruit. They have one TV to the left of the bar if there's a game worth watching, but mostly a "sit and talk" kind of bar.
Not much else to say about this spot. Try a pretzel and a sampler.
Top Hops is the most legit beer bar in the Lower East side for craft beer junkies like myself. They have a really extensive draft beer selection, many of which you don't see very often around town. If you only drink nasty stuff like Bud or PBR (aka pee in a bottle) this is not the place for you. In addition, they have coolers in the back filled with both standards and unique beers from all over the USA and Canada (organized by region). Being from Maine, i'm always happy to see some of the more obscure Maine made beers here. If there isn't something you like on draft, you can grab a bottle and they will pour it in a glass of you. The staff is always friendly and on point and ready to answer any beer questions you might have, as well as provide samples before you decide. In addition to the bar area in the front which is pretty spacious, there is a back area with tables as well. The crowd here is super chill and the music is good. You can also grab a 6 pack box and get some beer to go.
You also get some pretzel sticks as a snack with beer. Love this place!
Top Hops should be in every town across the country (well, every town where there are people who appreciate good beer)! I'd be thrilled if it opened up in my neighborhood!
Go in, walk to the back, and look through the cases to find a beer. Either pick by location, name, size, label, ask the awesome staff, or close your eyes and go for it. The varieties are as broad as they can be for the small size of the location.
You can buy one or many to take home (make your own six packs are available). Or you can drink it there for a slight cost. The bottles are reasonably priced and range in cost depending on which you pick. If you are deciding to drink there and don't want a can, there's a variety of beers on tap as well.
If someone takes you on a first date there, they're a keeper. (it's a cool and different first date spot).
Random note: You'll feel like you're in Williamsburg. I actually forgot I was in Manhattan while I was there. Though, that's pretty common for a LES spot.
The inside of this place is very cool, especially at the end where you can sip on a beer in between orange lighted fridges – it look a lot cooler in person than in writing.
Service is super nice once you're nice to them. My bartender was standoffish at first but very grateful and super nice once he noticed I was giving him respect for his beer knowledge, he greatly appreciated it.
Tip: if you sit at any of the tables they will not give you service, you need to go to the bar to order your drink and bring it back.