Three Maples
Photo credit: Lizz Spano
1452 Fulton St btw Brooklyn and Kingston Aves, Bed-Stuy
The Place: A brand-spankin’-new neighborhood cocktail joint off the Kingston-Throop C train.
The Time: Friday January 13, 6:30pm. I’m on my way to my boyfriend’s place when I stop in my tracks in front of this pristine storefront. A new cocktail bar around the corner from his apartment!? I have to check it out.
The Vibe: It smells like fresh paint in here. The long bar is pretty full so I take a seat at the far end, toward the service station. It’s a nice build-out, with a marble bar top, fun printed wallpaper, navy blue accents, lots of smartly placed plants. There are two big booths in the front, with a few more tables and settees in the back. They’ve got the requisite hospitality pineapple on the back bar. I can’t really tell who the clientele is, probably because they don’t know yet either, but it looks like couples and friends mostly. Two girlfriends are near me with cocktails, there’s a woman at the other end of the bar with a laptop and a drink, maybe a manager. She looks like the type.
Island Hopping at Three Maples
The Bartender: Jeff is great! He’s so friendly and welcoming. I ask him when they opened and he says Wednesday. Wednesday! As in two days ago! No wonder it smells like paint – it was just painted! I spend most of my time here chatting with Jeff. He designed the cocktail program and is bartending for the next few weeks while the bar gets on its feet.
The Drank: It’s a nice, compact cocktail list. I choose the Island Hopping, a Mai Tai riff with a couple kinds of rum, lime, orgeat, passion fruit and hops. It’s tasty, though I wish there was a bit more passion fruit flavor. I ask Jeff how they get the hops in there and he walks me through the process of making his tincture (#nerds). Once I drop the bomb that I’m a ~*drinks writer*~, he immediately apologizes for the state of their mint, which admittedly, is a little sad-looking.
Was I Hit On?: No, ma’am. Though I learn about Jeff’s family, which includes a wife and two young kids, so it makes sense that he’s absolutely not interested in bartending any longer than he has to. I also meet two Three Maples partners and tell them they’re a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Should You Drink Here Alone?: Sure! Three Maples is a relaxed yet still upscale neighborhood bar. This part of Fulton Ave is notoriously difficult, but being right near the subway in a residential area should help keep the drinks flowing. Hopefully I’ll see you there soon!
* UPDATE: Three Maples is now closed *