NYCReview
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
Aldama
Included In
Aldama serves the kind of food you can find everywhere in Mexico City. And considering this place is run by someone who used to work at Cosme, it’s no surprise that this a sexy, sultry neighborhood hangout is our new favorite spot for drinks and snacks in Williamsburg.
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
Aldama isn’t just a bar, but it is an excellent place to drink. There aren’t too many other places in this city where you can sip imported mezcal out of clay copitas, and almost every single cocktail we’ve had has been memorable. Plus, It’s ideal for when you want to nod along to a late-night DJ set in their basement-level front room, sitting on chic bar stools (that might remind you of wicker baskets) while you nibble on fresh tostadas until midnight.
When it comes to the food, Aldama shines in the vegetarian and seafood departments. There’s grilled head-on shrimp, a crispy tuna taco, and a tostada topped with a thick stack of thinly sliced daikon on a soft bed of chopped avocado. Most dishes on the menu come out in orders of one or two, and for brunch, they’ve got delicious items like huevos rancheros and fried egg tostadas that you should eat outside.
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
You wouldn’t know it upon first glance, but Aldama has a sizable backyard patio that’s perfect for a fun outdoor meal in Williamsburg. You might find this kind of open-air oasis underneath a treehouse hotel in Tulum, complete with cement floors, long wooden tables, wicker light fixtures, and giant ceramic pottery. This part of the restaurant is a great place to know about if you come to one of those weekly DJ sets, which are usually announced via their Instagram, and need a quiet place to cool off. Part indoor and part outdoor, Aldama’s secluded patio area is an ideal spot to sip a mezcal cocktail and feel glamorous in the shadows of the Williamsburg Bridge.
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
Sure, you might spot a few patrons in tabi boots, but the true beauty of Aldama is that it’s one of the coolest places you can eat in your sweats after 10pm on a Tuesday. You know, somewhere that you could bring an out-of-towner who wants to know “where real New Yorkers eat out on weeknights” and split small plates worth spamming your group chat about.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
Guacamole
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
Daikon Tostada
photo credit: Teddy Wolff
Grilled Head-On Shrimp
photo credit: Teddy Wolff