Profile

The Local 269 has Irish and American owners, and combines a pub’s laid-back appeal with the lively bar crowd of an all-American dive. Hard cider, well-poured Guinness, and Brooklyn Lager are, fittingly enough, among the nine taps. The grungy barroom is charmingly haphazard: Mismatched chandeliers dangle overhead, tiny gold stars inexplicably dot the ceiling, and Magnavox TVs look down from the corners. While quarters are tight, they allow for several small tables and a makeshift stage for unplugged live music. Granted, the floors are unfinished and a jury-rigged sound system makes for the occasional high-pitched screech—but with welcoming bartenders, fairly priced drinks, and a generous happy hour, any flaw goes down a bit easier. — Carey Jones