Profile

The Gibson takes over the space of Triple Crown, a contentious hip-hop lounge whose sound system once shook irate neighbors’ floors for blocks. In bargaining for a liquor license, new owner Geoff Weber pledged a mild-mannered watering hole, sans live music or rowdy happy hour. He’s kept these promises. Softly lit and tasteful, with earth-tone walls and rich wooden accents, the Gibson ranges from low-key to lifeless; regulars have at least a decade on the L-train set further south, and the 1,200-square-foot space dwarfs even its modest weekend crowds. But service is friendly, and an eclectic soundtrack doesn’t overwhelm conversation. With fourteen beers on tap, competent classic cocktails, and more-than-ample seating, it succeeds as a welcoming, unpretentious neighborhood bar—a rare thing on Bedford Avenue. — Carey Jones