Walk into Carmelo’s on a weeknight and you’ll almost feel as though you’ve stepped back in time: The wood paneling and Tiffany lamps make it a cozy place to escape from the world for a few drinks, and the prices -- a $2 draft option and $5 beer-and-shot combos -- are a throwback to a bygone era.

Carmelo’s isn’t a dive by any measure of the term, but it has the kind of comfortable charm you would expect from a more established, worn-in locale; it won’t celebrate its anniversary until December, though.

Weeknights are busy enough that you don’t feel lonely, but not so busy as to induce claustrophobia.

Weekends are another story; the ground level, which hosts a small stage, may be packed with people dancing while the large upstairs area plays host to groups of friends and dates playing pool and even a few arcade games.

The bar, a favorite of the Knickerbocker House, is a block away from the DeKalb Station on the L and not so far from the Bushwick and East Bushwick houses that it should be discounted.

With its cheap drinks and laid-back vibe, it’s no wonder Carmelo’s has become an Outpost standby.

Find Carmelo’s at 1544 Dekalb Ave. in Bushwick.

 

Photo: Lauren Vega