New York was one of the first US cities to experience and embrace table shuffleboard (way back in the later part of the 1800s). In the early 1900s, the sport and its players rated as much space in the metropolitan newspapers in the New York City area as professional prizefighting and baseball.

Today, New York is still home to many shuffleboard tables and many fine shuffleboard establishments. Here’s five of these places just to get you started (and just in case you’re traveling to the Big Apple next week)…

1. The Diamond
Address: 43 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Phone: (718) 383-5030
Website: www.thediamondbrooklyn.com

About the place: The Diamond is a colourful, shiny, beer-centric establishment. It features a beautiful half-circle bar, a great shuffleboad table and a bi-level backyard with rubber ring quoits and a ski lift.

They also host some cool events, including a recent ‘Wacky Shuffleboard Biathlon’, which they claim was a “phenomenal test of shuffleboard skill in two events.” The winner got a $50 gift certificate for the best combined score and don’t worry, there was no actual running involved…

Punter reviews:

“Great place! Love the shuffleboard and interesting, not-too-pricey beers. We always have a fun time here, even when forced into awkward interactions with strangers based on shuffleboard rules of play.” - Laura D. (yelp.com)

“Awesome beer? Check. Fun atmosphere? Check. Great bartenders? Check. Shuffleboard?  Wait – what… Yeah, you heard me, shuffleboard.  Check, check! This bar is my new local watering hole.  It’s so cute, fun and tasty I just don’t know why I overlooked it before.”  – Jaci H. (yelp.com)

“I hereby proclaim The Diamond as my new favorite establishment. Their shuffleboard table really makes this place a must-stop attraction. I have a new favorite game too!” - Rusty R. (yelp.com)

2. The Whiskey Brooklyn
Address: 44 Berry St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: (718) 387-8444
Website: www.whiskeybrooklyn.com

About the place: The Whiskey Brooklyn was opened in August 2010 by brothers George and Justin Ruotolo, and their partner Rob Magill. The trio’s philosophy is simple – well-poured drinks, reasonable prices, good music, great food, great service and two shuffleboard tables for play time.

Although the shuffleboards have pride of place near the bar, the Whiskey Brooklyn also has a huge games room with a Photo Booth, Foosball, Mini-Basketball, Big Buck Hunter Safari, Golden Tee, Silver Strike Bowling and a Global Arcade Legends Machine. Non-stop fun.

Punter reviews:

“This place is fun. The tabletop shuffleboard was a great way to meet new people/rivals.” - Kenny C. (yelp.com)

“Really great bar. Good selection of whiskey and bottled beer. I always love a bar with games. Shuffleboard is unique, but tough to get on the table.” - Gareth L. (yelp.com)

“An underground lair with a stripper pole, Miller High Life and shuffleboard? Thank you Whiskey Brooklyn.” - Jane K. (yelp.com)

3. The Luckydog
Address: 303 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: (212) 555-1212
Website: www.luckydogbrooklyn.com

About the place: The Luckydog is only a small-squeeze bar, but they know how to party. They also know how to celebrate Happy Hour, serving up discount drinks from 2pm to 7pm Monday through Friday!

New York’s L Magazine says: “Luckydog might just be our favorite bar to open in Brooklyn in a long time. The key to its appeal is staying on one side of a very fine line, with immaculate taste in beer on one side and irksome pretension on the other. And then there’s the look, which is closer to traditional Rust Belt tavern than classic New York dive: dark, rough-hewn reclaimed wood everywhere; vintage beer cans lined up on the high shelves, like your grandfather’s woodshop; classic stained-glass light fixtures; dogs curled up on bar stools; a stand-up shuffleboard game in the corner; and there’s no TV, the easier to make eye contact with your drinking buddy.”

Punter reviews:

“Luckydog is a good old fashioned hole in the wall with awesome drinks and a sweet shuffleboard table.” - Nelson L. (yelp.com)

“In search of shuffleboard closer to the L train than the Diamond, we moseyed down Bedford to this laid back spot. It was PACKED! The shuffleboard table was free and the beer was flowing. I loved that the vibe here was unpretentious.” - Briana M. (yelp.com)

“Great chill bar, beautiful outdoor space and shuffleboard! What more could you ask for?” – Noelle B. (yelp.com)

4. Pour House of Bay Ridge
Address: 7901 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209
Phone: (718) 491-6658
Website: www.myspace.com/thepourhouseofbayridge

About the place: It’s a small bar, but it’s a pure sports bar. Grab a pitcher and watch all of the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball you desire. Their shuffleboard table takes up one side of the bar, while their Deer Hunter arcade game dominates the other.

Punter reviews:

“The crowd is a little quieter and older than some of the other bars along 3rd Avenue, which is a good thing.” - Diana M. (yelp.com)

“This tends to be the quieter sports bar in the area and it’s very cheap. It’s basically one big open space bar, with a shuffleboard on one side wall.” - Victor L. (yelp.com)

5. The Dram Shop
Address: 339 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: (718) 788-1444

About the place: According to the New York Nightlife Magazine, the Dram Shop (the bar name comes from a legal term in the United States referring to a bar, tavern or the like where alcoholic beverages are sold) is:

“a bar focused on hoity-toity scotches, fine bourbons…and tasty Tex Mex–influenced pub grub. Tostadas, cheeseburgers, and braised-pork meatballs top the menu. Bearded beer geeks and lugubrious grad-student types pack the voluminous booths—choosing the master-blender-approved Glenrothes Distillery’s Speyside or among a coterie of microbrews, poured in frosty frozen mugs. For the crowd not interested in a $35-a-glass Johnny Walker Blue, there’s a full-size shuffleboard – with ample room to play – a pool table, and the type of throwback board games that would excite even the crustiest of curmudgeons: Yahtzee, Battleship, and Chutes & Ladders.” – New York Nightlife Magazine.

Punter reviews:

“You step inside and you may never leave. This is a gamer’s paradise. Pool and darts? OK, standard. Jenga and Operation? I like where this is going. Shuffleboard? I’m in heaven! Why more bars in New York City don’t have shuffleboard is seriously beyond me.” - Dan R. (yelp.com)

“Nothing like getting your hands gritty from playing shuffleboard and then kicking back in a roomy booth and shoving your face with a burger. ” - Caitlin M. (yelp.com)

“Couple the awesome burgers with the shuffleboard table and The Dram Shop is a perfect daytime place!” - BSD. (brownstoner.com)

Let us know if you visit these bars!