NYC Marathon · Park Slope · Updated October 5, 2026
The runners come up 4th Avenue, a block from our door. Here is which bars are open while they pass.
On Sunday, November 1, 2026 the TCS New York City Marathon runs up 4th Avenue through Park Slope on its way to mile 8 at Flatbush Avenue. We read the race organizer’s own schedule and every neighbor’s Sunday hours, and timed the walks to the course, ours included.
- Start waves and viewing spots from NYRR, read October 5, 2026
- Nine neighbors’ own Sunday hours read the same day
- Walks timed to the nearest corner of 4th Avenue
- Marathon-morning plans quoted as posted
- 100% gluten-free menu at 148 5th Avenue
Marina Charny, Owner, The Beer Garage
Where to watch the NYC Marathon in Park Slope is really a question about the clock. The race runs past the neighborhood on a Sunday morning, and most bars here open at noon or later on Sundays. A great corner on 4th Avenue is no use if the door behind you is still locked when your runner goes by.
So on October 5, 2026 we read New York Road Runners’ own start schedule, course notes and viewing guide, then the Sunday hours and event pages of nine bars within four minutes of 4th Avenue, and timed each walk in Google Maps. Our Park Slope bar at 148 5th Avenue is in the table too. It is three minutes from the course, and on a regular Sunday it opens at 1:00 PM, which is late for this race.
The one bar that has announced marathon plans is Fourth Avenue Pub at 76 4th Avenue: its events page lists a “Bloody Mary & Mimosa Happy Hour” from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on November 1, says it is opening early, and notes that runners pass its front door. Two more open before noon on a normal Sunday: McMahon’s Public House at 11:00 AM and The Dram Shop for brunch from 11:00 AM.
Our bar, The Beer Garage at 148 5th Avenue, is a three-minute walk from 4th Avenue and serves a fully gluten-free menu. Its regular Sunday hours start at 1:00 PM, and on October 5 we had posted no marathon plans, so by NYRR’s own pace for the sweep buses we would catch only the last runners.
Runners who cannot eat gluten spend race week checking every pasta dinner. Our Park Slope menu is headed “100% gluten-free”, so a celiac runner, or the friends who came to cheer, can order anything on it once the race is over.
That covers the Park Slope kitchen only; our West Village bar runs a standard kitchen. Beer is brewed from barley unless the label says otherwise, so ask before ordering a celebratory pint.
The NYC Marathon in Park Slope: times and rules
All of this is from New York Road Runners, which organizes the race, as its pages read on October 5, 2026. NYRR says the 2026 course changes only in the Bronx; the Brooklyn route is the one it has used for years.
| What | As NYRR prints it |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
| Start waves | 9:10, 9:45, 10:20 and 10:55 AM, and 11:30 AM for wave 5; “subject to change” |
| Viewing in Brooklyn | Fourth Avenue for miles 2 to 4, and Fourth Avenue and Flatbush Avenue for mile 8 |
| Subway for mile 8 | B, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
| Sweep buses | About 16 minutes per mile, timed from the final wave start |
| Rules for fans | Stay behind the blue tape or barricades, no amplified speakers, no spectators on any bridge |
| Toilets | Portable toilets on the course are for registered runners only |
Two lines in that table matter most for a bar plan. Wave 5 does not leave Staten Island until 11:30 AM, so Park Slope sees runners well into the afternoon. And the toilets on the course are for runners, which makes a bar with an open door, and a drink order, the practical place to spend the morning.
Where to watch the NYC Marathon in Park Slope: ten bars by walk to 4th Avenue
Sorted by the walk from each door to the nearest corner of 4th Avenue. Sunday hours are each bar’s regular printed hours; the last column quotes anything posted for marathon day.
| Bar | Walk to 4th Avenue | Regular Sunday hours | Marathon day, as posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth Avenue Pub, 76 4th Ave | On the course, between Bergen St and St Mark’s Ave | 1:00 PM to 2:00 AM | Opening early: Bloody Mary and mimosa happy hour 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, $1 off, and free bagels while they last |
| The Owl Farm, 297 9th St | 2 minutes, 0.1 mile, to 9th St | Daily from 2:00 PM, “late” | Nothing posted |
| The LayUp, 47 5th Ave | 3 minutes, 0.2 mile, to Bergen St | Noon to midnight | Nothing posted |
| Drums & Flats, 56 5th Ave | 3 minutes, 0.2 mile, to Bergen St | Noon to midnight | Nothing posted |
| Uncle Barry’s, 58 5th Ave | 3 minutes, 0.2 mile, to Bergen St | Its site prints both noon and 3:00 PM, to 2:00 AM | Nothing posted; it asks guests to call ahead for a specific game |
| The Beer Garage, 148 5th Ave | 3 minutes, 0.1 mile, to Douglass St | 1:00 to 10:00 PM | Nothing posted on October 5; call 718-576-3409 |
| McMahon’s Public House, 39 5th Ave | 4 minutes, 0.2 mile, to Bergen St | 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM, every day | Nothing posted; a brunch menu on its site |
| Union Hall, 702 Union St | 4 minutes, 0.2 mile, to Union St | Bar 1:00 PM to 2:00 AM; kitchen to 11:00 PM | Nothing posted |
| The Commissioner, 247 5th Ave | 4 minutes, 0.2 mile, to Carroll St | Noon to 2:00 AM | Nothing posted |
| The Dram Shop, 339 9th St | 4 minutes, 0.2 mile, to 9th St | From 11:00 AM, brunch to 3:00 PM | Nothing posted |
One bar has planned for the race; the rest are working from their normal Sunday. Before noon your choices are Fourth Avenue Pub from 9:00 AM, by its own event post, and McMahon’s and The Dram Shop from 11:00 AM. From noon The LayUp, Drums & Flats and The Commissioner open, and from 1:00 PM Union Hall and our bar. The Owl Farm opens at 2:00 PM, after the last runners have gone by.
The clock: when runners pass Park Slope
NYRR does not publish a time for Park Slope, but its own numbers give a fair outline. Wave 1 leaves Staten Island at 9:10 AM, and a runner holding seven-minute miles would reach mile 8, at 4th Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, about 56 minutes later, close to 10:06 AM. Faster runners arrive earlier.
The other end is set by the sweep buses, which follow wave 5 at about 16 minutes per mile from its 11:30 AM start. Eight miles at that pace takes 128 minutes, which puts the sweep at mile 8 near 1:38 PM. Our corner at 4th Avenue and Douglass Street is a few blocks before mile 8, so the last runners pass there a little earlier.
In other words, 4th Avenue in Park Slope has runners for about three and a half hours, from around 10:00 AM to around 1:30 PM. A bar that opens at noon catches the middle of the field and the back; one that opens at 1:00 PM catches only the end.
Our bar on marathon Sunday, honestly
What we offer is easy to list. The Beer Garage Park Slope is at 148 5th Avenue, entrance on Douglass Street, three minutes on foot from 4th Avenue at Douglass. Its whole menu is printed under “100% gluten-free”, which is rare after a race built on carbohydrates, and we take OpenTable bookings. We are a sports bar, and the first Sunday in November is also an NFL Sunday.
What we lack is the morning. Our regular Sunday hours start at 1:00 PM, so on a normal schedule we would see only the last half hour or so of runners at our corner. On October 5 we had posted no marathon plans, so call 718-576-3409 before you plan around us.
Our suggestion: watch the front and middle of the race on 4th Avenue from a bar that opens early, then walk up to us at 1:00 PM for a gluten-free lunch and the afternoon’s games. For other Sundays in the neighborhood, see our guides to watching NFL football in Park Slope and the best bar snacks and wings in Park Slope.
Which bar for which plan
Four bars, four ways to spend the morning, each described from its own site or, for us, our own menu and homepage.
Fourth Avenue Pub, 76 4th Avenue. On the course, for the whole race.
- Best for watching from the start of the day: it has posted that it opens early on November 1, with $1 off Bloody Marys and mimosas from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and free bagels with cream cheese while they last.
- Skip if you want a guaranteed table; its post says only to come early and get your seat.
McMahon’s Public House, 39 5th Avenue. Four minutes from 4th Avenue, for an early brunch.
- Best for a late-morning start with food: open from 11:00 AM every day, with a brunch menu on its site, close to mile 8 at Flatbush Avenue.
- Skip if you want a marathon special; it had posted none on October 5.
The Dram Shop, 339 9th Street. Four minutes from 4th Avenue at 9th Street, for families.
- Best for brunch from 11:00 AM on the southern stretch of Park Slope’s 4th Avenue, with a backyard garden and pool.
- Skip if you are a small group hoping to reserve; it books only groups of 10 or more.
The Beer Garage, 148 5th Avenue. Our own bar, three minutes from the course.
- Best for the afternoon: a fully gluten-free menu from 1:00 PM, OpenTable bookings, and the screens for the NFL Sunday that follows the race.
- Skip if you want to watch the runners from inside; on regular hours we open as the race is ending.
Drinks still need a valid ID, and a 9:00 AM Bloody Mary counts like any other. If you are cheering for someone, eat first and keep track of the NYRR App, which NYRR says shows runners’ progress in real time. And if you are running, the bars will still be there after the finish.
Before you go: five warnings
Most bars here open at noon or later on Sundays. Only Fourth Avenue Pub has posted an early opening for November 1; McMahon’s and The Dram Shop open at 11:00 AM on their normal schedules.
Start times can move. NYRR says its wave start times are subject to change. Check nyrr.org in the last week of October.
Stay behind the tape. NYRR asks fans to stay behind the tape or barricades and keep the road clear for runners, and it keeps spectators off every bridge on the course.
Leave the speaker at home. NYRR says unofficial use of speakers is not permitted in New York City. Bring signs and your voice instead.
Our doors open at 1:00 PM unless we say otherwise. We had posted no marathon plans on October 5; call 718-576-3409 before planning your morning around us.
Find your bar
Two questions, sixteen answers, all taken from the tables above.
1. When will you be on 4th Avenue?
2. What matters most?
Fourth Avenue Pub, 76 4th Avenue. It has posted that it opens early on November 1, and the runners pass its front door.
Fourth Avenue Pub. Free bagels and cream cheese while they last, by its event post, with $1 off Bloody Marys and mimosas until 4:00 PM.
Not with us, on regular hours. Our fully gluten-free menu starts at 1:00 PM on a normal Sunday, and we had posted no early opening on October 5; call 718-576-3409.
Fourth Avenue Pub. The only bar with a posted early opening; the runners themselves are the show until noon.
McMahon’s Public House, 39 5th Avenue. Open from 11:00 AM, four minutes from 4th Avenue near mile 8 at Flatbush Avenue.
The Dram Shop, 339 9th Street. Brunch from 11:00 AM, four minutes from 4th Avenue at 9th Street. McMahon’s also prints a brunch menu.
Wait for us, or eat early. Our fully gluten-free menu starts at 1:00 PM at 148 5th Avenue, three minutes from the course.
McMahon’s Public House. Open from 11:00 AM every day near Barclays Center, with a Barclays event menu on its site.
The LayUp or Drums & Flats, 47 and 56 5th Avenue. Both open at noon, three minutes from 4th Avenue at Bergen Street, with the back of the race still passing.
The Commissioner, 247 5th Avenue. Open from noon, four minutes from 4th Avenue at Carroll Street.
The Beer Garage at 1:00 PM. Watch the last runners at 4th Avenue and Douglass Street, then walk three minutes to our gluten-free menu.
The LayUp, 47 5th Avenue. It calls itself Brooklyn’s true neighborhood sports bar, one block from Barclays Center, open from noon.
The course is clearing. By NYRR’s sweep pace the last runners reach mile 8 near 1:38 PM; Union Hall and our bar both open at 1:00 PM, four and three minutes from 4th Avenue.
Union Hall, 702 Union Street. Its kitchen runs from 1:00 to 11:00 PM on Sundays, four minutes from 4th Avenue.
The Beer Garage, 148 5th Avenue. Every dish on our menu is gluten-free, from 1:00 to 10:00 PM. Book on OpenTable or call 718-576-3409.
The Beer Garage. A sports bar three minutes from the course, open from 1:00 PM on an NFL Sunday.
How we checked
On October 5, 2026 we read New York Road Runners’ pages for the start, the course and watching the race on nyrr.org, then each bar’s own website: hours, events, promotions and FAQ pages. The passing times above are arithmetic on NYRR’s published wave times and sweep pace, not times NYRR publishes for Park Slope.
Walks were timed in Google Maps walking mode from each door to the nearest corner of 4th Avenue. For our own bar we used our homepage and our Park Slope menu. No venue paid to appear.
Three minutes from 4th Avenue, every plate gluten-free
The Beer Garage Park Slope, 148 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217, entrance on Douglass Street. Open from 1:00 PM on Sundays; from 3:00 PM Monday to Thursday, 2:00 PM Friday and 1:00 PM Saturday. We close at 10:00 PM, or 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Halloween is the night before. See our guide to the bar near the Park Slope Halloween Parade on October 31.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch the NYC Marathon in Park Slope?
On 4th Avenue, which the course follows north to mile 8 at Flatbush Avenue. Fourth Avenue Pub at 76 4th Avenue sits right on the course and has posted that it opens early on November 1. McMahon’s, The LayUp, Drums & Flats and Uncle Barry’s are three or four minutes away on 5th Avenue, and The Beer Garage is three minutes away at 148 5th Avenue.
What time do NYC Marathon runners pass Park Slope?
NYRR does not publish a Park Slope time, but its wave starts run from 9:10 to 11:30 AM, and its sweep buses follow at about 16 minutes per mile from the last start. That works out to runners on 4th Avenue in Park Slope from around 10:00 AM until about 1:30 PM.
Which Park Slope bars open early on marathon Sunday?
By their own sites, read October 5, 2026: Fourth Avenue Pub has posted a 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM happy hour for November 1, and McMahon’s Public House and The Dram Shop open at 11:00 AM on regular Sundays. Most of the others open at noon or later.
Where is mile 8 of the NYC Marathon?
NYRR lists Fourth Avenue and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn as the mile 8 viewing spot, served by the B, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains. It is a twelve-minute walk from The Beer Garage at 148 5th Avenue.
Can I use the toilets on the marathon course?
No. NYRR says the portable toilets on the course are for registered runners only. Spectators should plan on a bar, café or restaurant along the way.
Is The Beer Garage in Park Slope open on marathon Sunday?
Our regular Sunday hours are 1:00 to 10:00 PM, and November 1, 2026 is a Sunday. We had not posted marathon plans when this page was checked on October 5, so call 718-576-3409 before you come.
The verdict
Where to watch the NYC Marathon in Park Slope comes down to who is open. Fourth Avenue Pub is the clear first choice for the morning, because it sits on the course and has said it opens early. McMahon’s and The Dram Shop cover 11:00 AM onward, and the 5th Avenue sports bars fill in from noon.
Our bar is the place for after: three minutes from 4th Avenue, open from 1:00 PM, with a menu that is gluten-free from top to bottom. Cheer the runners on the avenue, then come and sit down.
Sources and references
- New York Road Runners: The Start, The Course and Watch the Race, read October 5, 2026.
- The Beer Garage: beergarageny.com (Park Slope hours and address) and the Park Slope menu, read October 5, 2026.
- Fourth Avenue Pub events, The Owl Farm, The LayUp, Drums & Flats and Uncle Barry’s, read October 5, 2026.
- McMahon’s Public House, Union Hall, The Commissioner and The Dram Shop FAQ, read October 5, 2026.
- Google Maps walking mode, from each door to the nearest corner of 4th Avenue, timed October 5, 2026.
Marina Charny
This guide is for friends, families and neighbors lining 4th Avenue on marathon Sunday who want a bar that is actually open when their runner goes by. Corrections are welcome on 718-576-3409.
Related reading: Bar near the Park Slope Halloween Parade · Watch NFL football in Park Slope · Sports bar in Park Slope · Bars near Barclays Center · Happy hour in Park Slope · Gluten-free sports bar in NYC