Chef Michael Psilakis Opens New Music Venue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Chef Michael Psilakis has just opened The Hall Brooklyn, a music venue next door to his MP Taverna in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Michael Psilakis has long garnered fans for the expertly executed Mediterranean dishes he serves at MP Taverna in Astoria, Queens, and Kefi in Manhattan. He recently brought classics like his octopus over chickpea salad and Greek paella to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, when he opened an MP Taverna there in May. Now, he’s stretching beyond the kitchen—and opened Williamsburg’s newest music and arts venue this week.

The Hall Brooklyn (pictured) is next door to MP Taverna in an open, breathable space on the North Side, just a block from the cluttered thoroughfare of Bedford Avenue. In a neighborhood full of intimate yet often gritty music joints, The Hall offers a sleek alternative: it’s got well-spaced tables and a calendar that will mix local and national talent, as well as musical genres, dance, spoken word and comedy.

“When we acquired the Williamsburg property it was an exciting opportunity, because the neighborhood was in the midst of a transition and was very up-and-coming,” Psilakis says. “Because the space was so large, we were able to put two different projects under one roof and started exploring the idea of a supper club—where music, food and entertainment come together.”

Upscale bar snacks like halloumi cheese sliders, harissa chicken tacos and crab tzatziki can be ordered alongside large format meals (whole roasted pig, lamb or kid goat) to eat during performances. The bar has a wide selection on tap, too: 28 craft beers, more than a dozen wines, and even specialty cocktails like a blood orange negroni—and all of it delivered in an establishment focused on service. Williamsburg has seen its fair share of change in recent years, some to its detriment, but Psilakis kept that top of mind when creating this dynamic space—which accommodates more than 350.

“I thought the synergy between a restaurant and music venue would really feed off of each other,” Psilakis says. “We also really wanted to bring something to the community at a time where they were seeing so many similar venues closing their doors as the neighborhood was in flux.”

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