Liar Liar: A wine bar “with all the bells and whistles”
No Lie! New Gowanus hotspot offers great wine, food, music, and vibes
A new buzzy business has arrived to the Gowanus scene. Liar Liar, a natural wine bar debuted at 285 Nevins Street (formerly Victor), on January 31. Their opening week—though not highly publicized—has been bustling, filled with friends and curious locals. “We want to get the systems down, get our aesthetic down, really figure out what we’re working with before we publicize to the world that we’re here,” explains Gabi Gimson, one of the bar’s owners.
Liar Liar is the brainchild of four friends: Mateo Simo, a service industry veteran who opened the popular Bed-Stuy watering hole Bad Luck Bar in 2022; Reed Yarber, who tended bar there; Andrew Goss, a DJ, event producer, and regular at the bar; and Gimson, who formerly worked for a boutique natural wine importer.
The idea for the new venture was sparked last summer during a trip to Europe for Yarber’s birthday. “I started that Europe trip in Lisbon,” Yarber recalls. “Mateo knows Lisbon pretty well and he recommended a bar called Black Sheep. It’s incredible. It’s my favorite bar in the world now.” Yarber was charmed by the bar’s welcoming atmosphere and excellent service. “What makes Black Sheep so great is how community-oriented it is,” notes Simo, who along with Goss, joined Yarber on his trip abroad.
The trio checked out venues in different European cities. “We’re all coming from very different nightlife backgrounds, centered on certain things,” Goss says. “We had a lot of fun going to certain wine bars and aligning on vision.”
The bar’s “cheeky” name Liar Liar will surely attract customers looking for a fun, unpretentious spot. “There’s something sort of mischievous about it that we really liked — and it’s sexy,” Gimson says. The cozy space, with seating for about 50 in the front room (and once completed, 25 in the back), is perfect for a date or small groups looking for great drinks, food, and music.