Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
Solid French-American fare in a comfortable atmosphere. If it's nice out, sit outside and people watch. The chef has chops. Pastries are from Balthazar.
217 locals recommend
Eugene & Company
397 Tompkins AveSolid French-American fare in a comfortable atmosphere. If it's nice out, sit outside and people watch. The chef has chops. Pastries are from Balthazar.
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner... it's a good place to stop and eat and stare at people, one of whom might be Solange Knowles, while they eat. In seriousness, it's pretty good food (mostly Italian) in a cute, vintage space. Hipsters abound.
1260 locals recommend
Saraghina
350 Lewis AveBreakfast, lunch, or dinner... it's a good place to stop and eat and stare at people, one of whom might be Solange Knowles, while they eat. In seriousness, it's pretty good food (mostly Italian) in a cute, vintage space. Hipsters abound.
Best fried chicken for miles! (Teeny tiny restaurant with seriously good home cooking.)
604 locals recommend
Peaches HotHouse
415 Tompkins AveBest fried chicken for miles! (Teeny tiny restaurant with seriously good home cooking.)
Peaches
393 Lewis AveBig sister to Peaches Hot House
Fort Greene General Store
218 Dekalb AveDeli with prepared foods and select produce.
Drinks & Nightlife
Lovers Rock
419 Tompkins AveOne of our favorite bars ever: great R&B, fun crowd, nice backyard.
Bed-Vyne Brew
370 Tompkins AveGood for a pint with a pal.
Bed-Vyne Wine & Spirits
385 Tompkins AveLocal liquor store
Arts & Culture
Art, cultural events, special programming. Take a look at their website to see what's on!
3011 locals recommend
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern PkwyArt, cultural events, special programming. Take a look at their website to see what's on!
Across the street from Noguchi's LIC studio, this gem of a museum hosts an amazing collection of his work. It's a very special place. The cafe/gift shop is excellent. On select Sundays there are hands-on family workshops.
192 locals recommend
Noguchi Museum
9-01 33rd RoadAcross the street from Noguchi's LIC studio, this gem of a museum hosts an amazing collection of his work. It's a very special place. The cafe/gift shop is excellent. On select Sundays there are hands-on family workshops.
Super fun spot for kids to get messy with paint, dobbers, fiber, play dough, etc. Be sure to put your name in at The Clay Bar when you arrive for hands-on instruction creating a little claymation guy. (Check website for daily hours, which are weird.)
34 locals recommend
Children's Museum of the Arts
103 Charlton StSuper fun spot for kids to get messy with paint, dobbers, fiber, play dough, etc. Be sure to put your name in at The Clay Bar when you arrive for hands-on instruction creating a little claymation guy. (Check website for daily hours, which are weird.)
I can stare at the dioramas all day long. The Hall of Gems is also stellar... and then there's the planetarium. Oh yeah, and dinosaur bones. For a legit deli experience, head to Barney Greengrass afterward.
1623 locals recommend
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park WestI can stare at the dioramas all day long. The Hall of Gems is also stellar... and then there's the planetarium. Oh yeah, and dinosaur bones. For a legit deli experience, head to Barney Greengrass afterward.
Parks & Nature
Run, walk, or bike the 3-mile loop. Check out Lakeside (home to ice skating, roller skating, and splash pad, depending on the season). Also seasonal: Smorgasburg (an outdoor food frenzy comprised of some of the best food vendors in the city). In the summers, see what's going on at the Prospect Park Bandshell if you want to catch live music.
3418 locals recommend
Prospect Park
Run, walk, or bike the 3-mile loop. Check out Lakeside (home to ice skating, roller skating, and splash pad, depending on the season). Also seasonal: Smorgasburg (an outdoor food frenzy comprised of some of the best food vendors in the city). In the summers, see what's going on at the Prospect Park Bandshell if you want to catch live music.
Take the (free) ferry from Pier 6 to Govenors Island for a stroll back in time. The island recently underwent a major renovation. There are lots of new climbing, sliding, and swinging features. There's lots to explore and often some kind of special programming (ie put put golf or crafting with the Children's Museum of Art). You can get a great view of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Be sure to check the website for ferry schedules and current events. The Brooklyn ferry operates seasonally. (Grab lunch from one of the MANY food trucks.)
249 locals recommend
Governors Island
Take the (free) ferry from Pier 6 to Govenors Island for a stroll back in time. The island recently underwent a major renovation. There are lots of new climbing, sliding, and swinging features. There's lots to explore and often some kind of special programming (ie put put golf or crafting with the Children's Museum of Art). You can get a great view of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Be sure to check the website for ferry schedules and current events. The Brooklyn ferry operates seasonally. (Grab lunch from one of the MANY food trucks.)
Fort Greene Park
South Portland AvenueGreat for a stroll or your daily dose of green.
Take a look at their website to see what's going on. (There's an upcoming performance involving kites that looks quite promising!)
238 locals recommend
Socrates Sculpture Park
32-01 Vernon BlvdTake a look at their website to see what's going on. (There's an upcoming performance involving kites that looks quite promising!)
Entertainment & Activities
Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette AveHands down, our favorite place to see a movie.
Prospect Park Bandshell
141 Prospect Park WestCheck website for summer concert series.
A real crowd pleaser for the kiddos, Jane's Carousel is a restored historic carousel, aptly positioned between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges in Brooklyn Bridge Park. We'd recommend going when Smorgasburg is also on nearby so there's something in it (in addition to the amazing views) for the adults. Also: Jacques Torres, the famous chocolatier, is nearby.
118 locals recommend
Jane's Carousel
Dock StreetA real crowd pleaser for the kiddos, Jane's Carousel is a restored historic carousel, aptly positioned between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges in Brooklyn Bridge Park. We'd recommend going when Smorgasburg is also on nearby so there's something in it (in addition to the amazing views) for the adults. Also: Jacques Torres, the famous chocolatier, is nearby.
Essentials
Closest super market. They've got everything! Grab the essentials, but it's not our favorite for meat and produce.
228 locals recommend
Super Foodtown of Bedford Stuyvesant
1420 Fulton StClosest super market. They've got everything! Grab the essentials, but it's not our favorite for meat and produce.
I think Whole Foods is self explanatory at this point, but if your from out of town and trying to shop on a budget, we highly recommend shopping for "365" (whole foods house brand).
800 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
214 3rd StI think Whole Foods is self explanatory at this point, but if your from out of town and trying to shop on a budget, we highly recommend shopping for "365" (whole foods house brand).
This Whole Foods location has a roof top resto and bar, looking out over Gowanus. If you've got a car, the parking lot here is a plus! (Shop for "365" brand to keep costs down.)
800 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
214 3rd StThis Whole Foods location has a roof top resto and bar, looking out over Gowanus. If you've got a car, the parking lot here is a plus! (Shop for "365" brand to keep costs down.)
If you've got a car, this old school grocery store is fun to hit. (If not, it's too much of a trek.) We've enjoyed going in the morning and having a coffee out back, looking across the water at the statue of liberty before shopping. You can also grab a meal from the hot bar or deli. It's an NYC classic supermarket.
105 locals recommend
Fairway Market Red Hook
480-500 Van Brunt StIf you've got a car, this old school grocery store is fun to hit. (If not, it's too much of a trek.) We've enjoyed going in the morning and having a coffee out back, looking across the water at the statue of liberty before shopping. You can also grab a meal from the hot bar or deli. It's an NYC classic supermarket.
A quirky grocery store with lots of packaged food. Basically, they only sell what sells... so inventory is tailored. (As I type, I realize this sounds silly. The goal of all stores is to stock what sells.)
1296 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
130 Court StA quirky grocery store with lots of packaged food. Basically, they only sell what sells... so inventory is tailored. (As I type, I realize this sounds silly. The goal of all stores is to stock what sells.)
Shopping
Barneys New York, Brooklyn
Yes, now there is Barneys in Brooklyn.
Japanese goods. We love it for the socks of recycled cotton, notepads, random home goods, and the occasional shirt or stocking stuffer.
11 locals recommend
MUJI SOHO
455 BroadwayJapanese goods. We love it for the socks of recycled cotton, notepads, random home goods, and the occasional shirt or stocking stuffer.
For those with a design fetish: buy accessories, home goods, limited clothing, and books. Gang it up with a trip to MoMA.
19 locals recommend
MoMA Design Store
44 W 53rd StFor those with a design fetish: buy accessories, home goods, limited clothing, and books. Gang it up with a trip to MoMA.
Lifestyle concept store and coffee bar. Come to oggle beautiful women's wear and experience and authentic space curated by a Bed Stuy native with an eye for all that's cool. (She's one to follow on Instagram for sure.) Oh, and join their email list to hear about cool night-time happenings.
122 locals recommend
Sincerely, Tommy
343 Tompkins AveLifestyle concept store and coffee bar. Come to oggle beautiful women's wear and experience and authentic space curated by a Bed Stuy native with an eye for all that's cool. (She's one to follow on Instagram for sure.) Oh, and join their email list to hear about cool night-time happenings.
Oroboro
217 Mott StWomen's Wear
Totokaelo
61 Crosby St