Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
One of my favorite cafes. Darling, reasonable prices, really good eggs! (I don't love the coffee, but I'm difficult to please when it comes to coffee.) They have a small outdoor space too. And wifi.
184 locals recommend
Bonafini
663 Flatbush AveOne of my favorite cafes. Darling, reasonable prices, really good eggs! (I don't love the coffee, but I'm difficult to please when it comes to coffee.) They have a small outdoor space too. And wifi.
Delicious Jamaican food. Prices aren't too different from what you would see in Manhattan, but everything I've tasted was exceptionally good.
121 locals recommend
MangoSeed
755 Flatbush AveDelicious Jamaican food. Prices aren't too different from what you would see in Manhattan, but everything I've tasted was exceptionally good.
By far my favorite coffee in the neighborhood. (Most places in NYC that serve higher end coffee serve a coffee that seems too acidic to me...ex Counter Culture. This is smoother.) They have wifi too.
90 locals recommend
Tugboat
546 Flatbush AvenueBy far my favorite coffee in the neighborhood. (Most places in NYC that serve higher end coffee serve a coffee that seems too acidic to me...ex Counter Culture. This is smoother.) They have wifi too.
Bacon cheddar scones are amazing. Food is limited and pricey but very good. I like the coffee at Tugboat better, but his place has a really nice atmosphere and smell. (Wifi + lots of ppl on Macs..)
39 locals recommend
Tip of the Tongue
43 Lincoln RoadBacon cheddar scones are amazing. Food is limited and pricey but very good. I like the coffee at Tugboat better, but his place has a really nice atmosphere and smell. (Wifi + lots of ppl on Macs..)
Delicious pizza. Amazing cocktails. They have a happy hour as well as a late night happy hour. Thursday nights is jazz. (For me, it is Way too loud on Thursdays if you're anywhere near the jazz.) Probably the best option in the neighborhood (along with Midwood Flats) if you're looking for dinner late at night. Kitchen is open until 11pm? 10:30pm? I'm pretty sure I've been told different times depending on the night, so best to call and ask!
56 locals recommend
Parkside
705 Flatbush AveDelicious pizza. Amazing cocktails. They have a happy hour as well as a late night happy hour. Thursday nights is jazz. (For me, it is Way too loud on Thursdays if you're anywhere near the jazz.) Probably the best option in the neighborhood (along with Midwood Flats) if you're looking for dinner late at night. Kitchen is open until 11pm? 10:30pm? I'm pretty sure I've been told different times depending on the night, so best to call and ask!
Delicious, fresh, sushi. Really clean, really nice people. Limited seating at a bar right along the window and also ideal for takeout!
171 locals recommend
Silver Rice
638 Park PlDelicious, fresh, sushi. Really clean, really nice people. Limited seating at a bar right along the window and also ideal for takeout!
This is one of the new restaurants in the neighborhood. French with West Indian influences? Risotto, rotisserie - It has great reviews and looks darling, but I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, so let me know what you think if you go!
81 locals recommend
Risbo
701 Flatbush AveThis is one of the new restaurants in the neighborhood. French with West Indian influences? Risotto, rotisserie - It has great reviews and looks darling, but I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, so let me know what you think if you go!
One of three solid Indian restaurants in the neighborhood. They have amazing dinner-for-two deals, dine-in or take-out. (I usually take out and you'll notice from the empty dining room that most other people do too.) Lunch special too of course. Of the three Indian restaurants, this is the one I think has the best vegetarian samosas.
59 locals recommend
King of Tandoor
600 Flatbush AveOne of three solid Indian restaurants in the neighborhood. They have amazing dinner-for-two deals, dine-in or take-out. (I usually take out and you'll notice from the empty dining room that most other people do too.) Lunch special too of course. Of the three Indian restaurants, this is the one I think has the best vegetarian samosas.
Great Indian restaurant and actually the closest to the apartment, although you probably won't walk past it on accident since it's over on Bedford. Of the three Indian restaurants in the neighborhood, this one has the best chana saag.
48 locals recommend
Gandhi
34-14 30th AveGreat Indian restaurant and actually the closest to the apartment, although you probably won't walk past it on accident since it's over on Bedford. Of the three Indian restaurants in the neighborhood, this one has the best chana saag.
It's a nice walk up through PLG to this coffee shop when the weather is nice. Free wifi, good sandwich and bagel options, and several good outdoor seating options. Don't just walk straight east and then north up Rogers! All the beautiful historic Lefferts Gardens homes are on the streets running east-to-west between Flatbush and Rogers, so the most picturesque route is some inefficient zigzags.
110 locals recommend
PLG Coffee House and Tavern
499 Rogers AveIt's a nice walk up through PLG to this coffee shop when the weather is nice. Free wifi, good sandwich and bagel options, and several good outdoor seating options. Don't just walk straight east and then north up Rogers! All the beautiful historic Lefferts Gardens homes are on the streets running east-to-west between Flatbush and Rogers, so the most picturesque route is some inefficient zigzags.
This is probably the best place in the neighborhood for bagels. (Tugboat's coffee is better, but Nagle's has better bagels.) I always take out, but they have a decent amount of seating too!
82 locals recommend
Nagle’s Bagels
378 Tompkins AveThis is probably the best place in the neighborhood for bagels. (Tugboat's coffee is better, but Nagle's has better bagels.) I always take out, but they have a decent amount of seating too!
Great tacos and everything else you would expect from a Mexican restaurant. Right by the park and subway.
39 locals recommend
Taqueria El Patron Mexican Grill
51 Lincoln RdGreat tacos and everything else you would expect from a Mexican restaurant. Right by the park and subway.
In Spring and Summer, Smorgasburg is in the Lefferts corner of Prospect Park! Open Sundays 11am-6pm. So many delicious food vendors. If you're familiar with the one in Williamsburg on Saturdays--same deal, same vendors, more space and a verdant rather than concrete setting. (If you're vegan or vegan-curious--try Chickpea and Olive's jackfruit sandwich.)
38 locals recommend
Smorgasburg Winter Market
625 Atlantic AveIn Spring and Summer, Smorgasburg is in the Lefferts corner of Prospect Park! Open Sundays 11am-6pm. So many delicious food vendors. If you're familiar with the one in Williamsburg on Saturdays--same deal, same vendors, more space and a verdant rather than concrete setting. (If you're vegan or vegan-curious--try Chickpea and Olive's jackfruit sandwich.)
Drinks & Nightlife
Great new(ish) bar in area. Beautiful decor, unpretentious, locally owned too I think. (I believe there are 4 owners who all work there too.)
201 locals recommend
Midwood Flats
577 Flatbush AveGreat new(ish) bar in area. Beautiful decor, unpretentious, locally owned too I think. (I believe there are 4 owners who all work there too.)
This is a bar/restaurant. Menu is small but solid. They have TVs, so best local option to watch a game. Beautiful horseshoe shaped bar and a fireplace! Great outdoor seating--best in neighborhood.
112 locals recommend
Bluebird
504 Flatbush AveThis is a bar/restaurant. Menu is small but solid. They have TVs, so best local option to watch a game. Beautiful horseshoe shaped bar and a fireplace! Great outdoor seating--best in neighborhood.
Everything Else
This is a pie shop/cafe. Fresh baked pies every day! They also have a few pastries, quiches, cheese plates, wine in evening. Wifi, AC and nice people. Large outdoor seating area with picnic benches!
62 locals recommend
Pels Pie Co.
446 Rogers AveThis is a pie shop/cafe. Fresh baked pies every day! They also have a few pastries, quiches, cheese plates, wine in evening. Wifi, AC and nice people. Large outdoor seating area with picnic benches!
Amazing smoothies. No yogurt or milk or water. Just fruits and vegetables. So delicious.
27 locals recommend
The Brooklyn Greenery
560 Flatbush AveAmazing smoothies. No yogurt or milk or water. Just fruits and vegetables. So delicious.
Essentials
Grocery store near apartment and right next to Parkside Q stop
48 locals recommend
Pioneer Supermarkets
191-199 Parkside AveGrocery store near apartment and right next to Parkside Q stop
(name was just changed to Flatbush Market as the neighborhood continues to gentrify.... )
24/7 open-air grocery/vegetable market. This is where I do Most of my shopping, but they have mostly produce and spices and a limited selection of packaged foods. This is Not an upscale (or even particularly tidy) grocery. You'll notice a predominance of produce and food stuffs that are more common in Caribbean cultures!
7 locals recommend
Suzie Farm
752 Flatbush Ave(name was just changed to Flatbush Market as the neighborhood continues to gentrify.... )
24/7 open-air grocery/vegetable market. This is where I do Most of my shopping, but they have mostly produce and spices and a limited selection of packaged foods. This is Not an upscale (or even particularly tidy) grocery. You'll notice a predominance of produce and food stuffs that are more common in Caribbean cultures!
As of about 6 months ago, the neighborhood finally has a wine shop! Conveniently located directly across from the subway.
12 locals recommend
D.Vino Wine & Spirits
188 Parkside AveAs of about 6 months ago, the neighborhood finally has a wine shop! Conveniently located directly across from the subway.
Shopping
This is probably the closest liquor store in the neighborhood. It is a typical NYC outer-boroughs liquor store, complete with bullet-proof plexiglass, etc. I am not recommending this as a cute place to visit! But if you're wanting to pick up a bottle of liquor, this is a safe bet.
Liquor Town Inc
559 Flatbush AveThis is probably the closest liquor store in the neighborhood. It is a typical NYC outer-boroughs liquor store, complete with bullet-proof plexiglass, etc. I am not recommending this as a cute place to visit! But if you're wanting to pick up a bottle of liquor, this is a safe bet.
Large grocery store with pretty decent selection. This is usually where I go for things that Suzie doesn't have.
13 locals recommend
Ideal Foods
2036 Bedford AveLarge grocery store with pretty decent selection. This is usually where I go for things that Suzie doesn't have.
Initially I was a little irritated by this early sign of gentrification a few years ago... but it is the only place in the neighborhood where you might be able to get a baguette or a hipster IPA. The pricey pastries are delicious, as are the cakes, empanadas, etc. And they usually have several vegan options.
152 locals recommend
Cinnamon Girl
277 Nostrand Ave.Initially I was a little irritated by this early sign of gentrification a few years ago... but it is the only place in the neighborhood where you might be able to get a baguette or a hipster IPA. The pricey pastries are delicious, as are the cakes, empanadas, etc. And they usually have several vegan options.
A bookstore is an awesome sign for a changing neighborhood, and we were so happy to have Greenlight move in less than a year ago! They do free gift wrapping too!
30 locals recommend
Greenlight Bookstore (Flatbush Avenue)
632 Flatbush AveA bookstore is an awesome sign for a changing neighborhood, and we were so happy to have Greenlight move in less than a year ago! They do free gift wrapping too!
Parks & Nature
Even if your trip is super short... at least make time for 10 minutes in the park!
3418 locals recommend
Prospect Park
Even if your trip is super short... at least make time for 10 minutes in the park!
Arts & Culture
Historic theater, recently stored. Some really awesome and some really random concerts here. Recent great concerts include Beach House, Joanna Newsom, St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens. The Moscow Ballet does the Nutcracker around Christmas. It's pretty fun to watch people who live in NJ or Manhattan trek to what they thought was deep in Brooklyn for the concert they really want to see...
185 locals recommend
Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush AveHistoric theater, recently stored. Some really awesome and some really random concerts here. Recent great concerts include Beach House, Joanna Newsom, St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens. The Moscow Ballet does the Nutcracker around Christmas. It's pretty fun to watch people who live in NJ or Manhattan trek to what they thought was deep in Brooklyn for the concert they really want to see...