Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
A perfect little cafe down the street--delicious coffee, breakfast, and sandwiches, comfortable seating.
40 locals recommend
Iris Cafe
125 Columbia PlA perfect little cafe down the street--delicious coffee, breakfast, and sandwiches, comfortable seating.
A great Sardinian restaurant, lovely fresh fish and good food; big windows looking out onto the street, full bar.
32 locals recommend
River Deli
32 Joralemon StA great Sardinian restaurant, lovely fresh fish and good food; big windows looking out onto the street, full bar.
A great, old-timey-chic bar and restaurant. Mustachioed bartenders in suspenders will mix you a fantastic drink. The food is excellent--get the turkey leg sandwich.
86 locals recommend
Henry Public
329 Henry StA great, old-timey-chic bar and restaurant. Mustachioed bartenders in suspenders will mix you a fantastic drink. The food is excellent--get the turkey leg sandwich.
Almondine Bakery
85 Water StThe best bakery in New York City is in nearby DuMBO.
Tazza
72 Clark StreetGood coffee, outdoor seating, beer, wine, and paninis.
A summertime must for the lobster rolls and shrimp rolls. The truck brings in fresh live Maine lobsters daily.
65 locals recommend
Red Hook Lobster Pound
284 Van Brunt StA summertime must for the lobster rolls and shrimp rolls. The truck brings in fresh live Maine lobsters daily.
Wonderful bar and restaurant in Red Hook. Take a sunset walk along the water and a cab back home.
55 locals recommend
Fort Defiance
347 Van Brunt StWonderful bar and restaurant in Red Hook. Take a sunset walk along the water and a cab back home.
The Good Fork
391 Van Brunt StFantastic farm-to-table restaurant in Red Hook. Worth the trip.
AMAZING steak, burgers, brisket, and everything else a carnivore could desire. A bit pricey, but worth it.
111 locals recommend
Prime Meats
465 Court StAMAZING steak, burgers, brisket, and everything else a carnivore could desire. A bit pricey, but worth it.
Phenomenal ice cream and great coffee, too. A cute sunlit shop with comfortable seating. Wifi available.
313 locals recommend
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
620 Manhattan AvePhenomenal ice cream and great coffee, too. A cute sunlit shop with comfortable seating. Wifi available.
Ted & Honey
264 Clinton StreetCoffee, tea, and Brooklyn moms.
Brooklyn's best restaurant, in my opinion. Fresh and savory farm-to-table food, lovely casual space, friendly service.
123 locals recommend
Vinegar Hill House
72 Hudson AveBrooklyn's best restaurant, in my opinion. Fresh and savory farm-to-table food, lovely casual space, friendly service.
Bien Cuit
120 Smith StExcellent bakery and coffee. Wifi and delicious smells inside.
Delicious ice cream in Brooklyn Bridge Park, underneath the bridge and looking out at Manhattan.
59 locals recommend
Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
14 Old Fulton StDelicious ice cream in Brooklyn Bridge Park, underneath the bridge and looking out at Manhattan.
The famous pizza joint. Be prepared to wait in line for over an hour--bring a book.
180 locals recommend
Grimaldi's Pizzeria
1 Front StThe famous pizza joint. Be prepared to wait in line for over an hour--bring a book.
Cozy, bare-timbered restaurant with very fresh food, good coffee and pastries in the morning.
16 locals recommend
Fish Tales
191A Court StCozy, bare-timbered restaurant with very fresh food, good coffee and pastries in the morning.
Fantastic house-smoked pastrami sandwiches and poutine, great coffee and beer.
78 locals recommend
Mile End Delicatessen
97 Hoyt StFantastic house-smoked pastrami sandwiches and poutine, great coffee and beer.
Colonie
127 Atlantic AveElegant local food--and a wall of living plants inside.
Drinks & Nightlife
One of the oldest--and most delightfully kitschy--bars in Brooklyn. Sailors used to come in for a drink at port. One of Brooklyn's great dive bars.
19 locals recommend
Montero
73 Atlantic AveOne of the oldest--and most delightfully kitschy--bars in Brooklyn. Sailors used to come in for a drink at port. One of Brooklyn's great dive bars.
Floyd, NY
131 Atlantic AveGreat, spacious semi-dive bar with a full bocce ball court.
Sightseeing
Brooklyn Bridge Park now runs down the length of West Brooklyn. Gorgeously maintained walking, biking, and sitting areas, all in view of Manhattan across the water.
951 locals recommend
Brooklyn Bridge Park
334 Furman StBrooklyn Bridge Park now runs down the length of West Brooklyn. Gorgeously maintained walking, biking, and sitting areas, all in view of Manhattan across the water.
Arts & Culture
Old-school movie theater playing second-run movies and classics.
407 locals recommend
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Pierrepont PlaceOld-school movie theater playing second-run movies and classics.
BookCourt
163 Court StreetNew York's best indie bookstore.
Affordable, world-class chamber music on a barge with views of the city
15 locals recommend
Bargemusic
Brooklyn BridgeAffordable, world-class chamber music on a barge with views of the city
Wonderful performing arts center with great movies, theater, concerts, and talks
221 locals recommend
BAM Fisher
321 Ashland PlWonderful performing arts center with great movies, theater, concerts, and talks
Essentials
Brooklyn's own Trader Joes in the old Sovereign Bank building. Open till 10:00pm.
1296 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
130 Court StBrooklyn's own Trader Joes in the old Sovereign Bank building. Open till 10:00pm.
Incredible ethnic food store--go here for spices, dried fruit and nuts, cheese, exotic condiments an desserts. NB: It's closed on Sundays.
130 locals recommend
Sahadi's
187 Atlantic AveIncredible ethnic food store--go here for spices, dried fruit and nuts, cheese, exotic condiments an desserts. NB: It's closed on Sundays.
Brooklyn-Heights Deli
292 Henry StQuality local deli and bodega.
Everything Else
Wonderful park spaces, biking, walking, and picnicking. The ferry that takes you there is at Pier 6 and is FREE! Bring your bike and plenty of water.
18 locals recommend
Governors Island
Wonderful park spaces, biking, walking, and picnicking. The ferry that takes you there is at Pier 6 and is FREE! Bring your bike and plenty of water.
Mala Yoga
258 Bergen StFriendly local yoga studio.
Shopping
Swedish furniture and cheap hot dogs. The grounds, by the shipyards, are surprisingly beautiful and there's lots of outdoor space to sit and walk around.
58 locals recommend
IKEA
1 Beard StSwedish furniture and cheap hot dogs. The grounds, by the shipyards, are surprisingly beautiful and there's lots of outdoor space to sit and walk around.
Indie flea market with great vintage and new stuff and incredible local food such as kimchi hotdogs, porchetta, homemade sodas, jams, cookies, etc.
266 locals recommend
Brooklyn Flea
51 North 6th StreetIndie flea market with great vintage and new stuff and incredible local food such as kimchi hotdogs, porchetta, homemade sodas, jams, cookies, etc.