Guidebook for Brooklyn

Jose
Guidebook for Brooklyn

Food Scene

Nice cocktails, good oyster happy hour, very good new American dining
327 locals recommend
Mayfield
688 Franklin Ave
327 locals recommend
Nice cocktails, good oyster happy hour, very good new American dining
Great pizza and a beautiful backyard, very comfortable atmosphere
522 locals recommend
Barboncino Pizza
781 Franklin Ave
522 locals recommend
Great pizza and a beautiful backyard, very comfortable atmosphere
Mouth-watering West Indian/Caribbean take-away
107 locals recommend
Gloria's In & Out
987 Nostrand Ave.
107 locals recommend
Mouth-watering West Indian/Caribbean take-away
Family-run French-Senegalese mash-up cuisine; the chicken is outstanding
156 locals recommend
Cafe Rue Dix
1451 Bedford Ave
156 locals recommend
Family-run French-Senegalese mash-up cuisine; the chicken is outstanding
Fresh-made pastas and great cocktails
163 locals recommend
Cent'Anni
742 Franklin Ave
163 locals recommend
Fresh-made pastas and great cocktails
Try the enchiladas and the Viejo, a Mezcal-based Old-Fashioned
566 locals recommend
Chavela's
736 Franklin Ave
566 locals recommend
Try the enchiladas and the Viejo, a Mezcal-based Old-Fashioned
Proper Tuscan-style dining in a refurbished pharmacy
238 locals recommend
Locanda Vini & Olii
129 Gates Ave
238 locals recommend
Proper Tuscan-style dining in a refurbished pharmacy
Maybe the best brunch within walking distance; good New American cuisine
166 locals recommend
Alice's Arbor
549 Classon Avenue
166 locals recommend
Maybe the best brunch within walking distance; good New American cuisine
Just great pizza and pastas and a beautifully relaxed setting
1260 locals recommend
Saraghina
350 Lewis Ave
1260 locals recommend
Just great pizza and pastas and a beautifully relaxed setting
Probably the best Southern barbecue in Brooklyn
756 locals recommend
Peaches
393 Lewis Ave
756 locals recommend
Probably the best Southern barbecue in Brooklyn
Farm-to-table before the phrase was coined; get a drink next door at Bar(n)
67 locals recommend
Flatbush Farm
67 locals recommend
Farm-to-table before the phrase was coined; get a drink next door at Bar(n)
Fabulous dining, the beef tongue fritters are a revelation
100 locals recommend
Bar Corvo
791 Washington Avenue
100 locals recommend
Fabulous dining, the beef tongue fritters are a revelation
For a really fancy night out
96 locals recommend
James
605 Carlton Ave
96 locals recommend
For a really fancy night out
One of the first places to kickstart the awesome pizza trend of the 2000s
121 locals recommend
franny's
348 Flatbush Avenue
121 locals recommend
One of the first places to kickstart the awesome pizza trend of the 2000s
Big and comfy and a great, vaguely Southern-ish cuisine
150 locals recommend
Peaches Shrimp & Crab
285 Grand Ave
150 locals recommend
Big and comfy and a great, vaguely Southern-ish cuisine
Great Mediterranean-style tapas
304 locals recommend
Olea
171 Lafayette Ave
304 locals recommend
Great Mediterranean-style tapas
Cash-only pizza (call for a table) where the pizzaiola looks like Keanu Reeve’s handsomer older brother
168 locals recommend
Lucali
575 Henry St
168 locals recommend
Cash-only pizza (call for a table) where the pizzaiola looks like Keanu Reeve’s handsomer older brother
Spanish tapas with really amazing suckling pig
57 locals recommend
La Vara
268 Clinton St
57 locals recommend
Spanish tapas with really amazing suckling pig
Do not miss the pizza restaurant with the best non-pizza menu in Brooklyn
1621 locals recommend
Roberta's
261 Moore St
1621 locals recommend
Do not miss the pizza restaurant with the best non-pizza menu in Brooklyn
Get the steak (buttery and delicious) and the artichoke fritters
269 locals recommend
St. Anselm
355 Metropolitan Ave
269 locals recommend
Get the steak (buttery and delicious) and the artichoke fritters
Scandinavian inspired, sort-of experimental cuisine in the back of beer bar Torst
154 locals recommend
Tørst
615 Manhattan Ave
154 locals recommend
Scandinavian inspired, sort-of experimental cuisine in the back of beer bar Torst
Probably my favorite Mexican sit-down restaurant
173 locals recommend
Fonda
434 7th Ave
173 locals recommend
Probably my favorite Mexican sit-down restaurant
Nice café with a large roaster in the front; great place to get work done
44 locals recommend
Ibis Eats
663 Franklin Ave
44 locals recommend
Nice café with a large roaster in the front; great place to get work done
This is probably where you picked up your keys; try the cold-brewed iced coffee on draught!
160 locals recommend
Breukelen Coffee House
764 Franklin Ave
160 locals recommend
This is probably where you picked up your keys; try the cold-brewed iced coffee on draught!
This café is small but full of light and serves probably the best actual coffee within walking distance
32 locals recommend
Crosby Coffee
667 Classon Avenue
32 locals recommend
This café is small but full of light and serves probably the best actual coffee within walking distance
Tiny little café with great benches for Franklin Ave people-watching
169 locals recommend
Little Zelda
728 Franklin Ave
169 locals recommend
Tiny little café with great benches for Franklin Ave people-watching
SPICY WINGS; excellent northern Thai
97 locals recommend
Pok Pok NY
117 Columbia Street
97 locals recommend
SPICY WINGS; excellent northern Thai
They write the menu on your placemat; don’t be fooled, the food is superb
482 locals recommend
Diner
85 Broadway
482 locals recommend
They write the menu on your placemat; don’t be fooled, the food is superb
Excellent, share-able Italian with a killer wine list
261 locals recommend
Roman's
243 Dekalb Ave
261 locals recommend
Excellent, share-able Italian with a killer wine list
The best pizza in Brooklyn. Full stop.
352 locals recommend
Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave
352 locals recommend
The best pizza in Brooklyn. Full stop.
All-female run veg-only Mediterranean restaurant in an old glass factory at the Greenpoint waterfront
170 locals recommend
Glasserie
95 Commercial St
170 locals recommend
All-female run veg-only Mediterranean restaurant in an old glass factory at the Greenpoint waterfront
By-the-pound delicious, meat-mostly BBQ
441 locals recommend
Fette Sau
354 Metropolitan Ave
441 locals recommend
By-the-pound delicious, meat-mostly BBQ

Drinks & Nightlife

Louisiana-style bar and restaurant, really good fried fish and nice local bar atmosphere
199 locals recommend
Catfish
1433 Bedford Ave
199 locals recommend
Louisiana-style bar and restaurant, really good fried fish and nice local bar atmosphere
Good bar vibe, always nice tunes on the record player and a nice backyard with some board games
260 locals recommend
Doris
1088 Fulton St
260 locals recommend
Good bar vibe, always nice tunes on the record player and a nice backyard with some board games
Bar in an old auto body shop that has a big front yard and BBQ tucked next door
152 locals recommend
Hot Bird
152 locals recommend
Bar in an old auto body shop that has a big front yard and BBQ tucked next door
Classic cocktails in tiny pseudo-speakeasy
234 locals recommend
Weather Up
589 Vanderbilt Ave
234 locals recommend
Classic cocktails in tiny pseudo-speakeasy
Get a hard-to-find Belgian beer in this Williamsburg backyard while you wait for a table at St. Anselm
125 locals recommend
Spuyten Duyvil
359 Metropolitan Ave
125 locals recommend
Get a hard-to-find Belgian beer in this Williamsburg backyard while you wait for a table at St. Anselm
Pretty much everybody’s “local” for Franklin Ave
240 locals recommend
The Crown Inn
724 Franklin Ave
240 locals recommend
Pretty much everybody’s “local” for Franklin Ave
Casual spot for good beers with a nice backyard
170 locals recommend
Nostrand Avenue Pub
658 Nostrand Ave.
170 locals recommend
Casual spot for good beers with a nice backyard
Brilliant, classic cocktails with a gorgeous fireplace in the back room
143 locals recommend
Clover Club
210 Smith St
143 locals recommend
Brilliant, classic cocktails with a gorgeous fireplace in the back room
For a beer snob’s taste without an ounce of fuss
105 locals recommend
Glorietta Baldy
502 Franklin Ave
105 locals recommend
For a beer snob’s taste without an ounce of fuss
Great international beers, plus tasty hot pretzels
97 locals recommend
Covenhoven
730 Classon Ave
97 locals recommend
Great international beers, plus tasty hot pretzels
A true neighborhood hangout
84 locals recommend
Washington Commons
748 Washington Ave
84 locals recommend
A true neighborhood hangout
Grab a sandwich and a drink with no pretense
13 locals recommend
The Saint Catherine
660 Washington Avenue
13 locals recommend
Grab a sandwich and a drink with no pretense
Inventive cocktails, plus great oyster happy hour
136 locals recommend
Bearded Lady
686A Washington Ave
136 locals recommend
Inventive cocktails, plus great oyster happy hour
Enjoy the nice weather in the large front patio with a beer and a burger from Dutch Boy next door, or catch their monthly first-Mondays reading series
437 locals recommend
Franklin Park
618 St Johns Pl
437 locals recommend
Enjoy the nice weather in the large front patio with a beer and a burger from Dutch Boy next door, or catch their monthly first-Mondays reading series
Summer-only outdoor bar with cheap beer, hot dogs, and picnic tables
19 locals recommend
Gowanus Yacht Club
323 Smith St
19 locals recommend
Summer-only outdoor bar with cheap beer, hot dogs, and picnic tables
Maybe the best-looking new bar in Brooklyn
191 locals recommend
Sisters
47 E 124th St
191 locals recommend
Maybe the best-looking new bar in Brooklyn
Hide away with a drink under the large trees in the backyard
88 locals recommend
No Name Bar
88 locals recommend
Hide away with a drink under the large trees in the backyard
Sexy, sleek bar with cocktails on draft
109 locals recommend
Donna
7 Broadway
109 locals recommend
Sexy, sleek bar with cocktails on draft
Gowanus’ best hangout – the outdoor patio is tops when the weather is nice
65 locals recommend
Lavender Lake Bar
53 Carroll St
65 locals recommend
Gowanus’ best hangout – the outdoor patio is tops when the weather is nice
For when you’re waiting for a table at Pok Pok
6 locals recommend
Whiskey Soda Lounge NY
115 Columbia St
6 locals recommend
For when you’re waiting for a table at Pok Pok
Very small spot to grab a drink while you’re waiting for Locanda Vini e Olii
96 locals recommend
Mayflower
132 Greene Ave
96 locals recommend
Very small spot to grab a drink while you’re waiting for Locanda Vini e Olii

Everything Else

24 hour drop off laundry for just 85 cents per pound
10 locals recommend
Island Bubbles
88 Rogers Avenue
10 locals recommend
24 hour drop off laundry for just 85 cents per pound

Essentials

Small organic corner market with most of what you need for a quick grocery run
29 locals recommend
BROOKLYN BORN MINI MARKET
1426 Bedford Ave
29 locals recommend
Small organic corner market with most of what you need for a quick grocery run
Larger, more budget-conscious market
87 locals recommend
GalaFresh Farms
492 St Marks Ave
87 locals recommend
Larger, more budget-conscious market
Small-ish organic market right near the Franklin Ave subway station
87 locals recommend
Bob & Betty's Food Market
805 Franklin Ave
87 locals recommend
Small-ish organic market right near the Franklin Ave subway station

Shopping

The best used bookstore in Brooklyn
51 locals recommend
Unnameable Books
615 Vanderbilt Ave
51 locals recommend
The best used bookstore in Brooklyn
Great staff recommendations and small-press selection
170 locals recommend
Greenlight Bookstore (Fulton Street)
686 Fulton St
170 locals recommend
Great staff recommendations and small-press selection

Sightseeing

Moma's contemporary art center in an old primary school building
575 locals recommend
MoMA PS1
22-25 Jackson Ave
575 locals recommend
Moma's contemporary art center in an old primary school building
Their Triennial show through June 2015 is spectacular
629 locals recommend
New Museum of Contemporary Art
235 Bowery
629 locals recommend
Their Triennial show through June 2015 is spectacular
Check out the feminist Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party as well as Kehinde Wiley
3011 locals recommend
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Pkwy
3011 locals recommend
Check out the feminist Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party as well as Kehinde Wiley
See a few flats on the Lower East Side dressed up as late 1800s tenements
603 locals recommend
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard St
603 locals recommend
See a few flats on the Lower East Side dressed up as late 1800s tenements
Latino art and culture museum that showcases great uptown talent
182 locals recommend
El Museo del Barrio
1230 5th Ave
182 locals recommend
Latino art and culture museum that showcases great uptown talent
See the Panorama of the City of New York, a scale model of the entire city
146 locals recommend
Queens Museum
Building
146 locals recommend
See the Panorama of the City of New York, a scale model of the entire city
Northern Manhattan’s replica buildings and collection of Medieval art
707 locals recommend
The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Dr
707 locals recommend
Northern Manhattan’s replica buildings and collection of Medieval art
Olmstead said he fixed Central Park when he designed Prospect Park next
3418 locals recommend
Prospect Park
3418 locals recommend
Olmstead said he fixed Central Park when he designed Prospect Park next
A gem on the waterfront – admire the most magnificent view of the Manhattan skyline
951 locals recommend
Brooklyn Bridge Park
334 Furman St
951 locals recommend
A gem on the waterfront – admire the most magnificent view of the Manhattan skyline
Former Army base now a car-free island park; truly magical; only open during summer; lay in a hammock, bring your bike (or rent one)
249 locals recommend
Governors Island
249 locals recommend
Former Army base now a car-free island park; truly magical; only open during summer; lay in a hammock, bring your bike (or rent one)
Right in our backyard, the springtime cherry-blossom festival is a must-see
2030 locals recommend
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Ave
2030 locals recommend
Right in our backyard, the springtime cherry-blossom festival is a must-see
The granddady gardens, located in the Bronx, with 100s of sprawling acres and a majestic neo-classical central building
341 locals recommend
New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd
341 locals recommend
The granddady gardens, located in the Bronx, with 100s of sprawling acres and a majestic neo-classical central building
Tough to get to, but worth the trek; the Chinese Scholar Garden is breathtaking
95 locals recommend
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
1000 Richmond Terrace
95 locals recommend
Tough to get to, but worth the trek; the Chinese Scholar Garden is breathtaking
The best, out-of-the way date spot overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades, in the Bronx
77 locals recommend
Wave Hill
4900 Independence Ave
77 locals recommend
The best, out-of-the way date spot overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades, in the Bronx