Guidebook for Brooklyn

Karen
Guidebook for Brooklyn

Food Scene

They have the best ramen (soup) in the city! Seriously. Their broth is fantastic.
283 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Chuko
565 Vanderbilt Ave
283 місцеві жителі рекомендують
They have the best ramen (soup) in the city! Seriously. Their broth is fantastic.
Adorable neighborhood favorite. Coffee is great, and the food is quite good. Hip ambience (but no crazy loud music). Outdoor benches to people watch in the nice weather. [https://www.milkbarbrooklyn.com]
125 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Milk Bar
620 Vanderbilt Ave
125 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Adorable neighborhood favorite. Coffee is great, and the food is quite good. Hip ambience (but no crazy loud music). Outdoor benches to people watch in the nice weather. [https://www.milkbarbrooklyn.com]
The name is a bit deceiving (it's not "old" per se) but the bagels are the real deal: real, delicious New York bagels, with 6 types of cream cheese options to choose from. :)
59 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe
645 Vanderbilt Ave
59 місцеві жителі рекомендують
The name is a bit deceiving (it's not "old" per se) but the bagels are the real deal: real, delicious New York bagels, with 6 types of cream cheese options to choose from. :)
Middle Eastern food galore -- this place is fantastic, and always spot on. Falafel, shawarma, hummus, babaganoush, zattar bread: eat them all. Also, neat trick, in the nice weather they have a backyard and you can sit outside, backyard entrance is on the side of the building (inside restaurant and backyard are not connected for customers!). Cash only.
88 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Zaytoons
594 Vanderbilt Ave
88 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Middle Eastern food galore -- this place is fantastic, and always spot on. Falafel, shawarma, hummus, babaganoush, zattar bread: eat them all. Also, neat trick, in the nice weather they have a backyard and you can sit outside, backyard entrance is on the side of the building (inside restaurant and backyard are not connected for customers!). Cash only.
A literal Brooklyn institution: an old school diner, great from breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Don't be put off by the long lines on the weekends, it's bigger than it looks and they will even come through the line with food samples, coffee, and water, to ease the wait.
225 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Tom’s
782 Washington Ave
225 місцеві жителі рекомендують
A literal Brooklyn institution: an old school diner, great from breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Don't be put off by the long lines on the weekends, it's bigger than it looks and they will even come through the line with food samples, coffee, and water, to ease the wait.
Original location is in the Lower East Side, they opened this outpost in the past few years to spread the done goodness to Brooklyn.
313 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Doughnut Plant
379 Grand St
313 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Original location is in the Lower East Side, they opened this outpost in the past few years to spread the done goodness to Brooklyn.
Upscale dining in the neighborhood, with New American fare: walk-ins are risky and frequently unsuitable, try to book a reservation ahead of time.
124 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Olmsted
659 Vanderbilt Ave
124 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Upscale dining in the neighborhood, with New American fare: walk-ins are risky and frequently unsuitable, try to book a reservation ahead of time.
Upscale Italian dining, check for reservations.
31 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Faun
606 Vanderbilt Ave
31 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Upscale Italian dining, check for reservations.
A neighborhood standby for Mexican food that was so popular, they expanded to this location. YUM.
566 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Chavela's
736 Franklin Ave
566 місцеві жителі рекомендують
A neighborhood standby for Mexican food that was so popular, they expanded to this location. YUM.
Great neighborhood spot, and there's something on the menu for everyone. Good lunch special here (1/2 sandwich + 1/2 soup), and brunch is great. They also have a nice backyard.
123 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Cheryl's Global Soul
236 Underhill Ave
123 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Great neighborhood spot, and there's something on the menu for everyone. Good lunch special here (1/2 sandwich + 1/2 soup), and brunch is great. They also have a nice backyard.
This place is a winner. I can't really attest to the ice cream per se (i'm lactose intolerant!) but the sorbet is great. Be warned: this is a popular spot, there's often a line out the door.
370 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Ample Hills Creamery
623 Vanderbilt Ave
370 місцеві жителі рекомендують
This place is a winner. I can't really attest to the ice cream per se (i'm lactose intolerant!) but the sorbet is great. Be warned: this is a popular spot, there's often a line out the door.
Authentic Northern Italian food. This is hands down one of my favorite places to eat in all of New York. Great value for such an incredibly delicious meal, and their wine program is fantastic. You will spend 4x in Manhattan for a meal that does not reach this bar. Note: they don't really do reservations, first come / first serve, so there's often a wait. The also have a wine bar right next down, down the side of the building: same menu, same wines (if you just want to grab a drink before seating in main room).
205 місцеві жителі рекомендують
al di la Trattoria
248 5th Ave
205 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Authentic Northern Italian food. This is hands down one of my favorite places to eat in all of New York. Great value for such an incredibly delicious meal, and their wine program is fantastic. You will spend 4x in Manhattan for a meal that does not reach this bar. Note: they don't really do reservations, first come / first serve, so there's often a wait. The also have a wine bar right next down, down the side of the building: same menu, same wines (if you just want to grab a drink before seating in main room).
Large coffeeshop, good pastries, and laptop/work friendly. It looks deceptively small from the outside, but has a large back room as well. It's a great excuse to wander up and down Franklin Avenue as well, which has a lot going on.
160 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Breukelen Coffee House
764 Franklin Ave
160 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Large coffeeshop, good pastries, and laptop/work friendly. It looks deceptively small from the outside, but has a large back room as well. It's a great excuse to wander up and down Franklin Avenue as well, which has a lot going on.
Cute little coffee joint that can get quite busy at times. Coffee, croissants, bagels, and cafe tables. Not laptop/work friendly. And this gives you a great excuse to walk up 7th Avenue, with its restaurants, bars, and boutiques.
85 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Cafe Regular
318 11th St
85 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Cute little coffee joint that can get quite busy at times. Coffee, croissants, bagels, and cafe tables. Not laptop/work friendly. And this gives you a great excuse to walk up 7th Avenue, with its restaurants, bars, and boutiques.
Great healthy foods, smoothies, vegan options, and nice staff.
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Nûrish
637 Washington Avenue
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Great healthy foods, smoothies, vegan options, and nice staff.
ice cream. seriously. it's nyc expensive, but worth it. they have MANY vegan flavors, as well as dairy flavors, and they have inventive monthly specials. believe the hype!
313 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
620 Manhattan Ave
313 місцеві жителі рекомендують
ice cream. seriously. it's nyc expensive, but worth it. they have MANY vegan flavors, as well as dairy flavors, and they have inventive monthly specials. believe the hype!
Solidly good, fresh ingredients, get it.
40 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Maya Taqueria
637 Vanderbilt Ave
40 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Solidly good, fresh ingredients, get it.
Solidly good Indian food, fast delivery.
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Namaste
195 5th Ave
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Solidly good Indian food, fast delivery.
Great cupcakes, regular cake, and cookies, and they also do pretty good coffee / iced coffee as well. Solid.
93 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Little Cupcake Bakeshop
30 Prince St
93 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Great cupcakes, regular cake, and cookies, and they also do pretty good coffee / iced coffee as well. Solid.

Drinks & Nightlife

They have a rotating list of beers on tap -- changes weekly, easygoing vibe, can be lively or chill, depending on timing, and is great for both.
38 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Gold Star Beer Counter
176 Underhill Ave
38 місцеві жителі рекомендують
They have a rotating list of beers on tap -- changes weekly, easygoing vibe, can be lively or chill, depending on timing, and is great for both.
I have friends who will trek an hour just to have their Bloody Mary. This place is a quintessential neighborhood spot -- has a pool table in back, great cocktails, and during the summer there is outdoor seating in both the front and side of the building for people watching along Washington Ave.
136 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Bearded Lady
686A Washington Ave
136 місцеві жителі рекомендують
I have friends who will trek an hour just to have their Bloody Mary. This place is a quintessential neighborhood spot -- has a pool table in back, great cocktails, and during the summer there is outdoor seating in both the front and side of the building for people watching along Washington Ave.
Another great beer bar, that has a great selection on tap, but multiple refrigerators full of imported specialties. They have a lovely backyard in the nice weather.
97 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Covenhoven
730 Classon Ave
97 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Another great beer bar, that has a great selection on tap, but multiple refrigerators full of imported specialties. They have a lovely backyard in the nice weather.
Fancy, speak-easy style cocktail bar. There is no sign out front, just white tiled building, but inside its a dark wood bar with stools, and barkeeps with bowties and mustaches, and fancy (strong) cocktails.
234 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Weather Up
589 Vanderbilt Ave
234 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Fancy, speak-easy style cocktail bar. There is no sign out front, just white tiled building, but inside its a dark wood bar with stools, and barkeeps with bowties and mustaches, and fancy (strong) cocktails.
Great bar, nice backyard, owners are rad.
28 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Ode to Babel
646 Dean St
28 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Great bar, nice backyard, owners are rad.
Bar and restaurant, this place USED to be a hardware store called Sisters (that is now rebranded as Hardware 2.0 and a few blocks away), they sometimes have bands play, lively spot, beautiful inside.
191 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Sisters
47 E 124th St
191 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Bar and restaurant, this place USED to be a hardware store called Sisters (that is now rebranded as Hardware 2.0 and a few blocks away), they sometimes have bands play, lively spot, beautiful inside.

Parks & Nature

This is an Olmstead park, it's quite large (smaller than Central Park, but bigger than most), and very easy to access the Long Meadow, where Brooklynites can be found with their dogs, lovers, children, BBQs, bikes, and more. There is a loop for both bikers and runners, and it is also quite a nice walk as well. The history of the park has quite a bit of intrigue, if you're interested you can read more here [http://bklyner.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-prospect-park-history-parkslopestoop/]. Entrance is at Grand Army Plaza.
3418 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Проспект парк
3418 місцеві жителі рекомендують
This is an Olmstead park, it's quite large (smaller than Central Park, but bigger than most), and very easy to access the Long Meadow, where Brooklynites can be found with their dogs, lovers, children, BBQs, bikes, and more. There is a loop for both bikers and runners, and it is also quite a nice walk as well. The history of the park has quite a bit of intrigue, if you're interested you can read more here [http://bklyner.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-prospect-park-history-parkslopestoop/]. Entrance is at Grand Army Plaza.
I love this place, and it is a great way to spend an hour or two (or three!). There is a Japanese Garden and Pond, and Rose Garden, Cherry Blossom field, and deeper in to the Gardens, you'll find the Steinhardt Conservatory, which houses the Bonsai Museum, three climate-themed plant pavilions, a white cast-iron and glass aquatic plant house, and an art gallery. #endorse [https://www.bbg.org]
396 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Botanic Garden station
396 місцеві жителі рекомендують
I love this place, and it is a great way to spend an hour or two (or three!). There is a Japanese Garden and Pond, and Rose Garden, Cherry Blossom field, and deeper in to the Gardens, you'll find the Steinhardt Conservatory, which houses the Bonsai Museum, three climate-themed plant pavilions, a white cast-iron and glass aquatic plant house, and an art gallery. #endorse [https://www.bbg.org]
It's a great park to wander around, not too big, not too small, and lovely rolling hills.
791 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Форт-Грін Парк
South Portland Avenue
791 місцеві жителі рекомендують
It's a great park to wander around, not too big, not too small, and lovely rolling hills.

Arts & Culture

This really is a world class museum: interesting architecture, great rotating exhibits, and an interesting permanent collection storage are displayed entirely for visitors to view and learn more about (called the Luce Visible Storage and Study Center). First Saturdays happen on the first Saturday of the month, where the Museum throws a full day of programming, events, live music, panel discussions, and more. They are free/no fee days for the regular exhibitions (special exhibitions might still require a fee). Don't miss! Learn more: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org
3011 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Музей Бруклін
200 Eastern Pkwy
3011 місцеві жителі рекомендують
This really is a world class museum: interesting architecture, great rotating exhibits, and an interesting permanent collection storage are displayed entirely for visitors to view and learn more about (called the Luce Visible Storage and Study Center). First Saturdays happen on the first Saturday of the month, where the Museum throws a full day of programming, events, live music, panel discussions, and more. They are free/no fee days for the regular exhibitions (special exhibitions might still require a fee). Don't miss! Learn more: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org
This is the central library for Brooklyn, and has cool design. Given its proximity to Grand Army Plaza, there are often activities, music, dance lessons, pop-up shops in the warmer months.
383 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Brooklyn Public Library
383 місцеві жителі рекомендують
This is the central library for Brooklyn, and has cool design. Given its proximity to Grand Army Plaza, there are often activities, music, dance lessons, pop-up shops in the warmer months.

Essentials

It's got groceries. :)
98 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Ideal Food Basket
631 Gates Ave
98 місцеві жителі рекомендують
It's got groceries. :)
It's got groceries. :)
70 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Foodtown of Prospect Heights
632 Vanderbilt Ave
70 місцеві жителі рекомендують
It's got groceries. :)
Drug Store and Pharmacy: useful, and right by the 7th Avenue B/Q station.
132 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Duane Reade
1517 Cortelyou Rd
132 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Drug Store and Pharmacy: useful, and right by the 7th Avenue B/Q station.
Drop off wash and fold. Drop off in the morning to be ready by the close of business (if you drop off mid-day, you'll have to wait until the next day to pick up).
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Bubbleworks Laundry & Dry Cleaning
718 Washington Ave
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Drop off wash and fold. Drop off in the morning to be ready by the close of business (if you drop off mid-day, you'll have to wait until the next day to pick up).
Fancy grocery store, not too much more expensive than Ideal, and great selection.
522 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Union Market
240 E Houston St
522 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Fancy grocery store, not too much more expensive than Ideal, and great selection.
Beloved local plant shop / nursery.
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Natty Garden
636 Washington Ave
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Beloved local plant shop / nursery.
Do it Best Hardware of Clinton Hill | Clinton Hill hardware store | brooklyn Benjamin Moore paint store | prospect heights
900 Fulton St
Normal hardware store.
This hardware store is locally and black owned, I always try to support them and shop there when I can.
Hardware 2.0
860 Atlantic Ave
This hardware store is locally and black owned, I always try to support them and shop there when I can.
Normal pharmacy, but like, way less intense than Duane Reade. This is my go to pharmacy, the people that work there are nice, and the lines aren't crazy.
25 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Kings Pharmacy
241 Bedford Ave
25 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Normal pharmacy, but like, way less intense than Duane Reade. This is my go to pharmacy, the people that work there are nice, and the lines aren't crazy.

Entertainment & Activities

BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) is actually a multi-building endeavor: they have music & dance performances, a movie theater that plays art house cinema, and they have a cafe / bar in a few locations. Definitely worth looking at their schedule to see what's up.
115 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Bam Howard Gilman Opera House
30 Lafayette Ave
115 місцеві жителі рекомендують
BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) is actually a multi-building endeavor: they have music & dance performances, a movie theater that plays art house cinema, and they have a cafe / bar in a few locations. Definitely worth looking at their schedule to see what's up.
Saturdays, best selection is in the mornings, in the warmer months this place is PACKED.
206 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket
Flatbush Avenue
206 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Saturdays, best selection is in the mornings, in the warmer months this place is PACKED.

Shopping

Lovely and eclectic bookstore, this place has been around for a while (this is its second home, after moving from Park Slope). New and used books, art books, graphic novels, dive in to the stacks and find your new favorite!
51 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Unnameable Books
615 Vanderbilt Ave
51 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Lovely and eclectic bookstore, this place has been around for a while (this is its second home, after moving from Park Slope). New and used books, art books, graphic novels, dive in to the stacks and find your new favorite!
Vintage / second hand spot, worth a look when looking for interesting scores.
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
1 of a Find Vintage
619 Vanderbilt Ave
7 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Vintage / second hand spot, worth a look when looking for interesting scores.
They have great finds here, just depends on what's come in. I just got a great silk blouse there (beautiful pattern, short kimono sleeves) for $10!
55 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Housing Works Thrift Shops
266 5th Ave
55 місцеві жителі рекомендують
They have great finds here, just depends on what's come in. I just got a great silk blouse there (beautiful pattern, short kimono sleeves) for $10!
They have 2 locations (the other one is in Williamsburg), and have made a name for themselves for their 2nd hand clothing. Worth a look, depends on what has come in.
71 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Beacon's Closet Park Slope
92 5th Ave
71 місцеві жителі рекомендують
They have 2 locations (the other one is in Williamsburg), and have made a name for themselves for their 2nd hand clothing. Worth a look, depends on what has come in.
Yes, it's a shopping mall, but there are some helpful stores in here: Uniqlo, Target, DSW (a shoe store for men and women), Victoria's Secret, and more.
477 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Atlantic Terminal station
477 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Yes, it's a shopping mall, but there are some helpful stores in here: Uniqlo, Target, DSW (a shoe store for men and women), Victoria's Secret, and more.
Fancy foods, imported items, and fresh meats and cheeses can be snagged here. Pricier than a grocery store, but tasty!
30 місцеві жителі рекомендують
R&D Foods
602 Vanderbilt Ave
30 місцеві жителі рекомендують
Fancy foods, imported items, and fresh meats and cheeses can be snagged here. Pricier than a grocery store, but tasty!