Bars
As a DJ, music is important to me, so a lot of these places probably have DJs or live music.
Great cocktails, good food. Old time vibe, with live ragtime and swing music most nights. This is a perfect date night spot.
216 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
St. Mazie Bar & Supper Club
345 Grand StGreat cocktails, good food. Old time vibe, with live ragtime and swing music most nights. This is a perfect date night spot.
Fun, quirky spot, with a few different spaces where DJs play mostly vinyl records, live music, and an outdoor area with a food truck. Great place to dance, meet someone new, check out the local music scene, and get some affordable (for Brooklyn) drinks in your system.
521 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Union Pool
484 Union AveFun, quirky spot, with a few different spaces where DJs play mostly vinyl records, live music, and an outdoor area with a food truck. Great place to dance, meet someone new, check out the local music scene, and get some affordable (for Brooklyn) drinks in your system.
Fully stocked, European soccer bar located right around the corner. They serve savory pies (one of my favorite things) and a variety of sausages - great for your late night, post-drinking food-fix.
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Banter Bar
132 Havemeyer StFully stocked, European soccer bar located right around the corner. They serve savory pies (one of my favorite things) and a variety of sausages - great for your late night, post-drinking food-fix.
Food scene
Here's some slightly fancier fair, as well as some options for the more budget-conscious among us.
Lots of choices of burrito 🌯, and other Mexican food favorites, including vegetarian and vegan options. Hardly authentic, but delicious, still! There is a bar, too. The staff is great. Lots of room to accommodate larger parties. My go to: rajas enchiladas suizas en salsa verde con arroz y frijoles.
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Taco Chulo
318 Grand StLots of choices of burrito 🌯, and other Mexican food favorites, including vegetarian and vegan options. Hardly authentic, but delicious, still! There is a bar, too. The staff is great. Lots of room to accommodate larger parties. My go to: rajas enchiladas suizas en salsa verde con arroz y frijoles.
Delicious, nutritious vegan food, juices, pastries, and more. Don't let the fact that it's all vegan stop you from checking this place out. It's affordable and SO GOOD. Highly recommended.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
by CHLOE
171 N 3rd StDelicious, nutritious vegan food, juices, pastries, and more. Don't let the fact that it's all vegan stop you from checking this place out. It's affordable and SO GOOD. Highly recommended.
This is one of my favorite little gems in the neighborhood. They play great music, have a constant rotation of anime, kung-fu, and other fun movies, a wild collection of toys, and the food is cheap and good! My go to is the Bibim Bap. The kimchi hot dog is also delicious... And I usually stay very far away from hot dogs. They have a good selection of sake and Asian beers. Good spot for a date, or to hang out with some friends. I go here as often as possible.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Snacky
187 Grand StThis is one of my favorite little gems in the neighborhood. They play great music, have a constant rotation of anime, kung-fu, and other fun movies, a wild collection of toys, and the food is cheap and good! My go to is the Bibim Bap. The kimchi hot dog is also delicious... And I usually stay very far away from hot dogs. They have a good selection of sake and Asian beers. Good spot for a date, or to hang out with some friends. I go here as often as possible.
Not qualified to say it's best falafel in the city... But it's the best I've had. Super tasty, healthy, and budget friendly. I go here often.
75 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Oasis
168 Bedford AveNot qualified to say it's best falafel in the city... But it's the best I've had. Super tasty, healthy, and budget friendly. I go here often.
This place packs up at night, but is generally pretty empty during the day. The food is delicious! I recommend the Fatoush, and the Shakshuka (you can add steak). It's great for dates, and has enough table space for groups and families. It's right around the corner from my place. Highly recommended.
52 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Zizi Limona
182 8th AvenueThis place packs up at night, but is generally pretty empty during the day. The food is delicious! I recommend the Fatoush, and the Shakshuka (you can add steak). It's great for dates, and has enough table space for groups and families. It's right around the corner from my place. Highly recommended.
Best Indian food in the neighborhood, in my opinion. Order take out, or eat in! It has a nice little atmosphere.
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tikka Indian Grill
185 Grand StBest Indian food in the neighborhood, in my opinion. Order take out, or eat in! It has a nice little atmosphere.
Small chain of taquerias with good food, and a bar. I like getting the Al Pastor plate with escabeche (pickled peppers & carrots) and tortillas on the side. I often eat here before stopping at the Knitting Factory's free comedy show on Sunday nights.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Taqueria Diana
129 2nd AveSmall chain of taquerias with good food, and a bar. I like getting the Al Pastor plate with escabeche (pickled peppers & carrots) and tortillas on the side. I often eat here before stopping at the Knitting Factory's free comedy show on Sunday nights.
Great food at this awesome brunch spot. Light, airy atmosphere. Truffle hash browns are so crispy and delicious. Boozy coffee. And they know their way around an egg. Highly recommended.
104 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Egg Shop
151 Elizabeth StGreat food at this awesome brunch spot. Light, airy atmosphere. Truffle hash browns are so crispy and delicious. Boozy coffee. And they know their way around an egg. Highly recommended.
Live Entertainment
Live Music (Hip-Hop, Rock, etc.), DJs, Stand-up Comedy, Spoken Word Poetry, and more.
Legendary venue featuring a variety of local up and comers and renowned musical acts. One of my favorite nights is the free comedy show on Sunday nights starting at 9 PM. I've seen impromptu sets from Chris Rock, Aziz Ansari, Ilana Glazer, comedians from SNL, and so many more. Make sure to arrive early, as it tends to get packed!
Knitting Factory Brooklyn
361 Metropolitan AvenueLegendary venue featuring a variety of local up and comers and renowned musical acts. One of my favorite nights is the free comedy show on Sunday nights starting at 9 PM. I've seen impromptu sets from Chris Rock, Aziz Ansari, Ilana Glazer, comedians from SNL, and so many more. Make sure to arrive early, as it tends to get packed!
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost StPopular music venue.
Nightlife
Night clubs, dancing, etc.
Not super close to the apartment, but this is an excellent night club, and you must go if nightlife is something you are looking for on your stay. More of an underground and artsy vibe. Dope DJs, cirque-du-soleil-esque performers. Tons of people flock to this place nightly. They often have free nights (check their website or social media). I've seen some wild things here. So fun.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
House of Yes
2 Wyckoff AvenueNot super close to the apartment, but this is an excellent night club, and you must go if nightlife is something you are looking for on your stay. More of an underground and artsy vibe. Dope DJs, cirque-du-soleil-esque performers. Tons of people flock to this place nightly. They often have free nights (check their website or social media). I've seen some wild things here. So fun.
I know this place mainly as a night club! And it's good. I've danced in their basement on numerous occasions to some great DJs, both local and international (I.e. Soulection, Henry Wu). Great for underground, soulful house music, boogie, funk, Disco, broken beat, and more. This is a place for music heads, and dancers. The sound system is warm and enveloping.
They also have food! Which I knew but haven't fully experienced. It looks delicious, though. 😋
101 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Black Flamingo
168 Borinquen PlI know this place mainly as a night club! And it's good. I've danced in their basement on numerous occasions to some great DJs, both local and international (I.e. Soulection, Henry Wu). Great for underground, soulful house music, boogie, funk, Disco, broken beat, and more. This is a place for music heads, and dancers. The sound system is warm and enveloping.
They also have food! Which I knew but haven't fully experienced. It looks delicious, though. 😋
I'm a bit biased, because I DJ here on occasion, but Bembe is lit! It's a small night club focused on music from the African diaspora: afro beat(s), reggaeton, cumbia, salsa, dembow, merengue, bailed funk, dancehall and more. The DJs are top-notch (not saying that to toot my own horn, swear), they have open percussion, attended to by very talented players, but open to everyone. There's live music once in a while. Favorite nights: Monday for the ESO!! Party (DJs Reaganomics & Dirty Finger are residents w/ special guests weekly), which specializes in more underground and eclectic sounds, and is less packed than weekends. Also check out DJ Beto when he plays there - he's a personal friend and an amazing DJ. It's almost always a party at Bembe. So fun to dance there. And try the Dce Morena - it's tequila with coffee grounds and a lime and it's soooooo good. Note: it's cash only!
162 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bembe
81 S 6th StI'm a bit biased, because I DJ here on occasion, but Bembe is lit! It's a small night club focused on music from the African diaspora: afro beat(s), reggaeton, cumbia, salsa, dembow, merengue, bailed funk, dancehall and more. The DJs are top-notch (not saying that to toot my own horn, swear), they have open percussion, attended to by very talented players, but open to everyone. There's live music once in a while. Favorite nights: Monday for the ESO!! Party (DJs Reaganomics & Dirty Finger are residents w/ special guests weekly), which specializes in more underground and eclectic sounds, and is less packed than weekends. Also check out DJ Beto when he plays there - he's a personal friend and an amazing DJ. It's almost always a party at Bembe. So fun to dance there. And try the Dce Morena - it's tequila with coffee grounds and a lime and it's soooooo good. Note: it's cash only!
Recreation
If you want to stay active while you're in NYC...
This is a big, awesome park, with tons of amenities. There's a pool, a track, baseball field, basketball court, skate park and more. Great place for a jog, to take the kids, people/dog watch (all the cute dogs hang out here), and more.
798 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
McCarren Park
776 Lorimer StThis is a big, awesome park, with tons of amenities. There's a pool, a track, baseball field, basketball court, skate park and more. Great place for a jog, to take the kids, people/dog watch (all the cute dogs hang out here), and more.
Atypical movie selection, food & drinks, vintage movie theatre experience. They host an event called Spoons, Toons & Booze here... A Saturday morning cartoon party with boozy breakfast. So fun!
941 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nitehawk Cinema
136 Metropolitan AveAtypical movie selection, food & drinks, vintage movie theatre experience. They host an event called Spoons, Toons & Booze here... A Saturday morning cartoon party with boozy breakfast. So fun!
Records
I'm a huge music nerd. If you are, too, you might wanna check these out!
Easily one of the best record shops in NYC. Diverse, well curated selection, ranging from surface level staples, to deep gems, from the old to the new. No price gouging, they know what they have, but these records are priced to move. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. There's a few scattered listening stations. Great place to dig for producers, DJs, and audiophiles.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Human Head Records
289 Meserole StEasily one of the best record shops in NYC. Diverse, well curated selection, ranging from surface level staples, to deep gems, from the old to the new. No price gouging, they know what they have, but these records are priced to move. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. There's a few scattered listening stations. Great place to dig for producers, DJs, and audiophiles.