Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
Nice cocktails, good oyster happy hour, very good new American dining
327 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mayfield
688 Franklin AveNice cocktails, good oyster happy hour, very good new American dining
Great pizza and a beautiful backyard, very comfortable atmosphere
522 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Barboncino Pizza
781 Franklin AveGreat pizza and a beautiful backyard, very comfortable atmosphere
Gloria's In & Out
987 Nostrand Ave.Mouth-watering West Indian/Caribbean take-away
Family-run French-Senegalese mash-up cuisine; the chicken is outstanding
156 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Rue Dix
1451 Bedford AveFamily-run French-Senegalese mash-up cuisine; the chicken is outstanding
Cent'Anni
742 Franklin AveFresh-made pastas and great cocktails
Try the enchiladas and the Viejo, a Mezcal-based Old-Fashioned
566 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Chavela's
736 Franklin AveTry the enchiladas and the Viejo, a Mezcal-based Old-Fashioned
Proper Tuscan-style dining in a refurbished pharmacy
238 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Locanda Vini & Olii
129 Gates AveProper Tuscan-style dining in a refurbished pharmacy
Maybe the best brunch within walking distance; good New American cuisine
166 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Alice's Arbor
549 Classon AvenueMaybe the best brunch within walking distance; good New American cuisine
Just great pizza and pastas and a beautifully relaxed setting
1260 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Saraghina
350 Lewis AveJust great pizza and pastas and a beautifully relaxed setting
Peaches
393 Lewis AveProbably the best Southern barbecue in Brooklyn
Farm-to-table before the phrase was coined; get a drink next door at Bar(n)
67 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Flatbush Farm
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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bar Corvo
791 Washington AvenueFabulous dining, the beef tongue fritters are a revelation
James
605 Carlton AveFor a really fancy night out
One of the first places to kickstart the awesome pizza trend of the 2000s
121 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
franny's
348 Flatbush AvenueOne of the first places to kickstart the awesome pizza trend of the 2000s
Big and comfy and a great, vaguely Southern-ish cuisine
150 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Peaches Shrimp & Crab
285 Grand AveBig and comfy and a great, vaguely Southern-ish cuisine
Olea
171 Lafayette AveGreat Mediterranean-style tapas
Cash-only pizza (call for a table) where the pizzaiola looks like Keanu Reeve’s handsomer older brother
168 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lucali
575 Henry StCash-only pizza (call for a table) where the pizzaiola looks like Keanu Reeve’s handsomer older brother
La Vara
268 Clinton StSpanish tapas with really amazing suckling pig
Do not miss the pizza restaurant with the best non-pizza menu in Brooklyn
1621 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Roberta's
261 Moore StDo not miss the pizza restaurant with the best non-pizza menu in Brooklyn
Get the steak (buttery and delicious) and the artichoke fritters
269 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
St. Anselm
355 Metropolitan AveGet the steak (buttery and delicious) and the artichoke fritters
Scandinavian inspired, sort-of experimental cuisine in the back of beer bar Torst
154 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tørst
615 Manhattan AveScandinavian inspired, sort-of experimental cuisine in the back of beer bar Torst
Fonda
434 7th AveProbably my favorite Mexican sit-down restaurant
Nice café with a large roaster in the front; great place to get work done
44 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ibis Eats
663 Franklin AveNice 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Breukelen Coffee House
764 Franklin AveThis 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Crosby Coffee
667 Classon AvenueThis 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Little Zelda
728 Franklin AveTiny little café with great benches for Franklin Ave people-watching
Pok Pok NY
117 Columbia StreetSPICY WINGS; excellent northern Thai
They write the menu on your placemat; don’t be fooled, the food is superb
482 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Diner
85 BroadwayThey write the menu on your placemat; don’t be fooled, the food is superb
Roman's
243 Dekalb AveExcellent, share-able Italian with a killer wine list
Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint AveThe best pizza in Brooklyn. Full stop.
All-female run veg-only Mediterranean restaurant in an old glass factory at the Greenpoint waterfront
170 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Glasserie
95 Commercial StAll-female run veg-only Mediterranean restaurant in an old glass factory at the Greenpoint waterfront
Fette Sau
354 Metropolitan AveBy-the-pound delicious, meat-mostly BBQ
Drinks & Nightlife
Louisiana-style bar and restaurant, really good fried fish and nice local bar atmosphere
199 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Catfish
1433 Bedford AveLouisiana-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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Doris
1088 Fulton StGood 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hot Bird
Bar in an old auto body shop that has a big front yard and BBQ tucked next door
Weather Up
589 Vanderbilt AveClassic 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Spuyten Duyvil
359 Metropolitan AveGet a hard-to-find Belgian beer in this Williamsburg backyard while you wait for a table at St. Anselm
The Crown Inn
724 Franklin AvePretty much everybody’s “local” for Franklin Ave
Casual spot for good beers with a nice backyard
170 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nostrand Avenue Pub
658 Nostrand Ave.Casual spot for good beers with a nice backyard
Brilliant, classic cocktails with a gorgeous fireplace in the back room
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Clover Club
210 Smith StBrilliant, classic cocktails with a gorgeous fireplace in the back room
Glorietta Baldy
502 Franklin AveFor a beer snob’s taste without an ounce of fuss
Covenhoven
730 Classon AveGreat international beers, plus tasty hot pretzels
Washington Commons
748 Washington AveA true neighborhood hangout
The Saint Catherine
660 Washington AvenueGrab a sandwich and a drink with no pretense
Bearded Lady
686A Washington AveInventive 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Franklin Park
618 St Johns PlEnjoy 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gowanus Yacht Club
323 Smith StSummer-only outdoor bar with cheap beer, hot dogs, and picnic tables
Sisters
47 E 124th StMaybe the best-looking new bar in Brooklyn
Hide away with a drink under the large trees in the backyard
88 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
No Name Bar
Hide away with a drink under the large trees in the backyard
Donna
7 BroadwaySexy, sleek bar with cocktails on draft
Gowanus’ best hangout – the outdoor patio is tops when the weather is nice
65 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lavender Lake Bar
53 Carroll StGowanus’ best hangout – the outdoor patio is tops when the weather is nice
For when you’re waiting for a table at Pok Pok
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Whiskey Soda Lounge NY
115 Columbia StFor 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mayflower
132 Greene AveVery 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Island Bubbles
88 Rogers Avenue24 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
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BROOKLYN BORN MINI MARKET
1426 Bedford AveSmall organic corner market with most of what you need for a quick grocery run
GalaFresh Farms
492 St Marks AveLarger, more budget-conscious market
Small-ish organic market right near the Franklin Ave subway station
87 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bob & Betty's Food Market
805 Franklin AveSmall-ish organic market right near the Franklin Ave subway station
Shopping
Unnameable Books
615 Vanderbilt AveThe best used bookstore in Brooklyn
Great staff recommendations and small-press selection
170 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Greenlight Bookstore (Fulton Street)
686 Fulton StGreat staff recommendations and small-press selection
Sightseeing
Moma's contemporary art center in an old primary school building
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MoMA PS1
22-25 Jackson AveMoma's contemporary art center in an old primary school building
Their Triennial show through June 2015 is spectacular
629 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Museum ye-Art ye-Contemporary ye-New
235 BoweryTheir Triennial show through June 2015 is spectacular
Check out the feminist Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party as well as Kehinde Wiley
3011 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Imuziyam yaseBrooklyn
200 Eastern PkwyCheck 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard StSee a few flats on the Lower East Side dressed up as late 1800s tenements
Latino art and culture museum that showcases great uptown talent
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El Museo del Barrio
1230 5th AveLatino 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
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I-Qeens Museum
BuildingSee 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
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The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin DrNorthern Manhattan’s replica buildings and collection of Medieval art
Olmstead said he fixed Central Park when he designed Prospect Park next
3418 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ipharki yeProspect
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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iparke ye-Brooklyn Bridge
334 Furman StA 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Governors Island
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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Isityalo saseBrooklyn Botanic
990 Washington AveRight 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern BlvdThe 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Cultural Center ye-Snug Harbor & I-Botanical Garden
1000 Richmond TerraceTough 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 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wave Hill
4900 Independence AveThe best, out-of-the way date spot overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades, in the Bronx