Guidebook for Brooklyn
Parks & Nature
Prospect Park is a 537 acre park roughly 9/10ths of a mile directly uphill from 330 10th St. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux (designer's of Central Park.)
3418 residents recomanen
Prospect Park
Prospect Park is a 537 acre park roughly 9/10ths of a mile directly uphill from 330 10th St. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux (designer's of Central Park.)
J.J. Byrne Playground
5th AvenueA kid's playground plus handball courts and soccer field
was founded in 1910 and is a stunning sanctuary in the middle of our borough. Some interesting “sub-gardens” are: the Japanese Garden, Cherry Esplanade, Lily Pool Terrace, & the Native Flora Garden.
2030 residents recomanen
Jardí Botànic de Brooklyn
990 Washington Avewas founded in 1910 and is a stunning sanctuary in the middle of our borough. Some interesting “sub-gardens” are: the Japanese Garden, Cherry Esplanade, Lily Pool Terrace, & the Native Flora Garden.
Drinks & Nightlife
Local watering hole type place with fun local crowd. Beers on tap.Great crowd
33 residents recomanen
Skylark
477 5th AveLocal watering hole type place with fun local crowd. Beers on tap.Great crowd
The Monro Pub
481 5th AveGreat little British-style pub.
Barbès
376 9th StBar/Music venue. Great cocktails!
One of two LGBT bars in the area. Caters more toward women, but is very inviting and inclusive.
14 residents recomanen
Ginger's Bar
363 5th AveOne of two LGBT bars in the area. Caters more toward women, but is very inviting and inclusive.
Lucey's Lounge
475 3rd AveCool little place. Mixology in Gowanus!
Check their website for their lineup. Often host private parties, so it's best to check before you go.
132 residents recomanen
The Bell House
149 7th StCheck their website for their lineup. Often host private parties, so it's best to check before you go.
Excelsior
563 5th AveGreat little gay bar. Caters mostly to gay men, but is friendly and inclusive.
Food Scene
Brookvin
381 7th AveGreat winebar with small plates
Excellent wood fired pizza and good pastas and specials. Very casual atmosphere, but good service. Big portions. And it's close!
23 residents recomanen
Peppino's Park Slope
469 5th AveExcellent wood fired pizza and good pastas and specials. Very casual atmosphere, but good service. Big portions. And it's close!
The Bagel Factory 2
461 5th AveGood fresh NY bagels. Mostly a takeout place, but they have a couple of tables.
Daisy's Diner
452 5th AveOld fashioned Greek-style diner. Convenient for breakfast.
Great coal oven pizza, pastas, etc. Nice atmosphere. Wine/Beer. Summer Wednesday nights are outdoor movie night. Check their website for schedule.
60 residents recomanen
Table 87 Gowanus
473 3rd AvenueGreat coal oven pizza, pastas, etc. Nice atmosphere. Wine/Beer. Summer Wednesday nights are outdoor movie night. Check their website for schedule.
Friendly, less frenetic choice among the local Greek diners. $3 Bloody Marys
6 residents recomanen
Fifth Avenue Diner
432 5th AveFriendly, less frenetic choice among the local Greek diners. $3 Bloody Marys
Nice Italian-inspired bistro type place. Good sandwiches and entrees. Full bar.
45 residents recomanen
Bar Toto
411 11th StNice Italian-inspired bistro type place. Good sandwiches and entrees. Full bar.
Olivier Bistro
469 4th AveVery nice French bistro food. Wine and beer.
Great bahn mi (French insprired, Vietnamese sandwiches)! Try the classic, spicy - our fave. They also have veggie options and bubble teas. Not much atmosphere here, but a great lunch stop.
90 residents recomanen
Hanco's
134 Smith StGreat bahn mi (French insprired, Vietnamese sandwiches)! Try the classic, spicy - our fave. They also have veggie options and bubble teas. Not much atmosphere here, but a great lunch stop.
Good traditional Mexican with a full bar. Nice, casual, comfortable. Often have live mariachi band on Friday nights.
10 residents recomanen
Nuevo Mexico
489 5th AveGood traditional Mexican with a full bar. Nice, casual, comfortable. Often have live mariachi band on Friday nights.
Unfussy Cal-Mex. Good burritos. Cheap margaritas - not bad! Tends to be crowded.
8 residents recomanen
Rachel's Taqueria
408 5th AveUnfussy Cal-Mex. Good burritos. Cheap margaritas - not bad! Tends to be crowded.
Red & Hot II
349 7th AveChinese. Quick delivery.
Nice Italian-inspired bistro type place. Good sandwiches and entrees. Full bar. Sister restaurant to Bar Toto on 6th Ave.
22 residents recomanen
Bar Tano
457 3rd AvenueNice Italian-inspired bistro type place. Good sandwiches and entrees. Full bar. Sister restaurant to Bar Toto on 6th Ave.
Dale Talde (of Top Chef fame) serves up fabulous Pan-Asian and Filipino inspired delights. Mostly small plates. Rich and over the top. Also a great brunch place. Try the breakfast ramen!
203 residents recomanen
Talde
8 Erie StDale Talde (of Top Chef fame) serves up fabulous Pan-Asian and Filipino inspired delights. Mostly small plates. Rich and over the top. Also a great brunch place. Try the breakfast ramen!
Fine local place for sushi. Best place that is close by. Reasonably priced. They have a backyard with outdoor seating.
9 residents recomanen
Mura
Fine local place for sushi. Best place that is close by. Reasonably priced. They have a backyard with outdoor seating.
Fletcher's Brooklyn Barbecue
408 3rd AveCafeteria style BBQ place.
Chagall Bistro
330 5th StThis place gets great reviews. Kosher French.
Nice tavern style place with very good food and lively bar. Loud, fun. Try the moules frites w/ chorizo! Yum .
64 residents recomanen
Sidecar
560 5th AveNice tavern style place with very good food and lively bar. Loud, fun. Try the moules frites w/ chorizo! Yum .
Relaxed Austrian food. Monday night econo menu - $7 entrees (limited choices). Nice selection of beers on tap.
34 residents recomanen
Cafe Steinhof
422 7th AveRelaxed Austrian food. Monday night econo menu - $7 entrees (limited choices). Nice selection of beers on tap.
Great brunch (and dinner). The buffalo cauliflower is addictive! Dale Talde (of Top Chef and Talde fame) is a partner in this place. One of our favorites.
31 residents recomanen
Thistle Hill Tavern
Great brunch (and dinner). The buffalo cauliflower is addictive! Dale Talde (of Top Chef and Talde fame) is a partner in this place. One of our favorites.
Fonda
434 7th AveNice, sophisticated Mexican.
Very dependable. Excellent locally sourced, seasonal dishes. Their Market Menu, available Sunday through Thursday, offers three courses for $35.
88 residents recomanen
Stone Park Cafe
324 5th AveVery dependable. Excellent locally sourced, seasonal dishes. Their Market Menu, available Sunday through Thursday, offers three courses for $35.
One of the few restaurants—maybe the only one?—in New York City that actually offers rijstaffel; though if you opt for that procession of small plates, best to go on an empty stomach & with ample time
Java
455 7th AveOne of the few restaurants—maybe the only one?—in New York City that actually offers rijstaffel; though if you opt for that procession of small plates, best to go on an empty stomach & with ample time
Very fine bistro. Highlights include steaks, chops, oysters, burgers, Blue Ribbon’s famous fried chicken, paella and fresh local fish.
47 residents recomanen
Blue Ribbon
280 5th AveVery fine bistro. Highlights include steaks, chops, oysters, burgers, Blue Ribbon’s famous fried chicken, paella and fresh local fish.
Naruto Ramen
1596 3rd AveExcellent affordable ramen in a very casual atmosphere. Cash only
Good burritos, tacos and enchiladas. Cal-mex (obviously). Excellent drinks.
253 residents recomanen
Calexico
645 Manhattan AveGood burritos, tacos and enchiladas. Cal-mex (obviously). Excellent drinks.
Amazing Italian. Sophisticated, yet casual. No reservations, but they have a wine bar where you can sit and start a bottle while you wait for your table. One of our faves.
205 residents recomanen
al di la Trattoria
248 5th AveAmazing Italian. Sophisticated, yet casual. No reservations, but they have a wine bar where you can sit and start a bottle while you wait for your table. One of our faves.
The VSPOT
156 5th AveKosher, Latin, vegetarian. Well regarded.
Nice Latin food. Big, boistrous and frenetic. But the food is very reasonable and tasty.
81 residents recomanen
Bogota Latin Bistro
141 5th AveNice Latin food. Big, boistrous and frenetic. But the food is very reasonable and tasty.
Excellent (pricey) coffee. Tiny little place. Also have pastries, etc.
85 residents recomanen
Cafe Regular
318 11th StExcellent (pricey) coffee. Tiny little place. Also have pastries, etc.
Dunkin'
122 Fulton StYou get it - big national brand. Close by.
Excellent pies. Buy a slice or a whole pie. They close early - around 7pm most days.
89 residents recomanen
Four & Twenty Blackbirds
439 3rd AveExcellent pies. Buy a slice or a whole pie. They close early - around 7pm most days.
Really good fair trade coffee place. Lots of room to spread out and wifi.
13 residents recomanen
Crop to Cup Coffee Importers
157 3rd AveReally good fair trade coffee place. Lots of room to spread out and wifi.
Shopping
This place is idiosyncratic. We include it because it is so close. If you're feeling lazy and don't want to walk a couple of blocks to save a couple bucks, you'll find what you need here.
Borisal Liquor & Wine
468 4th AveThis place is idiosyncratic. We include it because it is so close. If you're feeling lazy and don't want to walk a couple of blocks to save a couple bucks, you'll find what you need here.
Good selection with very knowledgable, helpful staff. They can always recommend an inexpensive, yet drinkable wine (our favorite type!). Large selection of liquor too.
Prime Time Liquors
430 5th AveGood selection with very knowledgable, helpful staff. They can always recommend an inexpensive, yet drinkable wine (our favorite type!). Large selection of liquor too.
ZULA Wines & Spirits
487 5th AveNice selection. Kinda fancy in a Brooklyn kind of way.
All your superhero needs (e.g. invisibility cloaks, sidekick placement services). It's also a youth writing workshop. Founded by novelist Dave Eggers. It's worth walking by for the window displays.
13 residents recomanen
Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.
372 5th AveAll your superhero needs (e.g. invisibility cloaks, sidekick placement services). It's also a youth writing workshop. Founded by novelist Dave Eggers. It's worth walking by for the window displays.
Pharmacy, plus has a little bit of everything. Closest place for milk, cereal, open 24 hours.
43 residents recomanen
Rite Aid
7 Madison StPharmacy, plus has a little bit of everything. Closest place for milk, cereal, open 24 hours.
Neergaard Pharmacy
454 5th Ave24 hour pharmacy. A neighborhood staple for decades.
Possibly the best hardware store in the world. Just because it's tiny, has everything and the owners are very knowledgable and helpful.
Leopoldi Hardware
415 5th AvePossibly the best hardware store in the world. Just because it's tiny, has everything and the owners are very knowledgable and helpful.
Lowe's Home Improvement
118 2nd AveBig hardware store.
Entertainment & Activities
The big kahuna in Brooklyn. Home of the Nets and reknowned concert venue.
1418 residents recomanen
Centre Barclays
620 Atlantic AveThe big kahuna in Brooklyn. Home of the Nets and reknowned concert venue.
Arts & Culture
Arts center: music, dance, theater. Cutting edge & fabulous. Not really close, but worth the trip. BAM Rose Cinemas are here - closest decent movie theater near us. One screen dedicated to classics!
859 residents recomanen
Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette AveArts center: music, dance, theater. Cutting edge & fabulous. Not really close, but worth the trip. BAM Rose Cinemas are here - closest decent movie theater near us. One screen dedicated to classics!
A 1699 Dutch farmhouse central to the Battle of Brooklyn, the Old Stone House is a museum & community resource that explores the American Revolution colonial life. Check website for hrs & programming.
24 residents recomanen
Old Stone House of Brooklyn
336 3rd StA 1699 Dutch farmhouse central to the Battle of Brooklyn, the Old Stone House is a museum & community resource that explores the American Revolution colonial life. Check website for hrs & programming.
Essentials
Large selection, closest grocery, good prices, fish counter.
663 residents recomanen
CTown Supermarkets
330 Graham AveLarge selection, closest grocery, good prices, fish counter.
Jo, Brian & Joseph's Food Market
493 5th AveGood grocery selection for a small store.
Huge store, within walking distance, high end, fancy, organic, pricey.
800 residents recomanen
Whole Foods Market
214 3rd StHuge store, within walking distance, high end, fancy, organic, pricey.
Clean 'n Green Laundromat
Laundromat with drop-off service or you can do your own.
There is nothing French about this place, but they are nice and get the job done.
Mario's French Cleaners
457 4th AveThere is nothing French about this place, but they are nice and get the job done.
They have guest passes available on-line, a full health club.
24 residents recomanen
New York Sports Clubs
324 9th StThey have guest passes available on-line, a full health club.
Prospect Park YMCA
357 9th StThey have temporary passes, a full gym and a pool.
CityMD Park Slope Urgent Care - Brooklyn
420 5th AveUrgent care facility. Walk in clinic.
Closest hospital. ER open 24 hours. Monday nights are their busiest, according to anecdotal evidence. Just sayin'
26 residents recomanen
NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
506 6th StClosest hospital. ER open 24 hours. Monday nights are their busiest, according to anecdotal evidence. Just sayin'