Chris & Don's Local Neighborhood Guidebook
Food Scene
Lobo
218 Court StGreat Margaritas and tasty Tex-Mex fare
Marquet Patisserie
221 Court StDelicious French pastries and coffee.
Hip French Bistro with outdoor seating and live music. Great place for people watching and brunch.
113 residents recomanen
Bar Tabac
128 Smith StHip French Bistro with outdoor seating and live music. Great place for people watching and brunch.
Cubana Café
272 Smith StCasual Cuban fare in a colorful, lively venue.
Step back in time at this old-school Italian eatery. This place has been in business since the 30's and there's a good reason why... try the pizza, real New York flavor.
17 residents recomanen
Sam's
598 Grand ConcourseStep back in time at this old-school Italian eatery. This place has been in business since the 30's and there's a good reason why... try the pizza, real New York flavor.
Their olive bread is amazing (buy two, the first one will be gone before you know it).
14 residents recomanen
Caputo's Bake Shop
329 Court StTheir olive bread is amazing (buy two, the first one will be gone before you know it).
Thai restaurant with live DJ on weekends, exposed kitchen and constant crowds. Try the mango salad for a starter along with the calamari. Curries are good too!
62 residents recomanen
Joya
215 Court StThai restaurant with live DJ on weekends, exposed kitchen and constant crowds. Try the mango salad for a starter along with the calamari. Curries are good too!
The eclectic American restaurant serves up everything from shrimp and grits to quinoa stew. Ingredients tend to seasonal and local.
21 residents recomanen
Watty & Meg
248 Court StThe eclectic American restaurant serves up everything from shrimp and grits to quinoa stew. Ingredients tend to seasonal and local.
Chance
223 Smith StEasily the glitziest restaurant on Smith Street. The menu is French-Chinese fusion.
Bien Cuit
120 Smith StBakery cafe with delicious pastries.
A New England seafood house transplanted to Brooklyn, lobster rolls, fried clams and all.
11 residents recomanen
Kittery
305 Smith StA New England seafood house transplanted to Brooklyn, lobster rolls, fried clams and all.
French cuisine with daily food and drink specials in quaint, authentic surroundings and a lovely back patio.
64 residents recomanen
Cafe Luluc
214 Smith StFrench cuisine with daily food and drink specials in quaint, authentic surroundings and a lovely back patio.
Really good sushi, excellent service. You may have a short wait, but it's worth it.
49 residents recomanen
KI SUSHI
122 Smith StReally good sushi, excellent service. You may have a short wait, but it's worth it.
For the health food fanatic: wraps, smoothies, salads and healthy entrees. Yummy!
7 residents recomanen
Nature's Grill Cafe
4115 Hylan BlvdFor the health food fanatic: wraps, smoothies, salads and healthy entrees. Yummy!
Tasty Mexican food (small plates), a bit expensive, but very unique, interesting flavors. Great cocktails. Lively most times.
26 residents recomanen
Leyenda
221 Smith StTasty Mexican food (small plates), a bit expensive, but very unique, interesting flavors. Great cocktails. Lively most times.
Spanish tapas with Moorish & Jewish influences draw crowds to the stylish storefront restaurant. Reservations recommended. You may be able to squeeze in at the counter.
57 residents recomanen
La Vara
268 Clinton StSpanish tapas with Moorish & Jewish influences draw crowds to the stylish storefront restaurant. Reservations recommended. You may be able to squeeze in at the counter.
Small spot drawing big crowds for smoked meat sandwiches & other Montreal-style Jewish deli staples. Yummy! Strong coffee too!
78 residents recomanen
Mile End Delicatessen
97 Hoyt StSmall spot drawing big crowds for smoked meat sandwiches & other Montreal-style Jewish deli staples. Yummy! Strong coffee too!
A richly decorated bar for natural European wines & locally sourced small plates. A charming, warm and cozy vibe.
70 residents recomanen
June
231 Court StA richly decorated bar for natural European wines & locally sourced small plates. A charming, warm and cozy vibe.
Everything Else
Always interesting exhibits, shows and performances. Monthly opening events are lively.
30 residents recomanen
The Invisible Dog Art Center
51 Bergen StAlways interesting exhibits, shows and performances. Monthly opening events are lively.
A nice, friendly neighborhood wine merchant, their $12 and under table is a big hit.
26 residents recomanen
Smith & Vine
317 Smith StA nice, friendly neighborhood wine merchant, their $12 and under table is a big hit.
Housed in a 1936 subway station, this museum features interactive exhibits like vintage trains.
222 residents recomanen
New York Transit Museum
89 E 42nd StHoused in a 1936 subway station, this museum features interactive exhibits like vintage trains.
Local artist has created an amazing display of mosaics on her facade. It's right around the corner, take a walk by.
Mosaic House
108 Wyckoff StLocal artist has created an amazing display of mosaics on her facade. It's right around the corner, take a walk by.
Massive nondenominational church housing a huge congregation & a famous, Grammy Award-winning choir.
31 residents recomanen
Brooklyn Tabernacle
17 Smith StMassive nondenominational church housing a huge congregation & a famous, Grammy Award-winning choir.
Drinks & Nightlife
Typical Tiki Bar with a nice outdoor back patio. Try a Tiki Torch if you dare, otherwise the Zombie packs a punch, especially that first sip! ;-)
33 residents recomanen
Zombie Hut
273 Smith StTypical Tiki Bar with a nice outdoor back patio. Try a Tiki Torch if you dare, otherwise the Zombie packs a punch, especially that first sip! ;-)
two8two Bar & Burger
282 Atlantic AveGreat burgers!
An old-worldy bar that will take you back in time. Pool tables in back.
82 residents recomanen
Brooklyn Inn
148 Hoyt StAn old-worldy bar that will take you back in time. Pool tables in back.
Angry Wade's
222 Smith StSports bar anyone? This is the place.
Great cocktail list, spiffy bartenders, pool table in back, hints at the past with old photos on walls. Speakeasy feel.
82 residents recomanen
Brooklyn Social
335 Smith StGreat cocktail list, spiffy bartenders, pool table in back, hints at the past with old photos on walls. Speakeasy feel.
Speakeasy vibe with amazing cocktails. Check out the ice...great ice! Selected as one of the top 25 cocktail bars in America by GQ magazine. Live music occasionally.
143 residents recomanen
Clover Club
210 Smith StSpeakeasy vibe with amazing cocktails. Check out the ice...great ice! Selected as one of the top 25 cocktail bars in America by GQ magazine. Live music occasionally.
Small, stylish bar with a new, yet old-world feel. Great windows for people watching.
23 residents recomanen
Congress Bar
208 Court StSmall, stylish bar with a new, yet old-world feel. Great windows for people watching.
We don't understand why this place is so popular, but it is...it is always busy. Maybe you can tell us why. Family-friendly during the daytime.
60 residents recomanen
61 Local
61 Bergen StWe don't understand why this place is so popular, but it is...it is always busy. Maybe you can tell us why. Family-friendly during the daytime.
The name says it all...great wings and try the brussel sprouts, amazing. Sports bar with cheap brews too!
14 residents recomanen
Wingbar
275 Smith StThe name says it all...great wings and try the brussel sprouts, amazing. Sports bar with cheap brews too!
Very close by. Spacious watering hole for sandwiches & craft beer in comfy digs with couches & a fireplace. Darts, karaoke, and game nights. Check the schedule.
14 residents recomanen
Fawkner
191 Smith StVery close by. Spacious watering hole for sandwiches & craft beer in comfy digs with couches & a fireplace. Darts, karaoke, and game nights. Check the schedule.
Shopping
Upscale clothing...come on, don't tell me you haven't heard of Barneys!
51 residents recomanen
Barneys New York, Brooklyn
Upscale clothing...come on, don't tell me you haven't heard of Barneys!
Stinky Bklyn LLC
215 Smith StThe neighborhood cheese vendor, plus great shaved ham.
Paisanos Butcher Shop
162 Smith StA real butcher shop...imagine that.
Staubitz Market
222 Court StA neighborhood butcher shop.
Fish Tales
191A Court StThe local fish monger.
Essentials
Union Market
240 E Houston StGourmet Food market...they have it all.
A grocery store like no other with lots of unique house-branded products that people love. The lines can be long evenings and weekends.
1296 residents recomanen
Trader Joe's
130 Court StA grocery store like no other with lots of unique house-branded products that people love. The lines can be long evenings and weekends.
Sightseeing
Always a fun adventure and a must is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
1505 residents recomanen
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge PromenadeAlways a fun adventure and a must is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
A great little park with fantastic views of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and all the boats on the river in between.
407 residents recomanen
Passeig de Brooklyn Heights
Pierrepont PlaceA great little park with fantastic views of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and all the boats on the river in between.
New indoor arena, home of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team. Concert venue. http://www.barclayscenter.com/home
1418 residents recomanen
Centre Barclays
620 Atlantic AveNew indoor arena, home of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team. Concert venue. http://www.barclayscenter.com/home
A great recreational site in the summer when you can reach it by a free ferry from the end of Atlantic Street
18 residents recomanen
Governors Island
A great recreational site in the summer when you can reach it by a free ferry from the end of Atlantic Street
Parks & Nature
This newly developed park has kiddie playgrounds, a ferry landing to travel to Governor's Island, beach volley ball, outdoor restaurants and more. Walk to the Brooklyn Bridge for more activities.
82 residents recomanen
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 / Atlantic Avenue station
This newly developed park has kiddie playgrounds, a ferry landing to travel to Governor's Island, beach volley ball, outdoor restaurants and more. Walk to the Brooklyn Bridge for more activities.
Brooklyn's Central Park, yes, it too was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
3418 residents recomanen
Prospect Park
Brooklyn's Central Park, yes, it too was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
This beautiful urban oasis has a Japanese garden, cherry grove, natural woodlands, rock garden, rose garden & more, spread across 52 acres.
396 residents recomanen
Botanic Garden station
This beautiful urban oasis has a Japanese garden, cherry grove, natural woodlands, rock garden, rose garden & more, spread across 52 acres.