Guidebook for Brooklyn
Parks & Nature
Prospect Park
Take the Q train and in 20 minutes you are in Brighton Beach (way more chill than the Coney Island beach right next to it)
94 locals recommend
Brighton Beach
Take the Q train and in 20 minutes you are in Brighton Beach (way more chill than the Coney Island beach right next to it)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington AveHuge, long stretch of park by the east river with stunning views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. You can access it from DUMBO of from way further around the Joralemon st. Pay attention on how to get in and out of there, since most of the park is cut out of access from the city by the Brooklyn Queen Express highway
14 locals recommend
Brooklyn Bridge Park Greenway
Huge, long stretch of park by the east river with stunning views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. You can access it from DUMBO of from way further around the Joralemon st. Pay attention on how to get in and out of there, since most of the park is cut out of access from the city by the Brooklyn Queen Express highway
Drinks & Nightlife
Erv's
2122 Beekman PlA neib's favorite, cozy bar with chill, friendly atomsphere.
Bluebird
504 Flatbush AveNice bar with a pool table and patio on the back. Good for dinner too!
My favorite music venue in the city. WEDNESDAY nights they have cool folk bands playing live, NO COVER. The place is awesome. Worth the ride any time of the year :) Look them up to find out other stuff they have during the week. Tons of awesome live music in a small venue.
25 locals recommend
Jalopy Theatre and School of Music
315 Columbia StMy favorite music venue in the city. WEDNESDAY nights they have cool folk bands playing live, NO COVER. The place is awesome. Worth the ride any time of the year :) Look them up to find out other stuff they have during the week. Tons of awesome live music in a small venue.
Sunny's has been in Red Hook since 1890. Go on Saturday nights for a really cool, no cover blue grass jam night. They have a nice patio to enjoy the summer nights with a beer and chill atomsphere. Another Red Hook sweet spot.
91 locals recommend
Sunny's
253 Conover StSunny's has been in Red Hook since 1890. Go on Saturday nights for a really cool, no cover blue grass jam night. They have a nice patio to enjoy the summer nights with a beer and chill atomsphere. Another Red Hook sweet spot.
Parkside
705 Flatbush AveGreat cocktails, great pizza. TUESDAY live jazz
A bar where people from the Broadway and musical scene hang out. There's a guy playing tunes from musicals, and everyone singing along in a tiny basement bar. It's crazy. And awesome. Don't miss it!
43 locals recommend
Marie's Crisis Cafe
59 Grove StA bar where people from the Broadway and musical scene hang out. There's a guy playing tunes from musicals, and everyone singing along in a tiny basement bar. It's crazy. And awesome. Don't miss it!
Good drinks, haven't tried it but they say the burgers are great too.
201 locals recommend
Midwood Flats
577 Flatbush AveGood drinks, haven't tried it but they say the burgers are great too.
The Westbury Inn
673 Flatbush AveCool bar, awesome patio outside
Franklin Park
618 St Johns PlCool indie rock gigs. Check out monday's Preacher show (has been on that stage for the last 20 years).
521 locals recommend
Union Pool
484 Union AveCool indie rock gigs. Check out monday's Preacher show (has been on that stage for the last 20 years).
Food Scene
Bonafini
663 Flatbush AveGreat and affordable mexican food. Quick on take outs, they do deliveries too. It's a tiny place but they also have a small table too eat in.
6 locals recommend
Tacos El Dorado
1701 Church AveGreat and affordable mexican food. Quick on take outs, they do deliveries too. It's a tiny place but they also have a small table too eat in.
More elaborate mexican food. Great options, nice space. Good option to both eat in and deliveries, take out. Maybe a burrito to go on the way to the park?
39 locals recommend
Taqueria El Patron Mexican Grill
51 Lincoln RdMore elaborate mexican food. Great options, nice space. Good option to both eat in and deliveries, take out. Maybe a burrito to go on the way to the park?
Zen Vegetarian House
773 Flatbush AveVeggie thai, has an affordable and tasty lunch menu.
Gino's Pizzeria
380 Central AveGreat prices, good pizza
Awesome café + flowershop. Good for breakfast, lunch, drinks. Has a patio on the back.
244 locals recommend
Sycamore Bar + Flower Shop
1118 Cortelyou RdAwesome café + flowershop. Good for breakfast, lunch, drinks. Has a patio on the back.
Cinnamon Girl
277 Nostrand Ave.Neib's darling bakery, small café.
Silver Rice
638 Park PlCool and unusual japanese food
Kulushkat
1137 Washington AveGreat middle eastern food
This is actually a deli but I list it under food because (a) if you want to grab dinner and everything else is closed, this guys close way late at night and have a decent sandwiches/wraps selection. And (b) they can hook you up on the morning coffee and bagel on the way to the Q and B subways, if you walk through Caton in the mornings :)
6 locals recommend
Brooklyn's Natural Deli
2126-2130 Caton AveThis is actually a deli but I list it under food because (a) if you want to grab dinner and everything else is closed, this guys close way late at night and have a decent sandwiches/wraps selection. And (b) they can hook you up on the morning coffee and bagel on the way to the Q and B subways, if you walk through Caton in the mornings :)
Arts & Culture
Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush Ave
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern PkwyCool tiny museum on the East Village, telling the story of urban reclaimed space in the city focused on bikes, community gardens and squats.
13 locals recommend
Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS)
155 Loisaida AveCool tiny museum on the East Village, telling the story of urban reclaimed space in the city focused on bikes, community gardens and squats.
Honestly I haven't been there yet but everyone says it's an amazing museum, portraying the life of immigrants arriving to NYC on the early 20th century.
603 locals recommend
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard StHonestly I haven't been there yet but everyone says it's an amazing museum, portraying the life of immigrants arriving to NYC on the early 20th century.
While in Red Hook... "Pioneer Works is a center for research and experimentation in contemporary culture."
79 locals recommend
Pioneer Works
159 Pioneer StWhile in Red Hook... "Pioneer Works is a center for research and experimentation in contemporary culture."
Essentials
Rite Aid
892-908 Flatbush Ave24h pharmacy shop and essentials
Corner Farm Market
818 Flatbush Ave24h, best grocery store in the area. Great veggies, great prices good people.
Good variety of products, great prices. For a larger grocery shopping than a few things, this is a great spot. Veggies are better at the corner store in Caton and Flatbush though ;) (also listed here)
509 locals recommend
Key Food Supermarkets
492 Myrtle AveGood variety of products, great prices. For a larger grocery shopping than a few things, this is a great spot. Veggies are better at the corner store in Caton and Flatbush though ;) (also listed here)
Bigger and cheaper than Keyfoods. Look for due dates though, I've bought things that expired soon more than once :0
13 locals recommend
Ideal Foods
2036 Bedford AveBigger and cheaper than Keyfoods. Look for due dates though, I've bought things that expired soon more than once :0
Totally not in the neighborhood BUT... if you want to do a big grocery shopping and stock yourself for the trip, Trader Joe's will make it worth the train/uber ride for your groceries.
1296 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
130 Court StTotally not in the neighborhood BUT... if you want to do a big grocery shopping and stock yourself for the trip, Trader Joe's will make it worth the train/uber ride for your groceries.
Bike Life
56 Lincoln RdBike shop a few blocks from home
Entertainment & Activities
Old school movie theater. Will be soon converted into a Nitehawk cinema, wich is great news, but check it out while you can :)
68 locals recommend
The Pavilion Theater
Old school movie theater. Will be soon converted into a Nitehawk cinema, wich is great news, but check it out while you can :)
LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park Brooklyn
171 East DrIce skating rink on the park!
Awesome movies + dinner + beer theater with mainstream movies and alternative, creative programing.
266 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Downtown Brooklyn
445 Albee Square WAwesome movies + dinner + beer theater with mainstream movies and alternative, creative programing.
The classic creative film programing movie theater of Brooklyn, dinner served inside too :)
941 locals recommend
Nitehawk Cinema
136 Metropolitan AveThe classic creative film programing movie theater of Brooklyn, dinner served inside too :)
A volunteer-operated film & video theater dedicated to affordable screenings. Cool programing. http://www.videorevival.org
346 Rogers Ave
346 Rogers AvenueA volunteer-operated film & video theater dedicated to affordable screenings. Cool programing. http://www.videorevival.org
The world famous Coney Island's amusement park is only 25/30 minutes away on the Q train :)
128 locals recommend
Luna Park, Coney Island
1000 Surf AveThe world famous Coney Island's amusement park is only 25/30 minutes away on the Q train :)
Sightseeing
Cool neighborhood to walk/ride around, with stunning houses and a very chill atmosphere.
33 locals recommend
Prospect Park South
Cool neighborhood to walk/ride around, with stunning houses and a very chill atmosphere.
You'll recognize the Manhattan view from the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade from a thousand movies. Beautiful anytime of the day, if you can though, catch a sunset here! To get there from Martense, take the 2 train on the Church Av stop to the Clark St stop ;)
407 locals recommend
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Pierrepont PlaceYou'll recognize the Manhattan view from the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade from a thousand movies. Beautiful anytime of the day, if you can though, catch a sunset here! To get there from Martense, take the 2 train on the Church Av stop to the Clark St stop ;)