Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
Palmer's
343 Gold StreetTasty food. So close.
Great place to grab a morning coffee and pastry. I haven't eaten their lunch and dinner in a while, but it always looks packed. Live music on Sunday brunch.
12 locals recommend
La Defense Bistro
2 MetroTech CenterGreat place to grab a morning coffee and pastry. I haven't eaten their lunch and dinner in a while, but it always looks packed. Live music on Sunday brunch.
Atrium DUMBO
15 Main StDelicious brunch food. Get the Polenta.
Historic, legendary, mouth-watering pizza. Beware, the line is usually halfway around the block.
180 locals recommend
Grimaldi's Pizzeria
1 Front StHistoric, legendary, mouth-watering pizza. Beware, the line is usually halfway around the block.
Spectacular coffee place. Buy a cup and chill near the water, or grab a tin (make sure they grind it for you) and bring it back to the apartment.
136 locals recommend
Brooklyn Roasting Company
Spectacular coffee place. Buy a cup and chill near the water, or grab a tin (make sure they grind it for you) and bring it back to the apartment.
Outdoor-roof restaurant with a view of Manhattan, Lady Liberty, and the bridges. It's about a 30 minute walk (or 15 minute bike ride) from the apartment...the food, and view, is worth every second.
35 locals recommend
Fornino At Pier 6
Bridge Park DriveOutdoor-roof restaurant with a view of Manhattan, Lady Liberty, and the bridges. It's about a 30 minute walk (or 15 minute bike ride) from the apartment...the food, and view, is worth every second.
Vinegar Hill House
72 Hudson AveStellar food. Soooo Brooklyn. Make reservations.
The cheesecake to end all cheesecakes. The food portions are MASSIVE. Prepare to bring some home.
158 locals recommend
Junior's Restaurant and Bakery
386 Flatbush Ave ExtThe cheesecake to end all cheesecakes. The food portions are MASSIVE. Prepare to bring some home.
If you choose to eat at Shake Shack, do it at this one. In Manhattan the lines are literally hours long. Literally. This one is still secret, so be quite and get your burger and ice cream here.
993 locals recommend
Shake Shack
Madison AvenueIf you choose to eat at Shake Shack, do it at this one. In Manhattan the lines are literally hours long. Literally. This one is still secret, so be quite and get your burger and ice cream here.
Drinks & Nightlife
Killer happy hour. Killer lunch special. Fun place to drink and great food options—even for vegans.
17 locals recommend
Rebar
225 W 19th StKiller happy hour. Killer lunch special. Fun place to drink and great food options—even for vegans.
The owner demands that live music be original, intimate, and fun. Folky, jazz, zydeco, country, irish, and rock musicians from all over the world come to play here.
13 locals recommend
68 Jay Street Bar
68 Jay StreetThe owner demands that live music be original, intimate, and fun. Folky, jazz, zydeco, country, irish, and rock musicians from all over the world come to play here.
The food is good. The drinks are good. The bartenders are great. It's a bit pricey...that's where the great bartenders come in. Make friends.
48 locals recommend
Superfine
126 Front StThe food is good. The drinks are good. The bartenders are great. It's a bit pricey...that's where the great bartenders come in. Make friends.
Everything Else
A great stroll, run, or bike ride. Lots of live music in the summer. Lined with all sorts of places to play, sit, meet people and stare at the skyline. And it's oh so close.
951 locals recommend
Brooklyn Bridge Park
334 Furman StA great stroll, run, or bike ride. Lots of live music in the summer. Lined with all sorts of places to play, sit, meet people and stare at the skyline. And it's oh so close.
Wright & Goebel Wine & Spirits
346 Livingston StGreat wine shop. Small but solid selection of spirits, too.
Arts & Culture
Cabaret, music, and burlesque shows. Not for the faint of heart. Beautiful space and performers.
16 locals recommend
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main StCabaret, music, and burlesque shows. Not for the faint of heart. Beautiful space and performers.
Great place to catch a movie if you're not dead tired from walking around the city all day.
85 locals recommend
Regal UA Court Street & RPX
106 Court StGreat place to catch a movie if you're not dead tired from walking around the city all day.
Brooklyn's answer to Lincoln Center: smaller, cooler, hipper, and doesn't try nearly as hard. Films, music, dance, comedy, and theater happen here nightly. Check the website: http://www.bam.org/.
521 locals recommend
BAM Harvey Theater
651 Fulton StBrooklyn's answer to Lincoln Center: smaller, cooler, hipper, and doesn't try nearly as hard. Films, music, dance, comedy, and theater happen here nightly. Check the website: http://www.bam.org/.
Essentials
Great place to pick up cheap and tasty groceries. The line looks long, but it moves really fast. For real.
1296 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
130 Court StGreat place to pick up cheap and tasty groceries. The line looks long, but it moves really fast. For real.
Closer than Trader Joe's. Smaller selection, a bit more expensive, but it's also a deli. (No alcohol is sold here, though). Best to take the extra 10 minutes and walk to Trader Joe's.
6 locals recommend
Meat Market
1201 Fulton StCloser than Trader Joe's. Smaller selection, a bit more expensive, but it's also a deli. (No alcohol is sold here, though). Best to take the extra 10 minutes and walk to Trader Joe's.
Sightseeing
Historic Brooklyn. Filled with old, gorgeous architecture, small shops and restaurants. It's a part of New York that is still, truly, a neighborhood.
126 locals recommend
Brooklyn Heights
Historic Brooklyn. Filled with old, gorgeous architecture, small shops and restaurants. It's a part of New York that is still, truly, a neighborhood.
Great place for a run or a picnic. More historic and less charming than Brooklyn Bridge park.
791 locals recommend
Fort Greene Park
South Portland AvenueGreat place for a run or a picnic. More historic and less charming than Brooklyn Bridge park.
Shopping
New York's go-to for everything from band-aids and aspirin to Coca-Cola and pencils.
132 locals recommend
Duane Reade
1517 Cortelyou RdNew York's go-to for everything from band-aids and aspirin to Coca-Cola and pencils.
The inexpensive clothing store known the world around. Close and less crowded than any you'll find in Manhattan.
52 locals recommend
H&M
497-501 Fulton StThe inexpensive clothing store known the world around. Close and less crowded than any you'll find in Manhattan.
This Macy's has everything a Macy's should have...but it's not the historic 34th street one. Go to 34th Street and see the wooden escalators.
696 locals recommend
Macy's
151 W 34th StThis Macy's has everything a Macy's should have...but it's not the historic 34th street one. Go to 34th Street and see the wooden escalators.