Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
This restaurant, one block away from my apartment, is consistently excellent as far as food, service, and only-in-Brooklyn ambience. They also have a great little wine bar around the corner.
205 locals recommend
al di la Trattoria
248 5th AveThis restaurant, one block away from my apartment, is consistently excellent as far as food, service, and only-in-Brooklyn ambience. They also have a great little wine bar around the corner.
Park Slope is renowned for indie cafes, but the Tea Lounge is the one that draws the most locals. Free wifi, multiple places to plug in, nobody cares how long you stay
23 locals recommend
Sir D's Lounge
837 Union StPark Slope is renowned for indie cafes, but the Tea Lounge is the one that draws the most locals. Free wifi, multiple places to plug in, nobody cares how long you stay
Excellent food, reasonable prices, and the chef is an active participant in the local sustainably raised food scene.
27 locals recommend
Palo Santo
652 Union StExcellent food, reasonable prices, and the chef is an active participant in the local sustainably raised food scene.
Excellent menu based on local, seasonal ingredients. Dinner is a bit pricey, but brunch is a steal.
58 locals recommend
Rose Water
787 Union StExcellent menu based on local, seasonal ingredients. Dinner is a bit pricey, but brunch is a steal.
If you love chocolate, this place is a must. 5 min walk from my place.
74 locals recommend
The Chocolate Room
If you love chocolate, this place is a must. 5 min walk from my place.
Have I mentioned that there are a lot of independent coffee shops near me? Kos is a comfortable neighborhood hangout with free wifi and great coffee.
Ozzie's Coffee
249 5th AveHave I mentioned that there are a lot of independent coffee shops near me? Kos is a comfortable neighborhood hangout with free wifi and great coffee.
Konditori
114 Smith StFree wifi, Swedish pastries, good coffee.
There are other, cheaper sushi restaurants in the neighborhood, but if you're up for a bit of a splurge Blue Ribbon is totally worth it.
47 locals recommend
Blue Ribbon
280 5th AveThere are other, cheaper sushi restaurants in the neighborhood, but if you're up for a bit of a splurge Blue Ribbon is totally worth it.
Arts & Culture
BAM hosts internationally renowned dance and theater companies year-round. They lean towards the cutting edge (you can go to Manhattan for traditional)
221 locals recommend
BAM Fisher
321 Ashland PlBAM hosts internationally renowned dance and theater companies year-round. They lean towards the cutting edge (you can go to Manhattan for traditional)
Really wonderful museum you can easily spend at least half a day in. 20 miin. walk from my place. Go on Saturday when you can also check out the farmers' market at Grand Army Plaza.
3011 locals recommend
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern PkwyReally wonderful museum you can easily spend at least half a day in. 20 miin. walk from my place. Go on Saturday when you can also check out the farmers' market at Grand Army Plaza.
Essentials
Park Slope Food Coop
782 Union StOldest coop in the U.S. and one of the biggest
Good medium-sized supermarket with pretty much everything you want a supermarket to have.
181 locals recommend
Associated Supermarkets
216 5th AveGood medium-sized supermarket with pretty much everything you want a supermarket to have.
Gourmet food market with really excellent quality (if slightly pricey) stuff. If the supermarket doesn't have what you need, I bet this place will.
522 locals recommend
Union Market
240 E Houston StGourmet food market with really excellent quality (if slightly pricey) stuff. If the supermarket doesn't have what you need, I bet this place will.
Everything Else
Brooklyn Wine Company
205 5th AveTerrific wine store half a block away from my place.
Almost every subway stops here, as well as the Long Island Railroad
477 locals recommend
Atlantic Terminal station
Almost every subway stops here, as well as the Long Island Railroad
If you like beer, this place is a must. Hundreds of different beers including the ones they make themselves. Buy to go or have a sandwich to go with in the restaurant side of the premises.
28 locals recommend
Bierkraft
191 5th AvenueIf you like beer, this place is a must. Hundreds of different beers including the ones they make themselves. Buy to go or have a sandwich to go with in the restaurant side of the premises.
Mega concerts and sports events, shops, 9 subway lines, 15 min. walk or 1 subway stop from my place.
1418 locals recommend
Barclays Center
620 Atlantic AveMega concerts and sports events, shops, 9 subway lines, 15 min. walk or 1 subway stop from my place.
There are at least half a dozen yoga studios in my neighborhood, but this is my favorite. If you take a class there, tell them I sent you (yeah, I get a little yoga class credit for that -thank you!).
9 locals recommend
Bend + Bloom Yoga
198 5th AvenueThere are at least half a dozen yoga studios in my neighborhood, but this is my favorite. If you take a class there, tell them I sent you (yeah, I get a little yoga class credit for that -thank you!).
Grand Army Plaza
Flatbush AvenueFarmers' market every Saturday
Sightseeing
A jewel of a botanic garden. 30 minute walk or 2 subway stops from my place. Right next to the Brooklyn Museum.
396 locals recommend
Botanic Garden station
A jewel of a botanic garden. 30 minute walk or 2 subway stops from my place. Right next to the Brooklyn Museum.
One of my favorite parks in the world. Designed by Olmsted and Vaux, the same guys who did Manhattan's Central Park and SF's Golden Gate Park. 15 min. walk from my place.
3418 locals recommend
Prospect Park
One of my favorite parks in the world. Designed by Olmsted and Vaux, the same guys who did Manhattan's Central Park and SF's Golden Gate Park. 15 min. walk from my place.
Shopping
OMG if you eat meat and if you cook, you need to splurge on something from Fleisher's. If you eat cheese, check out their small but fabulous selection of local cheeses.
24 locals recommend
Fleishers Craft Butchery
192 5th AveOMG if you eat meat and if you cook, you need to splurge on something from Fleisher's. If you eat cheese, check out their small but fabulous selection of local cheeses.
There are well over a dozen second hand clothing stores in my neighborhood, but Beacon's Closet is my favorite. The clothes here aren't just cheap-because-used, they're in good condition and chic.
71 locals recommend
Beacon's Closet Park Slope
92 5th AveThere are well over a dozen second hand clothing stores in my neighborhood, but Beacon's Closet is my favorite. The clothes here aren't just cheap-because-used, they're in good condition and chic.