Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
This is our family’s cheese and sandwich shop! It's located just across the street. We sell beer & cider, cheese, produce and groceries, as well as breakfast biscuits, salads, sandwiches and ice cream. If you tell the cashier that you’re staying in our AirBnb space, you’ll receive 20% off your purchase.
127 locals recommend
Campbell Cheese Grocery & Catering
502 Lorimer StThis is our family’s cheese and sandwich shop! It's located just across the street. We sell beer & cider, cheese, produce and groceries, as well as breakfast biscuits, salads, sandwiches and ice cream. If you tell the cashier that you’re staying in our AirBnb space, you’ll receive 20% off your purchase.
Truly, the best steak in the universe. SPLURGE on the axe-handle ribeye :) (But if you’re looking for a more affordable meal, they also have other cuts that won’t break the bank. )
Beware, they don't take reservations. Best to arrive right when they open or you might be in for a long wait. If you do have to wait, go next door to their beer bar, Spuyten Duyvil. They have an amazing and unique beer selection.
269 locals recommend
St. Anselm
355 Metropolitan AveTruly, the best steak in the universe. SPLURGE on the axe-handle ribeye :) (But if you’re looking for a more affordable meal, they also have other cuts that won’t break the bank. )
Beware, they don't take reservations. Best to arrive right when they open or you might be in for a long wait. If you do have to wait, go next door to their beer bar, Spuyten Duyvil. They have an amazing and unique beer selection.
This is literally right across the street from us. If you love fish, their simple Japanese breakfast is like no other. They focus on local, sustainable seafood. In the evenings, they have some of the best ramen around. If uni is in season, get the uni ramen! They don’t take reservations, so best to go early.
131 locals recommend
OKONOMI // YUJI Ramen
150 Ainslie StThis is literally right across the street from us. If you love fish, their simple Japanese breakfast is like no other. They focus on local, sustainable seafood. In the evenings, they have some of the best ramen around. If uni is in season, get the uni ramen! They don’t take reservations, so best to go early.
Sal’s pizza is classic old-school, Italian Brooklyn. Great for a late-night slice. And their pasta is really good. (We recommend eggplant rollatini, shrimp & pesto, meat sauce.) Tell Mimo or Romeo you're staying in Alana & Ryan's airbnb.
37 locals recommend
Sal's Pizzería
544 Lorimer StSal’s pizza is classic old-school, Italian Brooklyn. Great for a late-night slice. And their pasta is really good. (We recommend eggplant rollatini, shrimp & pesto, meat sauce.) Tell Mimo or Romeo you're staying in Alana & Ryan's airbnb.
Basically a really upscale falafel joint using good ingredients. The chicken shawarma plate is fantastic as is the crunchy kale salad.
7 locals recommend
Samesa
30 Rockefeller PlazaBasically a really upscale falafel joint using good ingredients. The chicken shawarma plate is fantastic as is the crunchy kale salad.
Just a block away, this sushi & ramen restaurant has a Hawaiian influence. A few of our favorites: the tuna poke and the salmon poke; Sid’s salad; yao yao pork ramen; fried chicken rice bowl.
163 locals recommend
Suzume
545 Lorimer StJust a block away, this sushi & ramen restaurant has a Hawaiian influence. A few of our favorites: the tuna poke and the salmon poke; Sid’s salad; yao yao pork ramen; fried chicken rice bowl.
Breakfast all day! Their biscuit and sausage gravy is one of our favorites. Heads up there’s often a wait for brunch hours.
251 locals recommend
Egg
109 N 3rd StBreakfast all day! Their biscuit and sausage gravy is one of our favorites. Heads up there’s often a wait for brunch hours.
Southern comfort food at its best. Make sure to get their fried chicken, the hot chicken biscuit, a slice of pie and a donut! If you go during brunch prime time, expect a long wait.
357 locals recommend
Pies 'n' Thighs
166 S 4th StSouthern comfort food at its best. Make sure to get their fried chicken, the hot chicken biscuit, a slice of pie and a donut! If you go during brunch prime time, expect a long wait.
One of the earliest farm-to-table Brooklyn restaurants, this one is classic new Williamsburg. You can’t really go wrong. The brick chicken is fabulous.
419 locals recommend
Marlow & Sons
81 BroadwayOne of the earliest farm-to-table Brooklyn restaurants, this one is classic new Williamsburg. You can’t really go wrong. The brick chicken is fabulous.
Great natural wine bar & restaurant. Very hard to get into, but if you go early you can at least sit at the bar. Make sure you get the bread. Owned by the frontman of LCD Sound System. so the restaurant soundtrack is good!
89 locals recommend
The Four Horsemen
295 Grand StGreat natural wine bar & restaurant. Very hard to get into, but if you go early you can at least sit at the bar. Make sure you get the bread. Owned by the frontman of LCD Sound System. so the restaurant soundtrack is good!
This upscale Middle Eastern restaurant in located on the Greenpoint waterfront. If you’re up for a walk and a little exploring, this is a great spot to visit. And the food is amazing. Along the way you can get a drink at Achilles heel or a coffee and treat at Ovenly bakery.
170 locals recommend
Glasserie
95 Commercial StThis upscale Middle Eastern restaurant in located on the Greenpoint waterfront. If you’re up for a walk and a little exploring, this is a great spot to visit. And the food is amazing. Along the way you can get a drink at Achilles heel or a coffee and treat at Ovenly bakery.
Our area of Williamsburg is actually an old Italian neighborhood. Bamonte’s is a classic, mafia-esque, old-school Italian American restaurant. Sinatra dined here. It’s the real deal. The food is pretty good, but it’s really the atmosphere you’re going for. You can also sit at the bar and have a martini and skip dinner.
44 locals recommend
Bamonte's
32 Withers StOur area of Williamsburg is actually an old Italian neighborhood. Bamonte’s is a classic, mafia-esque, old-school Italian American restaurant. Sinatra dined here. It’s the real deal. The food is pretty good, but it’s really the atmosphere you’re going for. You can also sit at the bar and have a martini and skip dinner.
The Greenpoint neighborhood is historically a Polish neighborhood. If you’re in the mood for Polish food, this is a great place to get pierogis, potato pancakes, borscht, and bigos stew.
83 locals recommend
Karczma
136 Greenpoint AveThe Greenpoint neighborhood is historically a Polish neighborhood. If you’re in the mood for Polish food, this is a great place to get pierogis, potato pancakes, borscht, and bigos stew.
This is just a half block away. One of the earliest coffee shops in Williamsburg, it’s our local go-to. Originally out of Ithaca, NY.
296 locals recommend
Gimme Coffee
495 Lorimer StThis is just a half block away. One of the earliest coffee shops in Williamsburg, it’s our local go-to. Originally out of Ithaca, NY.
An Aussie coffee shop with some unique drinks. We love the tonic & lime cold brew.
40 locals recommend
Sweatshop
232 Metropolitan AveAn Aussie coffee shop with some unique drinks. We love the tonic & lime cold brew.
A roaster and coffee shop out of Colombia, they describe themselves as “farm to table.” The space itself is gorgeous, with a massive skylight and a huge living plant wall.
180 locals recommend
Devoción
69 Grand StA roaster and coffee shop out of Colombia, they describe themselves as “farm to table.” The space itself is gorgeous, with a massive skylight and a huge living plant wall.
Seasonal food market (make sure to check to make sure it's open). It's a bit of a scene-- tons of people, but tons of good food if you feel like braving the crowds.
777 locals recommend
Smorgasburg
90 Kent AveSeasonal food market (make sure to check to make sure it's open). It's a bit of a scene-- tons of people, but tons of good food if you feel like braving the crowds.
Fette Sau
354 Metropolitan AveBBQ by the pound!! We love the beef brisket.
Mast Brothers Chocolate is world renown...definitely worth dropping by their Flagship shop. One of the early Brooklyn food makers.
98 locals recommend
MAST
111 N 3rd StMast Brothers Chocolate is world renown...definitely worth dropping by their Flagship shop. One of the early Brooklyn food makers.
Drinks & Nightlife
Gorgeous beer bar owned by man behind Evil Twin beer. If you love beer, this is must.
154 locals recommend
Tørst
615 Manhattan AveGorgeous beer bar owned by man behind Evil Twin beer. If you love beer, this is must.
The original Barcade location....video games and beer! Just a block away.
587 locals recommend
Barcade
388 Union AveThe original Barcade location....video games and beer! Just a block away.
Pete's is an old favorite and one of the original bars in the neighborhood. They have a great live music scene also.
157 locals recommend
Pete's Candy Store
709 Lorimer StPete's is an old favorite and one of the original bars in the neighborhood. They have a great live music scene also.
This is the rooftop bar on top of the Wythe hotel. It has one of the best views of the city. Late it’s a bit of a scene and there’s actually a velvet rope to go in (especially on Thur/Fri/Sat). So best to go early and then stay for sunset.
152 locals recommend
The Ides Bar
80 Wythe AveThis is the rooftop bar on top of the Wythe hotel. It has one of the best views of the city. Late it’s a bit of a scene and there’s actually a velvet rope to go in (especially on Thur/Fri/Sat). So best to go early and then stay for sunset.
Gorgeous little place by the Williamsburg Bridge. Nice spot to go to before or after a walk over the bridge (which we highly recommend for the views!).
109 locals recommend
Donna
7 BroadwayGorgeous little place by the Williamsburg Bridge. Nice spot to go to before or after a walk over the bridge (which we highly recommend for the views!).
Parks & Nature
McCarren is the closest park to us. It has a track, soccer field, playground, and an amazing outdoor pool in the summer.
997 locals recommend
Williamsburg
McCarren is the closest park to us. It has a track, soccer field, playground, and an amazing outdoor pool in the summer.
This park is a secret gem in Greenpoint. A quiet, beautiful place for a picnic. And they have a great Farmer's Market.
188 locals recommend
Msgr. McGolrick Park
Nassau AvenueThis park is a secret gem in Greenpoint. A quiet, beautiful place for a picnic. And they have a great Farmer's Market.
Entertainment & Activities
Terrific boutique movie theater with a great selection of films. Plus you can eat and drink there!
941 locals recommend
Nitehawk Cinema
136 Metropolitan AveTerrific boutique movie theater with a great selection of films. Plus you can eat and drink there!
Getting Around
Citi Bike - Union Ave & Jackson St
The Lorimer L will get you into Manhattan in only 8 minutes!
97 locals recommend
Lorimer Street Station
The Lorimer L will get you into Manhattan in only 8 minutes!
Sightseeing
You really must walk over the bridge at sunset. Then you can go out for a drink or dinner on the Lower East Side. And take the JMZ subway line home later.
387 locals recommend
Williamsburg Bridge
70 Williamsburg Bridge Bicycle PathYou really must walk over the bridge at sunset. Then you can go out for a drink or dinner on the Lower East Side. And take the JMZ subway line home later.
Shopping
Catbird
108 Bedford AveJewelry and unique gifts on Bedford Avenue.
Gorgeous nursery with incredible plants and gifts. Fun to browse even if you can't take one home with you.
37 locals recommend
Sprout Home
59 Grand StGorgeous nursery with incredible plants and gifts. Fun to browse even if you can't take one home with you.
Buffalo Exchange
504 Driggs AveRelatively-affordable vintage clothing. Huge shop.
10 ft Single by Stella Dallas
285 N 6th StHigher-end vintage clothing. Great selection.