Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
Caruso's
150 Smith StA good version of a typical New York pizzeria. Great for a slice on the go.
This is the best sushi restaurant in the neighborhood. It can be very lively on the weekend, so it's advised to reserve.
49 locals recommend
KI SUSHI
122 Smith StThis is the best sushi restaurant in the neighborhood. It can be very lively on the weekend, so it's advised to reserve.
A hit since they opened, this Montreal-style Jewish deli restaurant is dee-lish. Quite small, expect waits at peak hours. Not to be missed: their "smoked meat," otherwise known as pastrami.
78 locals recommend
Mile End Delicatessen
97 Hoyt StA hit since they opened, this Montreal-style Jewish deli restaurant is dee-lish. Quite small, expect waits at peak hours. Not to be missed: their "smoked meat," otherwise known as pastrami.
Trés français, this shop purveys some of the best (and most expensive) pastries, bread, sandwiches, desserts, and quiche on Smith Street.
105 locals recommend
Bien Cuit
120 Smith StTrés français, this shop purveys some of the best (and most expensive) pastries, bread, sandwiches, desserts, and quiche on Smith Street.
Everybody loves Rucola. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's popular, so without making a reservation (you can call ahead) expect a wait. Upscale, inventive, but it won't break you. Tends to be "lively" at dinner.
148 locals recommend
Rucola
190 Dean StEverybody loves Rucola. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's popular, so without making a reservation (you can call ahead) expect a wait. Upscale, inventive, but it won't break you. Tends to be "lively" at dinner.
A cozy place with good and very reasonable food and drinks. Interesting spicing, small plates, big plates, great staff.
15 locals recommend
Bijan's
81 Hoyt StA cozy place with good and very reasonable food and drinks. Interesting spicing, small plates, big plates, great staff.
There are suddenly a bunch of burger restaurants in the neighborhood. This one has great hamburgers, good drinks and beer, and a relaxed atmosphere: everything you could want!
14 locals recommend
two8two Bar & Burger
282 Atlantic AveThere are suddenly a bunch of burger restaurants in the neighborhood. This one has great hamburgers, good drinks and beer, and a relaxed atmosphere: everything you could want!
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
620 Manhattan AveVery good ice cream with NY State-sourced ingredients.
Retro-trendy, this newly-reopened neighborhood classic has preserved its mid-century look and serves not only classic cocktails but good small plate dining.
59 locals recommend
The Long Island Bar
110 Atlantic AveRetro-trendy, this newly-reopened neighborhood classic has preserved its mid-century look and serves not only classic cocktails but good small plate dining.
A wonderful, reasonable place for the best Vietnamese sandwiches in NYC (we think). They also have summer rolls, rice vermicelli salads, pho (soup), and bubble tea. Either to go or you can eat there.
90 locals recommend
Hanco's
134 Smith StA wonderful, reasonable place for the best Vietnamese sandwiches in NYC (we think). They also have summer rolls, rice vermicelli salads, pho (soup), and bubble tea. Either to go or you can eat there.
Combining both a wine bar and restaurant, June offers wonderful small plates and delicious cocktails as well.
70 locals recommend
June
231 Court StCombining both a wine bar and restaurant, June offers wonderful small plates and delicious cocktails as well.
Drinks & Nightlife
The first of the artisanal bars in the area. They also have good bar food.
143 locals recommend
Clover Club
210 Smith StThe first of the artisanal bars in the area. They also have good bar food.
Brooklyn Inn
148 Hoyt StOur local bar, historic ambience, artsy crowd.
Billed as a "public house," 61 Local serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Casual atmosphere, locavore, specializing in beers on tap. Good for a drink, or sandwiches/cheese board and some brew.
60 locals recommend
61 Local
61 Bergen StBilled as a "public house," 61 Local serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Casual atmosphere, locavore, specializing in beers on tap. Good for a drink, or sandwiches/cheese board and some brew.
Wonderful straight-ahead or artisanal cocktails in a mellow ambience.
23 locals recommend
Congress Bar
208 Court StWonderful straight-ahead or artisanal cocktails in a mellow ambience.
Entertainment & Activities
Cobble Hill Cinemas
265 Court StOne of our local movie houses, playing first-run movies.
Regal UA Court Street & RPX
106 Court StOur local megaplex for wide-release films.
Shopping
Shoes for men and women, accent especially on sneakers, casual, fun. Think Converse, Camper, United Nude, etc.
9 locals recommend
Soula Shoes
185 Smith StShoes for men and women, accent especially on sneakers, casual, fun. Think Converse, Camper, United Nude, etc.
Layla purveys incredibly beautiful jewelry, women's clothing, artwork, and linens sourced, for the most part, in India. Prices not for the feint of heart, but worth browsing at the very least.
Layla
352 Atlantic AveLayla purveys incredibly beautiful jewelry, women's clothing, artwork, and linens sourced, for the most part, in India. Prices not for the feint of heart, but worth browsing at the very least.
Arts & Culture
BAM is an incredible resource. There is a cinema, with repertory and first-run art films; a cafe, with various entertainment; and three theaters presenting the best of international performance.
221 locals recommend
BAM Fisher
321 Ashland PlBAM is an incredible resource. There is a cinema, with repertory and first-run art films; a cafe, with various entertainment; and three theaters presenting the best of international performance.
Roulette is relatively new to the area and presents interesting performances and music.
6 locals recommend
Roulette Intermedium
509 Atlantic AveRoulette is relatively new to the area and presents interesting performances and music.
This eclectic gallery and performance space sponsors some of the most interesting events in the area and has spearheaded the proliferation of galleries and eateries on this stretch of Bergen Street.
30 locals recommend
The Invisible Dog Art Center
51 Bergen StThis eclectic gallery and performance space sponsors some of the most interesting events in the area and has spearheaded the proliferation of galleries and eateries on this stretch of Bergen Street.
A great museum neglected by many visitors to New York and Brooklyn. Their Egyptian collection is one of the best in the world, and their holdings are varied and interesting.
3011 locals recommend
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern PkwyA great museum neglected by many visitors to New York and Brooklyn. Their Egyptian collection is one of the best in the world, and their holdings are varied and interesting.
You can buy discounted tickets to Broadway shows here. This venue opens at 11 am, earlier than the one in Times Square. Within walking distance of Wyckoff Street.
25 locals recommend
TKTS Downtown Brooklyn
You can buy discounted tickets to Broadway shows here. This venue opens at 11 am, earlier than the one in Times Square. Within walking distance of Wyckoff Street.
Essentials
Smith & Vine
317 Smith StFor wine and liquor, at every price range.
One of the neighborhood's most incredible resources, this Middle Eastern "grocery" has all kinds of food in bulk, as well as prepared foods - just right for a picnic.
130 locals recommend
Sahadi's
187 Atlantic AveOne of the neighborhood's most incredible resources, this Middle Eastern "grocery" has all kinds of food in bulk, as well as prepared foods - just right for a picnic.
Downtown Cleaners
124 Smith StThe best dry cleaner located nearby.
There are a million mani/pedi shops in the neighborhood, but this is by far the best. Prices are not as low as some of the others, but the comfort and cleanliness make it the right choice.
6 locals recommend
Dashing Diva
183 7th AveThere are a million mani/pedi shops in the neighborhood, but this is by far the best. Prices are not as low as some of the others, but the comfort and cleanliness make it the right choice.
We support local businesses. This local pharmacy and drug store is good for most needs. Open M-F, 10-8; Sat, 10-6; Sun 10-2:30.
S.V.R.H. Pharmacy
161 Smith StWe support local businesses. This local pharmacy and drug store is good for most needs. Open M-F, 10-8; Sat, 10-6; Sun 10-2:30.
This drug store is open 24 hours a day, in case you need lipstick or aspirin in the middle of the night.
19 locals recommend
Rite Aid
182 Smith StThis drug store is open 24 hours a day, in case you need lipstick or aspirin in the middle of the night.
Parks & Nature
There's no need to take that hour+ trip to the NY Botonic Garden in the Bronx. Brooklyn's is lovely; the Cherry Blossom Festival is amazing, and there's the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden, too.
2030 locals recommend
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington AveThere's no need to take that hour+ trip to the NY Botonic Garden in the Bronx. Brooklyn's is lovely; the Cherry Blossom Festival is amazing, and there's the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden, too.