Over the last few decades, Brooklyn has been transformed into the hottest, trendiest borough in New York City. There’s been an influx of young families, young professionals, hipsters, and artists taking up residence in Brooklyn neighborhoods like Bushwick and Williamsburg. When most outsiders think of living in New York City, they picture the excitement and luxury of living in the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, but Brooklyn has so many things to offer that make it a world-class destination in and of itself. With the largest population of all NYC boroughs, it can be intimidating trying to find the right neighborhood to live in or visit, which is why we have compiled a list of our favorite Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Brooklyn Heights:
The Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass or DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights have been used for numerous Hollywood shots, and is a neighborhood where you will find some spectacular spots in the entire borough. Iconic buildings of Manhattan are clearly visible when you walk down the Brooklyn Heights Promenade on way to the Waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The best pizza in NYC is available at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, and you can get a good read at the PowerHouse Arena that is all about fashion, fine art and pop culture. Not to mention housing is much more affordable in this hip enclave than in Manhattan.
Williamsburg:
For those with a creative bent, the L train is waiting to take you to Williamsburg. The hipster, almost-gritty Brooklyn neighborhood is mostly crowded with artistic types who spend their time in the cool coffee joints or in Brooklyn Bowl, where live music, cocktails and bowling brighten up the nights. You also get to shop at the boutiques on the Bedford Avenue and being a waterfront community you can easily use the East River Ferry to take you to Midtown or Wall Street. New condos in Williamsburg are spacious and give you total value for money.
Park Slope:
Park Slope is a posh Brooklyn neighborhood that has to its credit brownstones and row houses worth millions of dollars. It is a family-centric neighborhood where mostly Manhattan transplants and young professionals reside with access to sophisticated bodegas as well as delicious cuisine and craft beer. The Union Hall is one-of-a-kind bar that covers 5000 square-feet with bookshelves and leather couches. You can also spend your mornings in Prospect Park (585 acre) while sipping on coffee from the Cafe Regular.
Greenpoint:
Greenpoint was once home to the Polish immigrants, but it now reflects of a mixture of both old and new cultures, opening its arms to indie bookshops, dive bars and unconventional galleries that stand beside historic storefronts, eateries of the Old World and various other stalwarts. The McCarren Park, with options in swimming, ice skating (seasonal) and pick-up baseball, will help you burn down a few extra calories that you gain from pastry shops that offer handmade varieties of a wide range of desserts.
Greenpoint is home to some of the most fascinating condos and Williamsburg style houses, but the transportation is not very impressive, especially if you live in the northern part of this neighborhood.
Bedford-Stuyvesant:
The rich culture and history of Bedford-Stuyvesant. has been an integral part of the neighborhood’s growth. The Victorian architecture of the buildings and the exclusive street fairs and block parties have however stayed a part of this neighborhood over time. Shop at Harold and Maude for vintage outfits and enjoy affordable organic meals at Eugene & Co. Bar Lunatico will light up your nights playing live music of all genres. The neighborhood is worth investing your hard-earned money into.
Bushwick:
The vibrant and diversified neighborhood of Bushwick is home to various ethnicities. There is significant difference between the low-income housing projects and the prominent, wealthier areas of Bushwick. The Memorial Gore Park is a historic site that offers relaxation in this neighborhood, but that does not mean that nightlife and good restaurants are lacking in this borough in any way.
People mostly opt to stay here because of convenient transportation (buses and trains) options to travel to Manhattan. Metropolis Moving has chosen Bushwick as the location for their headquarters, so you can be assured that the neighborhood has the food, drink, and culture to rival any neighborhood in NYC.
Brighton Beach:
Although, this neighborhood lost its popularity as weekend playground post World War II, but the establishment of new enterprises have been able to restore Brighton Beach to its former glory. The distinct culture of Russians is prevalent here with Central Europeans settling in this neighborhood. The public transportation includes buses and subway, taking as long as 1 hour to reach Manhattan.
The beach may pose trouble for parking spaces, but all other facilities including medical and schools are highly impressive in Brighton Beach neighborhood.
Sheepshead Bay:
The Russians have a huge influence on the culture of Sheepshead Bay, however, today the diversity in the community is evident with Asians settling in this neighborhood.
This diversity is evident because of the restaurants and shops, mostly along the Emmons Avenue. Housing options in this waterfront community include co-ops, condos and 1 or 2 detached family homes. While the public transportation is not varied, the Belt Parkway can be easily accessed from Sheepshead Bay.
Boerum Hill:
Boerum Hill has transformed from its notorious reputation for housing criminal activities, into one that is family-friendly and trendy. The tight-knit community in this neighborhood is warm, friendly and work hard to keep the place clean and safe. Tudor private residences, brownstone and brick houses stand in the company of new upscale co-ops, apartment complexes and condos. The traffic here is quite heavy on the Atlantic Avenue, but the rest of the neighborhood is peaceful.
Manhattan Beach:
An affluent neighborhood, Manhattan Beach houses a massive beach park and the Kingsborough Community College. Most of the houses here are single-family houses with private garages and green lawns, with swimming pools in some of them. The unified and strong community in this town is built by families that have lived here for several generations. With the ocean right next to your house, Manhattan Beach makes a pretty comfortable neighborhood for you.
Flatbush:
Flatbush is a unique, lively, and diverse neighborhood in the heart of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is home to Italian, Jamaican, Carribean, Pakistani, African-American, and Latino communities. This results in a wonderful cultural melting pot. Independent restaurants, bakeries, and markets cater to the diverse people of the neighborhood. Many of these attractions can be found on Flatbush Ave, the neighborhood’s main artery where shopping and other attractions await. The rest of the neighborhood is mainly quiet and residential. The neighborhood has great access to the Q, 2, and 5 trains. Residents take pride in their neighborhood, and it can be felt when walking through its beautiful streets.
Clinton Hill
Clinton Hill is a residential neighborhood bordered by Bed-Stuy, Prospect Heights, and Fort Greene. It has a refreshingly quiet and serene vibe, but also maintains ultra-convenient access to Manhattan. The A, C, and G trains all run through the neighborhood. Strolling down Clinton Ave, you’ll be treated to a wonderful mix of charming brownstones and grandiose mansions with beautiful gardens. The neighborhood is also home to the Pratt Institute, with programs primarily focusing in engineering, fine arts, and architecture. This is a unique neighborhood that can’t be missed when traveling through Brooklyn.
Fort Greene
Fort Greene is a tight-knit residential community in Brooklyn. Featuring predominantly brownstones and rowhouses, the neighborhood has lots of historical significance. The neighborhood is home to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, and a thriving entertainment scene. Rest assured that there is no shortage of cultural attractions to keep this tight-knit community entertained. Be sure to check out the Greenlight Bookstore for lesser-known works by local authors.
Bay Ridge / Dyker Heights
Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights are quaint, unpretentious residential neighborhoods in southwest Brooklyn. The Verrazzano-Narrows bridge connects these neighborhoods to Staten Island on the western border of this waterfront community. The proximity of these neighborhoods to Manhattan is both a good and bad thing. Getting to Manhattan can be a challenge. However, that results in charming, authentic neighborhoods that have not seen the relentless wave of gentrification that other Brooklyn neighborhoods have been completely changed by. Small, independent mom and pop businesses thrive here. Bay Ridge is also more affordable than many other Brooklyn neighborhoods. This, combined with a slower pace of life makes for a sublime, tranquil residential neighborhood. Be sure to check out the lights in Dyker Heights around the holidays, as they are regarded as some of the best Christmas displays in the world.
Carroll Gardens
Carroll Gardens is an upscale neighborhood in Brooklyn that mixes modern and hip attractions with historic charm. The neighborhood’s Court and Smith streets run parallel to one another and are the cultural hub of the area. Here you’ll find everything; from family-run food shops to designer boutiques and some of the most upscale dining in Brooklyn. As a matter of fact, Smith street is often regarded as the “restaurant row” of all of Brooklyn. As for living options, like much of Brooklyn you’ll find charming brownstones and row houses. However, there are an increasing number of luxury high rise buildings popping up in the area. This suggests that the upscale, independent charm of this neighborhood is no secret to the residents of NYC.
Crown Heights
Crown Heights is a centrally located, vibrant and unpretentious neighborhood of Brooklyn. It’s quickly gaining popularity due to the tranquility of daily life within the neighborhood. However Crown Heights still maintains excellent, easy access to the rest of the city. The neighborhood’s leafy historic districts feature unique multi-family buildings as well as new developments. Local businesses and restaurants thrive here. It’s easy to become a regular due to the neighborhood’s dining still being under-the-radar. The neighborhood is bordered on its west by Prospect Park’s Botanic Gardens. This provides many dining and entertainment options in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Prospect Lefferts Gardens is a Brooklyn neighborhood that has a very similar feel to Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The neighborhood is vibrant and young, yet quaint and peaceful enough to feel like you’re away from the city. The main attraction here is the nearly 600 acre Prospect Park. It features sports fields, running and hiking trails, and a variety of multipurpose green spaces. Ex-Manhattanites love the neighborhood because it gives them a quaint, community feel while maintaining easy access to the rest of the city. The neighborhood features a unique variety of food markets that cater to tastes from all around the world. New businesses continue to pop up, diversifying the neighborhood’s food selection even more. As for housing, the neighborhood features a wonderful mix of brownstones, row houses, Tudors, and Victorian mansions from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Red Hook
Red Hook is a tight-knit community of artists and other creatives. They utilize the neighborhood’s industrial space along the waterfront for creative start-ups and small, independent businesses. The neighborhood is quiet, and closes early, which is a nice change of pace from the rest of New York. Residents are fully invested in the neighborhood. This means you’ll find a level of service and attentiveness at businesses here that can’t be found elsewhere in the city. Transportation and housing options are more limited here than other Brooklyn neighborhoods. However, expanded Ferry service and new housing developments should change that considerably.
Cobble Hill
Cobble Hill is a quaint, upscale neighborhood in Brooklyn. Featuring independent mom-and-pop food shops, startup spaces for artists, as well as independent arts and culture venues, this is another great Brooklyn neighborhood for creative types. The cobblestone streets and Bohemian vibe are sure to inspire! The cultural influences of the area are Italian, Native American, Dutch, Swedish, and English. This results in a wonderful melting-pot of cultures and flavors. It should be noted that public transport is slightly more limited here. Even so, the well-preserved street-fronts of the neighborhood provide a highly competitive housing market for brownstones and converted apartments.
Windsor Terrace
Windsor Terrace is a wonderfully quaint residential Brooklyn neighborhood located between Prospect Park and the Greenwood Cemetery. These are both the largest green spaces in the entire borough. Because of all this green space, the neighborhood has a wonderful suburban feel. With a slower pace, more room to stretch out, and beautiful homes with porches, gardens, and other features, you’ll quickly forget you’re in New York City. Though the area is really geared towards families looking for a slower, quieter neighborhood, an abundance of food and drink options can be found on Prospect Ave.
There are many reasons to move to Brooklyn, including its colorful assortment of people, culture, food, and activities to enjoy. It would take a lifetime to truly experience it all. This borough is defined by creativity, community, and culture. Now that you’re ready to move to Brooklyn, you need a trustworthy team of moving professionals to help you get settled into your new surroundings. Check out our tips for minimizing stress while moving, then fill out our easy-to-use online form to request a quote from us.
