Ashley P. 
Moving to Brooklyn? Here’s a list of
Our Favorite Brooklyn Attractions,
Hot Spots, and Restaurants
- Al Di La Trattoria: This old-World Italian restaurant is Michelin-starred and features mouthwatering northern Italian favorites. Al Di La Trattoria is known for their risottos, but as always, pay attention to the specials and you will be absolutely delighted.
- Colonia Verde (219 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn): Sharing is caring at this Latin American eatery by the Cómodo team. The airy, rustic space, complete with a greenhouse-like back room, makes it the perfect spot for communal dining.
- Prospect Park: Prospect Park is the flagship park of Brooklyn. It offers 586 acres of trails, paths, fields, meadows, and green space, and is a fantastic place to get some exercise or get lost in nature right in the heart of Brooklyn.
- Prospect Park Zoo: This zoo helps city residents get their wildlife fix right alongside Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The zoo is home to a range of animals from dingos and red pandas to the California Sea Lion.
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden: This world-class New York City botanical garden connects people to the world of plants, fostering curiosity and delight for New York’s green spaces while supporting a sense of community and stewardship around the environment. They offer nearly two dozen gardens, collections, conservatories, and features.
- Chavela’s(736 Franklin Ave Brooklyn) – Chavela’s offers authentic Mexican flavors served in a welcoming atmosphere with fantastic cocktails, lively music, and lots of laughter.
- Coney Island Polar Bear Club (1208 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY): The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is not for the faint of heart—or the cold-averse. It’s a 120-year tradition, where every Sunday from November to April, brave souls dive into the freezing surf to wash away the year that was and raise money for charity. Polar bear suit optional.
- MAMA FOX – Modern new American fare complimented by a variety of craft cocktails
- L’Antagoniste – High-end, traditional French bistro fare with a variety of complimentary wines and beverages
- The Crown Inn – A friendly neighborhood establishment, The Crown Inn offers craft cocktails and beer in a cavernous bar with exposed brick & Prohibition-style furnishings.
- Owl’s Head Park: A destination for all ages and seasons, here you’ll find summertime picnicking and snow day sledding. Plus, a view of that famous NYC skyline.
- Richard Beavers Gallery – The space is dedicated to showcasing Black emerging and established artists — and facilitating community dialogue around the themes in their work.
- Rusty Nail Bar (1701 Foster Ave, Brooklyn): A charming local spot with generously poured drinks and unique cocktails. It’s the kind of place that might just become your favorite neighborhood bar.
- C’Mon Everybody (325 Franklin Ave): A lively LGBTQ+ watering hole and live music venue that, as the name suggests, is inclusive and welcoming.
- Billie Holiday Theatre – The theatre is an artistic anchor to the largest African American community in the nation: Central Brooklyn and one of the last remaining theaters forged in the aesthetic and sociocultural kiln of America’s Civil Rights/Black Arts Movements.
- Fulton Grand Bar (1011 Fulton St): A classic corner pub with dim lighting, rock on the jukebox, and an eclectic mix of friends and strangers.
- Miriam: This authentic Israeli restaurant serves up a seasonal menu of Mediterranean flavors from around the world. This is one of the best places for brunch in New York City.
- Center for Fiction (15 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn): The home for readers and writers, this non-profit organization offers everything from a tech-free reading room to curated events like speed dating and book awards.
- Pratt Sculpture Garden (Pratt Institute): Spread across 25 acres of landscaped grounds, this garden is surrounded by historic buildings and features over 70 sculptures from renowned and emerging artists.
- Brooklyn Hero Shop (270 Vanderbilt Ave): One of the best Italian sandwich shops in Brooklyn, with all the usual suspects: roasted turkey heroes, classic tuna melts, and fried chicken sandwiches.
- Afropunk Music Festival: An annual arts festival featuring music, film, fashion, and art, headlined by the likes of neo-soul legend Erykah Badu. Over the years, Afropunk has grown to become a conduit for Black activism and community action.
- Fritz (737 Fulton St, Brooklyn): Step into 1920s Berlin at this chic cocktail bar, where martinis are crisp, cold, and served with a sidecar. It’s the place to channel your inner Gatsby.
- World Spa (1571 McDonald Ave, Brooklyn): This spa is perfect for couples or a girls’ getaway. As the name suggests, you can indulge in spa treatments inspired by traditions from around the world, including Finnish saunas or an exotic Polynesian Journey Scrub. Try the snow room that even has gentle snow flurries falling.
- Stuyvesant Heights Historic District – The district’s over 800 buildings are a diverse array of row houses, tenant buildings, residences, and institutional buildings. They range from simple wood frame houses to grand chateauesque buildings.
- Oxalis – Oxalis is a neighborhood bistro that offers two dining options: a seasonal carte blanche menu in the dining room and an a la carte menu at the bar and garden room.
- Bedford Stuyvesant Museum of African Art – This non-profit arts organization is dedicated to providing an enriching educational experience to the Bed-Stuy community. They house artwork from more than 40 different African countries, showcasing an impressive and diverse array of art and cultures.
- Red Hook Lobster Pound – Since the restaurant’s doors opened in 2009, people have traveled hundreds of miles or more to Red Hook to sample the freshest Maine lobster in this incredibly special part of NYC.
- Bricolage: Delicious, updated Vietnamese cuisine served alongside an inspired drink menu, in a fantastic relaxed atmosphere with a lush green back patio.
- Summer Stroll on 3rd: This annual event draws tens of thousands of visitors to Bay Ridge, with car-free streets, avenue-wide activities, and summertime fun on consecutive Friday nights.
- The Good Fork – The Good Fork Restaurant and bar served eclectic seasonal New American food in a warm and cozy setting. Having opened their doors in March of 2006, they have had the pleasure of serving the wonderful Red Hook, Brooklyn community and beyond for over 14 years.
- Hanukkah Menorahs (Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY): Light up your holiday season at Grand Army Plaza (the oval at the main entrance of Prospect Park) where one of the world’s largest menorahs takes center stage. Swing by at sundown during Hanukkah (through January 2, 2025) to witness the glow of the Festival of Lights—all courtesy of Chabad of Park Slope.
- Prospect Park Zoo: This zoo helps city residents get their wildlife fix right alongside Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The zoo is home to a range of animals from dingos and red pandas to the California Sea Lion.
- Tanoreen (7523 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn): With 25 years in the game, Tanoreen is an authentic taste of Palestinian home cooking, with staples like hummus, falafel, baba ganoush, and lamb shanks on the menu.
- Biggie Mural – This Bed-Stuy landmark is a fantastic tribute to a local legend
- The Corner (86th St and 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn): Brooklyn legend Thomas Perone, chef of the old-school Italian spot Brooklyn Roots, brings his new venture, The Corner, to Bay Ridge. Expect an ever-changing menu based on whatever Thomas feels like cooking.
- The Lay Out Series: A series of summer gatherings in Fort Greene Park to “center Black joy” and celebrate Juneteenth. Expect tennis workshops, mini-basketball games, and nearby after-parties.
- Miss Ada (184 Dekalb Ave): This Goop-approved Mediterranean eatery captures the essence of summer. Perfect for sharing plates, so you can sample a little bit of everything. In true Brooklyn style, natural wines are available, too.
- Fort Greene Park Jazz Festival: The soulful sounds at the park come from a dream realized by Eric Frazier, who long envisioned a Jazz Festival in his neighborhood. Each year in July, this event brings live jazz entertainment to all New Yorkers.
- Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Nutcracker (1027 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY): On December 14, the beloved holiday classic, The Nutcracker, comes to life at Kings Theatre, performed by the renowned Grand Kyiv Ballet. If you’ve never been to Kings Theatre, you’re in for a treat—the grandeur architecture and elegant ambiance is truly the perfect backdrop for a ballet.
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum – Inspired by the energy and diversity of the borough, Brooklyn Children’s Museum creates experiences that ignite curiosity, celebrate identity and cultivate joyful learning.
- Hattie Carthan Community Farmers Market – This grassroots, people of color-led agricultural revitalization project has a vision to cultivate a healthy, holistic, and self-sufficient community that increases the neighborhood’s access to locally-grown fresh food, farm culture, and intergenerational agricultural education.
- Midwood Mardi Gras Street: Running for over 40 years, this annual street festival brings the heart of Midwood to life with entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, and more unusual experiences, like an FDNY fire safety demonstration, and Jewish organ performances.
