Guidebook for Brooklyn
Food Scene
Nic manages the restaurant some nights. It has the best outdoor seating right in the heart of the neighborhood and great oyster specials - especially during happy hour. I always get the Mahi club and a painkiller.
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Sea Wolf
19 Wyckoff AveNic manages the restaurant some nights. It has the best outdoor seating right in the heart of the neighborhood and great oyster specials - especially during happy hour. I always get the Mahi club and a painkiller.
Cool servers, great food and coffee. It has an amazing interior space and a superb location right in the middle of the Bushwick Collective's street art, but it can get pretty packed on the weekends.
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AP Cafe
420 Troutman StCool servers, great food and coffee. It has an amazing interior space and a superb location right in the middle of the Bushwick Collective's street art, but it can get pretty packed on the weekends.
Some say that Venezuelan is the comfort food of South America, and this is probably the best Venezuelan food in NYC. We stop by when we want the vibes and order in when we're feeling lazy. All of the arepas and empanadas are great (and huge!) and don't skip out on a coconut milkshake cocada.
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Arepera Guacuco
44 Irving AveSome say that Venezuelan is the comfort food of South America, and this is probably the best Venezuelan food in NYC. We stop by when we want the vibes and order in when we're feeling lazy. All of the arepas and empanadas are great (and huge!) and don't skip out on a coconut milkshake cocada.
Best pizza in the neighborhood - ask anyone. Anyone who lives here would pick it over Artichoke any day. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. (Cash only)
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Tony's Pizza
336 Knickerbocker AveBest pizza in the neighborhood - ask anyone. Anyone who lives here would pick it over Artichoke any day. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. (Cash only)
Legendary authentic Mexican tacos - made with homemade tortillas. Manhattanites make the trip out here just for these. It's even BYOB - great for just sitting around, eating tacos (or tostadas) and hanging out. (Cash only)
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Tortilleria Mexicanas Los Hermanos
271 Starr StLegendary authentic Mexican tacos - made with homemade tortillas. Manhattanites make the trip out here just for these. It's even BYOB - great for just sitting around, eating tacos (or tostadas) and hanging out. (Cash only)
One man runs this entire restaurant and he is just the best. Witty, charming, and makes one hell of a cauliflower steak. It's almost always empty, perfect for a break from the crowded city scene.
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Wok 2 Bar
280 Knickerbocker AvenueOne man runs this entire restaurant and he is just the best. Witty, charming, and makes one hell of a cauliflower steak. It's almost always empty, perfect for a break from the crowded city scene.
Great healthy and vegan options. They'll tell you their acai bowl is the best in the neighborhood. It is. One summer, I ate one almost every day.
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Pitanga
207 Starr StGreat healthy and vegan options. They'll tell you their acai bowl is the best in the neighborhood. It is. One summer, I ate one almost every day.
Popular Brooklyn chain for the freelance crowd. Some days, you get an interesting local character or two. This location is their roastery, if you're into coffee and like to see how it's made. Decent breakfast pastries or cookies in the afternoon.
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Variety Coffee Roasters
368 Graham AvePopular Brooklyn chain for the freelance crowd. Some days, you get an interesting local character or two. This location is their roastery, if you're into coffee and like to see how it's made. Decent breakfast pastries or cookies in the afternoon.
This amazing coffee shop has some of the best pre-gentrification vibes - the essence of what made Bushwick cool. Great sandwiches, too.
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Little Skips
941 Willoughby AveThis amazing coffee shop has some of the best pre-gentrification vibes - the essence of what made Bushwick cool. Great sandwiches, too.
Great spot for local vibes, a morning bagel and a coffee or tea. My go-to when I have to cram in some early work. This neighborhood gentrified before ours so it's a little more punk rock (in the very best way).
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Swallow Cafe
49 Bogart StGreat spot for local vibes, a morning bagel and a coffee or tea. My go-to when I have to cram in some early work. This neighborhood gentrified before ours so it's a little more punk rock (in the very best way).
Coffee shop by day, "speakeasy" by night. British themed, but owned by a lovely french couple. One of the quieter coffee shops in the neighborhood.
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Ange Noir Cafe
247 Varet StCoffee shop by day, "speakeasy" by night. British themed, but owned by a lovely french couple. One of the quieter coffee shops in the neighborhood.
This is a little obligatory - it's the most famous food in the neighborhood. It's basically gourmet pizza. Not my thing but apparently people (food critics) like it. As such, you'll need to plan ahead. It's tough to get a seat.
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Roberta's
261 Moore StThis is a little obligatory - it's the most famous food in the neighborhood. It's basically gourmet pizza. Not my thing but apparently people (food critics) like it. As such, you'll need to plan ahead. It's tough to get a seat.
Drinks & Nightlife
The locallest haunt in the neighborhood, with secret performances in the back room and something called "heavy metal yoga" on the weekends. Please go. And tell me how it is.
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The Cobra Club
6 Wyckoff AveThe locallest haunt in the neighborhood, with secret performances in the back room and something called "heavy metal yoga" on the weekends. Please go. And tell me how it is.
This used to be an extremely popular bar called Montana's. The owner recently rebranded it with this strange name, but we suspect it's still got that same old "dive bar in Montana" feel. Did I mention it's right next door?
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Hard Times Christmas Liquors at the Sunset Bar
445 Troutman StThis used to be an extremely popular bar called Montana's. The owner recently rebranded it with this strange name, but we suspect it's still got that same old "dive bar in Montana" feel. Did I mention it's right next door?
The Johnson's
369 Troutman StAnother local haunt with a little bit of a dreamier vibe.
There is no sign on the door, just three diamonds. I have no idea why, but everyone is pretty much always here.
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The Three Diamond Door
211 Knickerbocker AveThere is no sign on the door, just three diamonds. I have no idea why, but everyone is pretty much always here.
Best bar in the neighborhood. Totally eclectic and weird in a way that perfectly personifies what it is to live here. We love Wednesday Jazz nights. We also sometimes bring the dogs. Cash only.
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The Keep
205 Cypress AveBest bar in the neighborhood. Totally eclectic and weird in a way that perfectly personifies what it is to live here. We love Wednesday Jazz nights. We also sometimes bring the dogs. Cash only.
If you're into the beer scene, this is our finest local brew. Hang out, have a flight and choose one of their huge selection of games.
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Kings County Brewers Collective
381 Troutman StIf you're into the beer scene, this is our finest local brew. Hang out, have a flight and choose one of their huge selection of games.
Take in the punk-rock(ish) vibes of the pre-gentrified Bushwick in this former casket factory. They're vegan friendly and have regular events like karaoke and trivia.
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Pine Box Rock Shop
12 Grattan StTake in the punk-rock(ish) vibes of the pre-gentrified Bushwick in this former casket factory. They're vegan friendly and have regular events like karaoke and trivia.
This place is new and we haven't been yet. Seems cool though.
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Brooklyn Cider House
1100 Flushing AveThis place is new and we haven't been yet. Seems cool though.
Parks & Nature
It's not Central Park, by any means, but it's ours. There's handball and volleyball, a little dog park and a walk/run loop.
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Maria Hernandez Park
Knickerbocker AvenueIt's not Central Park, by any means, but it's ours. There's handball and volleyball, a little dog park and a walk/run loop.
Arts & Culture
Here, you'll find some of the most talented singers and dancers in the city (and that's saying something). Careful, though. Nudity should be expected and appreciated in this classically Brooklyn theatre.
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Théâtre XIV - The Home of Company XIV
383 Troutman StHere, you'll find some of the most talented singers and dancers in the city (and that's saying something). Careful, though. Nudity should be expected and appreciated in this classically Brooklyn theatre.
So much more than a nightclub. House of Yes is a rowdy, exotic, erotic, aerialist performance venue. Their performances draw in club kids from all over the city - but be ready to dress for the theme. You'll want to check their website to see what's on and what's sold out.
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House of Yes
2 Wyckoff AvenueSo much more than a nightclub. House of Yes is a rowdy, exotic, erotic, aerialist performance venue. Their performances draw in club kids from all over the city - but be ready to dress for the theme. You'll want to check their website to see what's on and what's sold out.
There's a ton of galleries in this area. My artist friends tend to pop up into the neighborhood for this one.
SLAG Gallery
522 W 19th StThere's a ton of galleries in this area. My artist friends tend to pop up into the neighborhood for this one.
Shopping
Some of the best $10 vintage finds we've ever discovered. Tiffany, the owner, is always traveling to dig up new and interesting stuff. We'll hang out down here just for fun.
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28 Scott Vintage
108 Scott AveSome of the best $10 vintage finds we've ever discovered. Tiffany, the owner, is always traveling to dig up new and interesting stuff. We'll hang out down here just for fun.
Great vintage finds and artist pieces if you'd like to take home a taste of the neighborhood.
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Friends NYC
56 Bogart StGreat vintage finds and artist pieces if you'd like to take home a taste of the neighborhood.
I love their vintage furniture, but they've got great little pieces, too. Fun fact: you can even buy their stuff straight off instagram.
Dobbin St co-op (Bushwick)
1033 Flushing AveI love their vintage furniture, but they've got great little pieces, too. Fun fact: you can even buy their stuff straight off instagram.
If you're willing to pay just a little more to score those name-brand vintage pieces, this is the place for you.
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Worship
117 Wilson AveIf you're willing to pay just a little more to score those name-brand vintage pieces, this is the place for you.
A bunch of vintage stores have chained up into L-Train - there's a bunch in the neighborhood. They're more conventional uncurated racks, which means they're super cheap. But you're going to need to dig.
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L Train Vintage
1377 Dekalb AveA bunch of vintage stores have chained up into L-Train - there's a bunch in the neighborhood. They're more conventional uncurated racks, which means they're super cheap. But you're going to need to dig.
Essentials
Great if you need to run out for a thing or two (especially a fancy "natural" thing or two - including wine or liquor). Super great if you're hungry for a sandwich. But if you're looking to really stock up, you'll have to pay the big bucks.
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Hana Natural
24 Wyckoff AveGreat if you need to run out for a thing or two (especially a fancy "natural" thing or two - including wine or liquor). Super great if you're hungry for a sandwich. But if you're looking to really stock up, you'll have to pay the big bucks.
This is the best grocery store not-quite in the neighborhood. Great combination of fancy local favorites and cheap treats.
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Billy's Marketplace
870 Cypress AveThis is the best grocery store not-quite in the neighborhood. Great combination of fancy local favorites and cheap treats.
If you're looking to really stock up on essentials, this is the store to do it.
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City Fresh Market
518 32nd StIf you're looking to really stock up on essentials, this is the store to do it.
Hopefully you never have to use it. Seriously.
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Wyckoff Heights Medical Center
374 Stockholm StHopefully you never have to use it. Seriously.
SOLID GOLD YOGI
20 Wyckoff AveThere are tons of yoga spots in this neighborhood, but this is Nic's favorite.
Getting Around
Sunoco Gas Station
1884 Flushing AveThe nearest gas station if you need a quick fill.