Brooklyn is one of the most populated areas in New York City and had roughly 2,648,771 residents in 2017. Brooklyn has many bridges and tunnels that connect to Manhattan. it seems today, everyone has a friend or relative living in Brooklyn. Young professionals and artists left Manhattan apartments for Brooklyn which was spacious and cheaper.
Three things you should know before visiting Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a hive of diverse neighbourhoods – Most people who visit New York only really visit Manhattan, which is one of the five boroughs. It is actually the smallest of all and has the third smallest population. Brooklyn on the other hand is more than three times as big as Manhattan so its quite impossible to overlook this borough. Brooklyn has many different neighbourhoods that are worth visiting:
- Bushwick – Features street art and dance parties.
- Williamsburg – has a hipster vibe and many great bars and restaurants.
- Greenpoint – This area is predominantly Polish.
- Brooklyn Heights – has many beautiful and lavish homes.
- Fort Greene – Has many historic buildings.
- DUMBO – has a beautiful waterfront and features views of Manhattan.
- Red Hook – This area also has a beautiful waterfront and rich industrial history.
- Brighton Beach – This area is predominantly Russian.
- Coney Island – This community has a famous boardwalk and a culture-rich amusement park.
- Park Slope – features many beautiful brownstones in NYC.
- Cobble Hill – this area is known for being cosy, having little plazas and cute coffee shops.
- Bay Ridge – This area has a small town feel but features many gated mansions in the Harbor View section.
Brooklyn is so diverse and large that one could spend days exploring and touring this borough. There are over 50 boroughs to be explored in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn features many of New York’s best restaurants
Brooklyn is home to some of the most iconic restaurants in New York City. This has greatly evolved over the years and now almost every neighbourhood has brilliant eateries that are even attracting people from Manhattan and around the world. Here is a list of eateries you might want to consider when visiting Brooklyn:
- Lilia’s in Williamsburg (Italian cuisine)
- Five Leaves in Greenpoint
- Roberta’s in Bushwick (known for the best pizzas
- L&B Spumoni Gardens in Bay Ridge (old-school Italian)
- Diner in Williamsburg
Bars:
- Sunshine Laundry and Pinball in Greenpoint
- Boobie trap in Bushwick (Dive bar)
- Radegast Hall and Beergarden in Williamsburg (German style bar)
- The Brooklyn Barge in Greenpoint (floating bar)
- Weather Up in Prospect Heights (cocktail bar)
Brooklyn Foods:
- Red Hook Lobster in Red Hook
- Dough Donuts in Bed-Stuy
- Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs in Coney Island
Food Markets in Brooklyn:
- Smorgasburg in Williamsburg
- DeKalb Market Hall
- Smorgasburg Prospect Park
- Industry city food hall inside the shipping complex
Brooklyn has amazing culture and unique art
Many people know that Manhattan is home to world-class museums like the Met, the MoMA and the Guggenheim but Brooklyn boasts many great museums as well. The Brooklyn Museum is the third largest museum in New York City. It has over 1.5 million art pieces and has Jewish Children’s Museum which is the largest in the US. Brooklyn also has another lovely museum, the Transit Museum, situated in a subway station.
You may also want to visit:
- Williamsburg Art and Historical Center
- ArtNet News
- Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn also has some of the best street art in NYC. It has an entire neighbourhood that is filled with amazing murals known as Bushwick. The Bushwick Collective, which is an art gallery, has attracted individuals from all over the world. Williamsburg is also another neighbourhood known for street art and includes pieces by famous people like Roa, Kobra and Faith 47.
If you would like to visit Brooklyn on a budget, visit the Outpost Club website to find out how you can access cheap accommodation in many parts of NYC. You will find a home to suit your budget and you will be pleased at the amenities that are offered by these homes to all guests. Co-living which is a term used to describe living with different people in one home, is a growing phenomenon in Brooklyn and many people are able to enjoy luxurious amenities with co-living. Everyone shares in the cost, so that no-one feels a direct strain on themselves and people now get to travel with peace of mind, knowing they will be in an exceptional accommodation and have the opportunity of living among local people and meeting new people.