Doug's Guidebook for Ditmas Park + Brooklyn

Doug
Doug's Guidebook for Ditmas Park + Brooklyn

Food Scene

This is our local (upscale) coffee shop. It is great for coffees, breakfast, or lunch. During the week, you can work there with a laptop, and on weekends, they go laptop free. It's a short walk away. Turn right out of our house and walk to the corner of Westminster and Newkirk.
74 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Milk And Honey Cafe
1119 Newkirk Ave
74 (рекомендации местных жителей)
This is our local (upscale) coffee shop. It is great for coffees, breakfast, or lunch. During the week, you can work there with a laptop, and on weekends, they go laptop free. It's a short walk away. Turn right out of our house and walk to the corner of Westminster and Newkirk.
This is the best pizza on the planet. Be prepared to wait. It's worth it.
95 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Di Fara Pizza
1424 Avenue J
95 (рекомендации местных жителей)
This is the best pizza on the planet. Be prepared to wait. It's worth it.
Great for drinks, weekend brunch, or dinner. Our neighborhood upscale pub.
79 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Ox Tavern
1715 Newkirk Ave
79 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Great for drinks, weekend brunch, or dinner. Our neighborhood upscale pub.
Never actually eaten inside the restaurant, but it is a go to delivery option for us.
Jalsa - Grill & Gravy
786 Coney Island Ave
Never actually eaten inside the restaurant, but it is a go to delivery option for us.
Another go to for delivery
21 (рекомендации местных жителей)
CorTHAIyou.
1310 Cortelyou Rd
21 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Another go to for delivery
We pick up large Grandma’s pies for dinner often. Takeout only but very good and short walk away. Right at newkirk plaza subway
9 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Lo Duca Pizza
14 Newkirk Plaza
9 (рекомендации местных жителей)
We pick up large Grandma’s pies for dinner often. Takeout only but very good and short walk away. Right at newkirk plaza subway
A local favorite. Fresh interestingly prepared food.
118 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Castello Plan
1213 Cortelyou Rd
118 (рекомендации местных жителей)
A local favorite. Fresh interestingly prepared food.
Great place for hummus and other food for lunch, dinner.
123 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Mimi's Hummus
1209 Cortelyou Rd
123 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Great place for hummus and other food for lunch, dinner.
Great, simple, authentic Mexican.
Cinco de Mayo Mexican Grill
Great, simple, authentic Mexican.

Drinks & Nightlife

Great neighborhood pub -- GREAT BRUNCH on the weekends ... good food too.
79 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Ox Tavern
1715 Newkirk Ave
79 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Great neighborhood pub -- GREAT BRUNCH on the weekends ... good food too.
113 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Bar Chord
1008 Cortelyou Rd
113 (рекомендации местных жителей)
We go there for good cocktails and outdoor seating. Pretty good beer list on tap usually.
6 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Rusty Nail Brooklyn
1701 Foster Ave
6 (рекомендации местных жителей)
We go there for good cocktails and outdoor seating. Pretty good beer list on tap usually.

Parks & Nature

Brooklyn's answer to Central Park. It was designed by the same landscape architect. You can walk there. About 1.25 miles. Turn right on Westminster and keep walking. Once you pass Church Avenue, you are getting close. You walk through the parade grounds (soccer & football fields) and cross the next street. And you are there. Or you can take the Q train to Prospect Park stop. The park has a great 3.5 mile loop that bikers and runners use. In good weather, you can rent paddle boats and bikes (near LeFrak center in the park), and in the winter, there is a great ice skating rink at Lefrak there. Google if Smorgasboard (huge collection of food trucks creating awesome outdoor eating scence) is going on the weekend you are here. It's one of our favorite Brooklyn things to do!
3418 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Проспект Парк
3418 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Brooklyn's answer to Central Park. It was designed by the same landscape architect. You can walk there. About 1.25 miles. Turn right on Westminster and keep walking. Once you pass Church Avenue, you are getting close. You walk through the parade grounds (soccer & football fields) and cross the next street. And you are there. Or you can take the Q train to Prospect Park stop. The park has a great 3.5 mile loop that bikers and runners use. In good weather, you can rent paddle boats and bikes (near LeFrak center in the park), and in the winter, there is a great ice skating rink at Lefrak there. Google if Smorgasboard (huge collection of food trucks creating awesome outdoor eating scence) is going on the weekend you are here. It's one of our favorite Brooklyn things to do!
An urban oasis. We love walking in BBG. As it is right next to the Brooklyn Museum, we sometimes make a BBG + Museum day. Both are pretty close to Park Slope, a great neightborhood of restaurants, shops, and brownstones.
2030 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Бруклинский ботанический сад
990 Washington Ave
2030 (рекомендации местных жителей)
An urban oasis. We love walking in BBG. As it is right next to the Brooklyn Museum, we sometimes make a BBG + Museum day. Both are pretty close to Park Slope, a great neightborhood of restaurants, shops, and brownstones.
We love going to Governor's Island. It's an island between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Get there by (free) ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Once on the island, walk on the perimeter for great view of Manhattan. Rent bikes. Check out the old coast guard buildings. Almost always, there are cool arts things (live music, exhibits, etc.). It's a great thing to do with kids -- but it's fun just-for-grown-ups too. It used to just be open in the Summer, but it's open year-round now. Google it and confirm it's open -- and check out if there are any activities going on there.
249 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Губернаторский остров
249 (рекомендации местных жителей)
We love going to Governor's Island. It's an island between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Get there by (free) ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Once on the island, walk on the perimeter for great view of Manhattan. Rent bikes. Check out the old coast guard buildings. Almost always, there are cool arts things (live music, exhibits, etc.). It's a great thing to do with kids -- but it's fun just-for-grown-ups too. It used to just be open in the Summer, but it's open year-round now. Google it and confirm it's open -- and check out if there are any activities going on there.

Sightseeing

This promenade provides incredible views of Manhattan. Here's a GREAT Brooklyn day. Go to Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. Walk around the "fruit" streets -- Cranberry, Pineapple -- and nearby. Take in the shops and restaurants on Montague street. Then walk on the Promenade. As the sun sets, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for a classic NYC experience. Grab a drink or bite in Manhattan and then take the subway home.
407 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Парк Бруклин-Хайтс-Променад
Pierrepont Place
407 (рекомендации местных жителей)
This promenade provides incredible views of Manhattan. Here's a GREAT Brooklyn day. Go to Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. Walk around the "fruit" streets -- Cranberry, Pineapple -- and nearby. Take in the shops and restaurants on Montague street. Then walk on the Promenade. As the sun sets, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for a classic NYC experience. Grab a drink or bite in Manhattan and then take the subway home.
Luna Park is the classic (though somewhat cheesy) CONEY ISLAND amusement park. The famous Cyclone roller coaster is next door. The beach and boardwalk are right beside Luna Park. You can take the Q train there easily. Pro tip: If you want some more local flavor, go to the neighborhood next to it (Brighton Beach) which has a very Russian / Ukrainian / eastern European flair. It's called "Little Odessa" by some. For a the grown-ups only. To REALLY get your outer Brooklyn experience, go to a dinner show in one of the Russian "clubs" there. You will get vodka bottles straight on the table and a tacky-but-fun "show" along with some okay food. It's an experience, but bring a designated driver or take the subway!
128 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Луна-парк, Кони-Айленд
1000 Surf Ave
128 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Luna Park is the classic (though somewhat cheesy) CONEY ISLAND amusement park. The famous Cyclone roller coaster is next door. The beach and boardwalk are right beside Luna Park. You can take the Q train there easily. Pro tip: If you want some more local flavor, go to the neighborhood next to it (Brighton Beach) which has a very Russian / Ukrainian / eastern European flair. It's called "Little Odessa" by some. For a the grown-ups only. To REALLY get your outer Brooklyn experience, go to a dinner show in one of the Russian "clubs" there. You will get vodka bottles straight on the table and a tacky-but-fun "show" along with some okay food. It's an experience, but bring a designated driver or take the subway!

Arts & Culture

A hidden gem in Brooklyn. In any other city, this would be considered THE museum. It has a great permanent collection ... including the iconic feminist piece The Dinner Party. It also almost always has a great visiting show, and the casual bistro and restaurant in the museum are both good. On the first Friday of many months, the museum is open at night for free for FIRST FRIDAY. There are musicians and often dancing in the lobby area an/or huge interior courtyard where the old master paintings are.
3011 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Музей Бруклина
200 Eastern Pkwy
3011 (рекомендации местных жителей)
A hidden gem in Brooklyn. In any other city, this would be considered THE museum. It has a great permanent collection ... including the iconic feminist piece The Dinner Party. It also almost always has a great visiting show, and the casual bistro and restaurant in the museum are both good. On the first Friday of many months, the museum is open at night for free for FIRST FRIDAY. There are musicians and often dancing in the lobby area an/or huge interior courtyard where the old master paintings are.