Fodors Brooklyn

Fodors BROOKLYN

Publisher: Amanda DAcierno, Senior Vice President

Editorial: Arabella Bowen, Editor in Chief; Linda Cabasin, Editorial Director

Photography: Jennifer Arnow, Senior Photo Editor; Mary Robnett, Photo Researcher

Production: Linda Schmidt, Managing Editor; Evangelos Vasilakis, Associate Managing Editor; Angela L. McLean, Senior Production Manager

Sales: Jacqueline Lebow, Sales Director

Marketing & Publicity: Heather Dalton, Marketing Director; Katherine Punia, Publicity Director

Business & Operations: Susan Living-ston, Vice President, Strategic Business Planning; Sue Daulton, Vice President, Operations

Fodors.com : Megan Bell, Executive Director, Revenue & Business Development; Yasmin Marinaro, Senior Director, Marketing & Partnerships

Copyright 2016 by Fodors Travel, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Illustrator: Claudia Pearson

Writers: Donna M. Airoldi, Laura Itzkowitz, Kristin Iversen, Christina Knight, Lyndsey Matthews, Megan Eileen McDonough, Marisa Meltzer, Chris Molanphy, Matt Rodbard, Emily Saladino, Sarah Spagnolo

Editor: Caroline Trefler

Editorial Contributors: Michael Connelly, Margaret Kelly, Jacinta OHalloran, Amanda Sadlowski, Bee Shapiro

Production Editor: Jennifer DePrima

Designers: Tina Malaney, Chie Ushio

Map Editor: Rebecca Baer

Fodors is a registered trademark of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Fodors Travel, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York, and in Canada by Random House of Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Limited, Toronto. No maps, illustrations, or other portions of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

1st Edition

eBook ISBN978-1-101-87883-5

ISSN2379-8084

All details in this book are based on information supplied to us at press time. Always confirm information when it matters, especially if youre making a detour to visit a specific place. Fodors expressly disclaims any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, that is incurred as a consequence of the use of any of the contents of this book.

SPECIAL SALES

The print book is available at special discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotions or premiums. For more information, email

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CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

Fodors Brooklyn is unlike any guidebook weve ever published. Written entirely by Brooklynites and gorgeously illustrated by Clinton Hillbased artist Claudia Pearson, it includes features on Brooklyns homegrown culinary and design scenes; Q&As with notable locals; and plenty of insider tips. The result is a curated compilation infused with authentic Brooklyn flavor, accompanied by easy-to-use maps and transit information. Whether youre visiting Brooklyn for the first time, moving in, or are a longtime borough resident looking to explore a new neighborhood, this is the guide for you.

While all Fodors guidebooks have a local perspective, this one is especially close to us since were based in New York City and Brooklyn is our backyard. Weve handpicked the top things to do and rated the sights, shopping, dining, and nightlife in 29 dynamic neighborhoods. Truly exceptional experiences in all categories are marked with a .

Restaurants, bars, and cafs are a huge part of Brooklyns appeal, of course, and youll find plenty to savor in its diverse neighborhoods. We cover close to 50 cuisines in all price points, and everything from enduring institutions and groundbreaking chefs to the fixings for the perfect picnic. New hotels are opening all the time; weve reviewed our favorites, including pros and cons for each one. Use the $ to $$$$ price charts below to estimate meal and room costs. We list adult prices for sights; ask about discounts when purchasing tickets.

#INSIDEBKLYN

Weve highlighted fun neighborhood facts throughout this guide. As you explore Brooklyn, we invite you to use #InsideBklyn to share your favorite discoveries with us.

Brooklyn is constantly changing. All prices, opening times, and other details in this guide were accurate at press time. Always confirm information when it matters, especially when making a detour to a specific place.

Visit Fodors.com for expanded hotel reviews, additional recommendations, news, and features.

In less than a generation, Brooklyn has transformed into a global capital of culture and creativity. It buzzes with energy, excitement, and the inherent tension of coupling reinvention with a dedication to authenticity.

Across the East River from Manhattan on Long Islands western edge, Brooklyn is one of New York Citys five boroughs. At 71 square miles, its more than three times the size of Manhattan. With more than 2 million people, if Brooklyn were a city, it would be the fourth largest in the United States by population.

For decades Manhattan was New York Citys most significant draw, but now visitors come specifically to Brooklyn: to eat, drink, see, absorb, and experience one of the most talked about places in the world. What made Brooklyn the trendsetting destination it is today? It would be hard not to use the H wordreferring to the L-train-riding hipsters who moved to Williamsburg in the 1990s when the rents were cheap, and put their creative DIY ideas into action. It was, at least in part, their energy that grew and spread to other neighborhoods in the borough, where old factories were turned into innovative maker spaces, rooftops into urban gardens, and parking lots into farm-to-table restaurants whose rustic chic Brooklyn-style decor can now be found in Paris, Bogot, Tokyo, and beyond. Brooklyn today is, of course, more than a playground for tattooed and bearded skateboarders; its a place where old and new mingle, and changein some places slow and at breakneck speed in othersis an inevitable constant.