This all-day cafe right on the edge of Transmitter Park serves Mediterranean-inspired fare and natural wines inside a space that pays homage to the location’s past as the literal radio transmitter for WNYC. Wether you go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, don’t miss the Merguez in a Blanket!
While this place has only been around since 2016, the appetizing tradition is inspired by the Frankel brothers’ childhood in the Upper West Side. Bagels, smoked fish, and amazing brisket. Perfectly enjoyed on a bench in nearby McCarren Park.
While the hype machine has turned this corner American joint into a bit of a line-waiting scenario, the burger continues to be one of the best in the city…and the martini one of the coldest. Our tip? Plan an early weeknight dinner and make sure at least one person orders the vinegar chicken!
In the space that used to house Fulgrances, Arthur keeps the vibes classy with their modern approach to French cooking. Here you’ll find dishes like snails and tartare, but in ways that don’t feel stodgy or old fashioned in the slightest.
The Brooklyn outpost of a Szechuan favorite, the dry pot is THE thing to get in this modern yet warm space on Manhattan Avenue. Oh, and the cocktail program is phenomenal.
In a large and airy warehouse space, Rule of Thirds serves up unique and creative Japanese comfort foods. Our favorite meal here is breakfast, where you can get a traditional Japanese Breakfast set featuring roasted fish, rice, miso soup, and more.
The bakery that launched a thousand lines, Radio, is still at the top of its game two years in. Cool friend Kelly Mencin and team crank out pastries and breads all day long, including our favorite, their savory topped focaccias.
As far as neighborhood staples go, Peter Pan is one you simply cannot skip in Greenpoint. As is the namesake, donuts are the thing to get here (we love the old fashioned) with a cup of strong black diner coffee.
The first in a growing empire of restaurant concepts from Giovanni Cervantes and Tania Apolinar is simple, small, and perfect. The Mexico City style tacos are packed with flavor and come out in minutes with a focus on the meats that go inside. Tuesdays you can even get an al pastor quesadilla. We often stop by for a single taco no matter where we’re having dinner in the neighborhood.
A Quebecois affair, Chez Ma Tante takes the best French Canadian comforts for dinner and brunch. Chez’s fries and pancakes, two things difficult to nail, are easily among the best in Brooklyn.
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Part listening bar, part underrated restaurant, Eavesdrop is the perfect place to begin an evening with friends. Whether you’re sipping in the sleek and modern dining room or in their relaxed back yard, this is a must-try in Greenpoint.
While the Gowanus location of Threes gets a lot of airplay in the coolstuff world, their outpost on Franklin Ave is a wonderful place to waste away an afternoon.
Located along the industrial eastern stretch of Nassau Avenue, Heaven & Earth rises like a phoenix. Offering natural wines and tons of fun programming (including regular pickling classes from coolstuff fave Oh My Nosh) H&E is always up to something.
A very fresh addition to the neighborhood, Peek Inn is the newest project from the team behind the Meat Hook (whose NYC footprint includes the beloved Cozy Royale). Developed as their take on a neighborhood watering hole, Peek Inn strikes the perfect balance between a dive and a restaurant. The menu is very limited, but those hot dogs are all you need.
Coffee shop / retail hybrid spaces may seem to be a dime a dozen in Brooklyn these days, but the first one we can remember seeing is Homecoming. The shop, a few blocks down from the original location now roasts their own coffee and has a wonderful back yard to sip your cortados.
If you’re more the matcha or treat drink type, trendy, Tik Tok-y Rhythm Zero is more than just hype. Their coconut water Americano is truly to die for.
Along a once slightly desolate stretch of Norman avenue, 50 Norman, a collective of Japanese shops and dining concepts has anchored the block. Here is your destination for handmade knives, rare incense, and homemade dashi blends.
This shop has been slinging natural wines since before it was cool to do so. We love this Franklin ave staple for their selection but also the large number of bottles available for under $25.
While the Big Night empire has recently expanded across the city, the Greenpoint flagship is the shoppy shop that started them all. We always love coming here to discover new brands and products and shop the immaculately curated selection of vintage glassware. If you haven’t visited recently, the Greenpoint shop just got a huge expansion including a mural by artist Lucy Muss.
Part menswear mecca, part wine bar, Million Goods is as much of a place to shop as it is a destination for the fashion-forward of the neighborhood. Expect new school French brands alongside the shop's in-house line of basics.
Vintage homewares for the high-design minded, Renew Finds is one of the only places we can think of to find authentic, good condition items from power houses like USM Haller. Bring your friends but don’t let too many people know about this gem!
This Lebanese grocer and deli from cool friend Edy Massih is our favorite place to buy spices in the neighborhood and possibly the entire city. Not only does Edy curate an immaculate selection of hard to find peppers and herbs, but they also make their own blends specifically tailored to what you’re cooking.
Ever wondered what it might feel like to shop in John Wilson’s closet? This very New York centric curated vintage shop has everything you might need to feel like a native Brooklynite, from old Parks Dept shirts to merch from defunct restaurants and more.
From notebooks to pens to stickers and more, Yoseka near the East River has long served the neighborhood’s stationery needs. The best part? Nearly everything is available to test out before purchase.
These days there are a plethora of vintage stores, and when we recommend one we look for the perfect balance between curation and fair pricing. Shop 86 is a collective that hits that equation perfectly AND has a huge selection to choose from for both womenswear and menswear.
If Renew Finds is a vintage furniture dealer that caters to the modernist in your life, Fenestella is for the tasteful friend who cherry picks the greatest things across the centuries. Here a Louis XIV style mirror feels right at home alongside a Barcelona chair by Le Corbusier, and that is just the way we like it.
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Somewhere that is especially close to hearts of us here at coolstuff, Transmitter Park is a fantastic example of urban reuse in a lot that used to house the old WNYC radio transmission equipment. One of the best places in the city to watch fireworks on the 4th!
The second location of LES-based craft superstars, Happy Medium operates as an “art cafe” where menu items are things like air dry clay or charcoal drawing. Bring a friend, get creative, and don’t be afraid to try!
This gallery that explores works at the intersection of fashion and art is firmly rooted in its Latin roots, and we are always impressed by the shows founder Gimena Garmendia curates. We’re also super big fans of the ongoing workshops SUDESTADA hosts!
Potentially the most underrated music venue in the city, Warsaw not only is home to great music but also great pierogies. Be warned, you’ll want to arrive early to snag a plate as they sell out quick!
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