Despite being the newest restaurant on this list, Vato has become an absolute sensation across the city. The new spot for breakfast burritos and Mexican pastries sells out daily and is the brainchild of the chefs behind Corima (a Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant in the city.) While they often run out of food before 1pm most days, you can still sometimes snag a to-go pack of the housemade sourdough flour tortillas that make their burritos so covetable.
Lying somewhere between NY-style pizza and Neapolitan pies, La Villa is our go-to in the neighborhood when we want to impress some friends or have a cozy movie night in. Don’t forget to add on one of their fantastic caesar salads or better yet come by for lunch and get a chicken caesar wrap. This spot is usually whole-pies only, but lately they’ve had a few slices up front although it’s hit or miss.
This Italian grocer takes their mozzarella seriously (it’s made in-house.) Whether you’re shopping for a hard-to-find pasta shape or just popping in for a classic Italian-American hero, Russo’s has it covered. PS. they’ve got one of the best rotisserie chicken deals in the city!
Originally opened in Park Slope in the 80’s, La Taq mounted a triumphant comeback last year by returning directly next door to their original space on 7th Avenue. Chef/owner Marty uses the space to recreate the California-Mexican dishes he grew up eating. Don’t miss any of their giant burritos, or the $9 lunch bowl special that includes an agua frescas of your choice.
Classic, iconic Park Slope Italian. This is where generations of neighborhood kids have celebrated their birthdays from elementary school through adulthood.
This casual Park Slope outpost of the Clinton Hill pizzeria serves high quality Roman-style pizza to-go alongside loaves of bread and fantastic sandwiches. If you’re looking for a “new school” slice in the neighborhood, this is where you’ll want to go.
What originally began as a neapolitan pizzeria on an island off of Portland, Maine has become the latest Park Slope restaurant generating lines down the block. One of the things bringing New Yorkers in is their Maine Lobster Pizza (market price) but what should keep them coming back are the delectable appetizers like their meatballs.
The specialty of this South Slope bakery is, without a doubt, laminated pastry. If Miolin was in soho, it would likely be impossible to buy one of their croissants, but luckily for all of us, we can stop by for a classic, pain au chocolat, or one of their world-class daily specials.
Our delivery #1. For the best burritos and very authentic Mexican fast-casual, Papi’s is THE spot. Honorable mentions include the bean & cheese burrito, the al pastor tacos, and their chorizo torta.
Though it’s only been open for about a year, the dozens of unique flavors have already made Heap’s an essential part of Park Slope’s 7th Avenue. If you’re in the mood for something fun, try their “sushi ice cream” which molds mochi alongside some of their house flavors to make a visual trick that also tastes delicious.
Our go-to daily slice in the neighborhood, Da Nonna Rosa is a family-run pizzeria that offers everything from a classic NY plain slice to a full meal of Italian-American pastas, appetizers, and mains.
Sawa, an elegant Lebanese restaurant on the North end of 5th avenue is anchored by the bread which comes from its wood-fired oven. In warmer months, Sawa has a wonderful backyard, and year round a fantastic cocktail program.
A recent expansion has transformed this longtime Park Slope bakery into a hybrid of a luncheonette and a pastry shop.
8 years ago, author and sommelier Joe Campanale opened Fausto as a space to share his love of Italian foods and wine. Today it still stands as one of our favorite restaurants in North Slope. Don’t skip their focaccia!
On the corner of 5th Avenue and Carroll street sits a quiet and sophisticated Korean restaurant that turns out such delicious food it’s earned itself recognition as a MIchelin Bib Gourmand. Given that the name honors a group female scallop divers in Korea, expect a healthy amount of seafood dishes alongside more familiar Korean classics.
In 2020, Winner sparked the boom of new-school bakeries in Park Slope and to this day still has some of the best sourdough the city has to offer. In recent years they’ve expanded to also manage Winner Butcher in North Slope.
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This neighborhood standby is a perfect encapsulation of a nearly lost style of cafe. Dark roasted coffee, red leather seats, and a fresh copy of the New York Times all add to the nostalgic feel of this jewel-box sized coffee shop.
Major date night material, Blueprint is a warm and cozy cocktail bar that also has a stacked menu of refined bites including Italian meats that are hand-sliced to order. While you might be tempted to order something classic, don’t miss an opportunity to try one of their house cocktails.
While the upstairs bar is always full, the real action takes place in the basement. With a connection to The Bell House, Union Hall is often where well known comedians come to hone their latest acts before taking the routines to a bigger stage. On one night not too long ago, a “variety hour” of comedy was a collection of SNL castmembers on an off night, including Chloe Fineman and Please Don’t Destroy.
Our favorite cafe in the neighborhood, and where you’ll often find us taking any in-person coffee meetings (no laptops allowed!) Focused on classic Italian espresso-based drinks, Un Posto is deeply authentic. Recently, they’ve turned the back half of the cafe into an “alimentari” selling the highest quality Italian pantry items, as well.
What used to be a dingy arcade-filled sports bar has eliminated the grime while hanging on to the cold beer (and a few TVs.) This kid-friendly corner pub has a great pour of Guinness and a phenomenal gilled chicken sandwich from the Binghamton area called a spiedie.
A criminally underrated cocktail bar, Bar Goto Niban has a strong Japanese influence which can be seen in the decor as well as many of the cocktails on their menu. They have a fantastic weekday happy hour which features (at the time of writing) a $12 martini. In today’s economy, that is hard to beat at a place this nice.
We love this sweet shop and it’s perfect curation of handmade goods, often from singular makers and legendary brands like candles from Trudon or teas from Belloq.
This is our go-to gift spot for everyone in your life. You can find fun socks for your father in law, stuffed animals for kids, board games for friends & so much more.
Fashion upstairs, homewares downstairs, these sister shops both carry a consistent collection of minimal goods. Our favorite part though is the small but abundant selection of plants available downstairs. We’ve bought almost every houseplant we own here!
This woman-owned, community-minded shop carries a range of goods from stationary to candles and gifts to toys for little ones. With two locations, one in central slope and one in south slope, they have a great anchor in the neighborhood.
If you love hand-made cards and quirky desk accessories, you’ll love the home-base store front of stationary company, Mr. Boddonston’s Studio. It’s quickly become the spot that we return to for color inspiration, new art supplies and coffee table book gifts (& cards for every occasion under the sun.)
Every neighborhood needs a good kitchen store, and Tarzian West is the one for Park Slope. For the newest le creuset color, a set of chic spatulas or a new set of pink taper candles, this is your spot!
Dog lovers rejoice! This hand-made felted dog toy store has such a sweet energy to it, and is filled with toys in every shape from sushi to nyc pizza slices. Bonus! You can bring your used toys back to get recycled!
Park Slope is a very literary neighborhood, just look around while walking the brownstone-lined streets and you’ll see tons of once-read volumes out for free. If you’re looking for something specific though, we are huge fans of the long-time staple Community Bookstore which carries the latest titles and has a great children’s section. A few blocks away, Troubled Sleep fills in the gaps carrying mostly used books with a bent towards the artsy and radical.
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This is our favorite jazz bar in the neighborhood and its recurring artist line-ups is what keeps us coming back! With a main bar up front, and the enclosed jazz area in the back, there’s definitely an edge of jazz-head to this spot - but in a really cool, casual Park Slope way.
Whether you’re looking to watch the latest blockbuster or a b&w french film, Nighthawk has you covered. While there is a clear DIY spirit that runs through Nitehawk’s veins, there are still modern luxuries…like being able to have food and drinks delivered directly to your seat!
Putting the “Park” in Park Slope, this is the neighborhood’s backyard. Spanning nearly 600 acres, Prospect Park encompasses facilities for just about any activity. We’re talking tennis courts, baseball fields, and a whole ZOO! But most importantly, it’s the home to the Prospect Park Boathouse which is where coolstuff founders Garrett & Anna were married.
Sitting pretty in Washington Park at the back of a (very popular) playground & our favorite dog park, is the Old Stone House. This is the site of the Battle of Brooklyn from 1776 (!!), and it’s now the site of fun community events like concerts and markets.
THE only farmer’s market in Brooklyn that matters (to us)! The view of the arch! The view of the library! The proximity to Prospect Park! Need we say more?
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