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Modeled after an old-school salumeria, and run by the grandson of Bensonhurst’s beloved Italian food importing and distribution business, D. Coluccio & Sons, this specialty grocery stocks everything from cheese, chocolate, salami, imported pasta, sauces, bread, and pizza dough to prepared foods and salads. The memorable Italian heroes and sandwiches include the Pork Ridge (with homemade porchetta, Italian Crucolo cheese, and the spicy, spreadable salami called 'nduja) and the vegetable and ricotta sandwich. There are a few tables up front, but the prime picnic territory of Shore Park is just a short walk away.
8613 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11209, USA
Known For
- Italian sandwiches
- Many kinds of imported pasta
- Small but impressive cheese selection
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Among artisanal ice-cream fans, nobody has earned a more passionate following than Ample Hills, the Prospect Heights creamery started by screenwriter Brian Smith and his wife, Jackie Cuscuna. Their Gowanus branch churns with families and ice-cream aficionados, who pack the second-floor terrace and attend ice-cream-making classes. Favorite flavors are Mexican Hot Chocolate and Salted Crack Caramel.
305 Nevins St., Brooklyn, New York, 11238, USA
Known For
- The dark chocolate--based It Came from Gowanus
- Rooftop terrace
- Windows into the production kitchen
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$ | Red Hook |
Original creations like the Brookster (chocolate chip cookie dough baked inside a brownie) and delicious interpretations of whoopie pies, blondies, bars, and cookies keep this sleek bakery and café buzzing. There are breakfast items and a few lunchtime savory selections, too. Buy the cookbook so you can re-create the recipes at home.
359 Van Brunt St., Brooklyn, New York, 11231, USA
Known For
- Creative brownie recipes
- Comfy seating
- Homemade granola (take some home)
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Self-described coffee aficionados line up for the espresso and pour-overs at Blue Bottle, which originated in Oakland but feels very much at home in Williamsburg. The former factory building has light streaming in through large windows so the La Marzocco espresso machine seems to shine, and a Kyoto-style iced-coffee dripper, which looks like it belongs in a science lab, is displayed opposite the coffee counter. There's not much seating, so it's best to get your coffee and snack (mmmm, s'mores) to go. Beans are roasted in a vintage Probat roaster in back.
160 Berry St., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Third-wave coffee
- Great pastries
- Cool design
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$ | DUMBO | Coffee
Artfully disheveled staffers brew coffee from fair-trade and rain-forest alliance–certified beans, while local gallerists and start-up techies flirt over perfectly poured cortados and other beverages at this East River--adjacent café. The loft-style industrial space is filled with antique roasting equipment and ample seating, and also serves pastries and sandwiches.
25 Jay St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Known For
- Artisanal coffee
- Industrial architecture
- Pastries and light snacks
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Greenpoint |
Coffee aficionados head to Greenpoint for Búdin’s $10 latte—it's pricey because it's made with Danish licorice syrup, topped with licorice powder, and served on a silver tray. Come during the day for coffee by the Oslo-based roaster Tim Wendelboe, whose beans are favored by top European chefs, or after hours for wine and Nordic craft beer. The back of the shop is stocked with a rotating selection of Scandinavian-design goods .
114B Greenpoint Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11222, USA
Known For
- A $10 licorice-inflected latte
- Scandinavian design
- Nordic craft beer
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$ | Park Slope |
A charming European atmosphere and a focus on top-quality products like La Colombe coffee, Jacques Torres hot chocolate, and Dona chai (hand-brewed in Brooklyn) make the two tiny locations in Park Slope feel like a special-occasion getaway. Snacks are few but the relatively new red banquettes make it comfy to linger longer. The petite spot at 318a 11th Street is best visited solo.
158a Berkeley Pl., Brooklyn, New York, 11217, USA
Known For
- Cold brew
- Running out of pastries
- Its interior wall mural
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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At this coffee shop with roots in Bogotá, the beauty of the space is matched by the quality of the coffee, which comes exclusively from small farms in Colombia. Fresh beans are brought directly to Brooklyn, where they're roasted on-site within a few days of arrival. Take a seat on one of the leather sofas under the skylight or at a table in front of the living wall, and enjoy a cappuccino with one of the homemade medialunas or croissants. The stylish space has books, magazines, and even dominoes—perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.
69 Grand St., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Third-wave Colombian coffee
- Bright, welcoming space
- Living plant wall
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Pie, ordered whole or by the slice, is why you come to this rustic flagship of the Elsen sisters' enterprise. The bakers are experts on the topic, having written a definitive book and appeared in basically every food magazine around. The café usually has five or six pies, plus a variety of baked goods.
439 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11215, USA
Known For
- Salted caramel apple pie
- Whole pie orders
- Seasonal speciality pies
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$ | Park Slope |
This popular Brooklyn-based brand has fueled Park Slope since 2002 with its specially blended roasts and beans from direct-trade and family farms. There's a pour-over menu with the concise descriptions you'd expect on a fine-wine menu. Business is just as brisk as at the now closed original location, but the sleek interior is a 180-degree upgrade. Muffins from nearby Blue Sky Bakery and baked goods from Colson's Patisserie are in good supply. The window seats are prime spots to watch the steady stream of foot traffic. There's free Wi-Fi, but no outlet use.
472 Bergen St., Brooklyn, New York, 11217, USA
Known For
- Espresso-a-go-go blend
- Signature Sunrise drink of cold brew, plus OJ and dash of vanilla syrup
- Great location outside the Bergen Street subway station
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$ | East Village |
Despite the name—"La Cabra" means "The Goat" in Spanish—this diminutive coffee place is a caffeinated Danish powerhouse that really packs a flavor punch. The coffee supplier for many of the Michelin-starred restaurants in Denmark, La Cabra is anchored in the East Village for extraordinary cumin buns and dazzlingly delicious high-quality coffee in form of espressos and pour-overs.
152 2nd Ave., New York, New York, 10003, USA
Known For
- Excellent house-made loaves of bread for takeaway
- Perhaps the best cup of coffee in the East Village
- Perpetually packed
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$ | Bushwick |
Artwork by local artists, some of them customers, hang on the wall at this popular hangout space that lures a large contingent of freelancers typing away on their laptops. The sandwiches are excellent, and gluten-free substitutes are available for an additional charge. Service can be slow, but there's plenty of people-watching while you wait.
941 Willoughby Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11221, USA
Known For
- Signature coffee drinks, like maple-sweetened latte and dirty chai latte
- Solid hot-pressed sandwiches and grilled cheese
- Baked goods from local artisans
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$$ | Riverdale |
A quaint, whitewashed facade highlighted by a colorful vegetable mural gives a hint of what lies within at this sustainability-minded and kosher café: produce-forward dishes, including farm-sourced grain bowls, shakshuka (eggs in a spicy tomato sauce), salads, and sandwiches like the tasty tofu banh mi, plus homemade baked goods. Indoor seating is limited, but outdoor seating is on a relatively quiet and picturesque side street.
3260 Johnson Ave., Bronx, New York, 10463, USA
Known For
- Kosher eats
- Slower service when busy
- Sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat.
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$ | West Village |
Named for a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, there really isn't anything particularly Brazilian about this diminutive, all-day corner café. In the morning and afternoon, perch yourself at the bar for superlative coffee, excellent egg-y dishes, sandwiches, and variations on the theme of toast. In the evening, the lights go down, the natural wine bottles get uncorked, and the kitchen churns out Mediterranean-leaning snacks to nibble on.
183 W. 10th St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Excellent coffee
- An ideal neighborhood café
- Good corner spot for people-watching
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$ | Greenpoint |
Renowned for all-natural ice cream and exotic flavors like sorrel blackberry crumble and matcha green tea, Van Leeuwen has established a small ice-cream empire in New York City. Everything is made in-house from the highest-quality ingredients: special flavors like pumpkin are available seasonally, and vegan ice cream is especially popular. Greenpoint was the first brick-and-mortar shop, although its current location is down the street from the pint-size original. In warm weather, get a cone to go and stroll through nearby McCarren Park.
620 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11222, USA
Known For
- All-natural ice cream
- Vegan and gluten-free options
- Cute shop
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This Turkish-owned bakery is a cozy stop for a quick breakfast, lunch, or afternoon snack. Grab a table in front of the street art--style mural and settle in with sandwiches and wraps, or vegan and gluten-free pastries like the coffee cake (served with berries in summer, pumpkin in fall). Chocoholics should try the intense Nutella pouf, a flaky confection filled with Nutella and served warm.
347 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11211, USA
Known For
- Bakery with vegan and gluten-free options
- Street art mural
- Small but cozy space
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$ | DUMBO |
Jacques Torres's partner Herve Poussot bakes Gallic pastries (think fresh-baked fraisier with fresh strawberries and mousseline crème) and delectable quiches and croissants, and serves sandwiches on award-winning baguettes, in this spot across the street from Torres's chocolate shop. The petit storefront's interior is nothing special, but the staff are friendly and the seating is abundant.
85 Water St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Known For
- Coffee
- Great croissants
- Sandwiches
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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This Bay Ridge institution has been around for more than a hundred years, and the ice-cream sundaes are the stuff of childhood dreams—the banana split is fantastic. There's a full menu of typical diner fare that's decent, but the sundaes are the real attraction.
6920 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11209, USA
Known For
- Root beer floats
- Classic diner vibe
- Run-of-the-mill diner food
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$ | Bushwick |
Conveniently located amid the street-art murals of the Bushwick Collective, this minimalist café has expansive windows perfect for art- and people-watching—though most of the crowd is busy staring at their laptops. Grab expertly pulled coffee on the go or stick around for Instagram-worthy healthy sandwiches, soups, and brunch dishes.
420 Troutman St., Brooklyn, New York, 11237, USA
Known For
- Healthy food
- Coworking space
- Great coffee
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$ | DUMBO |
Artwork by local artists lines the walls of this breezy café that serves soups, salads, and excellent sandwiches big enough to share. In warm weather, take your order to go, and enjoy an alfresco spread on nearby picnic tables beneath the Manhattan Bridge.
57 Pearl St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner on weekends
