>There are so many vibrant neighborhoods to explore in New York City that seem so exciting, but the one that brings me the most excitement is the often-overlooked Brooklyn Heights. I like the thought of being able to experience New York City, while also taking some distance from it as well. Brooklyn Heights residents are able to do just that. With only a short subway ride to Manhattan, residents can have fun and work in the city, then just as easily go back home to take a break from the chaos. Brooklyn Heights was the first New York suburb, and it is now one of the prettiest boroughs in the city, with access to a breath-taking promenade overlooking the NYC skyline. The real estate in Brooklyn Heights is comparable to West Village.
“It’s a lot more like Boston than Manhattan,” Mashail Malik, a Boston resident visiting Brooklyn Heights for the first time, told me. “It’s a lot calmer and seems really nice.”
For those who keep coming back to Brooklyn Heights, it’s mostly to admire how great it looks and its suitability for families.
“It’s different, it’s beautiful and family-oriented,” Raquel Negron, a Kensington, near Park Slope, resident who comes often to Brooklyn Heights told me. “I love the tree line blocks and the brownstones.”
And, even for those who are not accustomed to New York, Brooklyn Heights is an area they’ve come to love.
“I feel more comfortable in the mountains,” Mark Thompson, a New Jersey resident who’s worked in Brooklyn for 20 years, told me. “I’m a country kid — but the views here are spectacular.”
For a Fulton Ferry District resident of 14 years, coming to Brooklyn Heights is a break from the chaos and a place to appreciate the historical architecture. “I love how peaceful, quiet and historic it is,” Jeremy Travis told me. “Houses [here] were built in the 1930s and ‘40s.”
A day in Brooklyn Heights
10 a.m.
The best street to walk with the most businesses in Brooklyn Heights is Montague Street. A small, cozy-looking bookstore called “Books are Magic” is located at 101 Montague Street. Inside, it has a homey feel with low-ceilings and warm yellow lighting. And, of course, it smells like books — all-in-all making it a true book heaven for book lovers.
12 p.m.
Dellarocco’s is a popular Italian restaurant in Brooklyn Heights. It is located at 214 Hicks Street and is known for being one of the best gluten-free pizza places you can find in New York City, as written in Time Out.
“It’s a really good restaurant,” Jaime Dove, a Brooklyn Heights resident for three years, told me. “It’s one of the better pizza places in this area.”
Dove ordered the brussel sprout salad shaved with cucumbers and cheese, a side of prosciutto that her 11-month-old dog ate most of and a half white, half red pizza.
“It’s quick service and they are very kind to the animals; they give them treats and water,” Dove said. “I think for that reason I will be coming back more.”
3 p.m.
The Housing Works thrift store is a great place to be if you are a fashion enthusiast on a budget. It’s a small thrift store selling secondhand clothing for a cause to fight AIDS and homelessness, located at 150 Montague Street. The thrift store has furniture and jewelry on sale, in addition to clothing.
“I love these jeans, they’re Calvin Clein — they’d be durable,” Annabelle Rimmel, spending her third day in New York from London, told me. “I’ve got two pairs of jeans at home; it was about time that I added another one.”
She was happy that Housing Works was where she could find the jeans.
Her mother found something more summery: a floral light blue and white romper.
“I got the floral for the summer,” Rimmel’s mother told me. “I am convinced I have nice legs, and this is short to show my nice legs —because there’s no such thing as too old to show your nice legs.”
5 p.m.
If you are wanting to pet some furry friends, you can pet some cats at your nearest cat café. The Brooklyn Cat Café is located at 76 Montague Street. It is $10 to hang out with the cats for half an hour, and the price goes up depending on how long you want to stay.
The cat café has high ceilings and a dim feel to it. Inside, you’re likely to find a lot of college students and kids.
“I really like the experience,” Monique Nimely, a Staten Island resident visiting Brooklyn Cat Café for the first time told me. “I just realized that they have other animals as well like bunnies.”
6 p.m.
Something that makes Brooklyn Heights special is its three cute love lanes. Grace Alley Court is one of them, found among Hunts and Lovers Lanes. It is lined with brownstones, which show off their rich burgundy hues in the light of the golden hour when the sunset hits.
These alleys are filled with residential homes, which give them that private feel.
7 p.m.
One of the biggest perks of living in a Brooklyn Heights apartment is that you can enjoy the sunset overlooking the Manhattan Skyline as you walk along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
10 p.m.
The lights of the Manhattan skyscrapers turn on at night for another eye-catching view.
The one thing that some people may wish to change about Brooklyn Heights would likely be the nightlife. Some say that they have moved away due to a lack of local restaurants and bars. But other than that, Brooklyn Heights is a great New York City neighborhood. It’s close to the city, yet quiet enough to feel like a break from it, too.