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About this guide
Brooklyn is a thriving community of unique cultures and traditions. The historical neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights are the birthplace of some of the most culturally significant figures of our time. There are so many Black-owned boutiques that highlight New York’s eclectic fashion scene with travelers from all around the world. The thriving culinary scene is filled with delectable soul food, comforting Caribbean cuisine, and authentic African delicacies. Brooklyn is an immersive experience celebrating the enduring legacy and contributions of Black and immigrant communities year-round.
- Best time to travel: March to May (off-season), September to January (holiday season)
- Time zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- Currency: USD ($)
- Noteworthy: Brooklyn Book Festival (October), Dyker Heights Christmas Lights (December), New York Fashion Week (February and September), Rolling Loud NYC, AfroPunk
- Best for: Food and Culture Tours, Music and Art Festivals, Group Trips, Budget & Luxury Travel
Get Away: Getting To and Around Brooklyn, NY
By Air
Though Brooklyn doesn’t have its own major airport, there are three major international airports near the New York borough. La Guardia, John F. Kennedy, and Newark Liberty airports are the closest and busiest Northeast airports.
By Car
Brooklyn has plenty of rideshare services, like Uber or Lyft available. There are also more traditional taxis throughout the city. If traveling with a larger group with more luggage, travelers should consider looking at more economical rideshare SUVs.
Public Transit
NYC subways operate all day and night throughout the boroughs for convenience and affordability. The MTA bus system in Brooklyn covers more areas than the subway system but may slow down during higher traffic times. There’s also a network of bike-sharing companies stationed throughout bike-friendly streets to enjoy the sights of Brooklyn.
Explore Brooklyn On Foot
Walking around Brooklyn NYC is a great way to take in beautiful sights, and iconic landmarks. Visitors can enjoy an array of hidden gems for food, shopping, festivals, and more. Travelers can enjoy all the sights and sounds of Brooklyn while exploring the city on foot.
Quick facts
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
USD ($)
English
Good For
Food and Culture Tours
Music and Art Festivals
Group Trips
Budget & Luxury Travel
Keep in mind
- Brooklyn Book Festival (October)
- Dyker Heights Christmas Lights (December)
- New York Fashion Week (February and September)
- Rolling Loud NYC
- AfroPunk
Gourmet
Gourmet: Places To Eat In Brooklyn, NY
Clover Hill is a 30-seat Michelin-star restaurant in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District with a seasonal love letter menu to the borough. Executive Chef Charlie Mitchell is the only Black Michelin-star chef in New York City and the winner of the 2022 Michelin Guide New York Young Chef Award.
For over ten years, Brooklyn Beso has provided the Brooklyn community with Latin and Caribbean fusion dishes with the perfect atmosphere for food, music, dancing, and drinks. They have a unique Brunch and dinner menu, adventurous cocktail blends, and late-night live events.
Bellyful NYC shares Pan-African culture making the wonderfully mouthwatering Jamaican flavors all the more exciting. The menu has so much variety including hearty Jamaican oxtail stew to lighter seafood soup.
Head straight to Harlem for some satisfying Southern fusion soul food at Black-owned BLVD Bistro. Husband and wife team Carlos and Markisha Swepson carry Black-owned wines, spirits, and unique cocktail blends.
Founder of the Dept of Culture Brooklyn, Executive Chef Ayo Balogun, launched this new Brooklyn restaurant with a North Central Nigerian menu. As part of the local IYA EBA pop-up dinner series, dishes include Indigenous Nigerian rice, Egusi, and Dodo ati ice cream.
This ice cream shop with a twist creates whimsical liquor-infused recipes with a custom-made ice cream base. Founder, Melissa Tavvs, and her family's love of ice cream and cocktails inspired the creation of Tipsy Scoop.
Stay
Stay: Places to Stay In Brooklyn, NY
The restored Akwaaba Mansion offers four suites, a private Jacuzzi, a glassed-in sun porch, and Italian architecture with Afrocentric design. The Black-owned bed-and-breakfast includes luxury bath robes, guest library, game room, spa packages, and a personal concierge.
Located in a charming seaside village, Red Hook boutique studio is near fantastic restaurants, local breweries, winemakers, and delicious chocolatiers. The vintage lightbulbs, reclaimed wood floors, and antique cast iron soaking tub give the space a rustic charm.
This Williamsburg Artist’s Loft is close to the subway lines within walking distance of the Lower East Side. The colorful space has art on exposed brick walls, a library media area, and an open kitchen with a six-burner Viking stove.
The Henry Norman Hotel has loft-style suites with original tin-plated ceilings and bespoke art. This historic Greenpoint space also offers private roof decks with stunning Manhattan skyline views.
The Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg has an industrial-chic elegance in its cozy studios or spacious king rooms with skyline panoramas. There are also larger loft-style suites and private terraces in the North 8th Loft room.
Travelers and their pets can escape to the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge for a waterfront oasis with panoramic skyline views. With nature-inspired interiors of reclaimed materials, each room has organic mattresses and sustainably sourced linens.
Play
Play: Things To Do In Brooklyn, NY
The Brooklyn Pop-Up is a rolling market of indoor and outdoor retail events showcasing Black-owned businesses. It features over 40 mostly women-owned vendors offering handmade crafts of accessories, fashion, jewelry, beauty, and home goods.
The Cafe Erzulie is a cafe and flower shop serving delicious Haitian-inspired food and coffee during the day. At night, the cocktails, island-spiced menu, and rhythmic live music light up the backyard garden with a tropical Caribbean vibe.
The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights is one of New York’s best attractions during the holiday season. With over-the-top decorations and all kinds of Christmas trees, this post-Thanksgiving display suits travelers of any age.
Home to cultural exhibits, the Brooklyn Museum includes collections from musical icons like Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys. From ancient Egyptian to modern-day American exhibits, the museum holds impactful pieces of historical artwork.
From Moroccan poufs and cultural cleansing ritual tools to Sadé sweatshirts and Brooklyn street art, Peace + Riot offers a curated range of products. Owner and Brooklyn native Achuziam Maha-Sanchez’s African and Caribbean heritage inspired this shop.
This food and culture tour serves up the best foodie hidden gems in the borough. Guests indulge in Brooklyn's best cuisine including New American, Middle Eastern, and Italian foods with a map to take afterward.
Established in 2014, this speakeasy tour is one of the pioneer Speakeasy experiences in New York City. Led by licensed history teachers, guests visit concealed bars through secret vault doors for an authentic historical experience.
The Drama & Discourse tour showcases Brooklyn's vibrant theater scene with the highest-rated theatre Airbnb experience. With discounted access to a show and insightful discussions over food and drinks, visitors learn about Broadway and local theater.