246 Best Restaurants in Brooklyn, New York City

We've compiled the best of the best in Brooklyn - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Smorgasburg

$$ | Williamsburg Fodor's Choice

Smorgasburg, the acclaimed open-air food market, is the portmanteau of smorgasbord and Williamsburg. Here, at its founding location at Marsha P. Johnson State Park, vetted food vendors serve delicious treats to foodies (and provide photogenic content for food influencers), from arepas to yakitori. Even with the Smorgasburg branded concept dispersing crowds of foodies across other locations across New York, Jersey City, LA, Miami, Toronto, and Sao Paolo, the original Williamsburg location still draws close to 30,000 people each Saturday in the summer, so get there before noon if you don't want to spend most of your time there in queues. The original Smorgasburg is open from April through October, but check the website for details of the other locations in Brooklyn Manhattan.

Superfine

$$ | DUMBO Fodor's Choice

Friendly service and convivial, colorful crowds have transformed this bi-level, renovated warehouse into a quirky neighborhood institution with rotating art and music shows and frequent DJ sets. The kitchen's organic menu changes daily, plus there's a weekend brunch with live Americana music.

Tacos Matamoros

$ Fodor's Choice

Exceptional tacos large and small are the main attraction at this restaurant with a lengthy menu. Order the small ones, so you can try several different kinds. Favorites include braised pork, carne asada, and succulent marinated pork cooked on a rotisserie. Chilaquiles are among the breakfast options, and there are plenty of affordable dinner entrées as well. The margaritas are excellent and inexpensive.

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Tanoreen

$$ Fodor's Choice

This restaurant put Bay Ridge on the foodie map when it first opened in 1998, and chef-owner Rawia Bishara’s refined Palestinian dishes—a tribute to her rich Middle Eastern heritage—continue to draw crowds and accolades. Vaulted ceilings and a glass-enclosed atrium are a stylish backdrop for the inventive interpretations of home-style meals. Don’t miss dishes like the cauliflower with tangy pomegranate molasses, the delectable eggplant napoleon, and anything made with lamb (but especially, if it's on the menu, the freekeh bel lahmeh, a type of ancient grain prepared with perfectly seasoned lamb). The signature dessert, knafeh—baked sweet cheese in phyllo dough, topped with rosewater and pistachios—requires a worthwhile 10-minute wait while it bakes.

Taqueria de los Muertos

$ | Prospect Heights Fodor's Choice

Casual and unassuming, this taquería with Day of the Dead decor serves what are arguably the neighborhood’s best tacos, as well as burritos, nachos, and tostadas with a variety of fillings and four types of beans. Just a few blocks north of the Brooklyn Museum, it’s among the best options for a quick, low-fuss meal (there's no table service on weekdays). There are brunch options on weekends.

UnTable

$$ | Carroll Gardens Fodor's Choice

The prefix "un-" in this acclaimed Thai restaurant's name is a double entendre: un, homophone of the nickname of its chef, Aun Kampimarn; and un as in it proudly serves unconventional Thai food, when compared to common Thai take-out fare like pad Thai or Panang curry. Here, supple okra finds balance with crispy fried garlic, whole fishes are smothered in curries, and northern Thai dishes of steak or ground pork have a perfect balance of spice flavor and heat. For those wanting to turn the spiciness up to a new level, they also offer "WHAT THE HELL!!" fried rice, with 12 unapologetic chili icons on the menu to denote its intensity.

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream

$ | Greenpoint Fodor's Choice

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.

Vinegar Hill House

$$$ | DUMBO Fodor's Choice

Outfitted with candlelit tables and a twinkling rear garden, this romantic destination is well worth the sloping walk up from the waterfront. Seasonal menus include inventive new American fare and crowd-pleasing brunch dishes, with a couple of pasta dishes and classics like roast chicken, chicken liver mousse, and pork chops always in rotation. Wait times can be considerable, but the cozy bar pours potent cocktails, local beers, and wine by the glass in the interim.

Wheated

$$ Fodor's Choice

Pizza is the thing at Wheated, and the menu lists nearly 20 Neapolitan-style pies—all named after neighborhoods in Brooklyn, which is fitting for this laid-back, local's-favorite spot. There are several white (no sauce) and vegan options, but meat eaters should try one with Faicco’s sweet fennel sausage. Add a kick to your pie with locally produced Mike’s Hot Honey and the owner’s blend of ground, roasted Thai chili pepper. The cocktail menu has creative options that stand up to the pizza, so sipping drinks in the separate bar area is equally enticing.

Zenkichi

$$$ Fodor's Choice

Modeled on Tokyo's intimate brasseries, this hidden Japanese restaurant serves no sushi: they specialize in exquisitely composed small plates, best enjoyed as part of the eight-course omakase (chef's tasting menu), though you can also order à la carte. Instead of a dining room, guests are seated in private booths separated by bamboo curtains, so other diners are audible but not visible. The gracious waiters can recommend sake to pair with your meal. This might be the closest to Tokyo you can get in Brooklyn.

983 Bushwick's Living Room

$$ | Bushwick

This popular spot on Flushing Avenue, near some of East Williamsburg’s most-frequented shops and restaurants, is best known for lunch and brunch comfort food, and also stays open for dinner. Sandwiches are the big thing—the Philly cheesesteak, marinated artichoke, and crispy buffalo chicken are among the standouts—though there's a bit of everything on the menu, and breakfast is served all day. Local artwork hangs on the walls.

A&A Bake & Doubles

Inside this tiny shop, the “King of Doubles” whips up Trinidad and Tobago’s classic breakfast sandwich called a “doubles” (always plural): fried bread filled with chickpea curry and tamarind, apple, and mango chutneys. Choose your hot-sauce heat level (mild, slight, or plenty) and grab some napkins and maybe a Solo sparkling apple or banana juice to go.

Abracadabra

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.

Adelina's Fraschetta Romana

$$ | Greenpoint

Neapolitan-style fried pizza—made with imported Italian flour, San Marzano tomato sauce, house-made mozzarella, and various toppings—is the highlight of the menu at this rustic Italian trattoria. Charmingly mismatched furniture conveys a low-key vibe. Start with the arancini (Sicilian rice balls stuffed with pesto, mushrooms, or sausage and fried) or an antipasto plate. Bonus: Oak barrels behind the bar hold "natural wines," made from sustainably grown organic grapes, on tap.

Agi's Counter

$$ | Crown Heights

Named after the chef’s Hungarian grandmother, this welcoming, shabby-chic café offers elevated takes on Austro-Hungarian cuisine. Think goulash, chicken liver mousse, and fancy open-faced melt sandwiches. A popular brunch spot, favorite items include pogacsa (old world cheese biscuits with egg, dill, and speck), palacsinta (brown butter-smothered crepes with sweet cheese and fruit compote), and impressive hash browns with horseradish sour cream and scallions. Baked goods are a must; get them before they sell out for the day.

al di là Trattoria

$$ | Park Slope

Roughly translated as "beyond," al di là has been a neighborhood favorite since it opened in 1998, and it's easy to understand why: it serves well-prepared Northern Italian dishes in a cozy atmosphere. The warm farro salad with seasonal ingredients and goat cheese is perfectly al dente; the hand-pinched ravioli are delicious; and meatier entrées like braised rabbit, Tuscan tripe stew, and pork loin scaloppine with prosciutto are highlights.

Allswell

An alum of Manhattan's much-lauded Spotted Pig gastropub opened this popular spot, where closely packed tables, medieval-looking chandeliers, and a patchwork of patterned wallpaper are a rustic backdrop for elevated pub fare. At dinner the roast chicken is a standout; at brunch it's hard to choose between fluffy pancakes and eggs Benedict.

Alma

Spread over three levels, Alma is a neighborhood treasure, serving excellent Mexican food. The bottom floor is a busy bar; the second floor is a cozy dining room; and the third is a roof deck, heated in winter, with views of Manhattan. Start with a margarita and guacamole—or the salsa sampler-—then move on to delicious renditions of flautas (crispy rolled tortillas with various fillings), tacos, and enchiladas.

Almondine Bakery

$ | 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.

Almondine Bakery

$ | DUMBO

Arguably the best French bakery outside Montmartre is on DUMBO's Water Street. Chef Herve Poussot helms this neighborhood favorite, baking chocolate raspberry croissants, mille-feuille, macarons, and pear tarts, as well as baguettes, quiche, and sandwiches. Pick up a snack and a coffee to take to the park.

Amorina Cucina Rustica

$$ | Prospect Heights

This homey pizza-and-pasta restaurant splits the difference between sophisticated artisanal fare for adults and simpler, kid-friendly options. While thin-crust pies are available with just sauce and cheese (this is Brooklyn, so the tomatoes are organic and the mozzarella farm-fresh), Amorina shines when it comes to unusually topped pizzas, such as Gorgonzola and fruit with figs, or a sauce-free potato pie with caramelized onions. Pastas lean toward the classics, with tasty lasagna (meat and veggie) and fettuccine Bolognese.

Anopoli Family Restaurant

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.

Antica Pesa

$$$

The Williamsburg outpost of the historic Roman restaurant serves handmade pastas in an upscale setting. Though the decor is modern, the recipes uphold tradition: try the spaghetti cacio e pepe (al dente pasta with pecorino Romano and crushed black pepper) or the carbonara. The extensive wine selection (all Italian) ranges in palate and price from an approachable $35 Dolcetto d'Alba to the absurdly extravagant $900 Masseto. Antica Pesa draws the A-list—Madonna, Julianne Moore, and Giorgio Armani have all dined here.

AP Café

$ | 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.

Archway Cafe

$ | 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.

Areo Ristorante

Bay Ridge families have been coming to this lively, upscale restaurant for old-school Italian food and old-world service for more than 25 years. The waiters are genial and the atmosphere is gregarious, which just goes to show that everyone's having a good time. The menu features mostly Neapolitan cuisine and you can't go wrong with any of the baked pastas; the veal marsala and the sea bass are also popular.

Arepera Guacuco

$ | Bushwick

Arepas are griddled corn patties filled with meats and cheeses and sometimes vegetables; at this casual Venezuelan restaurant you watch them being freshly patted into shape and griddled, right behind the bar. Start with an order of tajadas (sweet plantains topped with shredded cheese) or the tequeños (fried green plantains). The latter are served with homemade salsa rosada (a mix of ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard that tastes better than it sounds) and picante nula (a hot sauce of jalapeños and tomatillos).

Atrium

$$$ | DUMBO

The industrial-chic interiors at this bi-level, French-accented New American destination include pendant lamps and a buzzy open kitchen. Seasonal New American dishes such as Long Island duck and market fish are paired with an array of wines by the glass, and the bar pours house cocktails made with local spirits and an array of international piscos, mezcals, and barrel-aged Spanish gins.

Avlee Greek Kitchen

$$ | Carroll Gardens

Authentic dishes and the use of top-grade products (olive oil, feta, freshly baked pita) are the reasons locals adore this restaurant. Start with the Prasini salad, a delicious blend of crisp romaine, dill, scallions, and a generous amount of the aforementioned salty cheese. The space is tight, and service can be slow during the busy dinner rush, but it’s worth the wait when you’re presented with a steaming plate of moussaka or haloumi cheese grilled to perfection.

Baked in Brooklyn

Follow the smell of fresh bread to this giant bakery with a storefront selling a variety of breads, cupcakes, cookies, danishes, and a select menu of sandwiches. It's especially convenient for picnics in Green-Wood Cemetery. The line of baked pita chips can be found all over the city.

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