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.

Bar Tabac

$$ | Boerum Hill

A happening French bistro, with well-worn decor and live jazz several nights a week, Bar Tabac has been a neighborhood mainstay since opening in 2001. The aperitifs are impeccably chilled, the steak au poivre sizzles seductively on the grill, and the moules have just the right amount of broth for dipping your frites. This is the ideal destination for a romantic late-night bite, weekend brunch (perfect at a sidewalk table), or, if you're looking for a big party, Bastille Day.

Bar Tano

This Italian corner restaurant with a lively bar scene is perfect for a casual meal, happy hour deals at the bar, and a leisurely weekend brunch or a romantic dinner. The menu hits all the high points, from bucatini pesto and carbonara, to a daily whole fish and wine-braised short ribs with polenta. Pizzas are great to kick off the meal.

Battersby

$$$ | Carroll Gardens

The five-course tasting menu is the $75 ticket to a reservation at this small, acclaimed restaurant. Chefs and co-owners Walker Stern and Joe Ogrodnek met while working for Alain Ducasse and are known for highly seasonal cooking that merges French techniques with the products of Brooklyn, the Hudson Valley, and points beyond. There's a small à la carte menu as well. Walk-ins are welcome.

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Bergen Dean Sandwich Shop

$ | Prospect Heights

Tucked a block behind the Barclays Center, this no-frills takeout gem has a small menu anchored by a slow-cooked, aromatic porchetta sandwich that is large enough to share (though you won't want to), as well as soups, snacks, and desserts. Other sandwich stars include chicken schnitzel, pork rib, and kimchi-spiced barbecue chicken.

Berg’n

$ | Crown Heights

This food and beer hall from the team behind Smorgasburg and the Brooklyn Flea lures visitors from all over Brooklyn and beyond to a warehouse on a formerly nondescript street. The massive space, often filled and sometimes completely jammed, has a 40-foot antique bar and a handful of Smorg’s favorite vendor stands including Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue, Lumpia Shack, and LandHaus. It's family-friendly until 9 pm on Friday and Saturday; after that, it's 21 and up only.

Bien Cuit

$ | Boerum Hill

Locally ground flour, hand-mixed doughs, and European recipes are among this artisanal bakery and café's secrets to success. Some regulars drop by to stock up on classic challah, French pain de mie (a sweet bread good for sandwiches or to toast) and baguettes, and Italian Pugliese loaves, but others come for the pastries, sandwiches, or quiches. It's hard to choose among the cranberry danishes, fruit tarts, chocolate pecan tortes, or the flawless croissants, the latter served plain or with various fillings.

Bittersweet

$ | Fort Greene

Tight on space but long on taste, this slim café is named for its two primary menu categories: coffee and desserts. Baristas know most customers both by sight and by their La Colombe coffee beverage of choice. Pair yours with pastries from the best of the local bakeries or opt for something savory like a salad or a sandwich on Balthazar bread.

Bridge Coffee Shop

$ | DUMBO

This homespun Latin American diner is the antidote to DUMBO's stilettoed galleristas and hipper-than-thou start-up scene. Neighborhood denizens, Latino expats, and the occasional off-duty mail carrier convene for hearty plates of pernil (roast pork), maduros (sweet plantains), and exceptional medianoche sandwiches.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Food Stands

$ | DUMBO

Several of Manhattan's and Brooklyn's top restaurants—including the Ace Hotel's No. 7 Sub and the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory—have outposts along the waterfront just north of Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Across the street, a dine-in branch of Danny Meyer's global juggernaut Shake Shack has an entrance on Old Fulton Street.

Brooklyn Commune

House-baked pastries and breakfast are served every day of the week at this sunshine-filled eatery. Delicious sandwiches and a variety of tasty vegetarian and vegan options make up the rest of the menu offerings. Dinner isn't served, but weekend brunch is very popular.

Brooklyn Crab

$$ | Red Hook

If you see the fiberglass head of a hammerhead shark in the front yard, you've arrived at this three-story restaurant where the nautical paraphernalia continues inside and out. Fashioned to be a beach house down the shore, there's an indoor restaurant component serving up crabs and other seafood, which spills out to the large seating area in the back. With an outdoor beach bar and miniature golf course, it's a fun maritime retreat where some New Yorkers spend entire afternoons in as a minigetaway.

Brooklyn Crab

$$ | Red Hook

Hanging out at this sprawling year-round crab shack can feel like you're a world away from New York City. The food hits all the high points—from peel-and-eat shrimp to seasonal crab specials, crab rolls, po'boys, oysters, and the Crab Royale dinner for two with a selection of crab and a lobster. On the main level is a tiny minigolf course,bean-bag-toss games, and even a few sandboxes to keep the kids entertained.

Brooklyn Farmacy

$ | Carroll Gardens

Half the fun of this 1920s-style soda fountain is the setting, with swirl-top stools and vintage apothecary drawers and penny-tile floors from the long-closed Longos Pharmacy. The other is a dream menu for sweet tooths. Nostalgia comes in classic Brooklyn egg creams and sparkling sodas, and novelty lands in supersize sundaes like Mr. Potato Head (with potato chips), Breakfast in Bed (with candied bacon) and Affugazi Affogato (with espresso).

Brooklyn Kolache Co

Sure, doughnuts are all the rage, but for something a little different, head to this cozy bakery-café near Pratt Institute for the renowned Czech (via Texas; the owner is from Austin) kolaches, pillowy pastries filled with sweet and savory ingredients like lemon curd, strawberry and sweet cheese, or sausage and cheese. There can be more than 20 varieties to choose from at any one time. Enjoy one (or several) with a fresh raspberry-lime rickey in the café's sunny back garden, or get a few to go.

Cafe Colette

An owner of the Hotel Delmano bar across the street operates this charming corner bistro with an enclosed garden that's open year-round. Inside, the weathered wood, a zinc bar, leather banquettes, and candlelit tables lend the place a romantic, old-world feel and provide a backdrop to fresh, simple New American food influenced by the cuisines of Italy, France, Spain, and Central America. Standout dishes include the crispy-chicken sandwich (served at lunch) and the handmade pastas, among them wild nettle and ricotta ravioli. Craft cocktails are poured, and the wine list focuses on small producers known for sustainable agricultural practices. Reservations are recommended on weekends.

Café Grumpy

$ | Greenpoint

Made famous by the HBO television show Girls—the character Ray works here—this indie coffee shop roasts its beans in the roastery next door and sends them to its other cafés around the city. Café Grumpy serves all the usual drip coffee and espresso drinks plus pastries, with gluten-free options. This location, opened in 2005, was the first.

Cafe Luluc

$$ | Carroll Gardens

This French bistro is a longtime, lively neighborhood favorite, especially for weekend brunch, when lines can spill out onto the sidewalk. Francophiles can get classics like croque monsieur, brioche French toast, and moules marinière but the extensive menu spans contemporary cuisine. The vibe is more Paris than Brooklyn: all tiles, zinc bar, and tin ceiling. A soaring tree shades the serene patio.

Café Madeleine

In addition to excellent coffee, tea, and even kombucha (on tap), this bustling café near the Q train serves local farm-fresh and homemade fare from eggs and biscuits to veggie and poke bowls. Sandwiches come piled high with organic ingredients such as fresh avocado, leafy greens, and the "world's best" pastrami. You'll want to try all 10 grilled cheeses, be it classic cheddar, fig and apple, or another delectable variation. Though a tad cramped, the café's more than 30 tables are spread out in two rooms.

Café Pedlar

$ | Cobble Hill

The folks behind Frankie's 457 and Prime Meats in Carroll Gardens operate this bustling café whose limited seating only heightens its cachet. The expert staffers pull espresso drinks and pour-overs made with the latest and greatest roasts from nearby Stumptown. If you want to try something different, look for the output of "guest roasters" like Mad Cap from Grand Rapids, Michigan, or Anchored Coffee of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At the pastry counter you can pick up cookies, croissants, quiches, or the toothsome soft pretzels.

Café Rue Dix

$$ | Crown Heights

Whether it’s the rhythmic African music, the aromatic Ataya tea, or the stylish diners from all parts of Brooklyn, be prepared for this romantic Senegalese-French fusion bistro to steal your heart (and stomach). The charming knickknacks in this vibrant, intimate space create an authentic backdrop for dishes straight from the owners’ kitchen in Dakar, such as the hearty Thiebou Jen (stewed fish and vegetables over rice; the national dish of Senegal) and Fataya (beef empanadas with Senegalese hot sauce).

Café Tibet

This brightly painted Tibetan restaurant perched above the subway tracks next to the Cortelyou Road station draws a crowd. The budget- and vegetarian-friendly menu is strong on homemade traditional Himalayan dishes like momos (dumplings), curries, tsam-thuk (barley soup), baklap (patties of minced beef, garlic, and onion), and butter tea, which is salty and usually an acquired taste. Order the thali platter for a complete meal with daal (lentil soup), mustard greens, salad, and papadum flatbread. With only seven tables, there’s often a wait.

Caffè De Martini

$$ | Prospect Heights

It's hard to miss this charming little café when strolling down Vanderbilt Avenue with its big, faux floral design adorning its doorway. Inside, the decor is just as inspired by flowers and plants, as intended by its Colombian co-founder Camila Soto, who designed it. Her Colombian-influence is evident on the menu (i.e., arepas) of what's otherwise Italian-inspired, thanks to co-founder and namesake Stefano De Martini. Stop in for a quick cornetto or a cortado.

Cecconi's Dumbo

$$$ | DUMBO

As an upscale eatery known around the world, Cecconi's made a splash when it joined the polished DUMBO culinary and cultural scene in 2017. The Italian menu and stunning East River–facing outdoor terrace are enough to warrant a visit; but no matter the season or weather, the roomy bar, outstanding service, and inviting furnishings make this a hot spot well worth a trip to this historic district.

The Chocolate Room

$ | Park Slope

Chocolate from Belgium and France fills the molten, moist, frosty, frothy, and gooey desserts made at this cozy, sit-down dessert café founded by a Park Slope couple in 2005. The main event is dessert—warm chocolate chip almond cake, flourless chocolate cake with raspberry framboise, a black chocolate stout float, or any of the seasonal or weekend-only specials. You can also buy house-made bonbons and artisanal bars from Brooklyn chocolatiers.

Choice Market

If you're planning a picnic at the Pratt Institute Sculpture Park or looking for a low-key meal, this take-out counter and café will do you right. Prepared salads, sandwiches, and excellent pastries are pricier than your average corner deli, but then again, most bodegas don't have farro salad, salmon burgers, or pear brûlée cheesecake on the menu. Service can be slow.

Chuko

$$ | Prospect Heights

A small, reliably tasty menu headlines this Prospect Heights institution for buns, Brussels sprouts in fish sauce, and above all, ramen noodles in savory broths. Pork, chicken, and eggs are typical add-ons to any of their flavorful bowls, although any can be made vegetarian. Long waits for a table are the norm—especially during winter months—however, seats at the bar are in constant flux.

Cinco de Mayo

Colorful textiles adorn the windows of this tiny taquería that serves a sizable, affordable menu of authentic dishes. The “super” tacos (choice of meat with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, and guacamole), mole entrées, quesadillas, and hearty chicken, goat, and pozole (hominy) soups go well with the refreshing tamarind juice or horchata (a rice-milk drink with cinnamon)—both house-made. With fewer than 10 tables it can get crowded on weekends. Sidewalk seating is available in warm weather.

Clover Club

$$ | Cobble Hill

Long recognized for a classy yet cozy vibe and excellent drinks—both classic and inspired by the classics---this is one of the best cocktail bars in Brooklyn. Passionate mixologists cook up seasonal cocktail menus and tasty bites to pair with them. Weekends get busy, especially with brunch service, but head here on weeknights to sit at the bar and call bartender's choice.

Coffee Mob

Attentive baristas expertly prepare luscious lattes and single-origin cold-brewed coffee in this stylistically minimal corner coffee shop. Owner Buck Berk personally travels to farms around the world to find Coffee Mob's beans, which are roasted at Brooklyn's Pulley Collective. Enjoy your coffee with pastries or a bagel and feel revived with both caffeine and the shop's abundant natural light.

Colson Patisserie

$ | Park Slope

Expertly baked pastries like croissants, tarts, turnovers, macaroons, and financiers are the darling showpieces at this Belgian-inspired bakery, though the soups, salads, and sandwiches are also delicious. There are tiny self-service tables and, in good weather, sidewalk seats. It closes at 7.

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