Bedford-Stuyvesant

Located in central Brooklyn, the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, otherwise known as Bed-Stuy, is nudged up against the ultra-hip and well-known Williamsburg. But this historic, vast neighborhood is making a name for itself with its boastful pristine brownstones and locally owned diners. Local favorites like Peaches HotHouse, Beast of Bourbon and the Pilar Cuban Eatery add modern touches to classic dishes. Although businesses are cropping up on every street and newcomers are flooding at a constant pace, the neighborhood still keeps its laid-back character.

Block parties, street art, and historic spots are commonplace in Bed-Stuy. After all, this is where Notorious B.I.G. and Jay Z got their start. The area offers a range of housing options from rooms-to-rent to apartments, or entire homes. One of the biggest draws to the neighborhood is the brownstone homes. With some of the most reasonably priced in the area, these residences represent various architectural styles like Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival. It is this unique blend of architectural style that has many residents pushing for the neighborhood to be designated as a Historic District.

Boerum Hill

The Boerum Hill neighborhood sports a tree-lined and “cool” Brooklyn aesthetic. Trendy shops and excellent dining are synonymous with Boerum Hill. The neighborhood is located just south of Downtown Brooklyn and is known for its coveted 19th-century townhouses and the Festival des Soupes, a “soup crawl” in which many of the local restaurants serve up tasting cups of house-made fare.

Combine this feel-good charm with convenient subway access, and it is easy to see why this neighborhood has recently gained such popularity that real estate developers have had to turn to something almost unheard of in the area: building new townhouses. For many, the “turnkey” condition of the newly built home along the neighborhood’s tree-lined urban streets, is a huge draw. That, and the fact that the neighborhood is a mere ten or fifteen-minute subway ride to Manhattan. Concerts and sporting events at Barclays Center are within walking distance, as is the vibrant green space of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. A bit farther west, sleek design stores and boutiques have set up shop and are a favorite of locals and visitors alike.

Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Heights-the stunning, historical “first suburb” lies at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge and is just one subway stop from Manhattan. Visitors and residents can appreciate the history this neighborhood has to offer. The area boasts more than 650 homes that predate the Civil War, and more than 1,000 that predate the turn of the century. There are even several very thoughtful, detailed and free walking tours available to allow visitors and future residents an opportunity to take a guided glimpse around the neighborhood.

While the shopping is second-to-none, the real draw of Brooklyn Heights is in the charming, tree-lined streets, rows of stunning brownstones, and historic churches. At the Promenade, the neighborhood’s most celebrated public space, one can look out the best view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline.

Carrol Gardens

Known as one of Brooklyn’s oldest Italian areas, Carroll Gardens has recently become a destination for those looking for a close-knit neighborhood with a casual, friendly vibe. Carroll Gardens has recently established itself as an area favorite.

Flush with hip bars, boutiques, and restaurants, this neighborhood has certainly never lost its Brooklyn vibe and thus forever attracts a creative and energetic population. Its tree-trimmed sidewalks and quintessential brownstones have also called to families and business people alike over the last decade. For visitors or soon to be residents, a stroll through Carroll Gardens promises a healthy dose of cool Brooklyn candor that will leave a lasting impression.

Clinton Hill

Favored for its diversity of people, restaurants, and activities, Clinton Hill caters to Pratt Institute scholars and ambitious professionals alike. The architecture in the neighborhood is a healthy mix of wood-frame homed, Italianate mansions, carriage homes, brownstones, midrise apartment complexes and three- to five-story brick row houses.

Clinton Avenue is the neighborhoods grandest boulevard lined with dining establishments and bars that host frequenting area residents. Myrtle Avenue is the main street miscellany of barber shops, chic salons, pet-friendly spots and specialty grocers. The neighborhood is also home to Fort Greene Park, which features a running loop, playgrounds and a Saturday Farmer’s Market.

Cobble Hill

Known for its peaceful, shady blocks and winding streets of brownstones, Cobble Hill has always been popular for those looking to settle down and recently has been the “it” destination for Manhattanites seeking a bit of the laid-back, Brooklyn lifestyle.

Cobble Hill boasts a wide variety of great bars and restaurants. Crowd favorites include Bocca Lupo, which offers Italian-style tapas and phenomenal cocktails, Hibino, dishing out the area’s best Japanese cuisine or Eaton, the spot for top-notch dumplings. Additionally, and quite notably, Cobble Hill is home to Brooklyn’s only Trader Joe’s. Beyond eating and drinking the neighborhood offers a host of entertainment options. The Cobble Hill cinema offers the latest and greatest movies and the charming Cobble Hill Park is an expansive green area amongst the hustle and bustle, great for a run or just soaking up the sun.

Columbia Street

The Columbia Street Waterfront District is one of Brooklyn’s smallest, yet most vibrant areas. Bordered by Cobble Hill and the Brooklyn Bridge Park, the neighborhood shares some of the best characteristics and entertainment of its well-known neighbors but maintains a quiet, unique identity.

The area is acclaimed to not have a single “chain store” within its borders but instead, supports many community business owners, artisans, and builders. The tight-knit neighborhood has seven community gardens, and a separated bike path offering incredible views of Downtown Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Live poultry markets operate near trendy restaurants, and the architecture is also a mix of new and old. New developments and conversions of former factories and industrial buildings into multi-plex housing are artfully mixed in with the row houses and historic brick townhouses.

Crown Heights

At roughly two square miles, with about 130,000 residents, the Crown Heights neighborhood is notable for its streets lined with rowhouses and the pedestrian mall along Eastern Parkway located amongst the beautiful homes on President Street.

There is also a thriving retail hub along Franklin Avenue with a Starbucks and a Ber’n-a beer hall with multiple food vendors. No matter where you find yourself in the neighborhood, the streets are always filled with locals shopping, catching up on the corner, and keeping tabs on neighbors.

The area also is home to a host of entertainment including the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Jewish Children’s Museum and the Weeksville Heritage Center, dedicated to the history of one of the country’s first free black communities. Recreation options include playgrounds and ball courts located in Brower Park, Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the nearby St. John’s Recreation Center which also boasts an indoor pool.

Ditmas Park West

Today, Ditmas Park West is commonly used to describe the western part of the Flatbush neighborhood as far south as Newkirk Avenue. Most of the residences in the neighborhood are grand, single-family homes, often three or four stories high and eighty to one-hundred years old.

An encyclopedic range of architectural styles is hosted on the leafy streets including, but not limited to, Victorian, Queen Anne, shingle style, colonial revival, Spanish Mission, and Georgian. Springtime in the neighborhood means gardens in the area explode with cherry, apple, peach, and pear blossoms but the bounty of public parks in the neighborhood are boastful year round.

Local hits include a piping hot latte at Café Madeline and a classic Brooklyn bagel at Catskills in route to a local book sale or the weekly Cortelyou Greenmarket which offers fresh, local produce, meat, poultry and more. There is a reason this neighborhood has a healthy mix of young, new residents and families who have been there for generations—community is everything in this area.

Downtown Brooklyn

Brooklyn’s many exciting neighborhoods, packed full of culture, high education institutions, restaurants, and shops, make the borough a top New York City destination. Centrally located, the Downtown area serves as an excellent introduction to the surrounding communities, all just a short train ride away. But many, after experiencing the hub that is Downtown Brooklyn, will choose not to venture too far.

For those looking for arts and entertainment, the outdoor space Metrotech Commons is the site to find exhibits, performances, and special events. The neighborhood is also home to many low-key restaurants, delis, and coffee shops where locals know just where to drop in for a celebrated burger or sweet slice of cheesecake. Classic brownstones merge effortlessly with new modern structures, and several college campuses bring a lively student population to the area. Though it is a hub for many businesses, the neighborhood has maintained its relaxed and laid-back Brooklyn appeal.

DUMBO

DUMBO, or “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass,” is widely known as the neighborhood that welcomes travelers into Brooklyn from Manhattan. But DUMBO is much more than a mere passageway. Residents boast about the beautiful views, cobblestone streets, and a thriving art scene. Additionally, the emergence of the tech industry and new entrepreneurial ventures in the area only add to the laidback, creative cultural hub that many are proud to call home.

With its converted industrial warehouses and vintage loft spaces, the neighborhood has redefined the meaning of chic and offers a host of activities beyond one’s front door. This neighborhood mixes its trendy shops, tasty restaurants and hip bars with manicured waterfront green spaces and historic enclaves.

Fort Greene

Anchored by its namesake park, the neighborhood of Fort Greene is a vibrant, tree-lined neighborhood in the heart of Brooklyn. With bustling farmers markets, a world-renowned performance space, hip boutiques, trendy flea markets, fabulous restaurants and a dedication to its literary and artistic roots, Fort Greene attracts residents looking for a slower pace of living without having to sacrifice the amenities of urban life.

Classic rowhouses and brownstones make up the majority of the available real estate, where one is sure to find neighbors catching up on their stoops and children playing on the quiet streets. “Spread love it’s the Brooklyn way.” The famous Notorious B.I.G. quote is painted on the side of a prominent building on the neighborhood’s main street making it quite evident to visitors that the residents of this neighborhood are proud to reside here.

Gowanus

Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood was formerly an industrial zone around the Gowanus canal. Now, however, this developing area hosts a mix of classic rowhouses and converted warehouses that artists, entrepreneurs and families alike call home. Since the early 2000s Gowanus has been morphing into one of Brooklyn’s popular yet off-the-beaten-track hubs, and with the potential of waterfront property, many who start off just visiting the area begin looking for a place of their own.

Visitors and locals can enjoy the growing “brewery trail” featuring a number of the areas trendy breweries or grab a bite to eat at a beloved neighborhood joint such as the Canal Bar or Givers & Takers, both right on Third Avenue. The area also has a host of entertainment options like concerts, plays or comedy skits at venues such as the Bell House and Littlefield. Although still undergoing a transitional period-Gowanus certainly has something for everyone.

Kensington

The niche within Brooklyn known as Kensington evokes a pastoral charm with its notable pre-Civil War Victorian mansions and quiet side streets. Still, its commercial corridors lined with boutiques, bodegas, and bars are sure to remind you that you are just outside Manhattan. Located south of Windsor Terrace, Prospect Park, and Green-Wood Cemetery, the area is known for its relative affordability and off-the-beaten-path vibe. The attractions within walking distance from Kensington are abounding and include the notorious Prospect Park, a lake and horseback riding stables. The 585-acre Prospect Park also merges into what is known as the Parade Grounds, which offer soccer and baseball fields along with indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Homes in the area range from pre-War buildings, private homes and townhouses, multifamily homes, co-ops, and condominium buildings.

Navy Yard

Established in the early 1800s, the Brooklyn Navy Yard served as America’s premier naval shipping facility for over one-hundred years. Today, the spirit of innovation again abounds throughout the neighborhood. The Yard is undergoing a large expansion thanks to a nearly $1B investment towards adding over two million square feet of space and 10,000 jobs. That means more than doubling employment in the area.

The majority of residences in the neighborhood are located within one block of the historic shipyard and are surrounded on two sides by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The community’s industrial atmosphere is well established, as are the locals’ love for the area. Many blocks display beautiful, red townhouses, complete with elegant stoops and decorative fixtures. Although the thin shape of the neighborhood may make for long walks to get to local restaurants or retailers, the area is served by two local bus lines which provide residents of the area with quick access to Downtown Brooklyn and the bustling blocks of Cobble Hill and Lower Manhattan is just a quick bike ride away.

Park Slope

A residential neighborhood boasting tree-lined streets and historic brownstones, Park Slope is a quintessential down-to-earth Brooklyn hub known for its open-minded community of families and young professionals. The roads are wide, shady and quiet, making Park Slope a breath of fresh air amid the hustle and bustle of the surrounding neighborhoods. Known for excellent public schools, vast stretches of green space, scores of restaurants, nightlife and entertainment, this area is the ideal neighborhood for many.

You will often see strollers and children of all ages on the sidewalks and stoops, and at night, a casual restaurant scene comes alive. For anyone looking for a night out, there are many riveting beer gardens and wine bars to enjoy.

Prospect Heights

While anchored by institutions such as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Heights is a mellow neighborhood admired for its classic brownstones and luxury condos. The commercial strips of the area along Vanderbilt and Washington Avenues offer a mix of bodegas and local diners alongside a new splash of bars and trendy restaurants.

Prospect Heights perfectly hits the balance between laid-back and lively. The museum is without a doubt, the cultural hub of the neighborhood but the legendary pancakes and Tom’s Diner, also known for handing out free pastries and coffee to those waiting in line for brunch, is a close second. In recent years, the neighborhood has seen a lot of new development providing more housing options for those looking to call this community home.

Prospect Park South

Although sometimes considered part of Flatbush, Prospect Park South has dynamic aspects that make it a distinct and noteworthy part of Brooklyn. The Prospect Park South neighborhood maintains a small town atmosphere although close in proximity to some of Brooklyn’s most vibrant spots.

As a designated historic district, the neighborhood is defined by freestanding houses and wide, tree-lined streets featuring diverse architecture that ranges from Queen Anne to Spanish Mission and even touches on French revival.

It's namesake park, which borders the neighborhood to the north, is a picturesque and popular recreational destination for those who call the area home and lends to the ability for visitors and residents to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Prospect-Lefferts Gardens

Prospect Lefferts Gardens is a small, quiet neighborhood in Brooklyn bordering the east side of Prospect Park. Peppered with unique architecture, beautiful townhouses, and a slew of mom-and-pop businesses, Prospect-Lefferts Garden offers many of the big city amenities but is just barely far enough of a commute to ensure its inhabitants continue to enjoy the cool, Brooklyn lifestyle.

The neighborhood’s real estate consists mostly of prewar rowhouses, single-family homes, co-ops, and newly renovated rental buildings. Nethermead, the central meadow in Prospect Park, is a favorite place to relax on the weekends. Every spring the nearby Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts a Cherry Blossom Festival in the fifty-two-acre garden.

Prospect-Lefferts Gardens does not fall short in Brooklyn’s food standards. It offers flavors from all over, but Caribbean cuisine is a notable specialty. Although there are plenty of Caribbean places in the area, the local favorites like Mango Seed and Food Sermon are a class above the rest.

Red Hook

Steadily evolving from its industrial roots, the neighborhood of Red Hook is changing as newcomers begin to call the isolated maritime neighborhood home. Although far from the subway, this Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood mixes classic NYC grit with deep historical roots, cobblestone ways, beautiful views, and a growing population.

Red Hook offers a unique and sought-after mix of old and new. Residents and visitors alike enjoy window-shopping on Red Hook’s main commercial drag, Van Brunt, which is home to local shops, upscale boutiques and casual, brunch-friendly restaurants and bistros with a view. For a taste of the old neighborhood, one can venture to Pioneer Works, an interdisciplinary art space inside a former industrial equipment factory that quickly became a favorite destination for the area’s creative types.

South Slope

South Slope has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike. Historical landmarks and shady, leafy streets of rowhouses coexist with stretches of industrial buildings. Fixed between two larger, bustling neighborhoods, Park Slope and Sunset Park neighborhoods, South Slope is more relaxed and has recently come to make its own name as a destination for quality bars, restaurants.

The area offers classics like Southside Coffee’s primo expresso drinks, Sidecar’s top-notch cocktails and high-end comfort food and Korzo’s infamous fried burger-just to name a few. Although the area does not have a lot of green space, the neighborhood has done what it can and built butterfly gardens along popular walkways, offering a place to relax for residents among the classic architecture of the area.

Sunset Park

The Sunset Park neighborhood, although a bit of a hike from Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, is becoming increasingly popular for its diverse and laid-back population. Over the years rents in the area have remained low due to its relative obscurity. Still, the area offers beautiful brownstones and classic rowhouses located close to the water, and because of its unusually high elevation, those that call it home get to experience magnificent views of downtown Manhattan and the bay area.

To the east stands Brooklyn’s Chinatown with rows of classic restaurants, bubble tea shops, and traditional boutiques. To the west is a large Latin American community with a host of authentic bars and restaurants. Amongst it all is the namesake itself, Sunset Park, aptly named for the beautiful boastful views it offers.

Windsor Terrace

Bordering Prospect Park, Windsor Terrace is known as a quiet and family-friendly neighborhood. The area offers highly rated public schools, tree-lined streets and too many local gems to list. It even has its own farmer's market at the neighborhood’s gateway to Prospect Park.

Nearby, the local institution that is Farrell’s Bar & Grill was the subject of a recent hit play and serve’s up no-frills favorites. Regina Bakery, a traditional Italian bakeshop, tantalizes passers-by with decadent cookies, sweets, and pastries displayed in the storefront window. Other unique spots include the tranquil block of Arts and Crafts houses on Fuller Place, and the Holy Apostles Episcopal Church, which looks like the cover of a fairytale novel.

Unassuming and inviting, Windsor Terrace offers residents and visitors alike a laid-back and tight-knit community, with all the necessities within reach.