A Guide to Bed Stuy, Brooklyn [What to Do, Eat & Drink]

Bedford-Stuyvesant, also known as Bed-Stuy, is a historic Brooklyn neighborhood with a total population of 157,530. 

It is one of the largest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, with a large African-American population.

The charming Bed-Stuy is full of historic brownstones, a rich collection of Victorian architecture, and a thriving cultural environment.

 

 
 
 
 
 
在 Instagram 查看这篇帖子
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Bed-Vyne Wine & Spirits (@bedvyne) 分享的帖子

Enjoy visiting local businesses, art galleries, and lovely coffee shops in the middle of a quiet and small-town neighborhood in the city.

From places to eat and shops to explore, there is no doubt you will adore this quintessential neighborhood.

This article covers my top recommendations of worthy spots and activities for every visit.

Some other neighborhoods you may want to check out.

It is better to overview the complete neighborhoods of Brooklyn with the map before you continue.

Where Is Bed Stuy?

Bed-Stuy is located in northern Brooklyn and is bordered by several neighborhoods, including Clinton Hill to the west, Crown Heights to the south, Williamsburg to the north, and Bushwick to the east.


Bedford, Ocean Hill, Stuyvesant Heights, and Weeksville are some of the smaller neighborhoods of Bed-Stuy.

The A, C, and G trains for the Nostrand Avenue train station serve Bed-Stuy.

Is Bed Stuy Safe?

Despite its beauty, Bedford-Stuyvesant has one of the highest crime rates in New York. One out of 35 people is a victim of various crimes.

For every 100,000 residents, approximately 1,065 are victims of violent crimes. It is no doubt that it was selected as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in NYC.

Nevertheless, it is still one of the preferred neighborhoods for families because of its tight-knit community and opportunities for family activities and events.

Moreover, it is safe to say that the neighborhood still has a sense of security for its patrollers from the 81st and 79th police precincts.

Bc we represent BedStuy

Source

Where to Eat

Guacuco

  • 360 Throop Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221
  • Phone: 718-387-2300
  • Visit Website

Guacuco

Source

Bed-Stuy is a foodie paradise for unlimited options, unique tastes, and diverse cuisines.

Choose from a variety of international cuisines – from Venezuelan to Mexican and Italian dishes.

Guacuco is a family-owned restaurant that serves Venezuelan food, including their crowd-favorite empanadas, arepas, and cachapas.

Peaches HotHouse

  • 360 Throop Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221
  • Phone: 718-483-9111
  • Visit Website

Peaches HotHouse

Source

For casual Southern comfort food, head over to Peaches HotHouse and grab a plate of their best-selling hot chicken, shrimp sandwich, and sweet potato fries.

They offer a few selections of dishes on small plates, starters, sandwiches, HotHouse specialties, and sides.

Moreover, their specialties include fried chicken, fried shrimp, and fried catfish.

You can choose the level of hotness, including regular, hot, and extra hot.

Santa Panza

  • 1079 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11221
  • Phone: 347-413-9695
  • Visit Website

Santa Panza 1

Source

Santa Panza is one of the best places for Italian food as they serve gourmet pizzas and plates of pasta. It is also a good option for brunch if you are a brunch person.

They have an assortment of available meals for snacks, pizza, small plates, and large plates.

WARUDE

  • 385 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Phone: 718-684-4449
  • Visit Website

WARUDE

Source

Fancy Japanese? WARUDE offers the finest rice bowls, ramen, teriyaki, and their creative breakfast taco.

They have extensive Japanese bowl options, including salmon miso, teriyaki chicken, and tofu zucchini.

If you are going for tacos, I recommend their breakfast tacos: basic tacos, veggie tacos, and chicken mole tacos.

Where to Have Coffee

Burly Coffee

  • 356 Throop Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221
  • Phone: 718-388-0013
  • Visit Website

Burly Coffee

Source

Kickstart your day with a buzz of coffee drinks from the neighborhood’s local gems.

Bed-Stuy is a coffee lover’s delight with its vast options of coffeehouses offering exceptional flavors, perfect ambiance, and baked goods.

Burly Coffee is a contemporary coffee shop where you can appreciate great artwork while having one of the best espressos.

Brooklyn Kettle

  • 385 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Phone: 718-676-5154
  • Visit Website

Brooklyn Kettle

Source

Have a quick coffee run at Brooklyn Kettle, a small cafe with outdoor seating loved for its milky chai latte, quality espresso, and fresh pastries. You can shop, eat, and drink at their store from 8 am to 5 pm.

Mary’s Coffee Shop

907 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221

Phone: 917-893-9559

Brunch lovers will enjoy Mary’s Coffee Shop for its breakfast options, including pancakes, eggs, and french toast – all perfect with a cup of coffee.

They also serve a variety of soups, sopas, salads, ensaladas, pollos, and several meat dishes.

Drip Coffee Makers

  • 12 Belvidere St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
  • Phone: 917-704-6742
  • Visit Website

Drip Coffee Makers

Source

Lastly, Drip Coffee Makers offers an impressive coffee selection of espresso, drip, and beans.

They are in four locations: Belvidere St, Bushwick; Henry St, Brooklyn Heights; Varick St, Soho; Maujer St, Williamsburg.

Moreover, they are considered one of the best coffee shops in New York City, where you can have a cup of espresso and shop for coffee beans.

Where to Drink

Bed-Vyne Brew

  • 370 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Phone: 347-295-2218
  • Visit Website

Bed Vyne Brew

Source

This neighborhood is buzzing with nightlife with plentiful bars, as well as places to dance and enjoy music.

If you like dancing, I recommend Bed-Vyne Brew as they always have DJs around to pump up music. Their sangrias and craft beers are a local favorite too.

Project Parlor

  • 742 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
  • Phone: 347-497-0550
  • Visit Website

Project Parlor

Source

Project Parlor is your neighborhood bar that offers an affordable selection of drinks, good music, and a laid back vintage atmosphere. Their menu has a selection of cocktails, beers, and spirits.

If you are looking for a hype event in the neighborhood, check out their indoor and backyard events.

LunÀtico

  • 486 Halsey St, Brooklyn, NY 11233
  • Phone: 718-513-0339
  • Visit Website

LunAtico

Source

For live music, LunÀtico is a place to hang out and have Italian dishes. It is one of the best places for some jazz music, margaritas, and fun happy hour.

They have a complete list of drinks, including wine, beer, cocktails, agave, amari, and spirits.

Where to Shop

BLK MKT Vintage

  • 465 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Email: blkmktvintage@gmail.com
  • Visit Website

BLK MKT Vintage

Source

Shopping at Bedford-Stuyvesant is quite interesting as you will come across several beautiful stores, vintage shops, and locally-made items.

For instance, BLK MKT Vintage is a vintage store that keeps an array of Black American collectibles.

Their store is run by knowledgeable staff who are helpful enough to tell you about Black history and culture.

Harold and Maude Vintage

  • 592 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Email: haroldandmaudevintage@gmail.com
  • Visit Website

Harold and Maude Vintage

Source

Another must-visit vintage store is Harold and Maude Vintage, a small store loaded with excellent items.

It is a cool thrift store selling unique pieces, branded clothes, and masks.

If you want to support their local community, shop their original designs of shirts, bags, hoodies, and many more.

Moshood Creations

  • 1360 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Phone: 718-243-9433
  • Visit Website

Moshood Creations

Source

If you are into African culture, Moshood Creations offers African clothes and accessories for men and women.

Moshood makes his beautiful designs that are consistently high quality and fashionable.

Women can buy wrap skirts, Buba tops, and mid-length dashiki, whereas men can shop for tees, dashikis, and pants.

Peace & RIOT

  • 401-403 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Phone: 347-663-6100
  • Visit Website

Peace RIOT

Source

Peace & RIOT is a store for home decor and gift items. They sell various products, including clothing accessories, candles, homemade jewelry, and beauty products.

If you are looking for home items, check out their selection of items and furniture for kitchen and bath.

What Attractions to Visit

Historic District

278 to 290 Macon Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant

Whether you are an art enthusiast, nature lover, or history buff, Bedford-Stuyvesant has several attractions worth seeing.

Visit the rows of attractive brownstones located in the Bed-Stuy Historic District. More than 800 buildings display 19th-century architecture.

Restoration Plaza

  • 1368 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Phone: 718-636-6900
  • Visit Website

Restoration Plaza

Explore the large Restoration Plaza complex, a community center with an art gallery, the community theater Billie Holiday Theater, banks, and a supermarket.

It is a cultural hub and a center for community events like concerts, job fairs, and marathons.

Magnolia Tree Earth Center

  • 677 Lafayette Ave 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Phone: 718-387-2116
  • Visit Website

Magnolia Tree Earth Center

Source

Magnolia Tree Earth Center was established in 1972 by Hattie Carthan, a Bed-Stuy local and ecology activist.

If you want to support the environment, the Magnolia Tree Earth Center is a place to raise awareness about environmental issues.

It is a place for celebrating several events, including Earth Day and the Save the Three Campaign.

Richard Beavers Gallery

  • 408 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Phone: 917-375-2399
  • Visit Website

Richard Beavers Gallery

Source

Established in 2007, art enthusiasts can admire art from Richard Beavers Gallery. The gallery focuses on cultural and political issues of the Black community.

Aside from art, you can also attend their Artist Talk event, an event where you can have conversations in the gallery.

Fou Gallery

Fou Gallery

Source

Fou Gallery is another place to appreciate local art and buy from a limited collection of artwork from their Fou Shop.

It was established in 2013 to showcase the talent of up-and-coming artists.

Their several events are something to look forward to, including Afternoon Tea Part at Fou, Kintsugi Workshop, and Mushroom Cultures to Cultivation.

Parks

You can also relax with greenery through Fulton Park, Herbert Von King Park, or Hattie Carthan Community Garden.

Fulton Park was named after engineer and inventor Robert Fulton and is one of the most dog-friendly parks in the neighborhood.

Located on Lafayette Ave, Herbert Von King Park is a vibrant town square for community events and has several amenities such as barbecue areas, fields, and playgrounds.

Another park on Lafayette Avenue is Hattie Carthan Community Garden, the best place for community programs, workshops, and events.

Where to Stay

Akwaaba Mansion

  • 347 MacDonough St, Brooklyn, NY 11233
  • Phone: 866-466-3855
  • Visit Website

Akwaaba Mansion

Source

If staying more than a night at Bedford-Stuyvesant, there are several hotels where you can rest easily.

Akwaaba Mansion is a 19th-century mansion transformed into a bed and breakfast that features formal rooms.

It is one of the most recommended inns because of its vicinity within the Historic District.

Sankofa Aban

  • 107 Macon St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
  • Phone: 917-704-9237
  • Visit Website

Sankofa Aban is another bed and breakfast located along Halsey St. on a row of brownstone houses. It is an upscale Victorian bed and breakfast featuring rooms with a fireplace, parquet floors, and continental breakfast.

The inn was built in the 1880s and has been a place for events, including BrownstoneJazz, art exhibits, and concerts.

Hotels along Broadway

On the other side of Bed-Stuy are more options to choose from. For instance, you can find Brooklyn Broadway Hotel, Hotel RL Brooklyn, and Holiday Inn Express Brooklyn- Bushwick, which offer reasonable prices.

If you are looking for something cheaper, try Neptune Hotel on Broadway Street.

What Else Is Nearby?

On all sides of Bed-Stuy are some of the most popular neighborhoods in New York City.

For instance, to the east is Bushwick, a small area filled with art graffiti, lovely local coffee shops, and handmade products from community stores.

Clinton Hill is another nearby neighborhood where you can visit historic mansions or go to the Brooklyn Pop-Up Market.

Brooklyn Pop-Up Market is where you can meet different kinds of sellers, bakers, and makers.

Final Thoughts

There is more to these Brooklyn neighborhoods than just brownstones, landscapes, and cuisines.

One may appreciate its close-knit communities and deep cultural admiration. It is no wonder why people are fond of visiting these smaller Brooklyn neighborhoods.

Skip the city and discover the many secrets of Brooklyn by strolling the streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Did you find your favorite places in these neighborhoods? If not, simply leave a comment below in the comments section, and we will check them out too!

Leave a Comment