The El Camino Travel Guide to Brooklyn, New York
Written by Sarah Tinoco
When non-New Yorkers think of New York City, there’s a chance they envision Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty. The reality is New York City is so much more than the grandiose grit and glamour of Manhattan. New York City is comprised of five boroughs: Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island, in addition to the urbanized island of Manhattan. Few visitors to New York venture across the East River past the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn, the most densely populated borough of NYC, located on the west side of Long Island.
Brooklyn was named for the Breukelen settlement by the Dutch, after a former town in The Netherlands. The Dutch settled on the lands in the 1600s, taking over what once belonged to the Lenape and Canarsie people, the original indigenous owners of this part of the Northeast. Today, Brooklynites, as current residents are known, often strive to acknowledge the original inhabitants of the land. However, the Dutch influence remains strong, with the names of many of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods—Bushwick, Flatbush, Williamsburg—being named for Dutch words. Since colonial times, however, communities of all ethnicities and heritage have found a home in Brooklyn, from Puerto Ricans in Bushwick, to Caribbeans and African-Americans in Crown Heights. Brooklyn today is a thrilling melting pot of cultures, languages, religions, cuisines, and more.
Brooklyn, New York is a city in itself, and is one worth taking an entire trip to experience. We tapped Brooklyn locals and members of the ECT community to bring you our best recommendations for where to eat, drink, shop, and stay in this fascinating borough.
Eat
Enjoy delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes at Aunts et Uncles in Little Caribbean. Aunts et Uncles is a plant-based restaurant and lifestyle concept store owned by a husband and wife who have put all of their passion into curating a beautiful, community café. Aunts et Uncles serves café favorites including coffee and lattes, in addition to salads, burgers, and mofongo in a beautifully designed space. Sip on coffee or cocktails in its lovely among its millennial pink and seafoam green furnishings, custom artwork, and a curated selection of coffee table books.
Also included in the guide:
A hidden gem in Crown Heights serving coffee, pastries, horchata, empanadas, and tamales.
A Southern comfort food institution serving scrumptious dishes, from flavorful fried chicken and catfish, to rich french toast and mac and cheese.
Arguably one of the best pizza spots in all of New York City—a real neighborhood spot where it’s unlikely you’ll find tourists.
Shop
Get lost in Feng Sway, an eccentric plant shop, vintage, and decor shop in Greenpoint, Justin recommends. “This is the dopest merchandised store I’ve seen in quite some time. Super cute and plants for days,” he says of their abundant offering of unique plants. Feng Sway carries a selection of vintage clothing, accessories, and home decor, including ceramics, candleholders, and mirrors. Stop into Feng Sway to also browse their offerings of independent apothecary goods, greeting cards, and candles.
Also included in the guide:
A concept store that sells gorgeously curated contemporary designer apparel, sculptural accessories, rare home goods, and art.
A contemporary home decor store that sells everything cool, from bold furniture pieces to funky light fixtures, odd-shaped mirrors to one-of-a-kind planters.
Join the ECT Clubhouse—our digital community of well-traveled experts and women—to access the full guide. Get a two-week free trial to get inside and start exploring right away.
Drink
Get your dance on at Café Erzulie, a flower shop and café by day, and a vibrant bar and dance venue by night, in Bed-Stuy. Enter the proudly Haitian-American owned Café Erzulie through the floral shop to the bar for cocktails and affordable bottles of wine. Café Erzulie hosts live DJs throughout the week, playing the sounds from jazz and hip-hop, to dancehall and Afrobeats. This spot is known as a favorite of the Black queer community in Brooklyn, but is loved by all who enjoy an amazing night of dancing to global beats. Check Café Erzulie’s Instagram for details on its nightly events, as some DJ sets require pre-purchased tickets.
Also included in the guide:
A neighborhood corner bar offering a selection of draught beers, ciders, wine, mead and sangria, that hosts live DJs who set-up on the street in the summertime.
A cultural institution for Brooklyn’s Black community that’s also a go-to spot for dancing and weekend vibes.
