Weekend Getaway: Brooklyn, New York
Our guide to the borough features classic steakhouses, new-school bakeries, cocktail bars, coffee shops, and much more.
Welcome to the weekend!
The Fourth of July is here and what’s more American than New York City? We’re coming to you a day early this week ahead of the holiday. On our most recent trips, we’ve been spending more and more time in Brooklyn, so today we’re sharing some of our favorite places in the borough. We know it’s hard for visitors to confine themselves to just one part of the city (you’ll find some of our picks for Manhattan here and here), but there are so many great places to eat and drink in Brooklyn that it might not be a bad idea. This is our monthly Weekend Getaway newsletter, which features every place we like to eat and drink in a favorite destination. These newsletters are reserved for our paid subscribers. But for even more Brooklyn recommendations, be sure to download our Field Guide to Brooklyn, New York. It’s included with a paid subscription, but is also available on its own for $15 on our website.
Finally, before we head out for the long weekend, our Weekend Reading list features recommendations from three trusted sources for three cities: Wini Moranville on Iowa City, Nick Murway on Denver, and Julia Sayers Gokhale on Columbus, Ohio.
Enjoy the holiday and thanks for reading!
— Amy Cavanaugh & Kenney Marlatt
Editors, American Weekender
Brooklyn Bites
BROOKLYN, NY — In recent years, we’ve focused many of our New York trips solely on Brooklyn, where the food scene offers endless places to explore. Today, we’ll be sharing picks for classic New York staples like bagels and pizza, but we’ll also visit a sandwich shop that’s more than a century old, eat a few city-favorite burgers, get some delicious pastries, and leave plenty of time for coffee and cocktails. We like to stay in downtown Brooklyn, where you’ll find a number of hotels, since it’s a convenient home base for exploring the borough. Let’s explore what makes Brooklyn special, starting with coffee and inventive croissants.
With locations in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Williamsburg, DUMBO, and downtown, you have a few options for getting a cup of coffee from the local roaster Devoción. Founder Steven Sutton, who launched Devoción in 2006, sources beans from his native Colombia and roasts them for a variety of blends. There’s a full espresso menu as well as drip, pour over, cold brew, and seasonal selections. Either stay in and down a cortado or get a latte to go and proceed onto Radio Bakery, which has locations in Greenpoint and Prospect Heights. There will, I am sorry to report, likely be a line, but I will say — and this is about lines for food in general — if you get there early, you should do okay. When I arrived shortly after Radio opened, there were about 10 people in front of me.
Once inside, there’s a pastry case teeming with delights, including classic and seasonal croissants, sweets, and sandwiches served on springy focaccia. The smoked salmon sandwich, with layers of fish, cream cheese, dill, and pickled onions tucked between slices of everything spice focaccia, is fantastic. Split one, along with whatever croissant catches your eye — in the summer that might be corn and blueberry, while fall brings a stellar apple brown butter version.
You don’t want to completely overdo it though, since we’re heading to Peter Luger Steak House for lunch. Open since 1887, this family-owned spot serves appealing classics like Caesar salads, shrimp cocktails, and prime steaks dipped into the tangy house steak sauce. Go for lunch so you can get the Luger-Burger, which is nice and thick and dressed with American cheese and a slice of raw onion (the burger comes off the menu at 3:45 p.m.). Get one as your starter to share along with a salad, and then order the dry-aged steak for two and a side of German fried potatoes.
It’s not a visit to Brooklyn for us without a round or two of cocktails at Grand Army. The friendly Boerum Hill bar features rotating thematic menus — maybe it’s the Grand Ole Opry, the New York MTA, or the shopping mall. No matter the menu, you’ll always find well-balanced, memorable drinks. On my latest visit I liked the Dirty Dog Martini, a clever tipple with gin, dill aquavit, bay, and two vermouths with a pickled tomato garnish. This is a good place to grab a snack, since the oysters are great and during happy hour they’re $13 for a half dozen.