Thanks to a combination of business trips, family visits and personal pleasure, by some margin the city that we have visited most is New York. We have stayed in Midtown, Upper East and West Sides, Lower Manhattan, Harlem, Queens, The Bronx and even Yonkers (which is not technically New York City). But our absolute favourite and where we recommend you stay is Brooklyn.
These are our 7 reasons to stay in Brooklyn when you next visit New York City.
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1. It will save you money
New York is expensive, so this is relative, but sleeping, eating and shopping in Brooklyn is so much more reasonable than Manhattan. Of course, the same can be said of Queens, The Bronx or staying across the Hudson River in New Jersey, but Brooklyn is different, as there is so much more than simply saving money and travelling into Manhattan. So read on to find out why.
2. Small Town Feel
With a population of 2.6 million, which would make it the third largest city in the USA on its own, it seems crazy to say this, but downtown Brooklyn and areas like Williamsburg give Brooklyn a real small town (or at least small city) feel. The other boroughs are different: Manhattan is obviously the centre of a huge city, while Queens and The Bronx are typical suburbs, where the focal point is somewhere else, in these cases Manhattan.
We typically stay in the Downtown Brooklyn area, which is the hub of Brooklyn, which we love, as we can wander round the local restaurants and shops. Unless you want to, there is no need to go to Manhattan, but if you do, it’s literally 3 minutes away.
3. The Coolest Airbnb Rentals
Downtown Brooklyn has a great selection of hotels, including all the major brands such as Marriot, Sheraton and Hilton, at prices less than Midtown Manhattan and in an area far less sterile than Lower Manhattan (where you can get some real bargains over the weekend).
Better still are the Airbnbs. If you want to live like a hipster in a chic apartment in a cool neighbourhood for a few days check out the Airbnb listings in Brooklyn. What’s more, not only are the prices usually less than in Manhattan, but the places also tend to be a little bigger too.
To see some of the hippest listings, read this article in Time Out before you start searching Airbnb.
4. Food
Brooklyn has more fabulous restaurants than any other part of New York except Manhattan, and even then, it’s a close run thing. If you have a few bucks to splash, head to Michael’s of Brooklyn, the wonderful DeStefano’s Steak House or the Michelin starred Francie for fine dining to match anything in Manhattan. Otherwise, there are great Thai, Japanese, Indian and casual American options.
At the other end of the scale, and better suited to our pocket is Dekalb Market Hall, a food court comprising dozens of unique eateries offering high quality meals from across the globe. It’s like Chelsea Market only cheaper, with friendlier staff and way more seating.
5. Things to Do
If you stay in the Bronx, Queens and other areas, you are going to spend large chunks of your time travelling to the attractions in Manhattan (or Brooklyn). But Brooklyn has so much for you to do and see without you having to leave the borough.
Head to Prospect Park for the oasis of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the fascinating Brooklyn Museum. Visit the artisan workshops, local stores and restaurants at Industry City. Have fun at Brooklyn Bridge Park on the restored 1920’s merry-go-round and walking the riverside esplanades with their fabulous Manhattan views. Go wild in the retro world of Coney Island. And, of course, cross into Manhattan by foot on the Brooklyn Bridge.
6. It’s Convenient
If you are staying in downtown Brooklyn, you can be in lower Manhattan in just 3 minutes by subway. It’s only one stop. With a total of 13 subway lines going through Brooklyn, reaching further into Manhattan, or anywhere else in New York City is a breeze.
If your arrival and departure airport is JFK, the A and C train will connect you directly with Brooklyn.
If La Guardia is your airport, your best bet is an Uber or taxi. However, if you are being budget conscious and are not in a rush, the subway is far cheaper, but will take over an hour at any time of day.
7. Fewer Tourists
When you stay in Midtown, you encounter two types of people. Firstly, you have the other tourists and visitors, often ambling around slightly aimlessly, and then there are those who work in the many offices; they always seem to be in a hurry.
Now when you are based in Brooklyn, there are far fewer of either of these types, it’s “real people,” Brooklynites who you are likely to encounter. Of course, you can always venture into Manhattan for the tourists and office workers, but we bet that you will soon be hankering to be back in Brooklyn.
Of course, it’s not perfect. If you choose to stay in Brooklyn, you may go home without any photos of Times Square, Central Park and other Manhattan landmarks, because you spend all of your time in Brooklyn. Sure, you’ll have a great time, but take it from us and do cross the river in Manhattan at least once!
How did you find this article on Brooklyn? Drop me a comment below and be sure to check out more related articles listed below.
Author
Nick Abbott
Hi, I’m Nick. Visiting foreign countries has been an important part of my life since my parents moved to Kano in Nigeria in 1977. Since then, as both a military officer and in later jobs I have enjoyed the huge privilege of being exposed to many different countries and cultures.
I am delighted to be able to support my wife Monique and Yes2Yolo primarily by contributing travel articles, providing editing and proof-reading services and being a general sounding board.
New York.. New York! A fab city! Having stayed in both Brooklyn and Manhattan I can say that you are spot on!
Thank you Elizabeth! It is indeed a fab city!