Bushwick has become a cultural center, where the locals mingle with new implants to create an artistic and culinary haven.
It proves that Brooklyn offers more than just views of Manhattan, and that the waterfront isn’t the only trendy place to hang out. Use our NYTG Neighborhood Guide: Bushwick to navigate the area, and to experience some of the unique sites, sounds, and snacks of the neighborhood.
NYTG Neighborhood Guide: Bushwick
Start your day by taking the L train to Morgan Avenue. Don’t let the industrial surroundings fool you: this area is full of hidden, worldly art gems. Explore Interstate Projects and the Luhring Augustine gallery on Knickerbocker Avenue, or NURTUREart on Bogart Street. Then, satisfy your sweet tooth at Fine and Raw, where you can sip on a dark chocolate shot while watching cacao be processed in the back of the shop. And no day in Bushwick is complete without a stop at Roberta’s, one of New York City’s top pizzerias. Try the Famous Original pie for a taste of their best.
Next, walk down Bogart to where it intersects with Flushing Avenue and have a cocktail at Forrest Point – try one of their specialty milk punches. (The “milk” refers to how the drink is processed, so don’t balk when your waiter brings you something that’s not white.) Afterwards, continue down Flushing and check out Human Relations, a secondhand book store where you can find tons of classic and contemporary literature. Feel like splurging? The Shops at the Loom on the corner of Flushing and Knickerbocker feature galleries and independent boutiques selling local artists’ work.
Once you’re decked out in deco, take a right at the corner of Flushing and Wyckoff Avenue and stop in at the Cobra Club, next to the Jefferson Street station. Have a cappuccino, or a pint, or check out a yoga class – it’s an eclectic venue. Next, stroll down to Troutman Street and take in all of the phenomenal art that lines either side of the block. The talented artists of the Bushwick Collective have earned renown for their elaborate murals that have beautified the neighborhood for years. Explore Bushwick’s art scene further by peeking into Microscrope Gallery on Willoughby Street. If you’re up for another round of drinks, head to The Keep on Cypress Avenue at Starr Street. With vintage chandeliers hanging from the ceiling every couple of feet, and a decor that mixes antiques with taxidermied animals, it feels like being in your elderly neighbor’s living room (admittedly with more welcoming bartenders).
Head out and take a right on Suydam Street and go to Maria Hernandez Park, where in good weather you can see afternoon concerts, run on the track, or go to the weekend farmer’s market. Turn left down Knickerbocker Avenue to check out local food markets, pet stores, boutiques, and bargain buys. If your stomach is grumbling, turn left again at Myrtle Avenue and go to L’imprimerie. This new addition to the neighborhood is already earning buzz for its baked-daily bread and pastries. Afterwards, you can catch the train at either Wyckoff Avenue (L, M) or Knickerbocker Avenue (M).
If you plan to stay in Bushwick for the evening, there’s no shortage of entertainment. The newly revived House of Yes has near-daily music, aerial, and dance performances that shouldn’t be missed. The venue is right next to the Jefferson Street L train stop, so once you’re partied out you can hop on the subway and head home to tell your friends about your impending move to North Brooklyn.
Check out other NYTG Neighborhood Guides here.
