Visiting Brooklyn Like a Local – Things to Do Near Prospect Park
Visiting Brooklyn in summertime is the absolute best! I’ve picked the area around Prospect Park and Park Slope to highlight the places to visit and things to do to make you feel like a local. Here are some tips-
1. Food- It goes without saying that you will find amazing food here. For a great restaurant pick, I recommend a google search because the list of possibilities is endless. The same goes for coffee shops.
For a great bakery experience, I suggest Julien Boulangerie (croissants) at 186 Fifth Avenue, Cousin Johns at 60 Seventh Ave (cake), and for a gluten-free option, Sixteen Mill Bakeshop has a popup at 552 Union St.
For amazing old school pizza, visit the shops on Seventh Avenue- especially Roma and Da Nonna Rosa- and on Fifth Avenue- Brooklyn DOP and La Villa.
2. Shopping- The best shopping street is Fifth Avenue in Park Slope between Barclays Center and 9th St. You will find a variety of small shops catering to every need. A few favorites: The Ribbed Bodice (romance books) at 218 Fifth Ave, Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store at 232 Fifth Ave, Aesop at 225 Fifth Ave (a chain but still awesome), Something Else (clothes) at 206 Fifth Ave to name a few. I also love Kiwi at 119 Seventh Ave for clothes.
3. Bars- Another category too numerous to list but you might want to check out High Dive, Blue Print or Union Hall, all near the intersection of Fifth Ave and Union St.
4. Prospect Park- Super beautiful any time of year, Prospect Park shines in summer. It’s huge, so best to pick a path. I enjoy entering at Grand Army Plaza, looping along the road to the right. At 9th St, I take the paved path on the left and another left at the bottom of the hill. This takes you past the dog pond, with views of the picnic house, a small waterfall and back to GAP.
Summertime offers free yoga classes, concerts of up-and-coming musicians and movie nights. You’ll enjoy all of these things with local Brooklynites. If you love dogs (and why wouldn’t you?), off leash hours are 7-9am daily and it is an exuberantly joyful experience.
Links:
https://www.cousinjohnsbakery.com/
https://www.electricbeets.com/
https://www.julienboulangerie.getsauce.com/
https://www.sixteenmill.com/
https://www.therippedbodicela.com/
https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/
https://www.instagram.com/somethingelse_bk/?hl=en
https://kiwiandfig.com/
https://www.aesop.com/us/r/aesop-park-slope/
https://juliettefloraldesign1.com/
https://www.blueprintbrooklyn.com/
https://unionhallny.com/
https://www.highdive-brooklyn.com/