Stephano’s guidebook
Neighborhoods
Bedford-Stuyvesant
Food Scene
A fast and friendly vegan coffee shop and restaurant.
88 locals recommend
Natural Blend Vegan Cafe & Juice Bar
243 Malcolm X BlvdA fast and friendly vegan coffee shop and restaurant.
Amazing pizza featuring artwork outside by Shantell Martin. Great atmosphere with a cocktail bar attached. This popular Italian restaurant and bakery serves up top-notch pizzas with a number of creative combos on offer, like the coppa & carcoifi, with hot coppa and roasted spicy artichokes. Appetizers include grilled octopus, pickled sardines with grilled polenta, and meatballs, while a tight edit of pastas and mains complements the pizza selection. There’s also a bar down the block, opened in 2015. that serves up small plates, solid cocktails, and a place to wait for a table at the OG restaurant. In the summertime, there’s usually a cart outside serving up gelato.
1260 locals recommend
Saraghina
350 Lewis AveAmazing pizza featuring artwork outside by Shantell Martin. Great atmosphere with a cocktail bar attached. This popular Italian restaurant and bakery serves up top-notch pizzas with a number of creative combos on offer, like the coppa & carcoifi, with hot coppa and roasted spicy artichokes. Appetizers include grilled octopus, pickled sardines with grilled polenta, and meatballs, while a tight edit of pastas and mains complements the pizza selection. There’s also a bar down the block, opened in 2015. that serves up small plates, solid cocktails, and a place to wait for a table at the OG restaurant. In the summertime, there’s usually a cart outside serving up gelato.
Grandchamps — a laidback, airy daytime cafe and market focused on satisfying Haitian cuisine — offers a some sandwiches, plates, and appetizers. The thing to get is griot, or fried pork cubes marinated with Scotch bonnet peppers and lime, pickles, sweet plantains, and remoulade piled on ciabatta. Other options include codfish fritters and fresh conch in a spicy seafood broth. The corner location with seats along the windows also makes for prime people watching.
158 locals recommend
Grandchamps
197 Patchen AveGrandchamps — a laidback, airy daytime cafe and market focused on satisfying Haitian cuisine — offers a some sandwiches, plates, and appetizers. The thing to get is griot, or fried pork cubes marinated with Scotch bonnet peppers and lime, pickles, sweet plantains, and remoulade piled on ciabatta. Other options include codfish fritters and fresh conch in a spicy seafood broth. The corner location with seats along the windows also makes for prime people watching.
Peaches
393 Lewis AvePeaches Hot House is one of the few places in NYC that serves up Nashville-style hot chicken. Orders are served traditionally atop a a slice of white bread, a pile of pickles, and a choice of side, like macaroni and cheese, grilled broccoli, or grits (available crispy or creamy). Other options at this casual bar and restaurant include various Southern comfort dishes, but most people are here for the tear-inducing chicken.
604 locals recommend
Peaches HotHouse
415 Tompkins AvePeaches Hot House is one of the few places in NYC that serves up Nashville-style hot chicken. Orders are served traditionally atop a a slice of white bread, a pile of pickles, and a choice of side, like macaroni and cheese, grilled broccoli, or grits (available crispy or creamy). Other options at this casual bar and restaurant include various Southern comfort dishes, but most people are here for the tear-inducing chicken.
MAMA FOX
327 Stuyvesant AvePeri Peri Grill House
235 Malcolm X BlvdJuices For Life
277 Malcolm X BlvdFrench fare is hard to come by in Bed-Stuy, but when a craving for rich classics like steak frites and bouillabaisse hits, L’Antagoniste fits the bill. The charming restaurant opened in 2015, by the same team as Nolita’s Le Philosophe. Nightly specials include less commonly seen, deeply French dishes like pressed duck and chicken with truffles and cognac, cooked inside pig’s bladder. The bistro setting is slightly updated with various French icons on the wall and green rather than red banquettes.
350 locals recommend
L'Antagoniste
238 Malcolm X BlvdFrench fare is hard to come by in Bed-Stuy, but when a craving for rich classics like steak frites and bouillabaisse hits, L’Antagoniste fits the bill. The charming restaurant opened in 2015, by the same team as Nolita’s Le Philosophe. Nightly specials include less commonly seen, deeply French dishes like pressed duck and chicken with truffles and cognac, cooked inside pig’s bladder. The bistro setting is slightly updated with various French icons on the wall and green rather than red banquettes.
Nana Ramem
330 Malcolm X BlvdChez Oskar
310 Malcolm X BlvdTrad Room
266 Malcolm X Blvdhttps://www.aandabakedoublesandrotishop.com/
Bed-Stuy Trinidadian mainstay A&A Bake & Doubles Roti just gained a spot in the James Beard canon. The foundation, which runs one of the country’s biggest restaurant awards, named the counter-service spot one of America’s Classics — an honor for regional institutions that have been around for more than 10 years.
57 locals recommend
A&A Bake Doubles and Roti
1337 Fulton Sthttps://www.aandabakedoublesandrotishop.com/
Bed-Stuy Trinidadian mainstay A&A Bake & Doubles Roti just gained a spot in the James Beard canon. The foundation, which runs one of the country’s biggest restaurant awards, named the counter-service spot one of America’s Classics — an honor for regional institutions that have been around for more than 10 years.
Fancy Nancy
1038 Bedford Avehttps://www.instagram.com/fancynancybk/?utm_source=ig_embed
Bunny
449 Nostrand Ave.https://www.instagram.com/bunnybedstuy/
Madame Poupon
387A Nostrand Ave.https://www.madamepouponnyc.com/menu
Amazing Gospel Brunch!
Expect exceptional live music, everything from Armenian chamber jazz to Southern swamp rock. Don’t be surprised if you walk in to find a band who plays music from Bollywood cinema. We know one.
Sublime wines, agave spirits and meticulously-crafted cocktails. Expect those too. And don't overlook the food; our kitchen is open all day. Like the cocktails, the coffee is small-batch, and chef Mac’s cooking is inspired by the rustic flavors of the Mediterranean.
Lunàtico is owned by three touring musicians. After many years traveling the planet and performing in countless dives and venues, we developed some big ideas about what constitutes a perfect hang. We hope Lunático becomes yours.
394 locals recommend
LunÀtico
486 Halsey StAmazing Gospel Brunch!
Expect exceptional live music, everything from Armenian chamber jazz to Southern swamp rock. Don’t be surprised if you walk in to find a band who plays music from Bollywood cinema. We know one.
Sublime wines, agave spirits and meticulously-crafted cocktails. Expect those too. And don't overlook the food; our kitchen is open all day. Like the cocktails, the coffee is small-batch, and chef Mac’s cooking is inspired by the rustic flavors of the Mediterranean.
Lunàtico is owned by three touring musicians. After many years traveling the planet and performing in countless dives and venues, we developed some big ideas about what constitutes a perfect hang. We hope Lunático becomes yours.
Bars/Nightlife
Locals love this cocktail spot with an emphasis on rum drinks, accompanied by reggae, dancehall, soca, and R&B tunes. The name refers to an amorous type of reggae music, well-suited to the compact but often hopping dance floor. In warmer weather, head to the spacious backyard.
264 locals recommend
Lovers Rock
419 Tompkins AveLocals love this cocktail spot with an emphasis on rum drinks, accompanied by reggae, dancehall, soca, and R&B tunes. The name refers to an amorous type of reggae music, well-suited to the compact but often hopping dance floor. In warmer weather, head to the spacious backyard.
Bed-Vyne Brew
370 Tompkins Avehttps://www.instagram.com/bedvynebrew/
Turtles all the way down
236 Malcolm X BlvdOde to Babel
646 Dean StLunÀtico
486 Halsey StShopping
Byas & Leon
404 Tompkins AveEclectic boutique curated by a local interior designer. Space also includes MARY'S HANDS JEWELRY & INDIGOSTYLE VINTAGE.
100 locals recommend
peace & RIOT
401-403 Tompkins AveEclectic boutique curated by a local interior designer. Space also includes MARY'S HANDS JEWELRY & INDIGOSTYLE VINTAGE.
Coffee and Tea
Brooklyn Eats
474 Myrtle AveNatural Blend Vegan Cafe & Juice Bar
243 Malcolm X BlvdMilk & Pull Bed Stuy
348 Malcolm X BlvdCity advice
Don't miss
Local Photographer
If you're looking for a local photographer to help capture your part of your trip, visit www.jamesbeauzile.com