New York is More than Manhattan: A Journey Through Brooklyn

When Miranda Hobbes casually mentions in an episode of Sex and the City that she might give up her apartment on the Upper West Side and move to Brooklyn, it feels like a confession. Carrie Bradshaw is horrified: 'I can't even say it, let alone live there. They don't even have taxis!'

That was 2004. Today, Brooklyn's image has fundamentally changed. The neighborhood has become a hub for art, culture, and cuisine, attracting young, creative people from around the world. A trip to New York City shouldn't miss a detour to Brooklyn-not only because of the stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. I'm here to guide you through the attractions and share genuine insider tips in Brooklyn's neighborhoods.

Even though Williamsburg is no longer the alternative neighborhood it once was, a stroll along Bedford Avenue is still worthwhile. Tips for Williamsburg can be found in my article 'A Day in New York: Small Tips for the Big Apple'. If you like it 'edgy', take the L train a few stops further to Morgan Avenue. Some call the former industrial area Morgantown, others East Williamsburg. Some say it's no man's land, while others insist it belongs to Bushwick. What is indisputable: the once No-Go zone is now one of the largest open-air galleries in New York. Murals by well-known graffiti artists can be found on the walls of old industrial sites and the gates of warehouses along Moore Street, Grattan Street, White Street, Siegel Street, Troutman Street, and around Flushing Avenue.

The initiator of it all is Joseph Ficalora. As a child, he spent afternoons on the roof of his father's steel factory, one of the few places outside where he felt safe. In 1991, Joseph's father was stabbed to death in the street, over a handful of dollars and a gold necklace. Joseph never got over this and created the art project Bushwick Collective in 2011, intending to give Bushwick a new look. He invited world-famous graffiti artists to participate.

Following the murals, galleries such as Ketchup Gallery, The Parlour Bushwick, and Sardine, cafes like Swallow Café and Ange Noir Café, restaurants like Roberta's, Falansai, and Otis, and bars like Rebel Café & Garden, The Narrows, and After Life have emerged. My favorite for an All-American breakfast: Tina's Place, a true institution that has been serving the best blueberry pancakes in Bushwick for over 80 years.

How to best get to East Williamsburg? Take the L line to Morgan Avenue or Jefferson Street.

Those who stroll through southern Williamsburg between Division Avenue, Heyward Street, and Brooklyn Navy Yard find themselves in a world that seems light-years away from the rest of New York. On Lee Avenue, Judaica shops line up with liquor stores selling kosher wine, delis with the scent of knish and herring, and household goods and clothing stores that look like they are out of a 1950s movie. On the street, women with wigs and long, flowing skirts push antique baby carriages ahead of them. Men in black coats, tall hats, and sidelocks, prayer books in hand, hurry across the intersection and disappear into the synagogue on Rodney Street.

South Williamsburg is the center of the Satmar Hasidim, an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community whose name comes from the Romanian city of Satu Mare. The Satmar Jews in Williamsburg live in complete isolation, with their own banks, schools, and doctors. Visitors rarely receive any attention, yet one should tread carefully. For those wanting to try Jewish cuisine, South Williamsburg is the right place. Gottlieb's Restaurant on Roebling Street serves gigantic pastrami sandwiches, while at Oneg Heimish Bakery on Lee Avenue below Heyward Street, you can find sticky sweet chocolate babka.

How to get to South Williamsburg? Take the J, M, and Z lines to Marcy Avenue.

If one were to compare Brooklyn to Manhattan, one might say that Park Slope is the counterpart to the West Village. Only Park Slope also has a huge park, Prospect Park. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, people come here to jog, bike, walk their dogs, watch their children play soccer, or picnic in the sun.

Park Slope is relaxed, family-friendly, and an ideal place to people-watch at street cafes. The best place to do this is along 5th and 7th Avenue, where there are many indie eateries and shops. Among the most popular cafes are Café Grumpy, Velvette Brew, and Couleur Café. When hunger strikes, Casa Azul tempts with exquisite Mexican treats, and for a drink, Brookvin is the place to go. Vintage shopping is also on trend in Park Slope, at places like L Train Vintage, Slope Vintage, or Almost New Vintage Clothing.

A must-do is a stroll through the side streets, for here you will find the iconic New York brownstone buildings with the stoops you know from Sex and the City. Park Slope was settled by Dutch immigrants in the 17th century. From that time dates the Old Stone House, where you can learn more about the history of Park Slope. The Old Stone House was once the clubhouse of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Park Slope extends from Prospect Park to 4th Avenue and from Flatbush Avenue to Prospect Expressway.

How to best get to Park Slope? Take the F and G lines to 15 St Prospect Park, or the 2 and 3 lines to Grand Army Plaza.

Another neighborhood worth seeing in Brooklyn is Carroll Gardens, named after Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. In the early 19th century, mainly Irish and Norwegians settled here, followed by Italian immigrants. The heart of Carroll Gardens beats on Court Street and Smith Street. Local charm permeates both parallel streets, where Italian bakeries alternate with flower and organic shops, trendy vintage stores, and indie designer boutiques. With so many cafes, bars, and restaurants, one has a wealth of choices, including Poetica Coffee, D'Amico, Buttermilk Channel, Court Street Grocers, Kittery, and Frankies 457 Spuntino.

The partly landmarked blocks of Carroll Gardens stretch from Bond Street to Van Brunt Street and from Degraw Street to Hamilton Avenue. It's worth taking a detour into the side streets, as you can find the typical brownstone houses of Brooklyn there as well.

How to get to Carroll Gardens? Take the F and G lines to Carroll Street.

Thinking about Carroll Gardens, it can't get any prettier-but it can, particularly in Cobble Hill, which borders Carroll Gardens and stretches between Court Street and the East River, as well as Atlantic Avenue and Degraw Street. Cobble Hill features particularly well-preserved brownstones and townhouses from the 19th century, some in the neo style, that incorporate elements of Greek, Gothic, and Roman architecture.

Some of the most beautiful examples stand on Clinton Street, Henry Street, Warren Place, and Amity Street. Cobble Hill has a distinct European character, especially influenced by Italian and French heritage. Life unfolds at Court Street. Heavily topped bagels can be found at Court Street Bagels, sweet crispy cannoli like you'd find in Sicily at Court Pastry Shop, and for a coffee stop, Maman is perfect. Many establishments like Kitchen at Cobble Hill and Big Tiny serve brunch on weekends. Those interested in sustainable fashion should visit Rue St. Paul.

How to get to Cobble Hill? Take the F and G lines to Bergen Street.

Dumbo is short for 'Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass' and is synonymous with the typical story of many former industrial sites. Due to its prime location by the East River and the two ferry lines to Manhattan, more and more manufacturing companies settled in Dumbo throughout the 19th century. When these businesses left New York in the 1970s, and the halls where coffee, boxes, soap, shoes, paint, and sugar were produced and stored stood empty, artists found a new home here. Today, chic lofts, creative firms, galleries, small shops, and lovely restaurants occupy the historic warehouses.

Most come to Dumbo for the Instagram photo spot on Washington Street. The view of the Manhattan Bridge from this perspective is admittedly quite special. For those who want to enjoy the view of the Manhattan Bridge with the Manhattan skyline in the background in a bit more solitude, head to John Street Park and then stroll beneath the bridge. There begins Brooklyn Bridge Park. From the tip of Pebble Beach, you can catch a first glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge. After enjoying a ride on Jane's Carousel, a restored children's carousel from 1922, it's a great idea to stop for a bite at Time Out Market and stroll through the cobblestone streets of Dumbo.

How to get to Dumbo? Take the F line to York Street.

Brooklyn Bridge Park extends to Atlantic Avenue and is the green oasis of Brooklyn Heights. Reading on a blanket in the grass, grilling, exercising-all with an incredible view of the Downtown Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge-priceless! For those wanting to enjoy this view with a drink, reservations at Harriet's Rooftop in the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge near Pier 1 is recommended. Enjoy the postcard panorama for free from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

Brooklyn Heights is bordered by Old Fulton Street, Cadman Plaza West, Atlantic Avenue, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The desirability of living in Brooklyn Heights was known to American writers such as Arthur Miller, Walt Whitman, and Truman Capote, who wrote 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' in Willow Street. Brooklyn Heights was the first neighborhood in Brooklyn to be designated a landmark in 1965. With its 19th-century brownstones, the 'fruit streets' Orange Street, Cranberry Street, and Pineapple Street are architectural gems. College Place and Grace Court Alley are also worth a visit. In Joralemon Street, you can find townhouses with colorful wooden facades. And if you're wondering why the windows of number 58 are darkened: That house is uninhabited and hides the subway vent and emergency exit.

The new favorite in the café scene is L'Appartement 4F. When hunger calls, there is a restaurant to suit every taste on Atlantic Avenue. Definitely check the oyster happy hour at Pips and then treat yourself to some Italian specialties. Finally, be sure to visit the piers and enjoy a nighttime stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883 as the first steel wire suspension bridge in the world to appreciate the illuminated Manhattan skyline. A perfect New York moment! The walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan takes about 45 minutes.

How to get to Brooklyn Heights? Take the A or C line to High Street.

What neighborhoods are there in Brooklyn? Brooklyn includes neighborhoods such as Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Clinton Hill, Dumbo, Fort Greene, Fulton Ferry, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, and Vinegar Hill.

What is typical of Brooklyn? What is typical of Brooklyn are the so-called brownstone houses, which are row houses made of brown sandstone from the 19th century.

What's better: Brooklyn or Manhattan? Brooklyn and Manhattan can only be compared to a limited extent. Those visiting New York for the first time will initially explore Manhattan and focus on the Brooklyn Bridge and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade due to time constraints. Those with more time or who have been to New York multiple times are warmly recommended to spend four or five days in Brooklyn.

How do you best get to the Brooklyn Bridge? In Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway begins at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place. The walkway can also be accessed via stairs in the underpass at the corner of Cadman Plaza East and Prospect Street.

Is Brooklyn expensive? In Brooklyn, one must dig as deep as in Manhattan; this is not only due to the exchange rate but also the generally high price level in New York. Rent in many neighborhoods of Brooklyn even exceeds that in Manhattan.

Is Brooklyn safe for tourists? The neighborhoods mentioned in the article are now safe for tourists. Of course, one should always apply common sense when traveling and watch over their valuables.

What do you eat in Brooklyn? In Brooklyn, there are thousands of restaurants of different nationalities, such as Polish in Greenpoint, Caribbean in Flatbush, and Latin American in Bushwick. Legendary are the hot dogs at Nathan's in Coney Island and the cheesecake at Junior's on Flatbush Avenue. Bagel & Lox is also a must-try, as is a pastrami sandwich.