Brooklyn Heights is remarkably well served in most respects. This neighborhood guide will help you find what you need immediately and will lead you to new discoveries of your own as you explore this beautiful corner of Brooklyn and New York City’s very first Historic District.
Bakeries
Amy’s Bread, on Henry Street near Atlantic Avenue, offers classic, high-quality bakery items. Fresh Start Market, a fancy grocery on Montague Street, has its own bakery, and on Atlantic Avenue between Court and Clinton is Damascus Bakery, known for its pita breads and Middle Eastern desserts. Other good bakeries are a fifteen minute walk away on Court Street past Atlantic Avenue in Cobble Hill.
Banks
Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, HSBC, TD, Dime, and Independence are some of the banks crowded together on Montague Street between Court and Clinton. Others are on Court Street south of Montague Street.
Bookstores
A Barnes and Noble is a few blocks down Court Street between State and Schermerhorn Streets.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park is a world-class waterfront park with rolling hills, river front promenades, lush gardens, and spectacular city views. Running along the East River from Atlantic Avenue all the way through Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO, the park features sand volleyball courts, running and bicycle paths, a boat launch for non-motorized boating, several playgrounds, a picnic area, a weekend green market, as well as a dog-run and pool. This previously neglected area has been completely revitalized, and will soon also include a Starwood hotel, a hard-court sports area, a marina, connections to the city-wide greenways, and broad lawns for passive and active recreation. A ramp entryway from Columbia Heights and Middagh provides the most direct access, though the park is accessible from a number of points in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Bridge Walkway
The Brooklyn Bridge walk and bikeway is close by, across Cadman Plaza. Turn right out the front door, right again on Pineapple, left on Henry to Cranberry. Cross Henry and walk through the passageway between the town houses, past the subway entrance. Cross Cadman Plaza and follow the path across the greensward and under the bridge ramp to the stairway up to the walkway. Bikers can use the street-level access on Tillary Street, where you can get onto the protected bikeway.
Buses
See transportation.
Cards and Gifts
In addition to the chain drug stores around the neighborhood, the Brooklyn Women’s Exchange on Pierrepont just off the corner of Hicks features the best selection of greeting cards and a wide variety of handmade and unique gift items.
Delis and Fancy Foods
Convenience stores are dotted around the neighborhood. All in One Mart on the corner of Henry and Pineapple is open 24 hours, and Han’s Deli is located at the Clark Street subway entrance on Clark Street. Other small delis are located on Henry & Clark and Henry & Pineapple, bringing the total to four delis within one block. On the south side of Montague Street, Lassen & Henning is a fancy deli that also caters. Also on Montague between Court and Clinton is Fresh Start Marketplace, a fancy-foods shop that is more than a deli but not quite a supermarket.
Drug Stores & Pharmacies
The closest are inside the Gristede’s supermarket around the block on Henry Street, Careland on Clark Street east of Henry Street, and a CVS store on Henry at Love Lane. City Chemist on Montague Street and Henry Street is known for their old-fashioned, family-run style with local delivery service. Another CVS can be found at the corner of Montague and Clinton Streets, and Duane Reade is at the corner of Montague and Court Streets. Duane Reade is a few blocks south on Clinton Street at Joralemon.
Dry Cleaners
There is at least one on every block, it seems. The closest are Coleman Cleaners at the corner of Hicks and Pineapple (out the door to the right), and Golden Hanger around the corner to the left on Clark Street. A few more are on Henry Street and on Montague Street.
Florists
On Montague Street between Hicks and Henry Streets you can find James Weir Floral. Several delis sell cut flowers, including Han’s at the Clark Street subway and All in One Mart on Henry Street at Pineapple Walk.
Greenmarket
A farmer’s Greenmarket is held on the plaza in front of Borough Hall on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the spring, summer and fall, and on Saturdays straight through the winter with at least one or two hardy vendors. The hours are from early morning until the vendors go home in mid- to late afternoon.
Hardware Stores
A small hardware/housewares shop, Variety Mart, is on the south side of Montague in the block between Henry and Clinton.
Bruno’s, a more serious hardware store, is in two sections on Court Street at Schemerhorn, the housewares store and, farther along the block, the hardware store. (Turn left out the door, left again on Clark to Cadman Plaza, right on Cadman, which turns into Court Street at Montague. Stay on Court for about two blocks past Borough Hall. Bruno’s is on the left.)
DUMBO Hardware on Front Street between Washington Street & Adams Street provides another option in a pinch.
Laundry service
Many of the neighborhood dry cleaners also offer a drop-off and pick-up/delivery laundry service. In addition, there are two reliable laundromats on Montague Street offering these services, one between Henry and Clinton, the other between Hicks and Montague Terrace (turn right at Montague).
Libraries
Brooklyn Heights Library is closed while its new home is readied for opening in Fall 2021. At this time, Brooklyn Heights staff is providing lobby service for holds pickup and book return at the Center for Brooklyn History, at 128 Pierrepont Street.
Movie Theaters
There is a large United Artists multiplex on Court Street at State Street, and a smaller theater, the Cobble Hill Cinema, several blocks south on Court Street in Cobble Hill. The Brooklyn Academy of Music, known as BAM, shows first-run movies as well as films from the archives in their Rose Cinema. To get to BAM, take the 2 or 3 subway to Atlantic Avenue.
Neighborhood Organizations
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, 334 Furman St., 718-802-0603, is the grassroots support group for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corp., the official entity in charge of creating Brooklyn Bridge Park along the waterfront and on the piers from Atlantic Avenue to just north of the Manhattan Bridge. The first piece of this enormous undertaking is the rebuilt and renovated Empire Fulton State Park in Dumbo north of the Brooklyn Bridge and, a little further north almost under the Manhattan Bridge, a new children’s playground in the shape of a large ship.
The Brooklyn Heights Association, 55 Pierrepont St., 718-858-9193, is an old and esteemed neighborhood booster, advocate and information resource. It sponsors a House Tour every spring that lets you go inside some of the great homes that line these streets.
Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St., 718-222-4111, is a grand edifice on the corner of Pierrepont and Clinton Streets, features a museum and a gorgeous old library, and sponsors great tours around the borough.
Parking
See transportation.
Post Office
The nearest post office is in a large, Romanesque building across Cadman Plaza between Tillary and Johnson Streets, across from the library. The building has been under renovation for years but the post office is finished and open. (Turn left on Clark Street three blocks to Cadman Plaza, right on Cadman, cross Tillary and the post office is across the park on the left.)
Restaurants
Too many to count. Montague Street is lined with restaurants: American, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, French- try them all. Two local favorites are on Henry Street: Henry’s End serves excellent meats, fish and fowl; Noodle Pudding is a delightful, no-tomato-sauce Italian place.
Popular recent additions to the neighborhood include the Indian restaurant Mint Heights, near Bevacco and Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar, all on Henry and Cranberry. Iron Chef House on Clark Street just east of Henry seems to always have a full house enjoying is renowned Sushi selections.
Almost under the Brooklyn Bridge, at Old Fulton and Water Streets, is the famous River Cafe, and on the Fulton Ferry Landing itself, the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Across the street is Shake Shack, and farther up the block are Juliana’s and Grimaldi’s pizzeria, formerly called Patsy’s until the other Patsy’s complained. New restaurants and shops are opening with some regularity along this strip and all over Dumbo, so it pays to explore.
Also here are Bargemusic on a barge to the left of the River Cafe, and St. Ann’s Warehouse performance space a block or so along Water Street, opposite the main entrance to Empire Fulton State Park. (Turn right out the door, turn left on Pineapple to Columbia Heights, turn right on Columbia Heights and follow it down the steep hill off the Heights to Old Fulton Street. The River Cafe is ahead on the left.)
In the opposite direction, Atlantic Avenue has many good places to eat and is known for its array of Middle Eastern restaurants and shops. Just east of Court Street (a ten to fifteen minute walk) is Smith Street, with a diverse mix of restaurants-Italian, Peruvian, French, Thai, seafood, fusion-as well as bars and coffee shops.
Popular coffee shops/diners are at the corner of Henry and Clark Streets, on Henry Street at Pineapple, and on Cadman Plaza at Pineapple Walk, which is a continuation of Pineapple Street between Gristede’s and All in One Mart.
Inexpensive take-out and delivery places for Chinese, Japanese, pizza, soups, sandwiches, etc., can be found on Clark Street and on Henry Street, as well as on Montague Street.
Specialty Foods
Atlantic Avenue between Court Street and Henry Street offers numerous Middle-Eastern specialty shops. Two favorites are Damascus Bakery, best known for its pita bread, and Sahadi’s, an all-purpose deli and grocery with the best prices on cheeses, olive oils, coffees, teas, herbs and spices, dried fruits and nuts.
Subways
See transportation.
Supermarkets
There are several supermarkets in the immediate neighborhood. The closest are Gristede’s, one block away at Pineapple and Henry, and Key Food, two and a half blocks away on Montague between Hicks and Henry. Perelandra, on Remsen Street between Court and Clinton, is a supermarket for organic foods, household supplies and pharmaceuticals.
Wine Stores
The nearest wine and liquor store is Michael Towne Wines, offering a wide selection and price range at the corner of Clark and Henry Streets next to the Clark Street subway entrance. Montague Wines and Spirits is on Montague Street west of Hicks (turn right at Montague).