Bergen Street (F, G)
Welcome to Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill, two cute, family-friendly Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Basically, this stop marks the transition from busy downtown Brooklyn to residential brownstone Brooklyn. When you get out of the station, you can see a few thick high-rises looming past Atlantic Avenue, but you’ll be nestled among a land of shorter brick buildings.
Outside the station, looking towards Atlantic Avenue and the high rises beyond.
This is a good area for laptop-cafe work, date nights, and buying a quick gift or an expensive home.
You’ll find plenty of nice restaurants and bars that often don’t require a reservation. I won’t name names because I don’t have to; chances are high you’ll have a good meal or drink regardless of what you try.
One thing I will name, though, is that this area seems best suited for summer. Lots of outdoor picnic table gathering-to-drink vibes, like Yard Bar. But, of course, the spaces do adapt for winter patrons.
Some recommendations for Smith Street:
A mural around the station.
Books are Magic is one of my favorite bookstores, mostly because of the abundance of handwritten staff reviews on so, so many books. The reviews are particularly helpful if you’re trying to buy a book blind, especially as a gift. If you’re looking for non-book gifts, try Something Else.
See all those little pink cards? Those are the staff reviews at Books are Magic!
The Poetry Society of America has an appealing storefront, and I’d check their website to go for an event. It doesn’t have much of a drop-in vibe.
Clayhouse Brooklyn offers pottery classes. And since it’s right nearby the station, I’d probably sign up for a class or studio time if I lived anywhere with easy access to the F or G trains!
Poetica Coffee has tables you can settle into for some deep laptop work, reading, or a chat with a friend.
The interior vibe at this branch of Poetica Coffee.
Malai sells kulfi, which is Indian ice cream that I’m used to having on a popsicle stick, except you can get it here in cups and cones and pints like American ice cream.
Some recommendations for Court Street:
The stretch of Court Street around here is a mid- to high-end fashion and datenight hub. You’ll find The RealReal here (smaller, but less crowded than its SoHo counterpart), along with stores like Rag & Bone.
Saturn Road is a daytime coffee/work bar to nighttime bar and event space. Chances are high you’ll see the owner (female!) working behind the counter when you go. Call me biased but I’ll always recommend places where owners work alongside staff.
Yard Bar. I caught it at a quiet time, but I’m sure you can imagine it busy especially in the summer months.
What did I miss? Let me know in the comments!
