Union Street (R)

I love the area around this station, but you have to get off 4th Avenue, where the train drops you off, and go to either 3rd or 5th Avenues for the action.

5th Avenue: Park Slope

One of NYC’s best bookstores, The Ripped Bodice, is on 5th Avenue off the Union Street station. Specializing in all types of romance, ranging from historical to paranormal to LGBTQ+ to contemporary best-sellers, this bookshop is a colorful gem, literally and figuratively.

The entrance of The Ripped Bodice.

Across from and all around The Ripped Bodice on 5th Avenue is a mix of popular gift shops, hip cafes, cute restaurants and cool bars, perfect for friends, date night, or, ever-increasingly, family-night-out. It’s Park Slope, after all. Expect strollers.

3rd Avenue: Gowanus

Slightly grungier than 5th Avenue’s Park Slope vibes, 3rd avenue off the Union Street station is the perfect place for a fun meal or drink with friends.

My favorite comfort restaurant, Baba’s Pierogies, is here. It’s a casual joint, but the quality is unmatched: each pierogy is made to order. Dare I say, it’s even better than Veselka.

Pierogies! Pierogies! Pierogies!

For a more arty and experimental vibe, try something delicious and weird-looking at Cafe Mars.

Even when it’s closed, Cafe Mars gives off a vibe.

If you need a dive bar, Canal Bar has you covered.

There are also some breweries in the area, like Wild East and Strong Rope.

Sometimes you just need to walk into a bar that looks like this.

The inside of Canal Bar.