bde&co.’s Guide to NYC’s (Not-So) Hidden Gems
bde&co. has been living, working, and playing in New York City for more than 25 years. We have born-and-raised Brooklynites, COVID transplants, and everyone in between and we all love something different about the city’s food, culture, and entertainment. Here are some of our favorite places and
‘Keeping it Casual’ Restaurants:
Panna II - 93 1st Ave. #2 (BYOB)
Colonia Verde - 219 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn
Frank - 88 2nd Ave
Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Doyers St
UpThai - 1411 2nd Ave
Remedy Diner - 245 E Houston St
La Esquina - 114 Kenmare St. (downstairs)
Miss Korea BBQ - 10 W 32nd St.
Dudley’s - 85 Orchard St
Lil Frankies - 19th 1 Ave
12 Chairs Cafe - 56 MacDougal St (SoHo) & 342 Wythe Ave (Brooklyn)
Best Brunch:
Evelina - 211 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn
Butcher’s Daughter - Multiple Locations
Kikis - 130 Division St, Chinatown
Playa Betty’s - 320 Amsterdam Ave, UWS
Favorite Fancy Flavors:
Lafayette - 380 Lafayette Street
Chinese Tuxedo - Doyers St
Sugarfish - 202 Spring St
Favorite for cocktails:
Death & Company - 433 E 6th St
Apotheke - 9 Doyers St
Pineapple Club - 509 E 6th St
Favorite Brewery:
Finnback - 545 President St, Brooklyn
Talea - 87 Richardson St, Brooklyn
Other Half - Redhook: 195 Centre St, Brooklyn OR Domino Park: 34 River St, Brooklyn (BM)
Strong Rope Brewing - Red Hook, Brooklyn
Favorite outdoor area (path, park, rooftop):
Governor’s Island
Coney island in the summer
Roosevelt Island
Walking the west side highway
Central Park
Domino Park
What you wish you would have known when you moved here:
How easy and fun the NYC ferries are
First things first: find your favorite bodega (preferably open 24 hours)
How fun walking and discovering the city is - and especially walking the bridges to and from Queens and Brooklyn
Favorite cultural activity:
The tenement museum
Walking through the galleries on Orchard St
Culture Lab live music (seasonal) - 5-25 46th Ave, LIC
Joseph Papp Theatre in the summer in the Park
Real Hidden gem:
Freeman’s - Freeman Alley
Sunny & Annie’s - 6th & Ave B
Favorite neighborhood to explore (and why!):
Redhook, Brooklyn - industrial meets up and coming. Check out: the waterfront, Homestyle BBQ, Brooklyn Crab, Botanica, Red Hook Winery, Van Brunt Distillery and - if you’re feeling really wild - IKEA
Upper West Side - so much history and different architecture
Off the beaten path shopping:
H20 Thrift Shop - Started by two NYU students & is curated to ‘trendy’ clothes
Favorite photo op:
Skyline views from Domino Park, Brooklyn
Central Park Conservancy (way upper east side)
NYC app you can’t live without:
Caviar /Seamless/ Grub Hub/Uber Eats
TodayTix
Lyft/Citibike App
Favorite late-night ‘slice’ (pizza):
Joe’s Pizza - 7 Carmine St.
Sauce - 78 Rivington St
Village Square Pizza - 147 Ave A
Favorite bagels:
Russ & Daughters - 179 E Houston St, Manhattan; 141 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn Navy Yard
Heaven’s Hot Bagel - 283 E Houston St
Tompkins Square Bagels - 12th & 2nd or 165 Ave A
Pick a Bagel - 2nd Avenue & 76th St. NYC
Favorite ‘tourist’ activity:
The High Line
Little Island
