Starter For 10: Brooklyn

Posted: 19/01/12

Sarah Karmali

Follow: Brooklyn, Escape, In The Know, New York, Starter For 10, Travel

Want to experience where the real New Yorkers live?

Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline Discover: Take a stroll across Brooklyn Bridge for beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline. Photo: Rex Features

While there's no place quite like Manhattan, the often-overlooked sister borough of Brooklyn is fast becoming the hipster hotspot of NYC.

Where the locals live, dine, drink and shop, it really is a world away from the tourist hustle and bustle of the island in feel, but not in distance (just two subway stops, or a quick cab ride.)

With a fierce sense of community pride, hidden cultural delights and more restaurants than your waistline would care for, Brooklyn is all those adjectives you associate with the cool kids: edgy, urban and undeniably individual - the Shoreditch to Manhattan's Mayfair, if you will.

Here are our top ten tips if you're planning trip:

Starter for 10: Brooklyn

Eat
 Brooklyn is a haven for foodies, boasting an almost unfathomable variety of restaurants, diners and markets. For some locally-sourced grub, look no further than Chestnut. Serving modern, American dishes with a twist, it combines delicious cutting-edge cuisine with a warm, homely ambience. The full menu is available to view <a href="http://www.chestnutonsmith.com/dinner/" target="_blank">online</a>. Chesnut, 271 Smith Street (between Sackett and Degraw), Brooklyn, NY 11201; <a href="http://www.chestnutonsmith.com/dinner/" target="_blank">chestnutonsmith.com</a>
Watch
 Fancy catching a show? Forgo the bright lights of Broadway in favour of something more unusual and intimate at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (aka BAM.) There's something for everyone. Find out what's on at the <a href="http://www.bam.org/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Academy of Music</a>.
Do
 You can't visit Brooklyn without taking a tour, and like everything else in the borough, it's all about the alternative. The Levy family (born and bred Brooklynites) set up their own tour company offering otherwise unseen views of the city. Fancy getting an insider guide to Brooklyn's street art, local food hotspots or breweries by bicycle? These are your guys. For tour information and rates visit the <a href="http://levysuniqueny.com/tours/categories/brooklyn-tours" target="_blank">Levys' Unique New York! website</a>.
Shop
 While Manhattan is all about Bloomingdales, Macy's and 5th Avenue boutiques, Brooklyn is all about supporting it's local talent. A prime example is the brilliantly unique DeKalb market. With stalls housed inside recycled shipping containers, you'll find everything from art, to leather goods, to delicious snacks: all produced right there in Brooklyn.
Treat
 Ask any local where to get the best cheesecake in New York, and supposedly, they'll direct you here: to Junior's in Brooklyn. Having been going since the 1950s, the sweet eaterie serves up huge wedges of cheesecake that'll beat anything you'd find in the UK. Hands down. A great place to stop for a snack, take it from us when we suggest that you might want to split a slice between two.... Junior's, Corner of Flatbush and DeKalb, Brooklyn; <a href="http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/" target="_blank">juniorscheesecake.com</a>
Walk
 Chances are you'll be venturing into Manhattan at some point during your trip, so why not walk it? The Brooklyn Bridge boasts stunning views of the NYC skyline and Statue of Liberty, and takes less than half an hour to get from one side to the other. (Warning: One for pleasant weather days!)
Explore
 Once you've taken your stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge, we're willing to bet you'll have some serious sightseeing to do. Our top tip is to snap up the <a href="http://www.nycgo.com/venues/citypass" target="_blank">New York City Pass</a>, which offers discounted entrance to some of the city's top attractions - including the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and the Met Museum. Visit <a href="http://www.nycgo.com/#uk" target="_blank">nycgo.com</a> for all the info - and for a rundown on what else might be happening in the city during your stay.
Stay
 Forget classic hotels, if you're heading to Brooklyn, you want somewhere that reflects the vibrant, alternative nature of New York's most populated borough. Introducing, Aloft Brooklyn. The younger, more urban sister of the W Hotel chain, Aloft properties offer an insider's stay on the city outskirts. (And on top of that they're really just pretty cool.) Highly recommended. Visit <a href="http://www.aloftnewyorkbrooklyn.com/" target="_blank">Aloft New York Brooklyn</a> for more information.
Travel
 As one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, there are hundreds of different deals to get you to The Big Apple. We recommend flying with <a href="http://www.britishairways.com/travel/home/public/en_gb" target="_blank">British Airways</a>. British Airways offer three nights at the Aloft Brooklyn in New York from £719 per person, departing in November. Includes return flights from Heathrow and room-only accommodation, based on two sharing. Visit <a href="http://www.britishairways.com/travel/holidays-in-new-york/public/en_gb?redirect=RD_newyork" target="_blank">ba.com/newyork</a> or call 0844 4930758, to book.
Visit
 Fancy sampling some local culture? The Brooklyn Museum is a must-see. Here you'll find one of the biggest collections of Egyptian art the world has to offer, plus an equally vast selection of contemporary works. The building itself is worth the visit alone. For more on exhibitions and admission fees, visit the <a href="http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Museum website</a>.