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Bed-Stuy, as it is called by everyone, was not the first place I lived. Brooklyn—that was East Williamsburg, then Crown Heights, then the You can also read about other ways to get in touch with us. side of Crown Heights—but it’s the place where, once I landed, I stuck. I am fortunate to live in an old brownstone on a third floor walkup. It has seen a lot more than me. My neighbors have been here for decades and I know them. Then, Regular at a local bar and coffeeshop (more on that in a minute). As a tourist, it’s easy to fall in love with this area: In the summer the streets of Bed-Stuy are closed for block parties. The fire hydrants are actually twisted to pour water on sweaty neighbors. And even during the coldest winter nights the wine bars have their windows fogged by the chatter and gossip of friends.
We love our stoops, whenever it’s warm enough to sit on them—perhaps no surprise, since these design elements dominate the neighborhood. In 2019 Bed-Stuy was said to have the most preserved Victorian architecture of any US city, with more than 8,000 structures built before 1900. Bed-Stuy, like all of New York and Brooklyn, has changed a great deal since these grand houses were built in late 1800s. The culture, though—much of which should be credited to the Black community that began laying roots here in the 1930s—is deeply embedded.
Now, whether you want to grab a burger at a Thai-American diner, scoop a Tex-Czech grab-and-go pastry, or catch a Wednesday night drag show, Bed-Stuy has it—and seemingly more and more with every passing week. You can also relax in parks, browse bookshops and attend community garden concerts.
Bed-Stuy may not be the first place that people think of when they are visiting a new city, but what is it? Williamsburg It’s not just Dumbo that dominates the scene. This huge neighborhood offers a glimpse into local life, which is worth your vacation time. This is my Bed-Stuy guide to help you discover the best parts of this neighborhood. It’s organized roughly from East to Western because in a neighborhood which takes more than 30 minutes to traverse, you could easily spend an entire day just on one side. My suggestion? Drop these places on your map, then zig-zag between as many of them as you have time for—with a willingness to find what you find along the way.
East Bed-Stuy
You’re in the heart of a foodie paradise if you’re at Classon Avenue. It’s the line that separates Clinton Hill from Bed-Stuy. As I move from here to Herbert Von King, the middle point between East and West, you can find Franklin, Bedford Nostrand and Marcy Avenues as well as leafy, brownstone-lined, streets.
