The Neighborhood Next Door: Discover the Best Spots in Underrated Greenpoint, Brooklyn
We used to spend a lot of time in Williamsburg. The famed Brooklyn neighborhood was well on the way to establishing itself as a perennial hotspot, but it was also years before it had wholly gentrified. It was a neighborhood still in the midst of transitioning, and the energy and excitement was exhilarating. All the mom-and-pop shops hadn't been driven out by corporate mainstays. Many of the now ubiquitous high-rises were likely still in the aspirational stages. But the character of that small patch of Brooklyn-- that innovative, attainable, approachable vibe-- eventually faded into the background. It turns out, though, that Greenpoint, the neighborhood just next door, still has that same feel to it. These special spots will not only acquaint you with, but endear you to, this Brooklyn neighborhood.
Where is Greenpoint?
Greenpoint is located north of Williamsburg, with McCarren Park forming the shared border between the two Brooklyn neighborhoods. Both neighborhoods are also bordered to the east by the East River. Pulaski Bridge connects Greenpoint to Long Island City, crossing over Newtown Creek.
The spots highlighted in this article are all noted in the map above.
Coffee Shops in Greenpoint
Cafe Grumpy is such a fixture of the New York City coffee scene it’s easy to forget that its first location opened in Greenpoint in 2005. Housed in a lovely corner storefront and next door to its roastery, this deceptively spacious location is one of our favorites. Whether your jam is a thirst-quenching cold brew, an expertly pulled shot of espresso, or that crowd pleasing house blend, you’ll find exactly what you crave here.
When good coffee arrived in New York City, many brewers and roasters took advantage of the larger spaces and cheaper rents in Brooklyn. Now, many years later, Brooklynites still don’t have any trouble finding a delicious cup of joe. Excellent coffee is part of Greenpoint’s DNA. You can find it at cute cafes like Odd Fox Coffee, which serves up Brooklyn-based Parlor Coffee. But you can also find it at airy plant and home goods store Homecoming, whose cafe serves expertly prepared Heart Coffee (and a scrumptious vegan chocolate chip cookie).
Eleva Coffee is the brainchild of a former coffee insider turned crusader. Though sustainability and ethical sourcing of coffee beans is, thankfully, more common today, Eleva takes it a step further by establishing long-term relationships with farming communities and investing in local infrastructure and education. Its flagship location in Greenpoint is sleek yet homey, with blond wood details and plenty of natural light.
Things to See and Do in Greenpoint
Outdoors > Indoors
Manhattan skyline view from Transmitter Park
Greenpoint has valuable East River frontage, though much of it sat vacant for years. Transmitter Park housed the radio transmission towers for NYC’s public radio station from 1937 to 1997, but it wasn’t until 2012 that its transformation into a public park was complete. Transmitter Park boasts fantastic views of Manhattan, along with a recreational pier that attracts fishing enthusiasts. The Skyline Drive-In, which opened in summer 2020, uses the city’s unmistakable skyline as a backdrop for movie screenings. The drive-in theater offers much needed pandemic-proof entertainment, and even accommodates pedestrians via an outdoor seating area. Concessions are available, but you’re welcome to bring and enjoy personal snacks in your car (which you might want to do, as the ticket for a car seating up to 7 people costs $55).
A tiny triangle of land dotted with card tables, folding chairs and patio umbrellas may not seem like a unique spot to enjoy your coffee, tea, snacks and light alcoholic beverages. But one feature makes The Lot Radio stand out from the rest. The music playing in the background is streaming from an independent music station funded by the proceeds of the kiosk. The Lot Radio also covers the electricity costs of a community fridge located outside their property, which is stocked by restaurants who have end-of-day leftovers, farmers’ market stands with surplus inventory or generous individuals. The Lot Radio is a community anchor, and it’s nice to feel like you’re contributing too.
Shop Local
Greenery Unlimited
All the time we’ve been spending at home brought us face-to-face with the realization that we’ve neglected our living space over the years. One visit to Greenery Unlimited made us want to nosedive into the houseplant trend, except here, they also offer all the tools to do it sustainably. The store is a source of unlimited inspiration. Upstate Stock sells cool and cozy knits made in a New York factory that has been supplying the military and the NYPD since 1946. The flagship store and cafe in Greenpoint also sells earthy candles, soaps and apothecary items and is an utter delight to browse.
Paige Lipari spent many years working at some of the most established bookstores in New York City, but when it came time to start her own, she decided to specialize in cookbooks. At Archestratus Books and Foods you’ll find all manner of hunger-inducing publications, as well as groceries, dry goods and freshly prepared homemade specialties.
Where to Eat in Greenpoint
Made in Greenpoint
Forager Breakfast Sandwich from Blue Light Speak Cheesy
In any given neighborhood, there are certain establishments that exemplify its character. Greenpoint has a quirky side, with a tremendous amount of diversity and a strong spirit of innovation. Sometimes the stories behind these businesses are hard to believe. Take for instance, Blue Light Speak Cheesy. Weeks before a pandemic, an upstart entrepreneur moves from California to New York City to give her dream of a grilled cheese sandwich business a shot in the big city. To survive during a pandemic, she does the restaurant equivalent of couch surfing: opening pop-up stalls in local businesses to sell fantastic breakfast sandwiches, double-decker tacos, and--you guessed it--grilled cheese sandwiches.
Pro Tip: Blue Light Speak Cheesy offers tacos on Tuesdays and burritos on Thursdays, which you can call ahead for or simply pick up from their partner in crime, Getaway Coffee. However, their fantastic breakfast sandwiches are only available on Sunday, and require pre-order through Eventbrite.
Then there’s Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop, an answer to the landmark pizzeria’s “no takeout” policy, offering innovative square and traditional-shaped slices, with vegan options that don’t, miraculously, compromise the quality, flavor or texture one iota. Or how about Edy’s Grocer, formerly Maria's Deli, which was a neighborhood staple started by an Polish immigrant 40-plus years ago. At the beginning of the pandemic, it was sold to a Lebanese immigrant, daily “regular” and longtime friend to the former owner. Now, it continues on in the neighborhood in its new iteration: serving excellent Lebanese cuisine with a nod to its Polish past.
Little Poland
Once upon a time, the Polish population of Greenpoint was second only to that of Chicago’s. Polish immigrants started settling there in the early 20th century, and the numbers grew as Greenpoint’s warehouses, refineries and factories offered steady work and the promise of a better life. Though many Polish-Americans decamped from Greenpoint once gentrification crept in, the neighborhood’s ethnic identity has managed to survive. If you’re looking for authentic pierogi, Pierozek is a neighborhood newcomer that has no trouble competing with the mainstays. Ingredients are imported directly from Poland, and the young owners are committed to honoring their heritage one bite at a time, with their delicious handmade dumplings.
Adam’s Delicatessen offers many Polish staples, but the can’t-miss item here is the cheesecake. The creamy loaves taunted us from the window, and we were never so happy to give in to our base desires. If you’re longing for paczek, Poland’s answer to the Jewish sufganiyot or Italian bomboloni, then drop by Syrena Bakery, where the Polish regulars line up for their breads and pastries, no matter the weather.
Plant-based Paradise
Turkey Salad Sandwich at Louie’s Luncheonette
In addition to the aforementioned pizza at Paulie Gee’s and the chocolate chip cookie at Homecoming, you can find a surprising number of fun plant-based options all around Greenpoint. From the vegan banana bread at Pie Corps to the mousaka at Dar 525, vegans will never go hungry here. For plant-based purists, Screamer’s Pizzeria is the slice shop from the Champs Diner team, and everything on the menu is 100% vegan. (Yes, even the Supreme.)
If you’re lucky enough to be in Greenpoint on a Saturday between 11:00 to 4:00, then make it a point to drop by Louie’s Luncheonette. When Louie Catizone gave up meat, he still craved the flavors of his youth, so he channeled his energy into creating plant-based deli meat alternatives. At his sandwich shop in Greenpoint, you’ll find those “meats” in sandwiches normally reserved for carnivores, like a Cubano and a Rib Sandwich. You can walk up to the unassuming window among the sea of corrugated metal doors, just be sure to reserve your sandwich in advance to make sure they don't run out before you get there.
Conclusion
One of Greenpoint’s best qualities is its ability to surprise. One moment you might be casually strolling down a street lined with quaint little shops, and the next you could come across a secretive warehouse with your favorite TV show’s name on the door. You could find a green space where the locals gather, or stumble across historic row houses. Greenpoint’s many sides-- the developed, undeveloped, historic, converted or repurposed--is what makes it such a joy to explore.
Like it? Share the article, the pin, or the web story below!
