Lonely Planet Experiences: Neighbourhood Eats: Brownstone Brooklyn

Brooklyn’s Smith and Court Streets and surrounding neighborhoods have a vibrant mix of small, locally-owned, and artisanal food shops unlike almost any other neighborhood in America. On this Brooklyn food tour, you find out how these unique spots came to be, and with a local guide you discover just what it is that makes them special. From Italian to Middle Eastern, New American to everything artisan, this NYC food tour shows you the best bites Brooklyn has to offer, from the people who make cuisine an art form.

You will visit both old school haunts and new culinary entrepreneurs to experience an exciting menu of both traditional flavors and daring dishes. You will stop by Italian and Middle Eastern shops that have long been the staple of the neighborhood, and explore the growing scene of cafes and restaurants specializing in New American cuisine. While you enjoy their delicacies, you learn about the neighborhood’s rich history and changing character.

From artisan cheese and bread shops, Italian pastry stores, cafes with coffee roasters, the oldest Middle Eastern bakery in NYC, and a modern soda fountain, this corner of Brooklyn couldn’t get more unique if it tried. The shops and food in this area have been featured in press and TV all around the world, from Australia to France. Some of the original businesses in this neighborhood are facing challenges common to many small business owners in New York.

Some of the original businesses in this neighborhood have succumbed to the many challenges facing small business owners in New York. Learn about those challenges and how you can continue to support them to keep the neighborhood vibrant and delicious. Your ticket price includes a donation to the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce's Bring Back Brooklyn Fund.