A guide to local favorites in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn
Despite the changes that Brooklyn has experienced in recent years, Bedford-Stuyvesant, or Bed-Stuy, has managed to keep the spirit and soul of the borough intact. As the childhood home of Jay-Z and the Notorious B.I.G., Bed-Stuy’s contributions to black culture in New York can be rivaled only by Harlem’s. The tradition continues as it attracts droves of young, diverse creatives of color. Come to the Stuy to enjoy absolutely delicious soul food and a slew of unpretentious neighborhood spots spinning only the best Caribbean, hip-hop and Afrobeats music.
Meet your local
Alexander-Julian is a Nigerian-born, Houston-raised, Brooklyn-based writer who specializes in travel, style and culture. He’s spent the past four years living in Bedford-Stuyvesant after graduating from Howard University. He loves exploring the culture and people of the borough and avoids “the city” (Manhattan) at all costs.
alexanderjulianWant to get in touch? Email bytheway@washpost.com
Where I live:
A perfect little Brooklyn nook that is the meeting place of two of my favorite neighborhoods: Bed-Stuy and Bushwick.
Best way to get around the city:
The transit system wasn’t really made for inter-borough travel, so my favorite way to get around the city right now is on a Revel — rentable electric mopeds that you can reserve and pick up anywhere through an app on your phone. Most of the train lines lead straight into Manhattan, leaving you with few options for Brooklyn-to-Brooklyn travel. Revels are a fun and cost-efficient way to get around the borough.
Don’t leave without having:
A lounge day in the park. Something about laying out in the sun with a bottle of wine, some friends and a good book gets those endorphins moving.
But the local favorite is really:
A chopped cheese with bacon, on a roll — toast the roll — add ketchup, mayo, lettuce, tomatoes and onions — grill the onions — from the deli around the corner.
If I moved, I’d most miss:
Brooklyn summers. The four months of it we get in New York are enough to almost make you forget the brutal eight months of winter. Rooftop soirees, block parties, concerts in the park and all other things quintessentially Brooklyn are very near and dear to my heart.
Bedford-Stuyvesant
P.O. Reinaldo Salgado Playground
Salgado Playground is a sweet little neighborhood playground that teeters on the edge of Bushwick and Bed-Stuy. The playground has a basketball court, handball court and large turf field that invites guests for the perfect midday picnic setting.
750 Monroe St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11221
Bed-Stuy Fish Fry
Bed-Stuy Fish Fry is a legend and long-standing soul food staple in the heart of this BK neighborhood. The family-owned and -operated decade-old restaurant has four locations in the borough, all birthed from this small spot on the corner of Halsey Street and Howard Avenue. Take your pick from the extensive menu full of seafood selections, and make sure you don’t leave without a side of mac.
801 Halsey St. No. 1, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11233
Cafe Erzulie
A quaint spot hidden behind a small flower shop on Broadway, this pastel-colored cafe serves up fresh coffee and Haitian fare while a backyard garden serves as the perfect setting for meetups and co-working. Thursday is jazz night, and other live music shows are throughout the week.
894 Broadway, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11206
Casablanca Cocktail Lounge
The go-to spot in Brooklyn for a night of good people, reasonably priced drinks and DJs whose hip-hop, soul and R&B mixes will make you forget the fact that it’s standing-room-only. Make sure you hit an ATM beforehand, because it’s cash-only.
300 Malcolm X Blvd., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11233
Temporarily closed
Toad Style
Endorsed by devout meat-eaters, Toad Style is a surprisingly delicious and tiny vegan spot straddling the border of Bushwick and Bed-Stuy. Its Sunshine Burger and banh mi with coconut-fried oyster mushrooms are *chef’s kiss* and they’re open till 11 p.m. to satisfy all your late-night vegan needs.
93 Ralph Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11221
Peaches
Peaches is a classic American restaurant with Southern notes, found in a historical brownstone neighborhood in Brooklyn. You’ll find shrimp and grits and po’ boys that taste much like your grandmother’s — if she were from Louisiana.
393 Lewis Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11233
Alexander-Julian Gibbson
Alexander-Julian is a Nigerian-born, Houston-raised, Brooklyn-based writer who specializes in travel, style and culture. He’s spent the past four years living in Bedford-Stuyvesant after graduating from Howard University. He loves exploring the culture and people of the borough and avoids “the city” (Manhattan) at all costs.
@alexanderjulianLauren Crothers
Lauren is a contributing photographer for The Washington Post born and raised in Hong Kong, now settled in Brooklyn after a long stint in Cambodia. She’s a year-round biker and loves doing loops in the quiet of Prospect Park, particularly in the autumn.
@laurencro
