The Best Neighborhoods in Brooklyn – our NestApple Guide
Go Back To Previous PageLooking for the best neighborhoods to live in Brooklyn? Here are five of the best areas in Brooklyn, spanning the most walkable, the safest, and the coolest corners of the borough. Brooklyn has become one of NYC’s hottest housing markets, and it’s easy to see why once you look at what each neighborhood actually offers.
Moving to Brooklyn is the plan for many New Yorkers these days. The borough offers residents some genuinely incredible places to live. Here’s our list of the best Brooklyn neighborhoods.
1) Dumbo, Brooklyn
Dumbo is an acronym for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” It’s a widely known, fascinating neighborhood
connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan. The residential market includes renovated lofts for young professionals, mixed-use converted spaces, and high-rise condos.
Plenty of shops and restaurants call Dumbo home, including the Time Out Market and a rotating cast of well-known eateries. It’s also a favorite for photos, thanks to gorgeous skyline views and cobblestone, tree-lined streets.
Dumbo tops our list as one of the best and safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. That comes at a cost, though — it’s currently one of Brooklyn’s most expensive neighborhoods.
Popular Attractions in Dumbo
- Brooklyn Bridge Promenade
- Juliana’s Pizza, The River Cafe, Time Out Market & Rooftop
Public Transportation
- F at York Street; A, C at High Street
2) Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
Historically a Manhattan suburb, Boerum Hill today is a revitalized, semi-suburban oasis. It combines a lively city
vibe with a picturesque, intimate setting that leans more suburban. One highlight of living here is Smith Street, a food lover’s paradise offering nearly every cuisine imaginable.
Boerum Hill is expensive for real estate, but it’s a great place to find a classic Brooklyn brownstone, making it one of the better neighborhoods for families.
Public transportation is excellent — the Atlantic Terminal transportation hub sits right at the edge of the neighborhood. Residents enjoy a calmer, slower-paced lifestyle away from the Manhattan rush while staying a subway ride from everywhere.
For tourism, Boerum Hill draws visitors for boutique shopping and restaurants on Smith Street; Nunu Chocolates keeps its flagship store here.
Popular Attractions in Boerum Hill
- Smith Street (shopping and restaurants)
- Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
Public Transportation
- 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, R, W, and LIRR (Atlantic Ave); F, G (Bergen St. Station)
3) Brooklyn Heights
Dubbed America’s original suburb, Brooklyn Heights is a beautiful, tree-lined neighborhood filled with cobblestone side streets and a mix of large
and small businesses tucked into the middle of Brooklyn — consistently one of the safest neighborhoods in Brooklyn and one of the best places to live in the borough overall.
Housing here spans versatile architectural styles, from Gothic Revival to 19th-century mansions, and many apartments sit in buildings converted from single-family homes and townhouses.
Living in Brooklyn Heights is peaceful, charming, and understated. Tourism isn’t a huge part of the neighborhood’s identity, but visitors do stop by for the breathtaking Promenade, the Historical Society, and Brooklyn Bridge Park—all of which contribute to its appeal as a safe Brooklyn neighborhood for families.
Popular Attractions in Brooklyn Heights
- Brooklyn Promenade, Historical Society, Brooklyn Bridge Park, coffee shops
Public Transportation
- 2, 3, 4, 5, N, and R at Borough Hall; 2 and 3 at Clark Street
4) Downtown Brooklyn
Since being rezoned in 2004, Downtown Brooklyn has changed dramatically. The rezoning allowed taller, more
significant residential buildings on formerly low-rise industrial or commercial lots, and flourishing luxury developments now dominate the skyline.
Just over the Brooklyn Bridge, Downtown Brooklyn genuinely rivals any major city outside New York. Food and culture sit at the center of the neighborhood, and since it’s only a few stops over the bridge, it’s a natural point of interest for visitors too. It’s also one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Brooklyn.
Popular Attractions in Downtown Brooklyn
- Fulton Mall
- New York Transit Museum
- Barclays Center
- Cadman Plaza Park, BAM Harvey Theater
- Junior’s Cheesecake, DeKalb Market Hall, Walt Whitman Park
Public Transportation
D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, and 5 at Atlantic Ave-Barclays Center; A, C, F, and G at Jay Street/Metrotech
5) Williamsburg: The Coolest of Brooklyn’s Best Neighborhoods
Hip, artsy, pricey, music, nightlife — all words that fit Williamsburg. It’s easy to
see why it’s one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city among young New Yorkers, and one of the trendiest in all of NYC. Living in a hip neighborhood comes at a cost, though — Williamsburg is one of Brooklyn’s more expensive areas.
Pricey industrial loft apartments are common, alongside a good number of luxury high-rises and condos along the waterfront.
Williamsburg hosts the Smorgasburg Festival every spring and summer — the largest open-air food market in the US, drawing over 30,000 visitors to sample from over 100 local vendors. It’s a short train ride from Manhattan via the L, plus the G, J, and M lines.
Popular Attractions in Williamsburg
- Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn Brewery, walking or biking the Williamsburg Bridge, McCarren Park
- Boutique shopping and restaurants around Bedford Avenue
- Smorgasburg
- Live music venues
Public Transportation
- L at Bedford; G at Metropolitan; J, M at Marcy Avenue
At a Glance
| Neighborhood | Known For | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Dumbo | Skyline views, cobblestone streets | Safety, walkability — at a premium price |
| Boerum Hill | Brownstones, Smith Street dining | Families wanting a slower pace near transit |
| Brooklyn Heights | The Promenade, historic architecture | Families prioritizing safety and charm |
| Downtown Brooklyn | New luxury towers, culture, food | Walkability and easy Manhattan access |
| Williamsburg | Nightlife, Smorgasburg, waterfront lofts | Young professionals wanting the trendiest scene |
FAQ
What is the safest neighborhood in Brooklyn?
Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo consistently rank among the safest and most desirable neighborhoods in the borough, both also covered in our guide to NYC’s safest neighborhoods.
What’s the best Brooklyn neighborhood for families?
Boerum Hill and Brooklyn Heights both stand out for families, offering classic brownstones, a calmer pace than Manhattan, and strong transit access.
Which Brooklyn neighborhood is best for nightlife?
Williamsburg is Brooklyn’s clear answer for nightlife, live music, and a young, trendy crowd — along with a correspondingly higher cost of living.
Which of these neighborhoods is most walkable?
Downtown Brooklyn and Dumbo are both highly walkable, with Downtown Brooklyn offering the most concentrated mix of shopping, culture, and transit within easy walking distance.
This list was a tough call to narrow down — in a future post, we’ll cover Bed-Stuy, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Prospect Heights, Prospect Park, Red Hook, Clinton Hill, and other great pockets of Brooklyn.
Georges has been working in Wall Street for the last 16 years trading derivatives with hedge funds. He has been an active real estate investor for over a decade. Georges graduated from HEC Business School in Paris and holds a master in Finance from ESADE Barcelona.
