Overview
Southwest Brooklyn is a part of Brooklyn, New York City that encompasses the neighborhoods of Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Kensington, Parkville, and Sunset Park.
7 sights · 1 things to do · 22 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Southwest Brooklyn
Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
If you like your churches large and impressive, OLPH is not to be missed. This Roman Catholic basilica is bigger and more ornate than Brooklyn's cathedral near downtown.
Basilica of Regina Pacis
Step into this beautiful and grand Roman Catholic church and you might think you've been teleported to Italy. Be sure to look up. The paintings on the ceiling are breathtaking.
Green-Wood Cemetery
Harbor Defense Museum
A collection of military artifacts relating to the defense of America's harbors located inside still-working Fort Hamilton. Since the museum is located within an active US Army post, foreign visitors are not permitted. A…
Living Torah Museum
The Living Torah Museum is a group of Orthodox Jewish museums that opened in 2002 and drew approximately 600,000 visitors in the first twelve years. Originally a separate museum that opened in 2008, an exhibit on animals…
Sunset Park
This is the park after which the neighborhood is named. It offers breathtaking views of the neighborhood and the Manhattan skyline, even as far as New Jersey. There are basketball courts, an outdoor swimming pool, walkin…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Aug and Jul. (climate data from nearby New York City)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- EWR Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
- JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York — 12 mi away (major hub). Directions
For Green-Wood Cemetery itself, the best trains to take are either the D to 9th Avenue or the F to Fort Hamilton Parkway.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $100–$176 a night (typical $123), from 5 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$130, mid-range ~$180, comfortable ~$290.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Basilica of Regina Pacis, Christmas Lights at Dyker Heights
- Lunch Gino's Restaurant
- Afternoon Harbor Defense Museum, Owl's Head Park
- Dinner Hazar Turkish Kebab
- Evening Omonia Cafe
Day 2
- Morning Green-Wood Cemetery, Sunset Park
- Lunch Pacificana
- Afternoon Living Torah Museum
- Dinner Tacos Matamoros
- Evening Judy's
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
The neighborhood's main thoroughfares are 3rd Ave, 5th Ave and 86th Street. Whether you're looking for shops, cafes, restaurants or nightlife you can probably find it on one of those streets.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
- Bay Ridge has traditionally been a residential Irish-Italian-Norwegian neighborhood, but has had an influx of Arab, Asian and Russian families. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects to here from Staten Island, and Fort Hamilton, a United States Army Base, is here as well. There is a great variety of good values in food to be had in this neighborhood, especially on 3rd Avenue. The neighborhood is also one of the top bar areas in the non-downtown area of Brooklyn.
- Bensonhurst used to be Italian, but it now is home to a large Chinatown and has many other immigrants from Albania, Pakistan, Korea, Mexico, Guatemala and many Eastern European immigrants. The train runs above ground and it is a lively place with an Old New York feel. Many of the best "unknown" restaurants in Brooklyn (known locally but often ignored by the Manhattan-based establishment) can be found in Bensonhurst. Get there by taking the D train to 18th or 20th Avenues or Bay Parkway.
- Borough Park has the biggest Chasidic Jewish community in the city. You will see lots of kosher foods on sale, and shops that are closed every Friday night and Saturday but open on Sunday, due to religious rules. If these things are unfamiliar to you, a trip to Borough Park may be worthwhile.
- Kensington is south of Prospect Park. It is the most diverse neighborhood in Brooklyn and is one of the most diverse in the United States. It is one of the "up and coming" neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Many new trendy restaurants and boutiques have opened, making this neighborhood a hotspot. It is served by the F and G trains at Church Avenue, and the Q train at Beverly Road and Cortelyou Road.
- Sunset Park is often called New York City's little Puerto Rico and Brooklyn's Chinatown and is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in New York City. It is just less than 20 minutes away from Downtown Brooklyn. Sunset Park is a place for all families to come and shop, and locals can be seen running errands in the heart of the neighborhood along 5th Avenue between 60th and 44th Streets. Its hilly terrain gives magnificent views of Downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan, Staten Island, Jersey City and the nearby Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Besides the Hispanic part of the neighborhood filled with families of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican and other backgrounds, the Chinese also put Sunset Park on the map with its countless Chinese restaurants found on 8th Avenue between 60th and 40th Streets.
Get in
By subway
For Green-Wood Cemetery itself, the best trains to take are either the D to 9th Avenue or the F to Fort Hamilton Parkway.
The D serves the center of the district, including Borough Park and Bensonhurst before continuing to Coney Island, while the N serves Dyker Heights after splitting off from the R in Sunset Park. The R terminates in Bay Ridge.
By bus
South west brooklyn main busses are served by the Jackie Gleason and Ulmer Park depots.
The B1, B6, and B64 serve the area and are a part of Ulmer Park depot.
The B4, B8, B9, B11, B16, B35, B37, B63, B67, and B69 are a part of Jackie Gleason depot.
The X27/X37 and X28/X38 express buses also serve this area and are located in the Ulmer Park depot.
By car
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge takes you to Bay Ridge from Staten Island. I-278 (Gowanus Expressway to Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) and the Belt Parkway can get you here from other parts of Brooklyn, as well as Queens and Manhattan (via the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges, as well as other bridges and tunnels).
See
See Living Torah Museum
The Living Torah Museum is a group of Orthodox Jewish museums that opened in 2002 and drew approximately 600,000 visitors in the first twelve years. Originally a separate museum that opened in 2008, an exhibit on animals of the Bible and Talmud, known as the Torah Animal World merged with the main museum in 2014. It is also home to examples of Biblical and Talmudic archaeological artifacts and antique Judaica and Jewish books. From 2005-2016, the museum was home to the world's oldest known example of a stone tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments until it was sold at auction for $850,000 in November 2016.
Do
Do Christmas Lights at Dyker Heights
About 10 blocks, centered around the "Candy Cane House" on 84th and 12th. During the holiday season the locals bring up the most spectacular decorations-- do a Flickr or Google image search yourself and see! There's the house with the giant snowman, the house with the giant nutcrackers, the house with Winnie and Shrek, and the Toyland house with the animatronic reindeer. Go on a Friday or Saturday night, between 7 and 10. It'll put the Christmas spirit in you.
Buy
Shop Fei Long Market
An absolutely massive shop selling all manner of Chinese ingredients, including a very good produce section. Can be extremely crowded, though, so go in the off hours.
Shop Industry City
Old, disused factory buildings have been transformed into retail, food, creative, leisure, and office spaces along the Sunset Park waterfront. Interesting food stores include Blue Marble Ice Cream, Japan Village, Li-Lac Chocolates and Sahadi's. Several bars and cafés will help quench your thirst. Industry City includes a "makers guild" and the Brooklyn design district. Nearby but not officially part of Industry City are large national retailers such as Costco, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Cost Plus World Market.
Shop Super Outflation Discount
This small neighborhood variety store manages to pack in loads of merchandise including food, housewares, health & beauty, toiletries, cosmetics, greeting cards, party supplies, and some clothing items. It's no Target or Walmart, but it's a step above Brooklyn's ubiquitous 99¢ stores.
Eat
Bay Ridge
The neighborhood's main thoroughfares are 3rd Ave, 5th Ave and 86th Street. Whether you're looking for shops, cafes, restaurants or nightlife you can probably find it on one of those streets.
Eat Brooklyn Harvest Market
This is the place to get groceries; it's a grocery store with organic and otherwise fancy foods.
Eat Gino's Restaurant
Popular local Italian restaurant with great pasta.
Eat Hazar Turkish Kebab
A good kabob place.
Eat Paneantico Bakery Cafe
Amazing Italian sandwiches and a great bakery, too.
Eat Rocky's & Nicky's Pizzeria
Pizza place with good slices.
Eat Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant
A really good Indian place.
Eat Tanoreen
Palestinian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisine by chef Rawia Bishara. They started in a smaller ten-table location nearby in 1998, but good word-of-mouth and press led them to move to this larger location. Don't miss out on the flavorful appetizers/meze (hot and cold) and the succulent entrees. It'll be hard, but try to leave room for the yummy desserts.
Bensonhurst
Eat Il Colosseo
Old-school Italian-American food. Made with fresh, quality ingredients, and delicious.
Eat Lioni Italian Heroes
Choose from over 150 hero varieties, most named for Italian-American celebrities past and present. Each differs by the selection of cold cuts, cheeses, and toppings. Deli salads and other appetizers can accompany your sandwich.
Eat Mommas Noodle House
Our chefs specialize in authentic and delicious Cantonese food. The staff at Mama's Noodle House is devoted to serving customers mouthwatering dishes that feature the highest quality ingredients available. Pad Thai Noodle, Basil Chicken Ho Fun and Minced Pork Noodle are all prepared quickly and delivered to you right away.
Eat Villabate Alba
Wonderfully delicious Italian pastries - particularly Sicilian ones - and helpful, unaffected service. No place to sit, so get some items to go. Very inexpensive, too: A couple of pastries will cost you about $5.50.
Dyker Heights
Eat Krispy Pizza
You're in Brooklyn. Skip the chain pizza joints. This family pizzeria has been here since 1967. They offer over 15 varieties of pizza, including their specialty pie, Grandma’s Pizza, a thin crust Sicilian with fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and a touch of basil. Other popular options include fresh mozzarella pie, vodka sauce pizza, and a chicken parmesan pie. You can also get appetizers, salads, calzones, rolls, heroes, and pasta. Even vegetarians won't go hungry.
Eat La Bella Marketplace
This neighborhood supermarket offers all the basics if you're self-catering, including prepared meals to heat at your lodging. On-the-go options include hot homemade savory items and pastries. They have an entire aisle devoted to Italian imports. La Bella isn't a large store, but if you're not in search of a specific brand, you should be able to fill most needs.
Eat Mama Rao's
A "red-sauce" trattoria in the Brooklyn tradition. It features Italian classics, including antipasto, pasta, and entrées.
Eat Parkway Restaurant
Neighborhood restaurant serving diner-style food. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Burgers, salads, wraps, soups, Greek specialities, and desserts. Soft drinks, beer, and wine available.
Sunset Park
Eat 8th Avenue (Third Chinatown)
Stretching from 50th Street to 62nd Street, the avenue holds its own against Canal Street and Flushing. Fancy gourmet restaurants to alleyway noodle shops, Malaysian to Vietnamese and fare from every Chinese province, the neighborhood has it all. The area is particularly known as a nexus for immigrants from Fujian province.
Eat La Isla Cuchifritos
La Isla Cuchifrito Restaurant has been one of the most popular quick serve Latin establishments in Brooklyn for over 50 years. Puerto Rican food.
Eat Pacificana
Cantonese and Hong Kong cuisine, specializing in dim sum. In the heart of Sunset Park's Chinatown, this "palace" is popular with the locals and attracts visitors from farther afield.
Eat Tacos El Bronco
Since Sunset Park is home to many Mexicans and Mexican Americans, you will find authentic south-of-the-border cuisine here. If you like street food, check out their truck on 5th Ave between 37th and 38th Sts.
Eat Tacos Matamoros
A neighborhood Mexican restaurant.
Drink
Drink Caffe Cafe
A café with outdoor seating, allowing diners to observe the flow of people on Bay Ridge's 3rd Ave.
Drink Omonia Cafe
Greek café known for its delicious pastries. You can also get a full meal, but don't miss out on dessert.
Drink Industry City
Former warehouse and manufacturing complex. This area is now home to many bars with courtyards.
Drink Judy's
Coffee shop by day, bar by night. Popular with locals, and you'll often see regulars chatting with the friendly staff.
Sleep
Nearby
Jersey City
City / town · 71 listings · 6 mi away
Bayonne
City / town · 23 listings · 7 mi away
Queens
City / town · 3 listings · 7 mi away
Hoboken
City / town · 22 listings · 8 mi away
Staten Island
City / town · 59 listings · 9 mi away
Union City
City / town · 19 listings · 10 mi away
Weehawken
City / town · 10 listings · 10 mi away
Manhattan
City / town · 6 listings · 10 mi away
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