Cobble Hill is Brooklyn’s answer to West Village. If I didn’t have to commute to Midtown every day, I would move to this charming neighbourhood in a heartbeat. With wider, quieter streets than Manhattan, mom & pop stores and independent bars, restaurants, bakeries and book stores, it’s an idyllic slice of the best of New York City life.

This Cobble Hill Neighborhood Guide also includes a few spots that are technically in neighboring Boerum Hill & Carroll Gardens, but the boundaries are blurry and they’re close enough that a visit is only a very minor detour.

Bagels at Shelsky’s

Hands down, Shelsky’s makes some of the best bagels in New York City. It’s often busy, but you won’t face the insane lines like at more touristy locations in Manhattan. Shelsy’s is a quintessential New York Appetizing & Delicatessen, with more than 30 kinds of smoked fish to choose from at the bagel counter.

Baguettes at Bien Cuit

Bien Cuit is regarded by many as the best bakery in New York City. Owned by husband & wife team, baker Zachary Golper and Kate Wheatcroft, Bien Cuit opened in Brooklyn in 2011. Since then, Bien Cuit has been a James Beard Award Semi Finalist twice, and Zachary has been nominated for a James Beard Award as best baker, five times.

The bakery uses small batch techniques, so that every loaf of bread and every pastry receives the same level of attention as they would have hundreds of years ago. A slow fermentation process allows for greater control over the taste and texture of every loaf, and takes 16-68 hours per loaf.

Due to Bien Cuit’s popularity and reputation, it is one of the carefully curated vendors at Grand Central Market, inside Grand Central Station. You could pick up a laof here, but i is so much nicer to enjoy your bread in the lovely little courtyard at the back of the Cobble Hill bakery location, compared to in the chaos of Midtown.

Books Are Magic

Brooklyn-based novelist Emma Straub has opened her own sweet bookshop, to bring her love of reading and books to the whole community. Books Are Magic is wonderful, I challenge you to leave empty handed.

Cheese from Stinky Bklyn

Pick up some cheese and gourmet charcuterie from Stinky Bklyn, a delightful cheese shop brimming with local and imported varieties. The staff here love to help customers find their new favorite cheese, so don’t be shy – the samples here are generous.

Damascus Bakery

A Cobble Hill classic, Damascus Bakery has been operating since 1930. When Hassan Halaby immigrated to Brooklyn, he opened the bakery to bring a taste of his native Damascus to the neighborhood. Since then, his children and grandchildren have kept his baking traditions alive, while also innovating with new product variations along the way. I took a pastry to go, and ate it in the pretty Cobble Hill Park nearby.

Nostalgia at Brooklyn Farmacy

An old school soda fountain, reimagined for the 21st century, Brooklyn Farmacy is perfect for an afternoon sugar hit. Try a nostalgic egg cream, make with house made syrups and small batch ice cream.

Treats from One Girl Cookies

Americans have perfected the humble cookie. Dawn, the founder of One Girl Cookies, has taken cookies to an art form, and her small shop in Cobble Hill is an absolute delight.

Cobble Hill Park

Cobble Hill Park is a lovely little garden, with a few benches and plenty of pretty blooms. The grassy area is mostly cordoned off, but you could collect a few things to eat from Shelsky’s, Damascus, Bien Cuit or Stinky Bklyn and take them here to enjoy in the sunshine.

Still to try: June Wine Bar, Saint Julivert Fisherie, Lucali, La Vara

Where are your favourite spots in Cobble Hill? What are you favourite neighbourhoods in Brooklyn? Let me know in the comments!