Food & Drinks > Cafe
The Bed-Stuy neighborhood is located in the middle of Brooklyn. Lined with brownstone homes and steeped in black culture, the neighborhood is full of local stores. Playground Coffee Shop is located the main street of Bed-sty along Bedford Av, and the heart of the community. It offers not only coffee, but also books, sundries, workshops, radio broadcasts, and a very interesting book exchange space.
Entering through the entrance along Bedford Avenue, you will find a spacious café space. You can enjoy coffee and decaf as well as healthy and nutritious meals prepared by local chefs and bakers. It is a cozy and healing place where you can relax both body and mind.
Behind the cafe is Playground Annex, the only bookstore in Bed-Stuy that carries titles by BIPOC LGBTQIA authors that are not even highlighted in larger book retail chains in NY.
Playground Coffee Shop also participates in a community refrigerator where people in need can take food donated by neighbors. Recently, they have set up a greenhouse in front of the store and invited middle and high school students to participate in growing herbs, and they seem to be working to transform the Bed-Stuy neighborhood in a new way that goes beyond the confines of a coffee shop.
Apollo Bagels," the new sensation sweeping the streets of New York, is taking the bagel scene by storm. Both the East Village and West Village locations see long lines forming every morning, and its popularity continues to grow among locals and tourists alike. The craze has now reached Brooklyn, and in January 2025, a new store finally opened its doors in Williamsburg.
LEON'S BAGELS opened at the end of 2023 along Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg and quickly became a popular store with long lines of customers every day. With a clean white exterior and a simple, yet striking green logo under the eaves, it is hard to believe that this is a bagel store, but the store has a sophisticated appearance. The first store opened in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, and a second store opened soon after in Williamsburg. The name LEON, which is also used in the store name, was inspired by the owner's grandfather, who valued community. The store's theme is "Nothing Fancy," based on the belief that only simple and delicious bagels can unite people, and stylish original goods such as key chains, caps, and tote bags with the words "Nothing Fancy" designed on them are also available for sale.
There is a cake store run by a Japanese patissier in DUMBO, a popular tourist spot in Brooklyn. Located on the first floor of an old building at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, Burrow is a well-known store among those in the know, and the name "Burrow" means a small cave where foxes and rabbits live. With no signage, one might be tempted to walk past the shop due to its lack of presence, but once inside the building, one can see that the shop is constantly visited by customers, indicating that it is well-liked by the locals. The white interior has a solid impression of cleanliness with no unnecessary decoration, and the showcase next to the cash register is always stocked with freshly made cakes, cookies, and scones. The cookies are available in many varieties and are priced at a pleasant $5 for two. The Mont Blanc is a little expensive at $8, but the meringue base is crispy and the melt-in-your-mouth cream is surprisingly well-balanced and satisfying. The pastries are freshly made every morning, and strawberry shortcake can be purchased in whole portions if you make a reservation in advance. Hours of operation are limited to Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., so be sure to check back when you visit!
Newly opened in Williamsburg is a great new pasta restaurant. The owner-chef is Missy Robbins, also known as one of New York's best chefs; her first restaurant, Lilia, opened in 2016, and Misi, which opened in 2018, is still the most difficult restaurant to get a reservation at in New York City The restaurant is still talked about as one of the best restaurants in the city. The third such restaurant by Missy Robbins is Misi Pasta on the Williamsburg waterfront. The windows facing the street allow diners to watch the artisans at work, and they are captivated by the skillful craftsmanship and freshly made pasta. The restaurant has a counter table with a few seats, and an open-air terrace at the back of the restaurant. The most popular menu item is the freshly made pasta. The spaghetti with breadcrumbs and bottarga is especially popular. You can enjoy the taste of the restaurant at home again. If it is difficult to eat in, we hope you will take these items home to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at home.
