Our New York

Sunny’s

It’s a perfect one-hundred-year-old bar in Red Hook, which is a sleepy and charming but mostly difficult-to-get-to neighborhood (without a bike or car, anyway) where Eric was living when we met — though Ella was the one who suggested it as the location for our first date.

Bagel Hole

These are the best bagels in Brooklyn and therefore the world. No, we will not be taking questions. (A quick note: any bagel store that hand-rolls and bakes in-house is going to have better bagels than you can get where you live. Smith St. Bagels, Court St. Bagels, and Bergen Bagels are three favorites that are fairly close to the hotels and venue. Black Seed Bagels is housed on the ground floor of the Ace Hotel and is very good, but they’re Montreal-style rather than New York-style, so we can’t recommend them in good faith if you want real New York bagels.)

Pasticceria Monteleone

This is a family-owned Italian pastry shop where everything is great, but the two things you want to get here are the cannoli and the amaretti, which are chewy almond paste cookies.

F&F Pizzeria

We’re not gonna wade into the debate of where to get the best pizza in New York, especially after already staking out such a clear stance on the best bagel. But this one is really good. They make a great regular pie, but the specialty slices are where they excel. Eric recommends the Partanna and Ella recommends the Cacio e Pepe. (Some other good nearby pizzerias: My Little Pizzeria, Table 87, Gino’s, Via Roma. Just like with bagels, just about any pizzeria you walk into in New York is going to have very, very good pizza.)

L&B Spumoni Gardens

Speaking of really good pizza, if you make your way out to Coney Island, this is a worthwhile detour. The Sicilian pie is the thing to get here, along with the eponymous spumoni.

Court Street Grocers

Just, like, really good sandwiches, with an abundance of veg- & vegan-friendly options. Ella recommends the Ollieflower, and Eric recommends the Delight (Veg or otherwise) and the Jawn.

Prospect Park

Prospect Park is the beating heart of Brooklyn, and you can spend a really great day people-watching in the Long Meadow, curling up under a tree with a book, or getting lost in the forest. Go to the Long Meadow or the Nethermead before 9am if you want to see Brooklyn’s dogs (not ours) enjoying off-leash hours. Check out the Grand Army Greenmarket on Saturday from 8-4.

Fort Greene Park

In addition to the sprawling parks in each borough, New York is dotted with neighborhood oases like this one. Grab a spot on the hill with a friend and a cup of coffee, and enjoy the sweeping views of brownstone Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

A beautiful stretch of green space along the East River. Walk along the promenade in Brooklyn Heights, or go see the carousel in Dumbo.

River Deli

If you find yourself near Brooklyn Bridge Park around dinner time, River Deli is a great option for unpretentious Italian — cash only!

Black Mountain Wine House

A cozy wine bar in Carroll Gardens with small plates. Grab a table outside, order a bottle to share, and enjoy the people watching.

Cafe Mado

A perfect place to stop for lunch near the Brooklyn Museum or Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Greenlight Bookstore

This list would be incomplete without a couple bookstores — Greenlight and Books are Magic are both local gems!

Books Are Magic

The Green-Wood Cemetery

A pretty great place to spend eternity or an afternoon.

Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie is Ella’s favorite dessert, and this is an especially good one. Grab one to share and enjoy the view of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty from nearby Valentino Pier, where we got engaged.

Sharlene’s

Sharlene’s is either the last best bar or the best last bar — if your night ends here, it was probably a good one.