Brighton Beach, Brooklyn

Located near Coney Island in south Brooklyn, Brighton Beach is a popular oceanfront community with a lovely boardwalk. Just over one square mile, this is one of the only affordable waterfront communities in New York. Its quirky charm also helped maintain property prices during the recent foreclosure crisis and recession. While prices dropped in most places, they actually went up in Brighton Beach. The population in this town is primarily Russian, but there are good numbers of Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean residents too. Most businesses here feature Russian signs, and there are a lot of small Russian stores and restaurants. One of the problems with this neighborhood is that there isn't enough parking. This becomes even more of an issue during the peak summer months when outsiders flock to the beach. There are a lot of doctor's offices in this town, so you don't have to worry about health care. There are co-ops that start below $200,000 and private homes that run into the millions. Brighton Beach has excellent schools: P.S. 225 and I.S. 303 have great reputations. The high school isn't as good though. There are diverse stores, great restaurants, and a nice nightlife. Public transportation options include two subway lines and a number of buses. The commute to Manhattan takes under an hour.

Perhaps most famous to outsiders as the setting of Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs, Brighton Beach, located in south Brooklyn near Coney Island, is a middle-class residential community known specifically for its immigrant enclaves and close communities. Sometimes Brighton Beach is called "Little Odessa," an appellation that reflects its enormous traditional Ukranian population. Residents also include groups of Polish, Russian, East European, Georgian, and Turkish residents, as well as a sizeable Pakistani enclave. Brighton Beach is a fantastic venue for families still seeking the old New York of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - the book's heroine Francie Nolan may have herself lived in Williamsburg, but it's Brighton Beach that captures the best of the New York immigrant spirit. With a number of cafes and restaurants, many reflecting the neighborhood's ethnic feel, Brighton Beach is very much a self-contained neighborhood, rather than a purely residential section of the city, giving it the sense of being a complete and thriving community. The Beach of Brighton Beach is another draw - perfect for warm midsummer days in the city.

Brighton Beach is along the southwestern portion of Brooklyn and is sandwiched between Coney Island and Manhattan Beach. Brighton Beach sits with its frontage to the Atlantic Ocean making this a great beach community.

The neighborhood is replete with Russian restaurants and Russian grocers. The overall feel of this community is widely ethnic and during the day most people are filling the streets. The estimated population is just over 150,000 making the neighborhood somewhat homey with a beach front attitude - not too urban and not too small. The proximity of Brighton Beach to the city beaches makes it a popular summer weekend destination for thousands of New Yorkers wanting to escape the Big Apple and get away. The main street to the beach runs parallel to the Coney Island beach area and the Boardwalk, which also makes this a hopping destination for weekend travelers.

Stereotypical beach front shops align the area and this is a great place to get your fill of fish and chips. Also, due to the large population of Russians there are some good places to eat. Try Primorski Restaurant, which calls itself Russian but is Georgian owned - still a great place for walnut-stuffed eggplant and meat filled xhingali dumplings. Also, be sure to check out the famous National at 273 Brighton Beach Avenue, where if you are prepared to pay, you can enjoy a Vegas-style line-up of entertainment. For something a little more low key, but oh so kitsch, try the nautical themed Gambrinus bar on Ocean Parkway.

Brighton Beach or Little Odessa as it is called after a city many of its Ukrainian residents originally called home is an ethnically diverse neighborhood on Coney Island located in Brooklyn, New York. Its residents, traditions, and proximity to the limitless ocean bring visitors from near and afar to enjoy its delightful fare.

Brighton Beach was developed as a beach resort in the mid-1800s. This area has always been a prime place to live with the water an amazing contrast to the city life of Manhattan and more populated sections of Brooklyn. Real Estate in Brighton Beach has always been expensive, as owning a home, condominium or apartment costs well over $350,000. Renting and subletting in this neighborhood is fairly inexpensive, similar to other neighborhoods in Brooklyn, ranging anywhere from $600 for a room to $4,000 for an apartment, a price that could be more depending on the vicinity to the beach.

Brighton Beach has always been home to a predominantly Jewish population, post World War II especially. Their culture is ever-presently, and with influx of Russian Jews, and other Central European immigrants, this neighborhood is a monument to their cultures. Other cultures reside in the neighborhood, adding to its wonderful fluidity and the friendly feel.

This is a family oriented neighborhood and a happy escape for Manhattan residents. The beach, as well as the shops and restaurants that surround it, are located mainly on and around 5th Avenue. There, you will find a variety of offerings, including a Russian Bookstore, reflecting the distinctive culture found here.

Brighton Beach is conveniently serviced by the D and M trains, this neighborhood is a great place to live and to visit.

Dining

Primorski Restaurant - 282 Brighton Beach Ave.
Gina's Café- Russian diner at 409 Brighton Beach Ave.
Ocean View Café- delicious and refreshing spins on dessert at 290 Brighton Beach Ave.

This neighborhood is home to more Eastern European restaurants and even more Russian restaurants than you can count. But you’d have to really be craving the Russian food to journey way out here to get it – more likely you’ll have come to Coney Island to check out the amusement park, and if so feel free to venture to Café Glechik in Brighton Beach for some pretty good Eastern European fare. The main attraction at this restaurant is their dumplings – they are pretty (locally) famous.
This neighborhood is ethnically diverse, even if it was once termed “Little Odessa” because of its plethora of Ukraine immigrants. It’s not even close to Midtown, so if you are planning on traveling to the city for work or with any kind of frequency, look for a neighborhood a little closer to the island.

I loved visiting the beach in the summer time with my friends and enjoying the sun. Many people don't realize that Brooklyn has many beaches including Reese Beach, Coney Island, and Manhattan Beach.

Brighton Beach is one of my favorite, especially since the water on this part of the strip of beaches is cleaner than Coney Island's side. Technically Mahattan Beach, Brighton Beach, and Coney Island are on the same strip of land, but there are water filters that exist and Manhattan Beach happens to be the closest to that side of the beach. Brighton Beach is in between Manhattan Beach and Coney Island.

The beach is often crowded in the summer, but why wouldn't it be. This adds to the excitement of living in the city. And besides when you grow up in Brooklyn, you become used to this.

Otherwise, if you want to go to the beach it is very excessible by the B train. Just go ahead and have fun. Enjoy the sand, water, and all the people.