Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint

Manhattan Avenue is one of the liveliest streets in Greenpoint and is definitely the most convenient as far as transportation and the like. It has become this great melting pot of the old Polish community and the hipster scene which makes it have a very eclectic mix of great food, bars and shopping. I really like the energy on Manhattan Ave even if it is somewhat of a pain to get to.
Amarin Cafe (Manhattan and Nassau) is one of my favorite Thai places in Brooklyn (they're surprisingly hard to find) and it is so cheap!! Calexico just up the street has outstanding tacos and you know they're good when the restaurant started as a street cart. This place is serious Mexican and I'm from California so I'm a bit of a snob about it. And, there's an incredible Japanese place called Sapporo . . . something that serves the most massive portions of food. There is, seriously, every different kind of food on Manhattan Avenue and they are all delicious and ridiculously cheap. I would be remiss, also, if I didn't mention that you have to stop by Christina's to get pierogi as an appetizer. The ambience of the place is a downer but this place is famous for some authentically incredible pierogi.

Manhattan Ave has some of the best bars in Greenpoint as well. Although, my favorites also serve pretty fantastic food. Manhattan Inn is a gorgeous bar on Manhatts that serves a pretty killer hamburger. The feel and aesthetic of this place is kind of magical. It looks like a lodge so I wouldn't exactly call it a summer bar, but it is really cool. My other favorite bar is Enid's. It's right on McCarren Park and serves a mean brunch. It has a great energy and great drinks. There's so much to do on Manhattan Avenue that you couldn't get through it all in one day. I'm glad that this is starting to happen because Greenpoint used to be really dead. The only downside about Manhattan Ave is that there is not much in the way of public transportation which is why rent is so cheap.

Manhattan Avenue is actually in Brooklyn, and though it may seem far from the city, it actually offers its fare share of places to eat out. As the rents in Williamsburg keep going up, hipsters are slowly moving to nearby neighborhoods where the rent is cheaper, and the trendy businesses seem to follow them…slowly. If you’re in the neighborhood and need coffee, check out the Ashbox Café – it’s one of the better little cafes in the neighborhood.