6.2 out of 10

Bushwick

Ranked 25th best neighborhood in Brooklyn
40.6944860333788 -73.9174375026019
Great for
  • Cost of Living
  • Parking
  • Public Transport
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Lack of Traffic
Not great for
  • Medical Facilities
  • Nightlife
  • Eating Out
  • Shopping Options
  • Pest Free
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Hipsters

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"I Love Bushwick"

BUSHWICK!!!! What can I say besides I love this neighborhood I moved into about 4 months ago. First things first. I used to live in Chinatown, then Williamsburg, and now here. This is my point of view living by Wyckoff ave & Hancock st. I live on the Bushwick side of Wyckoff ave, but across the street is Ridgewood queens, so my review also applies for the Ridgewood border. Now on to my review. Bushwick isn't as gentrified as the newspapers and real estate people would like you to believe. This area is still up & coming with it's pockets of crime, so so schools, loud music during warm months, and wildlife (roaches/rats), but you get what you pay for in cheap rents. Now for the PROS!!! The convenience is unbeatable. I have a Supermarket nearby, lots of shopping on Myrtle ave, and I get to Union Sq in about 20-25 mins with the L Train, and the M train takes me to Lower east side within the same same time frame. My neighbors have been very friendly, and contrary to what all the "bushwick is dangerous" people would like you to believe, I have not felt threatened or unsafe at any time of day since moving out here. My rent is fairly cheap compared to other areas I looked into, and my landlord is an ace. I love all the different options of food I have out here. Stepping off Wyckoff & Myrtle, there's the awesome taco carts, plenty of latin food, 2 stops away is the Jefferson L stop with plenty of awesome restaurants like Northeast kingdom, Indian food, Sushi, etc. Whatever you're in the mood to eat, Bushwick will likely have it. The nightlife is also amazing out here. Radio Bushwick has a lot of bands play there, plenty of bars scattered around Bushwick, and Old Stanley's a new pub off of Wyckoff & Myrtle ave which just opened up, so this area is fast changing. There's also numerous art galleries all over and awesome street art. I also drive, and the highways are all nearby. Jackie Robinson pkwy takes me to queens in 15 mins, and the BQE is just straight down flushing ave. Bushwick is fast improving, and i have a few friends looking into the area, so I would highly recommend the Bushwick/ Ridgewood border.
Pros
  • Cool bars/restaurants popping up
  • cheap cab ride from Soho/LES
  • Close to Hipsterville Williamsburg
  • Cool graffiti art
Cons
  • Still gentrifying
  • Mediocre schools
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
2yrs+

"For the most part...kind of awesome."

I wish rents weren't rising so fast. Get in while you can! Dramatic changes have been taking place. Some parts may be "up-and-coming" but some parts have 'surpassed' much of Williamsburg. Low cost of living. Tons of stuff to do (although you may have to look for it - much of it is not 'in-your-face) Great transportation options.
Pros
  • Fun!
  • Art scene is amazing.
  • Lots of hidden stuff to do, every day!
  • Cool bars/restaurants popping up
  • cheap cab ride from Soho/LES
  • Cool graffiti art
Cons
  • Getting VERY expensive, quickly
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Tourists
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Not the best neighborhood, but its slowly improving"

For years, Bushwick has been trying to shake its bad reputation for crime and poverty. Even today, more than half of the town's residents receive public assistance. There are still lots of neglected lots and decaying buildings, and the crime rate isn't good although it has improved a lot. However, the residents and the city have worked (and are still working) hard to transform Bushwick into a trendy hotspot like its neighbor, Williamsburg. A lot of artsy hipsters have come here, drawn by the cheaper rents and the potential they see in the neighborhood. Bushwick now has a hip art scene, and graffiti art is on display throughout the city's streets. There are also lots of diverse restaurants, a reflection of the town's increasing diversity. A lot of residents take their kids to Maria Hernandez Park to play or browse the farmer's market. Most of the housing here is in multi-family private homes. Single-family homes are hard to come by, but rentals are pretty easy to find, particularly in the multi-family homes. Homes that are located closer to WIlliamsburg are pretty expensive, but they are still much cheaper than properties in Williamsburg. There are a lot of public schools in Bushwick, but for the most part, they are pretty mediocre.
Pros
  • Cool graffiti art
  • Cool bars/restaurants popping up
  • cheap cab ride from Soho/LES
  • Close to Hipsterville Williamsburg
  • inexpensive rent
Cons
  • Mediocre schools
  • elevated J/Z train is loud/annoying
  • crime rates
  • Still gentrifying
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • Hipsters
  • Students
2/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 1/5
  • Pest Free 1/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 1/5
2yrs+

"Not for the Faint of Heart"

Because Bushwick is slowly being gentrified by hipster kids who can't afford to live in Greenpoint and Williamsburg - likely because they work in the service industry and spend all their extra cash on Ray-Bans and angular haircuts, this means that there are cool bars and restaurants that cater to this crowd springing up all over the hood. One spot known around BK for being awesome is Gotham City off Myrtle Ave. However, beware the rat population in this area late at night. As one can see, going out in Bushwick is not for the faint of heart.

Besides providing shelter for much of the city's rat population, Bushwick is home to its share of crime (especially in the summer months, like most neighborhoods prone to such activity). There are a few low-income housing projects peppering the neighborhood, and there are plenty in the neighboring Bed-Stuy, giving the area a low chance of ever truly being gentrified. Keep this in mind when your hipster cousin invites you to come live in the extra room in his Bushwick apartment and he tells you: "In five years this place is going to be the new Williamsburg!"

Of course there is always speculation as to which neighborhood will be the next big trend monster - and if you're looking to get into the bar business, it won't hurt to set up in the area of Bushwick that borders Williamsburg. Already bars like Wreck Room and Kings County are doing pretty good business in the area. But I disagree that Bushwick has any real potential to drive out the low income natives and see condos rise from the ashes. Sorry, hipsters.
Pros
  • Cool bars/restaurants popping up
  • Close to Hipsterville Williamsburg
Cons
  • Still gentrifying
  • elevated J/Z train is loud/annoying
Recommended for
  • Hipsters
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"A little crime, but the hipsters keep moving in"

I probably wouldn't recommend a trip to Bushwick for anyone who is visiting from out of town - it's not exactly picturesque or what a tourist would imagine when they think of Brooklyn. That being said, Bushwick is a pretty cool neighborhood if you don't mind living in close proximity to low income housing projects. People often tell me stories of having their cars broken into and of their neighbors being shot, but the former has never (knock on wood) happened to me and the latter seems to be happening much less than it apparently used to.

There are some good places to eat (Athom Cafe on the Bed Stuy side of Broadway and Northeast Kingdom come to mind) and some cool bars (my personal favorite being King's County on Seigel at Bogart), but Bushwick residents do a lot of walking as there is a bit of space between hot spots. That is of course unless they live in loftsville over on Bogart off the L train, where residents enjoy a 24 hour organic market, coffee shops, and close proximity to King's County and Wreck Room (another bar worth checking out).
Pros
  • inexpensive rent
  • cheap cab ride from Soho/LES
  • Cool bars/restaurants popping up
Cons
  • crime rates
  • elevated J/Z train is loud/annoying
Recommended for
  • Hipsters
BtB BtB
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
2yrs+

"Good and Bad -- Something to be Experienced"

The Good is a definite culture; real people and small businesses -- not a chain store in sight, and lots of good shopping and deals available... good, authentic food for great prices. It's also a great spot for going into Manhattan -- only 20 minutes away by the L or the A -- and a hub of public transportation. Also gorgeous architecture.

The Bad is despite al the talks of being up-and-coming, it is still pretty rough around the edges. Depending on what area you live in, it can still be pretty rough -- I saw three fights within the course of four months of living there. Personally, I was only harassed once, but I've heard the horror stories. You always have to be on point, especially coming home late at night, after a few drinks.

Overall, it's not all that it's talked up to be, IMO... but it's not awful. If you can afford Williamsburg or Prospect Park, I'd suggest those sections of Brooklyn first... if you're on a bit of a tighter budget, and are street savy, you should enjoy Bushwick.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
3/5
2yrs+

"Great transportation around this area"

Bushwick is located in northeastern Brooklyn just south of the Cemetery of the Evergreens. It is a residential area that has seen an influx of young resident artists moving into the plethora of converted warehouse lofts, brownstones, and other renovated buildings in the area. Over the past few years, property values have increased from the influx and gentrification.

Subway, train access, and buses service the area of Bushwick. The J, L, M, and Z subway lines are all quite helpful in getting to and from Bushwick. Local buses make traveling to the market and shopping destinations a breeze. The Myrtle Avenue/Wyckoff Avenue bus and subway hub was recently renovated in 2007 and now provides a state of the art transportation center.

If you have a little adventure in your heart, cross over Flushing Avenue and take a stroll down Knickerbocker Avenue. Here you can take in the sights at Maria Hernandez Park or continue on through this shopping district. Fine shopping can be done all along Knickerbocker Avenue , where you will find higher-end clothing boutiques, appliance stores, and gourmet food shops.

Once you travel away from the shopping district, you will find the housing stock improve dramatically. Bushwick’s neighborhood charm and character becomes like its adjacent partners Bed-Stuy and Brownsville.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
3/5
2yrs+

"Bushwick, a once rough neighborhood on the improve."

Bushwick is a neighborhood spanning two square miles located in the borough of Brooklyn. This diverse and vibrant neighborhood is home to a wide-variety of ethnicities. The remnants of this once bustling neighborhood are lower-income housing projects and apartment buildings and a clear differentiation between the wealthier and more prominent sections of this borough.

Life in Bushwick has improved for its residents since the turbulent era following the1960s. The resulting community organizing projects brought about the construction of several parks and community centers throughout the neighborhood for youth engagement and community involvement. A popular venue in the summer is the Bushwick Pool & Park (Flushing Avenue & Bushwick Avenue). A nice place to take the family, this park is filled with people and an exciting energy.

Historical sights in Bushwick are few, but one that does stand out is Memorial Gore Park which holds a granite monument for those who perished during World War I. Picturesque and serene, this is a nice spot to relax in the neighborhood.

Dining and Entertainment in Bushwick is unique as with the melting pot of different peoples provides a visitor with a very diverse dining experience, not to mention a slew of fast food restaurants. Nightlife in Bushwick can be somewhat of a mystery to an outsider, as the most popular venues for the young crowd tend to be in Manhattan or other sections of Brooklyn.

A major reason why people choose to live in this section of Brooklyn as opposed to Manhattan is mostly due to accessibility. The L train and M trains run throughout this neighborhood, making travel into Manhattan extremely convenient. The following buses are also available: B13, B26, B38, B52, B54, and B60.

Visiting Bushwick

Sights:
Bushwick Green Park located at Flushing Avenue and Central Avenue.
Hope Gardens Multi Service Center

Restaurants:
Northeast Kingdom,18 Wyckoff Ave- Great place for unique mid-range fare.
El Salvador Restaurant, 1544 Myrtle Ave- Vibrant Latin food restaurant
Three Brothers Restaurant, 616 Livonia Ave- Wonderful Italian cuisine
Life Cafe NINE83, 983 Flushing Ave- Traditional American Fare
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"It's up-and-coming, I swear"

At first glance, Bushwick appears to be a pretty confused place. Perhaps this is because it is smack in the middle of the ongoing gentrification process, what with neighboring Williamsburg becoming too expensive to house the artists and young people that once thrived there (and, okay, still pretty much do). Some of my guy friends were really loathe to let me wander around by myself at night in this neighborhood, even if more and more 20-something girls are moving into the area and they do just that every day. There are some pretty cool things to be found here – like random record stores, and a Life Café on Flushing Ave. (You may recall the other Life Café, which is in the East Village, being mentioned in the Broadway musical Rent.)
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles

Travelling to Bushwick?

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Best Streets in Bushwick

1

Melrose St

4/5
"Melrose Street Is Nice"
40.7003860890884 -73.9312869256472
2

Eastern Pkwy

3.5/5
"Brooklyn's pride and joy located in place"
40.6804655978275 -73.9050429788064
3

Stanhope St

3/5
"Great Residential Street"
40.699964412695 -73.9211559442083
4

Locust St

2.5/5
"A decent/inexpensive living, if you don't mind the neighborhood"
40.6992370015916 -73.9375700054476
"Check out Urban Jungle, lively atmosphere"
40.6975053153491 -73.9160607205712

Unranked Streets in Bushwick

Aberdeen St

3.5/5
"Short little street"
40.6822558642657 -73.9057627642447

Arion Pl

2.5/5
"On Arion Place"
40.6984510018024 -73.9361150060046

Bleecker St

3.5/5
"Extreme ends of Bleecker feel residential"
40.6984650561976 -73.9179414983807
"On Central Aveue"
40.6946461308362 -73.9191181525928

Cooke Ct

3.5/5
"Good for a walk around town"
40.6808506669701 -73.9040373335014

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