Time Out Magazine has named Red Hook the coolest neighborhood in New York for 2025. The choice comes as no surprise to those who know the area well.
Red Hook feels separate from the rest of the city, with the water on one side and warehouses that now carry art, food, and culture on the other.
The recognition confirms what locals already see every day.
Why Red Hook Feels Different
Time Out Magazine has named Red Hook the coolest neighborhood in New York for 2025. The choice comes as no surprise to those who know the area well. You can’t just hop on the subway and land here. That’s part of the point.
The B61 bus runs from Downtown Brooklyn straight to IKEA on Beard Street, cutting right through Van Brunt Street. The B57 snakes in from Maspeth through Downtown before dipping into Red Hook. If you’re coming from Bay Ridge or Sheepshead Bay, the B1 or B4 will get you close enough to transfer. From Midwood, the B9 connects you to hubs where the Red Hook lines take over. Manhattan riders skip the headache and grab the free IKEA ferry from Pier 11 for skyline views before stepping onto the pier.
The neighborhood feels separate, almost like a small town at the city’s edge. Cobblestones line Van Brunt, old warehouses face the harbor, and murals splash color across brick walls. It feels lived-in, with no trace of the plastic vibe you find in other “up-and-coming” spots.
Everyday Corners That Define It
- Louis Valentino Jr. Park and Pier: the pier with a view of the Statue of Liberty that locals love.
- Van Brunt Street: the main artery with food, bars, and shops all packed in.
- The Waterfront: industrial history on one side, open harbor on the other.
Art Spaces That Keep It Fresh
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Red Hook has a raw, creative energy anchored by a handful of real spots that matter.
- Pioneer Works: The crown jewel. A nonprofit cultural center in a massive warehouse, hosting concerts, open studios, and the monthly Second Sundays.
- Kentler International Drawing Space: A gallery on Van Brunt Street focused on contemporary drawing, installations, and community events.
- Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC): Housed in a Civil War-era warehouse on Van Brunt, it showcases local artists with seasonal shows and massive group exhibits.
Music and Performance
Red Hook isn’t packed with giant venues, but the ones it has are unforgettable.
- Pioneer Works Live Shows: Music in a setting that feels like a cathedral crossed with a warehouse.
Food Spots People Actually Line Up For
Food in Red Hook pulls crowds for good reason.
- Hometown Bar-B-Que: Famous for brisket and smoked meats, and the line proves it.
- Brooklyn Crab: Three levels of seafood, rooftop views, mini-golf, and buckets of crab legs.
- Defonte’s Sandwich Shop: Since 1922, serving Italian heroes stacked with fried eggplant, mozzarella, and roast beef.
- Red Hook Lobster Pound: The place for lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, and seafood straight to the counter.
- GOOG Thai Cookshop: Small, casual, and perfect for a spicy dinner before hitting a bar.
- Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie: The Swingle (a frozen chocolate-dipped pie) eaten on the pier is a Red Hook ritual.
Drinks That Define the Night
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- Sunny’s Bar: The beating heart of Red Hook nightlife, with live music and no pretense.
- Jalopy Tavern: A mix of bar, music hall, and community hub with roots music shows that pull crowds.
- Strong Rope Brewery: Local craft beers made from 100% New York ingredients.
- Red Hook Winery: A waterfront tasting room pouring Brooklyn-made reds and whites.
- Ice House: A laid-back neighborhood dive with cheap beers and a backyard.
Bars and Breweries in Red Hook
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Going out in Red Hook feels different than in other parts of Brooklyn. You don’t get velvet ropes or trendy pop-ups. You get bars that have been here for decades and breweries that actually brew in the neighborhood.
The first stop is always Sunny’s Bar. It has been around since the late 1800s, and inside it still feels like an old Brooklyn saloon. Musicians fill the back room on weekends, the walls carry stories, and the drinks are cheap enough that nobody rushes out.
Beer has its own presence here. Sixpoint Brewery, one of the borough’s earliest craft names, pours small-batch releases at its Red Hook taproom. Strong Rope Brewery leans into New York pride, brewing with hops and grains grown only in the state. You can sit at the bar with a view of the water and sip something you won’t find anywhere else.
If wine fits better, Red Hook Winery is the place. The tasting room inside a Civil War-era warehouse is built for long afternoons. Flights of reds and whites come from local vineyards, and the staff will walk you through every bottle without a hint of pretense.
Shops You’ll Want to Check Out
Red Hook doesn’t have chain stores lined up on every corner. Shopping here means walking into independent spaces that carry their own style. Open Invite is a home goods shop that curates furniture and décor with a mix of vintage and modern. It feels more like stepping into someone’s apartment than a showroom.
For music, Record Shop on Van Brunt sets up bins on the sidewalk, letting you dig for vinyl under the sun. You can find everything from old jazz pressings to punk seven-inches, and half the fun is talking with the owners about what they’ve got hidden in the back.
Book lovers head to Coffey Street Studio, a hybrid space where artists, small publishers, and writers share their work. Red Hook also has smaller boutiques selling handmade jewelry, ceramics, and clothing, often run directly out of studio spaces.
Best Views by the Water
The waterfront defines Red Hook more than anything else. Walk down to Louis Valentino Jr. Park and Pier and you’ll see why people love it. The view of the Statue of Liberty is as close as you can get without taking a ferry. On clear days, the skyline stretches from Lower Manhattan across the harbor.
Another favorite is the Erie Basin Park, built around IKEA but open to the public. Trails wind past shipping cranes and docks, giving you the sense that you’re standing inside both history and the present at the same time.
Locals head to the piers at sunset. The light cuts across the harbor, bouncing off the warehouses and water. Couples sit with slices of Steve’s Key Lime Pie, families fish off the edges, and photographers set up tripods for the golden hour. It doesn’t feel like anywhere else in New York.
Spots Worth Walking To
- Red Hook Dockside: Small, hidden angles along the water with benches and space to breathe.
- Atlantic Basin: Where cruise ships dock, giving you a scale of the harbor you don’t usually see.
Final Thoughts
Red Hook may not sit at the very top of the world’s list, but it carries a badge of honor: no other New York neighborhood made it. Brooklyn holds the crown for the third straight year, and Red Hook wears it with pride.
Also, it was not the only American name on the list.
Chicago came in strong with Avondale at number 5, a spot that blends Polish history, Latino culture, and a rush of new energy that makes the area feel alive on every block. In Austin, Clarksville earned number 33, keeping the city’s laid-back reputation intact with music, food, and a touch of history that runs through its streets. Out in San Francisco, Glen Park landed at number 35, a reminder that quiet corners with canyon trails and close-knit communities still matter in a city that often feels too fast for its own good.
