New York City Travel Forum

Hi everyone - greetings from Scotland!

I'm coming over to NY again in May for a long weekend. On previous trips, I've really enjoyed spending the day in Brooklyn and Harlem - so this time I would like to check out the nightlife there.

I was planning to spend a Thursday night in Brooklyn and a Friday night in Harlem.

Grateful if you guys can offer any advice on good bars, dive bars and restaurants to go to. We're two straight guys in our mid-30s and we don't like touristy places. The more authentic and edgy - without the threat of violence! - the better.

Our ideal evening would be some great ethnic food in a little neighbourhood restaurant, then drinks in some great local dive bars and then dancing to great music in a cool club... oh, with lots of hot, friendly women thrown in too!

Any advice you can offer? Many thanks.

Dave

There is a nice Ethiopian Resturant on 113th and Fredrick Douglas (8th Ave), its called Zoma. It is chic, both the vibes and the food are great. It is close to Columbia University as well.
There are a bunch of restuarants and bars near Columbia on Broadway from about 116th to 122nd, It is a lively local crowd (Columbia students local). There are also some nice low key jazz bars in central harlem, I'll have to check with my friend.

On 126, all the way over to the West Side Highway, there is this place called Dinosaur BBQ. The food is amazing and it is a crazy mix of everybody by the bar almost every night.


In Brooklyn, you will find the best centralized crowd in Williamsburgs. Take the L train to Bedford, one stop in from Manhattan. Start on Bedford between 5th St and 8th and walk around. There are all kinds of different gigs.
There is a great Asian Vegetarian Restuarant called Wild Ginger on Bedford and 5th. Theres also a bar I hit up one time 2 block up on 7th. Can't miss it.

You cant go wrong. The areas are as safe as anywhere else. Just pay attention.

I have no idea, but have a great trip! :) (I'll be there in May, too)

I can only offer 1 comment on a restaurant, and it's a negative one. DOn't bother with Sylvia's Restaurant
The food is nothing special at all; I've been there. Yes, it has a reputation and all that, but the most interesting thing about it is the pictures of all the celebrities on the walls. One local workmate of mine, who lives in Harlem, told me that most of the food there is out of the can. I cannot verify that!, but the
food did not taste special or out of the ordinary at all. Why pay the special pumped-up prices?