The Complete Guide to Eating and Drinking in Gowanus

Top-tier food, ambience, and service. A newer entry on Court Street with a perfect early rating.

Cash-only French brunch spot on Smith Street for over 20 years. The pancakes are enormous, cloudlike, and on every neighborhood best-of list for good reason. 1,672 reviews for a small room that doesn't take cards is about as clear an endorsement as this neighborhood produces.

Middle Eastern casual eatery on Atlantic Avenue. Delicious food, great atmosphere, and friendly staff across a very large and consistent review base.

Mexican restaurant on the South Slope/Gowanus border with creative cocktails that reviewers keep mentioning alongside the food. The kind of place where the drinks are as much a reason to go as the menu.

Mediterranean spot for gyros and souvlaki on Smith Street. Consistently strong reviews on food, service, and atmosphere.

A Gowanus staple. Bright, casual, and exactly what it sounds like: great pierogies in a neighborhood that has always had more bars than restaurants. The menu is bigger than you'd expect, but the pierogies are what people come back for.

Stylish French-Canadian bistro on Smith Street. Cool vibe, interesting wine list, and great decor. One of the more distinctive dining rooms on the corridor.

Opened spring 2026 in the former Ferdinando's Focacceria space on Union Street, a spot that locals knew well. The new restaurant honors the site's Sicilian roots with panelle, arancini, and classic Italian fare alongside an amaro-forward cocktail program, and preserved original artwork and fixtures from the historic space.

Henry Street neighborhood bar and restaurant under new ownership as of 2026 with a new Oaxacan chef in the kitchen. A neighborhood restaurant getting a serious kitchen upgrade is a good development.

Intimate Italian restaurant on the Cobble Hill edge of Bergen Street. Small, warm, and focused on doing simple things well. The kind of place people defend aggressively when someone asks where to eat.

Mexican tapas and craft cocktails on Smith Street. The food is creative and the mezcal cocktails are genuinely good. One of the better spots on the corridor for a drinks-forward dinner.

French bistro on Smith Street open since 2002. Steak frites, moules mariniere, good cocktails, live music on select nights. One of the older survivors on a street that has seen dozens of openings and closings around it.

Lively French bistro on Smith Street in a warm setting. Amazing vibe, delicious food, and a wine selection that earns consistent praise. A proper bistro with real energy.

Kosher steakhouse with cocktails and a huge patio. Upscale feel, strong reviews across the board. One of the more distinctive options in the neighborhood for a special occasion dinner.

Casual German eatery and beer garden on lower Smith Street. The beer selection is exceptional and the food backs it up. A good option for a long, easy afternoon when the weather cooperates.

Breakfast and sandwiches on 3rd Avenue, open early. Simple, well-executed, and consistently praised. A solid option for an early start or a quick lunch.

Diner on Court Street with standout banana pancakes and hash browns. A solid breakfast and brunch option in Carroll Gardens.

Italian-ish, neighborhood-ish, with a bar program that punches above its weight. They run seasonal pop-ups and collaborations — the Itameshi series (Italian-Japanese fusion) got enough attention to become a recurring thing. A genuinely fun place for dinner or a late glass of wine.

Italian restaurant on Union Street earning a strong following. The breakfast spaghetti and well-balanced cocktails are the signature draws. An interesting entry in the neighborhood Italian category.

A diner. Counter stools, eggs any way, coffee refills, no reservations, no apps. In a neighborhood this deep into fine dining and small plates, that is not nothing. Sometimes you just want breakfast.

The anchor of Gowanus dining. Chef T.J. Steele opened this Oaxacan restaurant in 2017 and earned the neighborhood's first Michelin star. The star has come and gone, but the food has not. House-ground masa, fire-grilled tortillas, and a back patio with a wood-burning hearth that makes summer dinners feel genuinely transporting. Get the tostadas. Come back.

All-day restaurant on 4th Avenue with a comfortable, laid-back feel and consistently delicious food. Breakfast through dinner.

Japanese restaurant in the old Monte's space, keeping the pizza oven and using it for its own purposes. Elegantly presented food and drinks in an interesting space. Come for a casual date night with a carafe of sake by candlelight.

Husband-and-wife restaurant specializing in Le Marche regional Italian, a coastal region between Tuscany and the Adriatic almost never represented in New York City. That specificity, combined with a 4.9 rating on over 400 reviews, means something. One of the most distinctive Italian restaurants on a Court Street block that has no shortage of them.

Cozy sushi spot focusing on seafood and vegetable rolls. Great food, great atmosphere, excellent service. A neighborhood sushi option that holds up to close inspection.

Seasonal New American on Smith Street with a social mission: Emma's Torch trains and employs refugees and asylum seekers. Great food, awesome staff, right prices. Worth knowing about for a reason beyond the menu.

Italian restaurant on Court Street with an intimate ambiance, friendly staff, and a wine list worth exploring. One of the more charming spots on the Carroll Gardens dining circuit.

Housemade pastas and Italian fare on Court Street. Fresh food, nice wine and drink offerings. A solid neighborhood Italian.

Mexican restaurant on 4th Avenue with a cool space and on-point food. The owner has a following. A solid neighborhood Mexican option.

Korean BBQ and karaoke under one roof, and it works. Grill high-quality meat at the table, eat kimchi fried rice and tteokbokki, and then disappear into one of the private karaoke rooms for several more hours. Gowanus's go-to for groups and special occasions.

Creative ramen bowls on Smith Street. The food is excellent and the staff is warm and welcoming. One of the more interesting ramen options in this part of Brooklyn.

Puerto Rican restaurant with genuine chef-driven food. The pernil and guava empanadillas are worth the trip. Chef Gabriel's presentation gets consistent attention in the reviews.

French restaurant and wine bar on Smith Street with impeccable service, amazing food, and a spectacular wine selection. The french omelet is a highlight. One of the better dining options on the corridor.

Cocktail bar and restaurant on Atlantic Avenue in a restored 1950s diner. The burgers and bar food are the point, and the cocktails are excellent. A Boerum Hill institution that rewards knowing about it.

From Sean Rembold and Caron Callahan, the couple behind Ingas Bar in Brooklyn Heights. Named after Lonnie Lanham, a Vietnam veteran-turned-hairdresser who embodied complete freedom. The menu follows the same logic, built around whatever's fresh and fun. One of the most anticipated Bond Street openings of 2026.

From the team behind Bad Luck Bar. Natural wine, steak frites au poivre, a small room with strong opinions about what it wants to be. It turned one in early 2026 with zero signs of slowing down. Make a reservation.

Burger spot on 4th Avenue with a great menu, fair pricing, and excellent service. One of the better burger options in the area.

A Court Street classic that has been feeding Carroll Gardens for decades. Fireplace, attentive service, and a warm room. The kind of Italian restaurant that exists because the neighborhood actually needs it, not because a hospitality group decided it should.

Coastal Indian restaurant from Chef Eric McCarthy, who also runs Indian Table further up Court Street. Malvan specializes in the cuisine of India's western Malvan coast — heavily seafood-forward, built around coconut, tamarind, and long-simmered spice blends. Start with the jumbo lump crab samosas.

Counter-serve BBQ on 3rd Avenue. The brisket and mac and cheese are the highlights. A useful option for a quick, well-executed lunch on the corridor.

The Gowanus outpost of the Bushwick taqueria: same tacos, less wait, more organized. Birria, al pastor, the works. Good for a quick lunch or an early dinner.

Restaurant on Smith Street with a great wine selection and pleasant ambiance. The eggs Benedict at brunch gets consistent attention. A versatile spot for dinner or a weekend morning.

Pan-Latin fare in a Carroll Gardens townhouse. Creative, delicious, and always well prepared. The townhouse setting makes it feel like a special occasion without requiring one.

A 4,000 square foot landscaped front yard, heated outdoor solariums, and a taqueria run by the team behind El Atoradero. The house mezcarita is the drink to get. One of the better warm-weather destinations in the neighborhood.

Italian cooking with Southern accents and a great wine list on Columbia Street near the Red Hook border. Super friendly staff and an interesting menu that isn't doing the same thing as everyone else on Smith Street.

Hip joint for creative pizzas and salads. Covered outdoor seating out front. A Gowanus pizza option with actual personality.

A deli on the Gowanus/Park Slope border making some of the best tacos in the area. The kind of spot locals know about and visitors walk right past. Worth hunting down.

Exceptional Thai restaurant on Smith Street. Outstanding food and a relaxed atmosphere across a very large and consistent review base. One of the highest-rated restaurants in the entire area.

Thirteen years on 3rd Avenue, which in Gowanus terms makes Runner & Stone practically a founding institution. Half bakery, half restaurant, entirely worth your time. The bread program supplies Whole Foods, the Park Slope Food Coop, and Olmsted. Come for a sandwich at lunch and come back for dinner.

Rustic Italian in a narrow, candlelit Boerum Hill townhouse that has been a neighborhood institution for over a decade. Handmade pasta, communal tables, a short menu that changes with the season. A genuine omission from any list of the area's best restaurants.

Sam's has been a Carroll Gardens institution for decades, serving old-school red-sauce Italian to a neighborhood that remembers when this whole area was solidly Italian-American. Under new ownership as of 2026, taking care to preserve that continuity.

Distinctive Italian venue on Smith Street with cocktails and a lovely atmosphere. Good wine selection and a room that earns its following.

Mexican restaurant on 3rd Avenue with great food, great service, and great cocktails. A newer addition to the corridor that has already built a following.

Laid-back Jamaican restaurant on Atlantic Avenue with top-notch food, drinks, service, and atmosphere across a very large review sample. One of the most consistently reviewed spots in the area.

Smith Street izakaya with a clean, focused menu. Sake, small plates, a room that doesn't try too hard. Good for a slow dinner when you want to actually hear your table.

Laid-back bistro with Caribbean fare on 9th Street at the southern edge of the neighborhood. Excellent food, great drinks, and top-tier service according to a very consistent set of reviews.

Peruvian seafood on 3rd Avenue. Around eight types of ceviche plus cooked fish dishes. Beautifully presented and a good choice for a low-key date or a solo dinner at the bar.

From the Gertie and Gertrude's team, Trudie's is taking over the former Buttermilk Channel space with a menu built around supper, cocktails, raw bar, and rotisserie. The pedigree is strong. One to watch.

Low-key diner for coffee shop classics. Healthy portions, reasonably priced, and open early. A useful neighborhood option for a no-fuss breakfast or lunch.

Thai restaurant on Henry Street with phenomenal food, service, and wine selection. One of the more interesting dining destinations in the Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill area. Reservations recommended.

Mediterranean restaurant and garden on Smith Street. Great service, selections, and ambiance. A reliable option for brunch or dinner with garden seating.

Low-key Italian eatery on Smith Street with extremely generous portions and excellent service. A neighborhood staple for a classic, unpretentious Italian meal.

Chicken-centric Pan-Asian takeout on Union Street. Fresh, delicious, and filling. A useful option when you want something fast and good without compromising on either.

Venezuelan restaurant on Smith Street. The ambience is incredible and the food is described as to-die-for across many reviews. An underrated option on the corridor.

Thai restaurant on Court Street with exceptional food, service, and pricing. Perfect neighborhood spot is how reviewers describe it, and the numbers back that up.

The neighborhood slice shop. Gerry has been running this corner on Smith Street for decades and it's the kind of place you stop without planning to. The Sicilian slice is the order. Right across from the Carroll Gardens F/G subway station, which tells you everything about how many people have eaten here.

The Greenpoint slice shop opened a Smith Street location in 2026. Pepperoni cups, crispy squares, the format that made the original famous.

Excellent service, excellent food, excellent atmosphere according to a very consistent set of reviews. A solid Smith Street slice and pie option.

Kind, accommodating staff and absolutely delicious, affordable pizza. One of the best-reviewed pizza spots in the immediate Gowanus area.

Pizza on 3rd Avenue with quality food and excellent customer service. A neighborhood option worth knowing about.

Cozy, moody wine bar on Bergen Street with solid wines by the glass and accommodating staff. A good option for a low-key evening drink in Cobble Hill.

Farmhouse-style wine bar on Union Street. Super cute and chill with a great dim fireplace-lit scene. The truffle mac and cheese is mentioned in review after review alongside the wine list. An established Gowanus wine bar with a strong following and a warm room.

Natural wine bar with seasonal small plates on Court Street. Great wine, great atmosphere, and great service. A reliable neighborhood wine bar.

Cozy wine and book bar on Smith Street that also opens in the morning for coffee. Great wine selection, snacks, and a vibe that's genuinely relaxed. One of the more distinctive spots on the street.

Long-running Carroll Gardens bar on Court Street. No concept, no gimmick. A reliable neighborhood bar with a good draft selection and the particular comfort of knowing it will still be there next year.

Bar open around the clock. Amazing drinks and very friendly bartenders. One of the few options in the area when you need a drink at an unusual hour.

Opened spring 2026 in the former Focacceria space. The name is a deliberate nod to the neighborhood's Italian history. An Italian wine bar and small plates spot that treats the Carroll Gardens heritage as a reason to do things right rather than a nostalgic gimmick.

Low-key hangout on Smith Street with a big beer selection and friendly bartenders. Open late. A neighborhood bar in the best sense.

Belle Epoque cocktail bar that opened in late 2025 and immediately felt like it had been there forever. Red velvet, Murano chandeliers, cocktails named after literary figures. The kind of place you bring someone you want to impress without making them feel like they're being impressed.

Cocktail lounge in a former brothel on Smith Street. Great music, great people, and really good drinks. The atmosphere is the reason to go.

Cocktail bar on Smith Street with great wines, great happy hour, and an amazing charcuterie selection. Opens in the morning. A versatile option on the corridor.

Mediterranean bar and grill in Boerum Hill with a solid happy hour, open mic nights, and a following large enough that 1,346 Google reviews is not a surprise. The kind of bar that becomes part of a neighborhood's weekly routine.

Former Italian social club turned bar on Smith Street. A very cool space with amazing cocktails and a friendly staff. One of the more distinctive rooms on the corridor.

Retro cocktail bar on Smith Street. Cozy dim lighting, super nice service, and serious cocktails. One of the more established and well-regarded bars on the corridor.

Intimate cocktail bar with a funky vibe on Court Street. A neighborhood spot worth knowing about for a creative drink in the Carroll Gardens area.

Cocktail bar next to Table 87 on 3rd Avenue. Delicious food, unique and tasty cocktails, and friendly attentive service. A newer addition to the corridor worth keeping an eye on.

Bar and tap house on Butler Street in the heart of Gowanus. A neighborhood tap house worth knowing about for a low-key evening close to the canal.

Neighborhood bar and patio on 4th Avenue. Good food, good drink selections, open late. One of the better warm-weather patio options in the area.

Seasonal beer garden and hot dogs on Smith Street. Good burgers, great beer selection. A neighborhood institution for a casual summer evening. No reservations, no pretense.

Hip tavern on Henry Street with upscale pub fare. Funky, acidic wine that pairs well with the food, and a room that earns the hip tavern description.

Cozy, artsy cocktail bar on 2nd Street. Great cocktails in a space that feels genuinely lived-in and creative. A neighborhood gem worth seeking out.

Laid-back hangout with a garden patio on 3rd Avenue. Easy vibe, chill staff, affordable drinks. A solid option when you want to be outside.

Bar on Court Street with a phenomenal beer selection and great Guinness pours. A proper tavern with good drinks and a neighborhood crowd.

Heavy-metal-themed bar on Sackett Street. Cheap drinks, friendly staff, interesting patrons, and excellent metal. One of the more distinctive drinking establishments in the neighborhood.

Creative cocktails in a cozy atmosphere on Court Street. Delicious drinks, fun music, and a place that gets people talking. Open late.

Craft beer bar at the southern end of Smith Street with nice vibes, friendly staff, and fair prices. One of the highest-rated spots on the corridor by star rating.

Tropical-themed shuffleboard bar in the heart of Gowanus and a neighborhood institution by now. Flamingo wallpaper, frozen drinks, six regulation shuffleboard courts. Come for the game, stay for the frozen cocktails.

Bar on Court Street that opens in the morning and serves bagels alongside a good wine selection. A neighborhood spot with an unusual and useful range of hours.

Cozy cocktail bar on 3rd Avenue. Music, food, and drinks all get strong marks. A newer entry with early promise.

Taking over the former Dirty Precious space. The owners met at Royal Palms, which tells you something about the energy they're going for. Cocktail bar with a mid-summer target.

Karaoke, pool, and cocktails on 3rd Avenue. A fun option for a group night out that wants something more than just a bar.

Stellar service, great cocktails, and a perfect atmosphere. On 3rd Avenue in the core of Gowanus with a perfect early rating.

Neighborhood pub on Atlantic Avenue with a craft beer focus. Friendly staff, cozy atmosphere, and a solid selection. A reliable option at the northern edge of the coverage area.

Hip, dog-friendly craft beer bar on 9th Street. Chill, low-key environment with great drinks. A neighborhood favorite at the southern edge of the area.

Chill cocktail spot on Court Street with an extensive selection of spirits from around the world. A bar that takes the concept seriously.

Sports bar and local hangout on Smith Street with TV sports and pub grub. Prices are reasonable for the area. A good option when you want to watch a game.

Craft cocktails on 4th Avenue in a hip, comfortable environment. Delicious drinks and friendly service.

Spicy wing joint on Smith Street with a full bar. A Smith Street staple for a casual group night out.

Opened April 2026 in the space Strong Rope held for ten years. The husband-and-wife team behind Brooklyn's only homebrew supply shop took over and rebranded, adding their own beers to the tap lineup while keeping the homebrew shop running.

One-third woman-owned, opened during the pandemic, and quietly one of the best breweries in the neighborhood. Twenty draft lines covering farmhouse ales, hazy IPAs, rustic lagers, and barrel-aged sours. Outside food welcome, which makes it easy to turn into a full evening.

Down-to-earth nook for espresso and treats on Atlantic Avenue. The coffee is exceptional, rich, flavorful, and expertly brewed. A reliable stop at the northern edge of the coverage area.

Smith Street coffee shop where the coffee is always on point and the pastries are always amazing. One of the better options at the southern end of the corridor.

The Court Street outpost of the NYC mini-chain. Fast, reliable, with a croissant worth stopping for. Good for when you're in a hurry and don't want to compromise on the coffee.

Small space, good quality coffee, and a friendly barista. One of the highest-rated cafes on the Court Street corridor.

Chill hangout for light fare and coffee on Bond Street. Good coffee, solid morning food, and a neighborhood crowd without any pretense.

Breakfast, sandwiches, and coffee on Court Street. The homemade bread is exceptional, and the sandwiches built on it are worth the trip.

Spacious interior, nice staff, and great coffee on Smith Street. One of the more comfortable places to sit and work on the corridor.

Fantastic coffee in a small, neighborhood-facing room. The kind of place you discover and immediately tell someone about.

Friendly owner, quick service, and great coffee at reasonable prices on Court Street. A wonderful tiny cafe that punches well above its size.

Guatemalan coffee shop on Bond Street. The coffee is sourced from their home country and served to perfection. Small, specific, and doing something nobody else in the area is doing.

Cookie and dessert shop on Smith Street. Delicious cookies, friendly service, and a store that's always clean. Goes well with coffee, tea, or milk.

Seventy-eight years on Court Street. Family-owned, old-school, roasting their own beans. A piece of the neighborhood's Italian-American backbone that has survived every wave of change.

Tiny hole-in-the-wall on Bergen Street using Devocion beans and drawing serious brunch reviews. Small, unpretentious, and well-loved by the people who find it.

Artisanal gelato shop that also does coffee in a simple, well-designed space on Sackett Street. Great service and good prices.

Coffee and flower shop on 3rd Avenue. Rich, smooth, perfectly made cappuccino according to reviewers. A beautiful space that earns its rating.

Red Hook roastery from Selina Ullrich (formerly of East One Coffee Roasters). The Van Brunt flagship opened first; this Carroll Gardens cafe, in the old Local Roots space, is the second location. Staff is friendly and the space is beautiful.

Superb coffee, excellent service, and a lovely cozy atmosphere on Pacific Street. A well-regarded neighborhood cafe in the Boerum Hill/Cobble Hill corridor.

Family-run cafe on Bergen Street where owner Zane roasts his own beans in-house. A 4.9 rating on over 100 reviews means the regulars feel strongly. The kind of coffee shop where the sourcing and the hospitality are both taken seriously.

Coffee and Latin American food at the southern end of the Gowanus area on 9th Street. A neighborhood spot that covers both morning coffee and a full menu.

Food excellent, staff impeccable, ambiance brilliant. The cappuccinos are delicious and the food is genuinely incredible. A strong newer entry on the 4th Avenue corridor.

Japanese-inspired tea and coffee cafe. Ambiance, service, food, and drink quality all described as spectacular. Known for the banana milk hojicha latte and other specialty drinks you won't find elsewhere in the neighborhood.

All-day cafe opened late 2025. Coffee and pastries in the morning from a takeout window, sandwiches and rotisserie chicken through dinner. Kid-friendly with homemade soft serve.

The coffee program inside the Threes Brewing complex. Friendly staff and a low-key environment. A useful stop before or after whatever else is happening in that building.

Cafe on Smith Street with excellent coffee, a bureka, and breakfast pita sandwiches. Good food, atmosphere, and service.

Right next door to Bolo Bolo on Court Street. A cappuccino that reviewers keep coming back to describe as perfectly balanced. Two strong options on the same block.

Small, neighborhood-facing Smith Street coffee shop with consistently good espresso drinks and a kind barista.

Coffee roastery on 9th Street with delicious coffee and knowledgeable, kind staff. One of the most-reviewed coffee shops in the neighborhood.

Daytime American cafe on 4th Avenue. Amazing food, nice people, and a chill atmosphere. Good for a quick morning stop or a longer sit.

Coffee shop and ceramic art studio combined, opened fall 2025. Partners Coffee on the espresso bar, drop-in ceramic sessions and rotating workshops in the back. Worth the slight detour.

Direct-trade coffee bar on Pacific Street. Friendly staff, tasty coffee, and plenty of seating. A reliable option when you need a quick, quality cup.

Excellent, well-made coffee with yummy pastries and exceptional service on Smith Street. A newer entry worth knowing about.

The ground-floor cafe inside Powerhouse Arts, named for the building's history as a turbine generator plant. Coffee and pastries. A good reason to combine a gallery visit with a coffee stop.

Coffee shop and roastery on Smith Street. Delicious coffee, very friendly service, and a cool atmosphere. A solid option at the northern end of the corridor.

Unique sourdough, cookies, and other baked goods on Clinton Street. Worth the price and the trip according to consistent reviewers.

Sandwiches and pastries on 3rd Avenue with huge portions and consistently good baked goods. Delicious food, warm staff, pleasant atmosphere.

Cozy coffee and pastry shop on 4th Avenue with great baked goods and very helpful staff. A reliable neighborhood stop on the eastern corridor.

French bakery on Smith Street known for its bread program and pastries. One of the earlier craft bakeries to plant a flag on the corridor, and still a destination for a serious loaf.

Some of the best croissants in the area. Worth the slight detour toward the Columbia Street waterfront.

The flour mill runs on the second floor; the bakery occupies the ground level. Loaves, baguettes, focaccia, croissants, and scones, all made from grain milled on-site. The best bread in the city, all made with stone-ground flour.

Moist, dense cakes, hot lattes, and friendly fast service. One of the best-reviewed bakeries on the 3rd Avenue corridor and a go-to for custom orders.

A perfect 5.0 stars with 200 reviews. Custom cupcakes, cakes, and baked goods made to order. The reviews are consistent: people keep coming back and keep sending other people.

French-Belgian patisserie at the southern end of the coverage area. Great coffee, yummy pastries, and welcoming staff in a snug space.

Old-school Sicilian bakery on Court Street. Consistently delicious and a staple in the lives of locals who know about it.

Syrian bakeshop on Atlantic Avenue with homemade breads and pastries. Fair prices, fresh ingredients, and always friendly service. A genuinely distinctive entry in the neighborhood bakery landscape.

Gluten-free and nut-free bakery on 3rd Avenue. One of the few places in the neighborhood where people with dietary restrictions can eat everything on the menu. The cakes are legitimately good.

Astonishingly good baked goods and really friendly service on the 4th Avenue corridor.

Bakery by day, natural wine and pizza bar by night. From the team behind The Confidant. One of the more anticipated openings of the year for anyone who lives near Atlantic Avenue.

Italian neighborhood bakery on Union Street known for its lard bread, which is second to none according to regulars. Great coffee too.

Worker-owned bakery and cafe with a perfect rating. Such fresh bread and ingredients that reviewers can't believe the vegan options taste this good. Relocated from President Street in fall 2025.

Window-service only, and it doesn't matter. The baked goods are exceptional and the staff is friendly and kind. One of the neighborhood's best morning stops.

Delicious baked goods, great coffee, and friendly service in a small neighborhood bakery.

Chocolate-focused dessert cafe on Court Street. Everything tastes incredibly fresh and rich without being overly sweet. A destination for anyone who takes chocolate seriously.

Bagel shop on Smith Street. The everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and lox is the move.

Family-owned wine and spirits shop on Smith Street. A 4.9 rating on nearly 500 reviews for a liquor store means people genuinely love it. Good selection, good prices, staff who know their stock.

Unpretentious wine and spirits shop on Court Street with a warm atmosphere and delightful wine tastings. An inviting neighborhood bottle shop.

Old-school shop for wine and spirits on Court Street. Friendly service and a great selection. The kind of neighborhood wine shop that's getting harder to find.

Great selection and knowledgeable, wonderful staff on 3rd Avenue. One of the best wine shop options in the core Gowanus area.

Wine tasting shop on 3rd Avenue that makes the whole experience accessible, fun, and inclusive. A good destination if you want to learn as much as shop.

Fine wine shop on Union Street with a very knowledgeable owner and a great experience. A neighborhood gem.

Local wine shop since 1934 on Court Street. Beautiful selection and excellent advice from a friendly staff. One of the longest-standing wine shops in Carroll Gardens and worth supporting for that alone.

Unusual wines and liquor on Smith Street with great personal service and a staff that genuinely knows their product. A Smith Street staple for a reason.

Italian grocery store on Court Street carrying quality Italian products. A Carroll Gardens institution for stocking up on imported Italian goods.

Neighborhood grocery on the ground floor of 420 Carroll, the first building from the Gowanus rezoning cycle. Fresh staples, prepared foods, and a useful stop for residents in the new waterfront buildings.

The original Carroll Gardens location of one of Brooklyn's most-loved specialty grocery and sandwich shops, opened 2010. The Cubano — confit pork shoulder, heritage ham, Swiss, sour pickles, mayo, mustard on Sullivan Street stecca — is the move. About 70% of products sourced directly from producers. The Reuben and Italian Combo are equally serious.

Family-owned butcher shop on Court Street since 1917. One of the last of the old Italian-American market corridor. The kind of place where they know your order and have opinions about what cut you should use. Sam's still gets its meat from here. That tells you everything.

Italian market and cafe run by owner Jessica. Panini, imported pantry goods, and a small garden out back. Covers several needs at once: a quick lunch, a bottle of good olive oil, and a room that feels like it belongs somewhere else in the best possible way.

Beloved bodega on Court Street with a big plant selection, a shop cat named Mars, and the Nelson sandwich. 5.0 on 22 reviews: a small count, a perfect score, and regulars who feel strongly.

Spanish specialty shop claiming the largest tinned fish selection in New York City. The back counter serves tapas, Spanish wine by the glass, and Alhambra on tap. Walk in for a copa and a tin, stay longer than you planned.