Downtown Brooklyn is a bustling commercial and residential center with plenty of stores, markets, services, and a fast-evolving architectural skyline. The area is easily accessible from every Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhood and offers access to large retailers and major cultural venues, as well as local neighborhood restaurants and businesses.

DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is ever abuzz with visitors to its vintage markets and food stalls, sandwiched between warehouse buildings that now house creative studios and luxury loft apartments. The main draw though is the waterfront, with arresting views of the Manhattan skyline framed by the iconic bridges, as well as NYC Ferry access to other destinations along the East River.

The impressive townhouses of Brooklyn Heights–on a grander scale even than the West Village–hide quaint mews streets behind, while luxury boutiques, upscale restaurants, and chic wine bars also add to the allure. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade offers incredible views of Manhattan and the harbor, and provides access to Brooklyn Bridge Park and its activity-packed piers for skating, soccer, or sailing.

A former US naval base turned innovation hub, the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s recently regenerated warehouses and new constructions are home to some of the city’s most creative and forward-thinking companies. Among the co-working spaces, artist studios and tech-focused facilities are an eclectic multitude of furniture showrooms, supermarkets, food halls, and breweries—together forming a unique environment.

Arriving at one of the oldest corners of Brooklyn feels like stepping back in time, when streets were paved with Belgian blocks and flanked by Federal Style houses. Rightfully a designated historic district, the waterfront area takes its name from the last battle of an Irish-English conflict, and was once known as Irishtown due to its notable population of Irish immigrants. Today, it’s a small yet diverse neighborhood where residents all know one another, convening at the eateries along Hudson Avenue.

Historic Fort Greene presents row upon row of leafy brownstone-lined side streets, where cafes and brunch spots spill out onto the sidewalks of the main thoroughfares. The neighborhood revolves geographically and socially around Fort Greene Park, a green hilltop oasis that hosts everything from picnics to community festivals, bringing residents of this village-like area even closer together.