Greenpoint , Brooklyn

Seniors 47

Parking 41

Empty nesters 40

Public Transportation 36

Income 8

Top Reviews from Travel Rentals Neighborhoods

Interesting neighborhood

I moved to Greenpoint after living in South Williamsburg. Greenpoint has the trendy, hipster feel of Williamsburg, but it is more downplayed and relaxed. After the obligatory hajj to Williamsburg, every hipster faces the critical decision of where to go next.

Many head further and further east out of some sort of sick and depraved sense of manifest destiny, ignoring how intolerable they are making each new neighborhood. These are the true believers; they will live the lifestyle to its fullest until their parents stop paying rent.

Hipsters who grow weary of the extreme posturing but still love their skinny jeans can go north to Greenpoint. Once they cross McCarren Park and encounter hordes of drunken old Polish men, something changes and life starts to revolve around brunch and pierogies.

I recommend Greenpoint. In all seriousness, this neighborhood is wonderful. It’s quiet, green, and full of wonderful restaurants.

In the summer, there is nothing better than scoring some blintzes and going on a walk to the Williamsburg waterfront or to Newtown Creek. The neighborhood is still very Polish and you will hear a lot of it as you walk around.

When shopping in the bakeries or meat markets, you might find yourself as the only person speaking English, but the bread or kielbasa is truly fantastic. The Polish restaurants are the most obvious sources of great food in the neighborhood, but there are also a couple of decent Thai places, a great Mexican joint, and some very legitimate pizza.

There are a number of places for those seeking libations, including a beer importer with a truly ludicrous selection on tap and in bottles. Yes, the subway option sucks here, but having to ride the G is worth it for the rest of the neighborhood experience.

On a nice day, it’s a very enjoyable walk to the Bedford L, anyway.

Ben Hughes

Little Poland and Williamsburg Jr.

I once told a female friend that living in Greenpoint is like living with an alcoholic boyfriend with a great sense of humor: He’s fun for a while, but sooner or later you’re going to get tired of him and move out. So, I did.

However, after a couple short stints in Crown Heights and the Financial District, I found myself here again in totally unplanned fashion. The good news in this case is that the boyfriend has sobered up.

Or maybe I did. Greenpoint has a few transplant-created restaurant gems, often spilling over with yuppies and artsy hipster types, and there are a few hits among the Polish eateries, pizza joints, and cheap Mexican spots up and down Manhattan Avenue.

There are also the standard slew of watering holes for the young and hip as well as the old school “native” Brooklynites. Greenpoint, like neighboring Williamsburg, is a great place to drink.

For certain, there are plenty of drinkers here. The possibilities are endless, whether you’re looking for an “urban-rustic” cocktail spot or a dark and dingy pub. McGolrick Park in the still-predominantly Polish section of the neighborhood is a gorgeous greenspace with an stately and slightly unusual concrete and stone pavilion at its center.

You’ll find bird feeders sitting on benches, older folks chatting, screaming children, skateboarders, and lots of young folks hanging in the dog parks. This is probably my favorite place in the nabe.

Compared to a lot of New York neighborhoods, Greenpoint is relatively affordable. Rent and food are both cheaper than in Williamsburg, and once you get to know the guy at the local bodega, you don’t always have to pay what the strangers pay.

Sometimes, if you bring the cashier an espresso, he’ll make you a sandwich for free. I suppose this could be said for much of Brooklyn, which ads to much of the appeal. New York is interesting in this respect, where folks often seem to be operating on “the buddy system” when it comes to commerce and exchange.

This was something totally foreign to me until I came to New York, where it seemed every other city in which I had lived, from Los Angeles to Boston to Phoenix, business proprietors counted your change to the penny. It’s strange at first, but you eventually you get used to it.

The major drawback is the lack of convenient and/or consistent public transportation. A lot of folks just take the extra time to walk to the L train. The G train is aptly titled “The Ghost Train” by some.

Don’t even try to wait for one after midnight. It won’t come. It’s the only train not connected to Manhattan, and you’ll begin to further understand where the city’s budget priorities are.

The buses in the neighborhood only show up half the time as well, and that’s generous. If you move here, get a bike. Or better yet, a car.

Maybe an odd suggestion to New York residents, but you’ll marvel at how your perception of the neighborhood changes. Give Greenpoint a go. I’ve spent a lot of the past 3 and a half years here, and now that I’m back, its starting to feel like home again.

Justin N.

Greenpoint

I moved to Greenpoint after living in South Williamsburg. Greenpoint has the trendy, hipster feel of Williamsburg, but it is more downplayed and relaxed. After the obligatory hajj to Williamsburg, every hipster faces the critical decision of where to go next.

Many head further and further east out of some sort of sick and depraved sense of manifest destiny, ignoring how intolerable they are making each new neighborhood. These are the true believers; they will live the lifestyle to its fullest until their parents stop paying rent.

Hipsters who grow weary of the extreme posturing but still love their skinny jeans can go north to Greenpoint. Once they cross McCarren Park and encounter hordes of old men who have lived there for decades, something changes and life starts to revolve around brunch and pierogies.

I recommend Greenpoint. In all seriousness, this neighborhood is wonderful. It’s quiet, green, and full of wonderful restaurants.

In the summer, there is nothing better than scoring some blintzes and going on a walk to the Williamsburg waterfront or to Newtown Creek. The neighborhood is still very Polish and you will hear a lot of it as you walk around.

When shopping in the bakeries or meat markets, you might find yourself as the only person speaking English, but the bread or kielbasa is truly fantastic. The Polish restaurants are the most obvious sources of great food in the neighborhood, but there are also a couple of decent Thai places, a great Mexican joint, and some very legitimate pizza.

There are a number of places for those seeking libations, including a beer importer with a truly ludicrous selection on tap and in bottles. Yes, the subway option is frustrating here, but having to ride the G is worth it for the rest of the neighborhood experience.

On a nice day, it’s a very enjoyable walk to the Bedford L, anyway.

jd

I moved to Brooklyn with every intention of trying to live here, and feel very lucky that I am able to do so. As a young designer fresh out of school, I was naturally looking toward Bed-Stuy and Bushwick/Ridgewood (where I had lived previously) to save money. For a one-bedroom or studio you will pay a bit more in Greenpoint, but it’s very worth it. In Bushwick you can either live in the art commune near the Morgan stop on the L (“Morgantown”) or in a real neighborhood with character near Dekalb. I like warehouse galleries and Mexican food as much as the next person, but they both get to be a little much. Greenpoint really offers the best of both worlds. It’s somewhat industrial, with enough cheap space around for studios, galleries, interesting art spaces, but also an authentic Polish neighborhood, with all of the cheap and delicious culinary benefits that affords — and good Mexican to boot.

The Polish in the area seem to be generally older. Although there are some families, especially in and around McGolrick park, it seems to be less than in Bushwick, which is nice if you’re not into screaming kids.

Manhattan Ave. and Franklin have a lot of activity in the evening, but if you live on any other block it’s dead quiet at night — so it’s perfect whether you want to go out or stay in.

Food is a very big deal to me and Greenpoint has really great variety. Sushi, sandwiches, Polish, tacos, kebabs/falafel, bakeries, pizza, Thai. Fantastic coffee everywhere.

Good bars. Even some fancier steakhouses. There’s a farmer’s market in McCarren Park.

Subway proximity is definitely the biggest drawback to living here, but it doesn’t affect me personally much because I work in Williamsburg. Walking across McCarren Park beats any subway commute no matter how close you are, so for me it’s a no-brainer.

But even if I worked in Manhattan I think I would still live here. I’ve rarely taken the G — if you’re closer to Nassau you might as well walk to the Bedford L, which I don’t mind much.

There’s a bus that goes straight up Manhattan Ave. too if you live way up there.

All in all, highly recommended. Someday if I can ever afford to live in Brooklyn Heightsor Fort Greene maybe I’ll move, but otherwise I can’t see myself wanting to leave any time soon.Zak G.

JA nie mówię język polsk

Once upon a time I lived in Vegetarian heaven, but my stay was short lived. Attracted by cheaper rents, I moved to Greenpoint like so many former Williamsburg dwellers do. While I enjoy a good potato pancake and cheese pierogi, I do miss the splendors of Vegetarian hotspots on every corner.

If you love sausage and fish heads though, there is no shortage of these commodities in all grocery stores! Oh, and you might want to pick up a few polish one liners. I find that people approach me in Polish first and English second.

It’s also a far trek to the subway, but it’s keeping my waistline in check. All in all, if you don’t mind walking this is a wonderful place to live. Laundromats are on every corner so your clothes will always be clean.

Well,