A stay-cation in Red Hook, Brooklyn
I’ve tried to be intentional about exploring different neighborhoods in New York City—like Astoria, the Upper West Side and Greenpoint—but one thing I’ve always wanted to do is have a proper stay-cation in a completely different neighborhood.
When American Express and Airbnb teamed up to make it even easier to book Airbnb properties—you can use Membership Reward points—my boyfriend and I decided to spend a night in a different part of Brooklyn and use it as an excuse to find a cool new bar and a great new brunch spot.
We opted for Red Hook: because it’s not easily accessible by subway, it’s not a place that we ever consider for a dinner out, and since we don’t have any friends who live there, so there’s no reason for us to pop over for brunch. I honestly don’t think we’ve gone to Red Hook for any reason other than to go to Ikea—which we usually try to get over and done with as quickly as possible. We ended up biking, and it was such an easy and pleasant ride!
Which is such a shame—because Red Hook is so quaint and wonderful! Quiet cobblestone streets, small-batch distilleries, a mini marina of fishing boats: it feels like you’ve stepped back in time. We stayed in this spacious neo-seaside loft, complete with exposed brick, vintage cameras and an awesome projector screen. Although we were only there for 24 hours, we did a good amount of exploring and a little too much eating–and found plenty of places we want to come back to.
Where to Eat
Opt for a crab roll and some chips with Old Bay spices at Brooklyn Crab. Although it’s open (and delicious) year-round, I already can’t wait to come back in the summer: there is so much outdoor space and it looks like such a fun time! We debated a few different places for dinner, but we ended up here–and have absolutely no regrets.
And for brunch the next day, we opted for Fort Defiance. Fort Defiance is THE place to get brunch in Red Hook, and for good reason: it’s “seasonal American with responsible sourcing” (aka very Brooklyn) with a Southern flair. We loved the biscuits! 
My mom absolutely loves key lime pie, so I didn’t feel like I could come to the location of the best key lime pie in New York City and not sample one. Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pies lives up to the hype: I especially liked the frozen dark chocolate covered one on a stick.
While we didn’t have enough meals during our stay to sample Hometown Bar-B-Que, the smoky scent wafted outside and tempted us in to take a look around—and it looks (and smells) legit. On our list to try next time!
Where to Drink
Our Airbnb host emphatically recommended Sunny’s Bar, and we are so glad that he did: it is everything that a dive bar in Red Hook should be, and more, from the vintage truck parked outside to the dark corners inside. We especially enjoyed the whiskey hot cider on a chilly winter evening.
What to Do
Walk down to the waterfront to watch the sunset: there are good vantage points of the Verrazano Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and the southern tip of Manhattan.
My very first job was bagging groceries and my grandparents owned a small grocery store, and so I tend to nerd out over awesome grocery stores. New York City stores tend to be small and cramped with limited options, so I was in HEAVEN as soon as I walked into this Fairway Market. We didn’t even need anything, but I just loved walking around the spacious aisles and looking at all the options: barrels of coffee beans! A whole wall of olive oil! I want to take a field trip here the next time my pantries are running low.
Another thing we didn’t get time for but that I want to come back for: whiskey tasting at Widow Jane and chocolate tasting at Cacao Prieto. There are also distillery and factory tours!
Where to Stay
There aren’t any hotels in Red Hook, so I definitely recommend making it a true local experience and checking out an Airbnb. We absolutely loved where we stayed: I don’t think I’ve ever seen my boyfriend geek out over interior design before, but we both just loved how much thought and care went into every detail. Inspiration to decorate our own place! Not only was it super convenient—it was down the street from just about everywhere I mentioned above—but it was cool enough to just want to hang out in. After dinner, we even came back and pulled down the giant projector screen and watched Seinfeld: it felt like we were right at home, even in a new neighborhood.
Note that this post was made possible by the partnership between American Express and Airbnb. As always, all opinions are my own.
