RealTours: A Day in Carroll Gardens with Brice Gaillard.
Nov 06, 2015
Carroll Gardens has so many boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and bars which make it a very popular neighborhood for visitors and prospective residents alike. RC’s Brice Gaillard lives in the area and did her best to come up with a perfect day in her hood and a few bonus visits** to be left for another day. As a designer, Brice always keeps atmosphere in mind.
Morning: The first place I would visit would be Smith Canteen for a cup of coffee. They serve Counter Culture and it’s hands down the best! If I wasn’t going to grab a bite elsewhere I would order some of their egg bread pudding too but for now I’ll stick with coffee.
Noon: Ted and Honey is a cozy little cafe right next to Cobble Hill Park. Being so close to the park and on a tree-lined street it is adorable inside and out. It’s a great spot for lunch or breakfast. Huevos Rancheros would be my choice. They also have wonderful baked goods!
Daytime: I love my neighborhood! There are so many boutiques and activities to fill my day but if I had to pick I’d say the first stop would be to a women’s clothing shop called Diane T. She is a fabulous curator of American and European designers. My second stop would be Cobble Hill Cinemas. So lucky to have a movie theater in the neighborhood! And before going home I would probably walk across the street to Union Market to pick up an item or two. When I first walked into this gourmet market I felt like a kid in a candy store. It’s a grown-up version of a candy store but the candy is fancy cheeses and an olive bar.
Dinner: I love tapas. You get to share with friends and have little tastes of everything. La Vara on Clinton Street has a menu of small plates and every single one is so delicious. The octopus is a stand out, though I believe their menu is seasonal so it may not always be offered.
After Dark: The designer in me is very attracted to the lovely blue facade at Congress Bar on Court Street beckoning me to enter. When inside the atmosphere is just as nice. Dark, candlelit, and romantic. They play great music also.
Hidden Gem: Carroll Gardens got it’s name from the many community gardens in the area (mostly in the Columbia Waterfront District). One of my favorites is The Amazing Garden. It’s a beautiful and peaceful spot where I can go and relax.
**With so many options it’s hard to leave it at that so here are a few more favorites. Brooklyn Social makes the best martini, Henry Public the best burger, and Bar Bruno the best fish tacos. If I’m shopping for home goods I will go to Holler and Squall and on a Sunday I love going to the farmers market on Carroll Street.