Home to beautiful brownstone buildings and endless greenery, Park Slope is a stunning neighborhood that resembles the peaceful atmosphere of the Upper West Side. However, while it may be similar to neighborhoods close to Central Park, Park Slope has its own distinct Brooklyn feel that caters to dog-friendly residents and vintage enthusiasts.
Bordered from North to South with Flatbush Ave. to Prospect Ave. and East to West with Prospect Park West to 4th Ave., Park Slope is located next to the beautiful yet iconic Prospect Park.
Accessibility
Not surprising because of its close proximity to Prospect Park, Park Slope has an abundant array of transportation options to and from the neighborhood. With over 11 subway lines that connect Park Slope to the rest of New York, it’s rare to see such an array of subway lines. Vertical travel will rely on the (D, N, & R) trains from the Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center down to the 4th Avenue stations. Horizontal travel (or more diagonal) travel will be serviced by the (F & G) on the 7th Avenue station and the (2, 3, 4, 5, B, Q) lines at Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center (again).
For more local travel, the (B63, B67, & B103) buses will provide ample travel north and south of Park Slope while the (B61) bus will help you pass those treacherous avenues. However, for those who don’t want to use metro cards, Park Slope is a beautiful neighborhood that deserves to have its pavements walked on.
Lifestyle
A very tight-knit community, Park Slope is for the calm residents and not for the overnight partier who searches for pizza at 4AM. An upscale neighborhood, Park Slope is suburbia at its best. You’ll find children running around trying to reach Prospect Park, young professionals gathered at the local coffee shop discussing new ties, and grandparents enjoying their mid-day meal of caprice salad with a tuna sandwich.
For those asking where the trees have gone in NYC, Park Slope has taken them all. With tree-lined streets on literally every street (actually every street), expect to see green everywhere (not money). Overall, Park Slope is casual at its best; you won’t see block parties planned years in advance or raves occurring every backyard; instead, you may find vintage shops and cutesy stores crowd the streets.
Restaurants & Bars
Not known for their McDonalds or Olive Garden, Park Slope houses some of the best eateries in all of Brooklyn. Personal favorites have to be Purbird; as the name may imply, this restaurant heavily features chicken, and they do it very well. If you’re looking for a lunch meal, the Purbird Lunch Special will have everything you ever asked for (but also get the Jalapeno Mash; it’s better than sleeping). If you are in the mood for New Zealand food (I always am), Kiwiana provides high-end cuisine with an innovative touch. Try the Atlantic Salmon and have your taste buds explode with delicious goodness; ask questions later just eat.
When food can’t fill the empty void, alcohol sure will. Our favorites include the Dram Shop with an endless variety of whiskeys, scotches, and bourbons, feel classy and sophisticated while playing shuffleboard. For some of the most enjoyable moments at a bar, Excelsior not only provides some delicious drinks, but the service and the atmosphere will make stay forever (or until they politely ask you to leave).
Cost
Great location, beautiful buildings, and a wonderful community. While these are great qualities to have in a neighborhood, they will come at a price. With a median rent of $3,950, Park Slope may not be as expensive as Manhattan’s $4,950, but the price has definitely increased over the last few years.
Final Verdict
Park Slope combines the peacefulness of a neighborhood with the very authentic Brooklyn feel. With tree-lined streets, bicycles everywhere, and the cutest babies in the whole world, Park Slope is definitely meant for a quieter crowd. While many highlight the best feature of Park Slope as Prospect Park, I find the community and genuine feel of the neighborhood to trump everything. Come to Park Slope to venture into Prospect Park, but get lost in the green streets and never leave this Brooklyn haven.
