Check out our round up of restaurants, bars, and cafes that opened this month, including a new all-day cafe next to the Brooklyn Museum, a New Orleans inspired seafood and cocktail bar in Fort Greene, a Mexico City-style taqueria in Williamsburg, a new wine and spirits shop in CityPoint, the rooftop of Randolph Beer in DUMBO, and so much more. Plus, mark your calendars for more restaurant openings coming in June and later this summer!
Häagen-Dazs | Brooklyn Heights
Häagen-Dazs’ historic first location in Brooklyn Heights reopened after a long renovation. The Montague Street shop was the ice cream brand’s first brick-and-mortar location, and was renovated and updated with a new interior look.
Esse Taco | Williamsburg
The chef Enrique Olvera opened a new Mexico City-style taqueria in Williamsburg on May 2. Olvera is best known for his find dining restaurant Pujol in Mexico City.
Tadpole | Bed Stuy
A natural wine bar in Bed Stuy called Frog has expanded to the space next door. Tadpole has live music from 8pm-12am on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, there is a DJ from 10pm-2am. Doors open at 7pm for live music and 8pm for DJ sets.
Tora | Bushwick
Tora is a new izakaya in Bushwick. The Japanese word izakaya translates to “stay-drink-place.” Tora’s menu features sushi, sashimi, and traditional Japanese dishes, and is a great new spot to grab a drink, settle in, and savor Japanese dishes.
Island Rib House | Crown Heights
This new Caribbean spot in Crown Heights serves BBQ meats, burgers, seafood dishes, and much more. They also offer a a two-hour bottomless brunch for $55 per person.
Whoopsie Daisy | Crown Heights
Whoopsie Daisy is a new natural and biodynamic wine bar that is the brainchild of a group including the owner of nearby Fiasco! wine shop, a co-owner and bartender at Leyenda, and the beverage director of Oxalis. The bar serves snacks and there is a backyard patio open in the warmer months. Whoopsie Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 4-6pm with special pricing on all draft wines, vermouth, and beers.
Ants | South Williamsburg
Ants Coffee is a family-run coffee shop that recently opened in Williamsburg. Ants will be hosting pop-up events, such as their upcoming event on June 2 pairing espresso martinis with alfajores, special Argentinian cookie sandwiches.
Don Neo Fusion | Brooklyn Heights
Don Neo Fusion had a soft opening on May 9. This Japanese izakaya on Montague Street serves donburi rice bowls and yakitoris.
Kolkata Chai Co. | Williamsburg
This Indian cafe serving chai and traditional snacks is based in Manhattan, and has now opened a new location in Williamsburg.
Oh Boy | Williamsburg
This Williamsburg cafe went viral for its McGriddy, a breakfast sandwich served on pancake puns. They are now opening another Brooklyn location in Williamsburg on S. 3rd Street, inside Freehold, a bar and co-working space. They will serve coffee and snacks during the day, and wine at night.
Aunts et Uncles Summer House Food Truck | Brooklyn Museum
This vegan spot in Crown Heights will be selling out of a food truck parked at the Brooklyn Museum this summer. Called “Summer House,” it will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Learn more here.
Million Goods | Greenpoint
Million Goods is a new wine bar inside a menswear shop. Come to shop, drink, listen to music, and hang out. Open Wednesday and Thursday from 12pm-11pm, and Friday and Saturday from 12pm-12am.
Oh Mercy | Greenpoint
Oh Mercy is a new coffee shop in Greenpoint serving breakfast and lunch. They will soon offer wine and snacks in their backyard as well.
Koi Bā Cocktail Bar | Williamsburg
National Sawdust, a music venue on North 6th Street, now has an upstairs speakeasy called Koi Bā Cocktail Bar, serving Japanese-inspired cocktails and bar snacks. Downstairs is Nem’s Japandi Bistro, by the same owner.
Randolph Beer Rooftop | DUMBO
Randolph’s roof top opened on May 17. The rooftop will be weather dependent. Hours are Thursday and Friday, 4-11pm, Saturday 3-11pm, and Sunday 1-9pm. Learn more about how it works and review Randolph’s hours for kids and families. Supervised kids are only allowed on the rooftop on Sundays!
Baba Cool | Fort Greene
Baba Cool is a new all-day cafe across the street from BAM serving coffee, food and snacks all day, and wine and cocktails at night.
Wright and Goebel | CityPoint | Downtown Brooklyn
This wine and spirits shop, formerly at 346 Livingston, has moved to CityPoint Brooklyn. The shop hosts weekly tastings. Walk-ins are welcome!
Cafe Mado | Prospect Heights
Cafe Mado opened in the space formerly occupied by Oxalis by Redwood Hospitality, the same group behind Laurel Bakery’s recent opening in the Columbia Waterfront District. The all-day cafe next to the Brooklyn Museum serves sandwiches, tartines, pastries from Laurel Bakery, coffee, and more, and will also feature a retail section. Visit the coffee lounge from 8:30am to 3:30pm (breakfast sandwiches until 12pm), join for lunch from 12-3pm, or dinner (with cocktails!) from 5-8pm.
Chaat Dog at Strong Rope Brewery | Red Hook
Chaat Dog will be at Strong Rope Brewery in Red Hook on Fridays from 3 to 9pm this summer. Their residency will run through September. Enjoy desi dogs, achaar smash burgers, and craft beer from Strong Rope.
Purslane Cafe | Prospect Park Boathouse
The Prospect Park Boathouse opened a new cafe on May 24, serving coffee, scones, brownies, and sandwiches like fig and prosciutto, or chicken curry. The cafe shares the name of the catering arm of the Boathouse, and will be open daily from 7:30am to 3pm. It is one of the only food options inside the park.
Strange Delight | Fort Greene
Strange Delight is a New Orleans style seafood counter and cocktail bar. The restaurant opened on May 24 and serves oysters, seafood towers, sandwiches, and cocktails. Starting June 4, the entire front room will be available for walk-ins, and the back room will be for reservations only on Opentable.
Matchaful Culinary Lab + Café | Clinton Hill
On May 28, Matchaful opened their first dedicated culinary production facility and café at 44 Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill. Hours are 8am-5pm on weekdays, and 8:30am-5pm on weekdays. Stop by and enjoy their launch special: a Classic Matcha Latte + Donut bundle for $10.
Restaurant openings to look forward to
These new spots are coming soon to our neighborhoods!
Mariscos El Submarino | Greenpoint | Opening June 1
This Mexican seafood joint based in Jackson Heights is opening a new location in Greenpoint in June. The restaurant will take over the space formerly occupied by Mystica, which closed this spring on Franklin Street. Mariscos El Submarino is known for aguachiles and shrimp cocktails. This new location will have the same menu, prices, and design as the Queens location, and will be open from 12pm to 11pm daily.
Continent | Williamsburg | Opening June 1
Continent will open soon in the lobby of Williamsburg’s Hotel Indigo. This will be the second location of the Atlanta restaurant, run by Scotley Innis, who was on Season 18 of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen. Continent will serve African, Caribbean, and Asian-inspired fare.
Veselka | Williamsburg | Opening June 5
Veselka, the legendary Ukranian diner in the East Village, will open a new location near the BQE in Williamsburg. This will be the first location in Brooklyn; Veselka has another location in Grand Central.
Foodtown | Brooklyn Heights | Opening June 7
There is a new location of the supermarket Foodtown coming soon to the corner of Clinton and Joralemon in Brooklyn Heights.
The Saloon at Clover Club | Carroll Gardens | Coming June 2024
Clover Club, a longtime destination for cocktail connoisseurs on Smith Street, is opening up a sister bar directly next door, taking over a space previously occupied by a comic book shop. The Saloon will be a more casual cocktail bar, and will also host private events and cocktail-making classes.
Blank Street Coffee | Downtown Brooklyn | Coming Summer 2024
The Brooklyn-based chain will be opening up a new location at One Boerum Place, on the corner of Boerum Place and Red Hook Lane. Blank Street serves coffee, matcha, and breakfast all day.
Chopt Creative Salad Co. | Downtown Brooklyn | Coming Fall 2024
Another chain coming to One Boerum Place is Chopt Creative Salad Co., a fast-casual salad spot. They are set to open on the ground floor in Fall 2024.
Smør | Clinton Hill | Coming Summer 2024
This Scandinavian bakery based in East Village will open a second location on Putnam Avenue, between Downing Street and Grand Avenue. Smør will also serve small plates at night.
Caffe Buon Gusto | Brooklyn Heights | Coming Soon
Caffe Buon Gusto, the Italian restaurant formerly on Montague Street, has put up their awning on the former Amy’s Bread space on Henry Street near Atlantic Avenue. The restaurant also has a location on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
Updated: May 28, 2024. Main Image: Randolph Beer’s rooftop in DUMBO.
