Our overview of new restaurants, bars, bakeries and cafés that opened in January includes an Afro-Caribbean spot in Fort Greene, Red Hook’s new Southern-inspired restaurant, bagel shops in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, a zero-proof cocktail bar in Park Slope and a non-alcoholic shop in South Slope, a new Thai street food spot in Carroll Gardens by the former employees of Ugly Baby, and so many cafés popping up in our neighborhoods.
Scroll all the way down for more openings coming soon, including a Mediterranean fast-casual chain in DUMBO called Naya, a new Swedish bakery coming to Brooklyn Heights, an exciting new cocktail bar in Park Slope, and a Cambodian restaurant in Red Hook.
Along with so many openings, there is also the sad news of a neighborhood favorite closing. Leyenda, the Latin cocktail spot on Smith Street (opposite sister bar Clover Club) has announced its closure after 10 years. Leyenda will shut its do0rs at the end of March 2025. There will be weekly programming in its final months, and the owner has promised “This isn’t the end of Leyenda.” Read more here.
Red Coffee Stand | DUMBO
In the warmer months, 147 Front Street is home to DUMBO’s coconut milk ice cream stand Coco Boys. But the rest of the year, Red Coffee Stand will occupy the space, serving lunch fair from the pop-up Hot Soup and coffee from Ant’s Coffee. Stop by for a quick coffee or takeaway lunch. Open Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm and Saturday and Sunday, 9am-5pm. Ice cream returns in April!
Náko | Brooklyn Heights
Náko is a new coffee shop located at 18 Columbia Street in Brooklyn Heights, offering pour-over coffee, small bites, baked goods, wine, and beer. They are open during the week from 7am-6pm and on weekends from 8am-6pm.
Summerfield | Brooklyn Heights
Located at 107 Atlantic Avenue, Summerfield sells prepared food for takeaway. Their menu features sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, seared salmon, and barbacoa beef, and plenty of sides to choose from, including roasted broccoli, Spanish rice, cauliflower mash, and more. They also have desserts to go. Open Monday-Friday, 12-8pm and Saturdays, 11am-4pm. Pick up, or have your meal delivered! On Fridays and Saturdays, they sell fresh pico and guac!
Blank Street | Downtown Brooklyn
Blank Street, the Brooklyn-based coffee chain, has opened their newest location at One Boerum Place. Located at the corner of Boerum and Fulton Street, the unique triangular space has floor-to-ceiling windows with seating for 20 customers. Blank Street sells espresso drinks, cold brews and iced coffee, matcha drinks, tea, and pastries. They are open 6am-7pm during the week and 6:30am-7pm on weekends.
Pop’s Patties | Barclays Center
These Caribbean patties with various fillings (saltfish, sweet plantains, oxtail, and short rib) are now available at Barclays Center.
Mango Bay | Fort Greene
A new Afro-Caribbean restaurant opened at 271 Adelphi Street this month. Located in a two-story brownstone, they will have outdoor seating on a balcony and in their courtyard in the warmer months. Highlights of the menu include ackee and saltfish egg rolls, pomegranate glazed pork ribs, panko-fried Cornish hen, braised oxtail, and mango curry. They also serve Caribbean-inspired cocktails with tropical flavors.
She Wolf Bakery | Brooklyn Navy Yard
She Wolf Bakery has finally opened in the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s new food hall, Market @77. Located in Building 77 at 141 Flushing Avenue, they are serving fresh-baked bread including loaves, miche, and baguettes. They are currently serving coffee, and later this year they will also serve espresso drinks and sandwiches. Open Monday through Friday, 8am to 2pm, or until they sell out.
Frog Wine Shop | Cobble Hill
Frog Wine Shop at 389 Henry Street is the sister spot to Frog Wine Bar in Bed Stuy. Both establishments focus on natural wines.
Hungry Thirsty | Carroll Gardens
Former employees of the beloved restaurant Ugly Baby, which closed at the end of 2024, are opening Hungry Thirsty on January 31, which will serve Thai street food. The new spot will be located at 407 Smith Street.
Cafe by the Girls | Park Slope
This Columbian coffee shop based in Chelsea has opened a new location at 203 7th Avenue in Park Slope, in the former space of Blue Bottle Coffee. They serve coffee roasted in-house, pastries, plus breakfast and lunch food.
Java Andina | Park Slope
This Columbian bakery and café recently opened in Park Slope at 86 6th Avenue, between Warren and St. Marks. The café is located in the former location of Miss American Pie bakery.
The Historian | Park Slope
A new speakeasy has opened underneath a Cajun restaurant called The Boil, located at 242 Avenue on the border of Park Slope and Prospect Heights. The swanky downstairs spot serves craft cocktails, oysters, and small bites.
Mockingbird | Park Slope
A zero-proof cocktail bar has opened at 213 7th Avenue in Park Slope. The bar opened on January 10, just in time for Dry January. The menu features non-alcoholic cocktails, beer and cider, and wine. Food service is coming soon, and Mockingbird will start serving weekend brunch on Saturday, January 25.
Liar Liar | Gowanus
This new wine bar is opening at 285 Nevins Street on January 31. Liar Liar will be Gowanus’s first natural wine bar!
Buzz Free | South Slope
A non-alcoholic shop selling booze-free wine, spirits, cocktails, and mixers is now open at 679 5th Avenue in South Slope. They are also hosting special events during Dry January including live DJ sets, drag shows, and live music performances. Learn more here! Open daily from 12-9pm.
Sunrise Espresso Bar | South Slope
Located at 653 5th Avenue in South Slope, this new spot is a café by day and serves Mexican dishes by night. During the day, you can enjoy espresso, French toast, waffles, enchiladas, and brunch drinks like mimosas. At night, try their nachos, tacos, burritos, carne asada, mole poblano, plus wine and beer. There is even an after school kids menu, with 20% from 3-5pm.
Poetica Coffee Mobile Food & Coffee Cart | Prospect Park
The beloved café Poetica now has a mobile coffee cart parked in Prospect Park. You can find it at at the Willink Plaza entrance at Flatbush Avenue, located near the Carousel, Zoo and Lefferts Historic House. They are open daily from 8am-5pm with a full menu of coffee drinks, tea, and pastries. They will be stationed there year-round!
ZuriLee Pizzeria @ Brooklyn Bathhouse | Prospect Lefferts Gardens
A new bathhouse is opening in PLG on January 31 with a pizzeria on-site. The team behind ZuriLee is from the nearby Caribbean and African American restaurant MangoSeed. There is a jerk chicken pizza, a mushroom and spinach pesto pie, and other dishes like jerk tacos, fish sandwiches, and wings.
Pitt’s | Red Hook
Red Hook’s newest restaurant comes from the team behind Agi’s Counter in Crown Heights, led by the James Beard nominated chef Jeremy Salamon. Pitt’s is a Southern-inspired bistro in the former space of Fort Defiance. Dishes include gouda pimento cheese, the cold meatloaf tea sandwich, Carolina grit rice with bottarga, and spiced fried chicken. Beers from nearby Strong Rope Brewery, whiskey from Red Hook’s Widow Jane, plus an assortment of cocktails.
BaoLaLa at Industry City | Sunset Park
This new casual spot in Building 3 of Industry City serves a wide variety of Chinese and Asian cuisines, from dumplings to rice bowls to their Chinese-style burger. They also serve globally sourced teas. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am-8pm. Enter at 253 36th Street.
Rob’s of Brooklyn | Sunset Park
Based in Bensonhurst, this Brooklyn-based slice shop has a new location at 4201 Seventh Avenue in Sunset Park. In addition to pizza, they also serve Italian appetizers, salads, pasta, and mains.
Kyo Brooklyn | Bed Stuy
This Japanese-style café at 326 Tompkins Avenue serves matcha and coffee, with a food menu coming soon. Kyo is an extension of Chef Katsu, the Japanese spot in Clinton Hill. Both locations are family-owned by a husband and wife team. Kyo will be open Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 5pm, and weekends from 8am to 5pm.
Sol Delish | Bed Stuy
Sol Delish is a new dumpling spot on Fulton Street at Nostrand Avenue. Try their soup dumplings and more Chinese dishes, like spicy crispy chicken, scallion oil noodles with minced chicken, plus spring rolls, soup, cold dishes, and bubble tea. As an opening special, get a free bubble tea with your order!
Bilqis Coffee | Bay Ridge
This new coffee shop prides itself on sourcing its beans from Yemen. Bilqis serves a variety of espresso drinks, as well as teas. They also served a variety of homemade pastries, spinach pies, and cookies.
Apollo Bagels | Williamsburg
Apollo Bagels, which already has locations in Manhattan, is now open 7 days per week in Williamsburg at 133 North Seventh Street. Apollo began as a pop-up created by the owners of a Williamsburg pizzeria. Their bagels are sourdough, and they serve classic bagel sandwiches with lox, whitefish salad, tomato, and more.
Enso | Williamsburg
Enso is a new Japanese restaurant offering both a 12-course tasting menu ($95/person) and a 16-course omakase experience ($195/person), plus craft cocktails and Japanese whiskies. The chef and owner is Nick Wang, who also operates Amami and Ako Sushi.
Bagel Joint | Greenpoint
This Jewish bakery, founded by husband and wife team, has opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Greenpoint. Previously, Bagel Joint could be found selling bagels and pastries at local farmers markets. Inspired by both their Jewish and Taiwanese heritages, the Bagel Joint team infuses their bagel creations with Asian flavors like miso, saffron, and gochujang.
Nerina | Greenpoint
A new Greek restaurant is opening in Greenpoint on January 29. Nerina is located on the ground floor of a new residential building with affordable housing at 35 Commercial Street. The menu features homemade pita, sharable mezze-style dishes, oysters, and mains like grilled octopus, scallops, and duck leg stifado agnolotti. There is a heated patio and bar with Greek wine and craft cocktails.
Four Season Joyful | Greenpoint
Four Seasons Joyful is a Sichuan spot on Driggs Avenue in Greenpoint, serving noodles, rice, meat, seafood, and vegetables. They offer affordable lunch specials for $12, and also serve bubble tea and smoothies.
Mommy’s | Greenpoint
Mommy’s cocktail bar has opened in the space formerly occupied by the bar Ba’sik on Graham Avenue. They are open starting at 5pm Monday through Friday. On weekends they open at 12pm for brunch, and on Sundays they offer jazz sessions from 7-10pm. In addition to cocktails, Mommy’s has a dinner menu with small plates and late night comfort food, and their brunch offerings include chicken and waffles, a breakfast sandwich, and a fried chicken sandwich.
These new spots are coming soon to our neighborhoods!
Patio Tropical | Williamsburg | Opening February 6
This Caribbean food counter is located on an enclosed and heated patio behind This Is Latin America, a shop at 234 Grand Street. Patio Tropical is a project of Stephanie Bonin, known for La Tropikitchen. They will serve coffee and sweet and savory treats. Food menu coming February 6!
Diamond Slice | Greenpoint | Opening February 2025
A new pizzeria is coming to 70 Diamond Street in Greenpoint this February. In addition to pizza, they will also serve salads, focaccia sandwiches, beer and wine.
Brooklyn Granary & Mill | Gowanus | Opening Winter/Spring 2025
This unique bakery coming to Gowanus will mill its own grain onsite. Slated to open in a two-story location at 300 Huntington Street in late winter/early spring 2025, their milling operations will take place upstairs and their bakery will be located downstairs. They will make loaves, baguettes, focaccia, croissants, and more. Check out their Kickstarter campaign and read more here!
Folk | Park Slope | Opening Spring 2025
The team behind the Park Slope restaurant Lore is opening a new cocktail bar at 689 6th Avenue. Slated to open this spring, Folk will serve both craft cocktails and small plates. Stay tuned for more updates!
I Cavallini | Williamsburg | Opening May 2025
This Italian restaurant is slated to open on Grand Street near Roebling Street in May 2025. The team behind the wine bar Four Horseman, located just down the street. I Cavallini will have around 70 seats and a backyard, which is about double the size of Four Horseman.
Rose Marie | Williamsburg | Opening June 2025
The East Village Tex-Mex spot Yellow Rose is opening a new bar with Southern food in Williamsburg, on the corner of Ainslie and Lorimer. They will serve cocktails, beer, and comfort food.
Overgreens Salad & Juice | DUMBO | Opening date TBA
Overgreens Salad & Juice serves healthy bowls, salads, sandwiches and soups, smoothies, and juice. The chain already has multiple locations in Brooklyn, but will open a new spot in DUMBO in Spring 2025. Overgreens will take over the spot formerly occupied by Tsuta Dumbo, the Michelin-starred ramen restaurant.
Naya | DUMBO | Opening date TBA
Naya, a Mediterranean fast-casual chain serving bowls, rolls, salads, shawarma, and hummus, is opening a new location on Jay Street in DUMBO.
Bond Street Coffee and Goods | Downtown Brooklyn | Opening date TBA
A new location of Bond Street Coffee and Goods is coming to the border of DUMBO and Downtown Brooklyn, at Jay Street and Concord Street. Stay tuned for more details!
Ferrane Bakery | Brooklyn Heights | Opening date TBA
A new Swedish bakery is coming to 57 Clark Street in Brooklyn Heights. Inspired by the owners’ heritages, Ferrane Bakery will serve Scandinavian pastries and bread that are also inspired by East African and North African flavors (“ferrane” means “oven” in Moroccan Arabic). Stay tuned for more updates from the bakery, which is currently under construction!
New German Restaurant | Brooklyn Heights | Opening date TBA
80 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights was most recently home to Mad for Chicken and before that, Teresa’s. It’s yet to be seen what food spot will take over the space next, but signage indicates that Wurst & Durst LLC dba Wildblume are the new owners and are seeking a liquor license. The neighborhood is anticipating the opening of a German establishment of some sort. Read more here, and stay tuned!
Floyd | Brooklyn Heights | Opening TBA
Floyd, the beloved Brooklyn Heights bar and bocce court that closed in December, is looking to reopen in a new space. While they were circling a space at 72 Clark Street, the neighboring co-op blocked the move, citing concerns over noise on the street. Floyd will continue to look for a new location, hopefully with bocce!
Hōp | Red Hook | Opening date TBA
The team behind Red Hook Tavern, husband and wife, are opening a Cambodian restaurant at 358 Van Brunt Street later this year. The restaurant will serve Cambodian breakfast dishes and pastries during the day, and will offer dinner in the evening: noodles, meats, stews, and more.
Emack & Bolio’s | Park Slope | Opening date TBA
The Boston-based ice cream chain is opening new location on order of Park Slope and Windsor Terrace, at 242 Prospect Park West. They serve both regular ice cream and vegan ice cream.
Bong | Crown Heights | Opening date TBA
A Cambodian pop-up called Kreung will move into its permanent home at 724 Sterling Place in Crown Heights later this year. They will serve causal Cambodian dishes like Kuy Teav, Num Pang Paté, Somlor Machu Kreung.
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Updated: February 5, 2025. Main Image: Mango Bay in Fort Greene.
