The latest restaurant from designer Taavo Somer of very cool Freemans and Peels in the city, Isa is, unsurprisingly, very cool. The food is simple yet innovative, focusing on the flavors of the quality ingredients with frequent hints of smoke from the wood-burning oven.

Hit this neighborhood institution for oysters, drinks and always-on, ingredient-focused, simple New American fare. No reservations means you’ll almost always wait, but grab a drink, bring some friends and make a night of it.

Start off a lazy Sunday with some steel cut oats or a plate of smoked trout and eggs at Parish Hall, an awesome brunch, lunch and dinner spot on the north side of the neighborhood from the people behind the Burg’s beloved Egg.

Rye is a gem of a neighborhood restaurant, nestled away on a residential Williamsburg street. The small space, a throwback to the casual elegance of the Prohibition era, offers intimate dining, perfect for a date. The cocktails here are particularly excellent and we love the sophisticated comfort food (everyone raves about the meatloaf sandwich).

It’s worth the few extra stops on the L train (and the wait once you get there) for some of the best wood-fired pizzas in New York and very good rustic Italian (including veggies from their very own co-op garden) in this industrial-hip space in Bushwick.

Roberta’s splashy little sister opened earlier this year in a nearby converted warehouse. Just 12 seats face a massive open kitchen that churns out the tasting-menu only option at $180 a pop, which is steep for anywhere in NYC, let alone Bushwick. But the food is fantastic, the vibe is cool and sleek, and it’s a serious foodie experience.

A homey and casual neighborhood trattoria so popular it has Manhattanites lining out the door (reservations aren’t taken, but you can wait in their charming wine bar next door). The menu hasn’t changed much since opening in 1998, because it’s pretty much perfect Venetian fare, with particularly excellent pastas.

Franny’s churns out some of the best pizza and locally-sourced food in Brooklyn, maybe even NYC. Hit the original location while you can, as they will be moving to a larger space by the end of the year, keeping the old space for a new restaurant, Marco’s, to open in the spring of 2013.

Handcrafted ice cream and sorbet made in small batches, Ample Hills gets its cream and eggs from local farms upstate for the freshest (and most sustainable) product possible, in 24 flavors that change with the seasons. They also do really delicious and beautiful custom ice cream cakes, for any occasion.

This handsome, old-timey Brooklyn saloon, with a limited “Bill of Fare” of simple and homey food, including a great burger, is perfect for a late supper and whiskey cocktails with friends.

People are crazy for this Thai via Portland import to the BK, for good reason – the fresh takes on Thai classics are seriously good (and run on the hot side), from the signature charcoal roasted hen with lemongrass to the sweet, spicy salads and more, plus an awesome Thai-inspired cocktail menu (the Pok Pok Bloody Mary with Thai chilies is a serious kick in the ass.)

Quality ingredients, imaginatively prepared from this superb market-driven menu keeps this tiny place on the top of the borough’s fine dining list year after year. It’s pricey, but for one of the best bargains in the borough, try the Green Plate Special - $40 for the four-course veggie tasting menu.

Hearty, meaty sandwiches and Montreal-style deli food (think house-smoked meats, poutine, brisket and more) served deluxe. Make sure to get a pickle on the side and wash it all down with a good glass of wine.

A restaurant that redefined its namesake neighborhood, the cozy, low-lit décor is as appetizing as the solid, well-prepared, seasonal menu. We love their brunch, especially the sourdough pancakes and Bloody Mary’s.

While this highly-anticipated Gowanus opening keeps the atmosphere casual, with an artfully shabby, worn in dining room and larger garden in the back, the menu is decidedly ambitious with an Italian bent (think cavatelli with duck heart) with lots of interesting seasonal salads and antipasti.

Slide into one of the leather banquettes or up to the long marble bar for one of the best cocktails on the north side in this old New York feeling tattoo parlor turned cocktail lounge.

Take a tour of the winery or grab a carafe of their house varietal in the attached old-Brooklyn feeling wine bar. This is a great addition to the neighborhood.

Like running into little romantic cabin in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of Brooklyn, this warmly lit, cozy wooden house offers an excellent selection of wines and a small menu of casual small plates such as crostini, cheese and daily specials. Brimming with charm (and without typical wine bar pretension) this is a great spot for a laid-back date or for meeting up for a drinks and then just never leaving.

White subway tiles, a chill vibe and great tunes sum up this bar in Prospect Heights, worth traveling to for a drink or many. They always seem to be playing the right tunes, but you can still hear yourself speak. To make a night of it, grab dinner at The Vanderbilt, a very solid, lively restaurant across the street.

For a dignified cocktail in Brooklyn, made by a proper vested and bearded mixologist. The bar has a great day-of-yore, speakeasy feel without being overdone.

The highlight of this swank hotel located right on McCarren Park is the saltwater swimming pool, (which you can rent pool passes for if you're not lodging), with full bar and snack service. The complimentary bike rentals and rooftop lounge make King & Grove a slice of vacation in the middle of bustling Billyburg. Can't wait to find out what cool chef will dominate the sleek, wood-paneled restaurant space downstairs.

This hotel, brought to you by the masterminds behind Williamsburg’s beloved Marlow & Sons and Diner, represents the recent changes to the neighborhood’s waterfront - it's suddenly the place to be. The Wythe comes complete with locavore restaurant Reynards, a rooftop bar, rooms with serious foodie-approved minibars, indie brand luxury amenities and views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines. Oh, and if you're travelling in a band, as one does in Williamsburg, you can book their “Band Room”, complete with bunk beds.

A plethora of scents are sold in this perfume gallery, ranging from the usual flowery ones to the very distinct, and sometimes strange - "Cucumber Sandwich," "Wet Pavement," and "Dust" to name just a few. The nose behind this alchemist's shop is an ex-taxi driver, inspired to become a perfumer by his hatred for the some of the horrible scents worn by women getting into his car in the evening, that would linger and make him sick. Hey, we’ve all been there.

Caitlin Mociun, beautiful pattern designer whose line of upscale hipster clothing originally reeled us in a few years back, has turned her eye to curating handcrafted ceramics, textiles, jewelry and more in her light-filled, airy store in North Williamsburg. Come here for delicate and truly special knick-knacks for the home.

Last time we visited this antique shop with artful displays, they’d also started selling delicate garments with Darr's trademark slightly dark and moody style.

This lifestyle shop will kit out the cool dudes who surf, look good, listen to hard-to-find LP's and collect coffee table books. There are a few choice pieces for his girlfriend, too.

For the urban gardener or anyone just looking for a beautiful plant or flowers, Sprout is where it’s at.

Yes, you go to the Brooklyn Flea to shop from the hundreds of vintage and antique vendors, but more so it’s become a classic New York experience. (We also go for the awesome food!) The markets take place outdoors from April through Thanksgiving (Saturdays in Fort Greene and Sundays in Williamsburg) and indoors to in the landmark former Williamsburgh Savings Ban from Thanksgiving through March.

A solid mix of A. Cheng's feminine, wearable pieces with niche brands like Steven Alan and Dolce Vita. It's a stroller friendly-spot (this is indeed Park Slope) where you'll get friendly and attentive service. If a shirt or a skirt just doesn't look right, they'll tell you and then find you something better to try. You won't walk out without a great find.

Stocking a fun and slightly quirky mix of American and international designers from A.P.C. to Alexander Wang, the selection is vast yet well-curated. Their men’s store is just as well-stocked. Cobble Hill and Williamsburg locations also.

From the Franny’s gang comes this small gourmet grocery shop with great specialty and pantry items, including an excellent cheese and salumi selection from small-batch producers. Try their yummy comfort-focused prepared foods (think turkey meatloaf and roast chicken) when you don’t feel like cooking. They also do great cheese classes and gift boxes for the holidays.

You no longer have to trek into Manhattan to get a decent moisturizer. Reminding us of what Space NK was first like when it opened, Shen Beauty offers an ever-expanding range of exclusive, niche brands, such as Kate Logan and Percy & Reed, in a clean, bright and elegantly-girly space, that’s a pleasure to shop in.

One of the largest and oldest art museums in the country, The Brooklyn Museum, housed in a gorgeous Beaux-Arts building at the top of Prospect Park, is also one of our favorite Brooklyn landmarks.

Like a museum of nature’s splendor, The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens is covered in acres of gorgeous plants and flowers. From the Japanese Tea Garden to the Lily-Pad exhibit, the Rose Garden and places to stop for a snack and a drink throughout, this is a great place to stroll or spend a day with the kids.

Jamming since 1968, since the Congo Square Drummers started gathering here informally, you can still catch this drum circle every Sunday, April through October 2 pm to dusk. Bring your drum and join the circle or just watch the listen and enjoy.

Artist Dustin Yellin has recently opened this non-profit contemporary arts center, located in a large warehouse space, a 19th century brick and timber building, in Red Hook. It feels a bit like a young PS1, with one of the largest uninterrupted exhibition spaces in New York City, both indoor and outdoor exhibition space, public programs, artists residencies, and a magazine.

With nightly events that feature established and emerging musicians, there’s always something good playing in this performance space/jazz club, run by bass player Matthew Garrison, son of Jimmy Garrison (bass player for John Coltrane).