A Typical Day in Dumbo: Where to Eat, Shop, Grab a Drink, and Work Out
It’s no surprise that Dumbo, the Brooklyn epicenter of creativity and innovation, offers so many great perks to employees in the area. What was once a virtual ghost town with a smattering of restaurants and bars now boasts a funky mix of fashion boutiques, handmade craft shops, and top-notch cafes. In a previous post, we…
Photo by mr.rayburn
It’s no surprise that Dumbo, the Brooklyn epicenter of creativity and innovation, offers so many great perks to employees in the area. What was once a virtual ghost town with a smattering of restaurants and bars now boasts a funky mix of fashion boutiques, handmade craft shops, and top-notch cafes.
In a previous post, we gave you an exclusive look into some of Dumbo’s coolest offices. Today we will take you out of the box and onto the street, showing you what it’s like to work in this vibrant neighborhood — with hints on the best places to eat, drink, shop, and exercise.
Breakfast
Brooklyn Roasting Company
Whether you’re cycling in, or pouring out of the York Street station with the other commuters, your first task on the way to work is to get a cup of coffee and a bite to eat. You have two excellent choices on the coffee front: Brooklyn Roasters, at the very end of Jay Street, and West Elm Market, on Washington Street between Water and Front. Whether you fancy a regular cup of joe or a cortado, this pit stop will get you buzzing and ready for the day.
Breakfast options at The Steel Cart
If you want some eggs with your coffee, you can’t do much better than the Steel Cart, a food cart stationed at the corner of Jay and Water Streets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Owners Luc and Jenny serve up breakfast goodies like the Egg Tosti (a grilled ham, egg and cheese sandwich), the Hole in 1 (an egg fried in the middle of rye toast, with roasted potatoes), Cinna-Bun Toast, and fresh, homemade yogurt.
Lunch
Foragers | via FoodNFestivities.com
There are plenty of lunch options in Dumbo for health buffs, foodies, and everyone in between. The popular organic market Foragers lures masses of people daily with its nutritious snacks and produce, salad bar, fresh juices, and made-to-order gourmet sandwiches.
Different food trucks every day!
If variety’s your priority, make your destination the unassuming vacant lot on the corner of Jay and Water Streets. Every weekday, it’s home to a rotating line-up of food trucks such as Luke’s Lobster (lobster rolls), Mausam (Indian), Shorty’s (cheesesteaks), Domo Taco (Asian-Mexican fusion), Sweet Chili (Thai/Vietnamese), Mexico Blvd. (duh), and Dub Pies (Australia/New Zealand-style pies). If you don’t like surprises, check out the webcam or Twitter account to view the day’s trucks (and how long the lines are).
Sometimes, though, it’s nice to sit down and have a relaxed meal. AlMar is a local favorite for its pasta, salad, and especially its delectable panini. It’s also a cozy spot for an afternoon coffee or a glass of wine.
Next page: Shopping and when the weather is nice >
P.S. Bookshop
When you have a little time to kill before returning to the office, explore Dumbo’s variety of shops, including bookstores (powerHouse Arena, P.S. Bookshop), fashion boutiques (Nos, Brooklyn Industries, Zoe), kids’ toys and clothes (Half Pint Citizens), stationery and gifts (Dabney Lee), and design stores (Stewart/Stand, Journey, Shibui).
Dabney Lee
Brooklyn Bridge Park | Linda Huber
Sometimes it’s too nice to stay indoors, which is when you head to Dumbo’s crown jewel, Brooklyn Bridge Park. Take your lunch or a cup of coffee and enjoy the views of Manhattan and the East River, and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. You might even be tempted to take a ride on Jane’s Carousel or rent a kayak — for inspiration, of course.
Granite Prospect, Brooklyn Bridge Park | Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce via Architect’s Newspaper
Next page: Snacks and working out >
Mid-afternoon snack
One Girl Cookies
It’s 4 p.m., and you’re starting to feel a little sleepy, but it’s nothing a quick sugar-rush can’t fix! One Girl Cookies offers a scrumptious selection of baked goods, and Dewey’s Candy is great if you’re in the mood for a mixed bag of gummy bears, hard candies, and chocolates.
Dewey’s Candy
Speaking of chocolate… if this is your vice, make a beeline for Jacques Torres Chocolate. This former pastry chef from Le Cirque makes hand-crafted, premium chocolates without preservatives, additives, extracts, oils or essences.
Exercise
The Fitness Guru pilate class at Brooklyn Bridge Park | via BrooklynBuzz.com
After all this talk about eating, you might already be feeling guilty. Not to worry: Dumbo has plenty of gyms to help you burn off those extra calories. The Fitness Guru offers everything from morning boot camps and Pilates to lunchtime and early evening spin classes.
TRX training at The Lab | LabFitNYC.com
Another great choice for Pilates, yoga, circuit training and early morning boot camps is The Lab. Their promotional materials stress that, more than a gym or Pilates studio, they are a family that “helps each other achieve higher goals, live more exciting, healthier lives, and most importantly, have more fun.” If your idea of fun is a super-intense workout, this may be the place for you.
Gleason’s Gym | via NotSoLolita
Or maybe with all this trendy food and art, you’d prefer your training to be a bit more authentically old-school. Gleason’s Gym, under the Brooklyn Bridge, teaches you to box. That’s pretty much it. You work, get muscles, and punch things. Doesn’t that sound satisfying after a day in front of a computer screen?
Next page: After-work drinks and eats >
After-work drinks and eats
Superfine
Finally! You’ve wrapped up your day’s work and it’s time for a drink with co-workers. Superfine is a friendly bar and grill with upbeat music, a spacious bar, a pool table, and a nice selection of beers. If you’re hungry, opt for one of their delicious sandwiches.
Tacos at Gran Electrica
On the other hand, sometimes nothing kicks off the night like tequila and tacos. Gran Electrica‘s authentic Mexican menu uses local, sustainable ingredients, and their tequila list is killer.
Atrium
Atrium, a self-described “Community Eating and Drinking House,” serves up house-baked bread, meat and cheese plates, and creative cocktails. Their small but hearty menu of French, Italian, and American dishes includes quinoa tagliatelle, bouillabaisse, and a roasted duck for two with a truffle chicken pot pie. On Friday and Saturday nights they offer seasonal tasting menus with optional wine pairings.
Vinegar Hill House | via EateryRow.com
If you’re hosting out-of-town visitors, or have a date you want to impress, make a reservation at the nearby Vinegar Hill House, one of Brooklyn’s most highly rated restaurants. It’s not the kind of place you’d eat at every day, but it’s definitely worth the occasional splurge.
Time to go home!
It’s a nice feeling, working at a cool office in a cool neighborhood. The best part? Tomorrow you get to do it all over again, with new food to try, new shops to visit, and new streets to discover.
Does this sound like the kind of environment your office belongs in? To set up your own cool office in Dumbo, contact Two Trees Commercial.
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