Map of Red Hook, Brooklyn: Street map of Red Hook

The waterfront neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn, runs southwest of Hamilton Avenue (which follows the BQE) between the East River and Gowanus Bay. It borders the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens, Gowanus and Cobble Hill. Public-transport options are limited, with the nearest subway stop being Smith–9th Sts—requiring either a 30-minute stroll into the nabe or a transfer to the B61 bus.

RECOMMENDED: Red Hook neighborhood guide

Another option is the New York Water Taxi Ikea Express Shuttle (nywatertaxi.com; Mon–Fri 2–8pm; $5, free with $10 purchase from Ikea. Sat, Sun 11:20am–9:20pm, free). The boat runs between Pier 11, Slip A in downtown Manhattan (11 Bush Terminal Yard, South St between Gouverneur Ln and Wall St) and Ikea.

Alternatively, cycle along the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, which connects Red Hook, Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights and Williamsburg, via (mostly) protected bike lanes along the East River. If you do ride, look out for Nobuho Nagasawa's artwork TIMECAST: six etchings of tree silhouettes along the Greenway on Columbia Street. It's one of our favorite pieces of easily missed public art.


View Red Hook, Brooklyn in a larger map