UNION STREET, GOWANUS, BROOKLYN
scurryingThis stretchpast desertedof Gowanus buildingsonce meantand plugging your nose as you neared the noxious Gowanus Canal. But today it’s marked by whimsical shops, innovative food stops and clever cocktail bars.
Just-opened Mirror Tea House (1) (575 Union St., No. A; 917-909-0577) serves hardto-find tea blends, such as black soybean tea; it also serves coffee. Next door is the Gowanus Souvenir Shop (2) (567 Union St.; 424-888-2869), which sells kitschy canalbranded gifts (like tees and mugs) and locally made art. Cross the street to party like a retiree at the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club ( 3) (514 Union St.; 347-223-4410), where coowner Jonathan Schnapp compares its vibe to that of “Cheers” (with better beer). Just off Union Street is Freek’s Mill (4)
(285 Nevins St.; 718-852-3000), an eclectic fine-dining spot. Because the rent is affordable, “we’re able to try things that don’t have to sell,” says executive chef and partner Chad Shaner. “We can do dishes that someone’s going to look at and go, ‘Oh, I think I’ll try that.’ ” Standouts: a roasted pork jowl and a dry-aged duck, and the beef short rib.
Sip hard-to-find wines and wine- and cider-based cocktails at cozy Black Mountain Wine House ( 5) (415 Union St.; 718522-4340), which also serves good food. A wood-burning fireplace makes the small space smell extra delicious.
For dessert, Ample Hills Creamery’s (6) flagship location (305 Nevins St.; 347-7254061) features It Came From Gowanus, a dark-chocolate, swamplike ice cream packed with orange brownie chunks, hazelnut crack cookies and white chocolate pearls, all made in-house. Bring it up to the roof for a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline.
And head’s up: Come April, you can once again visit Pig Beach ( 7) (480 Union St.; 718737-7181), a barbecue spot that boasts a backyard bigger than most Manhattan playgrounds and closes during winter. Celebrate with a thick slab of ribs and a house cocktail, sipped between rounds of board games and cornhole.