Red Hook is the oasis outside the City that's SO close to the City. An old fishing and shipping neighborhood, Red Hook houses some of the friendliest businesses - and people, in all of the five boroughs, due largely in part to its NYC meets New England vibes. You won't find high-end boutiques or five-star restaurants, but everything combined will make up an all-around five-star experience unlike any other in NYC (and, trust - you'll discover a handful of other gems not on this list, too).
For the vintage and typography nerds alike, this assuming gas station and repair shop on Van Brunt St. is an always visually stunning relic of what was once old Red Hook, Brooklyn and America. The gas pumps are easily many decades old, retaining their original rotary text displays (à la Solari Udine), and 'perfectly' surrounded by local graffiti art.
