Flatbush-Ditmas Park - Brooklyn, NY Area Guide

The Flatbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood holds a reputation for its beautiful, overly large Victorian homes in bright and varying colors that set them all apart.

The closest museum to the small Brooklyn neighborhood sits just outside of the Flatbush-Ditmas Park vicinity on the northeast side of Prospect Park. The Brooklyn Museum provides cultural entertainment for families as well as children. It features art collections and sculptures as well as yearly exhibitions that attract visitors every day. Admittance costs $16 for adults and $10 for seniors and college students. Teens 19 and under as well as children get in for free. The museum stays open seven days a week until 10 and 6 pm on alternating days.

There are no specific cultural or artistic events that take place in the Flatbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood, and most folks venture outside the neighborhood for festivals and events.

Don't let the name of the restaurant fool you because The Farm on Adderley has some of the best options for every meal of the day and keeps prices affordable compared to similar cuisine in Manhattan. The restaurant sits right in the middle of the Flatbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood, offering a modern yet rustic atmosphere, with white-washed brick walls and outdoor seating during the warm months. Menu favorites include the grilled pork with sunchoke confit or the seasonal tart, with rotating variations such as mushroom or kabocha squash. An extensive beer and wine menu provides the perfect touch to a great meal. The restaurant caters to private parties and banquets as well.

Visitors and locals alike enjoy the Castello Plan on Cortelyou Road, another great restaurant in the heart of the neighborhood. The restaurant serves mainly dinner and drinks, with brunch available every Saturday and Sunday. Salmon lox and croque madame remain popular local favorites for brunch, as do the small plates of charcuterie and the hake tacos with spicy guacamole. Order a draft beer or one of the signature cocktails that put this bar on the map with creations such as The Rosalita, an intriguing blend of rye and chamomile grappa.

Temptations provides 24-hour club service located in the heart of the Flatbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood. Women get in for free until 1 a.m., and the club hosts DJs or live music. Drink specials attract local residents and visitors to the neighborhood. Because of its convenient location, residents of the neighborhood don't need to go too far for a night of dancing or partying.

Cab companies remain readily available in and around the Flathbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood and serve as one of the main modes of transportation. A one-block ride costs around $3.50, and a ride from the center of the neighborhood to the airport starts at $50.

Bikers appear in plentiful numbers around the neighborhood, as biking provides an excellent and quick way to get around. The neighborhood remains mainly residential, so it provides a very safe environment for biking as well as walking. Lanes make it safe for cyclists living and commuting inside the area. Many people in the neighborhood also walk since plenty of amenities can be reached by foot.

Uber serves the Flatbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood, and rides start at $20 for basic service and go up to $64for SUV service. Residents in this Brooklyn neighborhood also have access to the Metro for quick access to Manhattan. The Q-train and the 2 and 5-trains run directly through the center of the neighborhood, providing easy access to the other four boroughs of New York City and making it especially easy for professionals who work in Manhattan. Rides on the Metro cost $2.50 per person.

Public parking can be found scattered throughout the neighborhood with parking meters on most streets at a cost of $1 for an hour, and several parking garages exist with spaces starting at $10 and going up to $25 for the whole day. Car and limo services serve the neighborhood, but can be quite expensive, leaving residents to choose more affordable means of travel.

Access to Ocean Parkway located on the west side of the neighborhood provides easy access to other boroughs and destinations outside of New York City. Residents utilize local city buses as well as larger bus services just outside of the neighborhood at various ticket prices, depending on the destination. A local city bus ticket costs around $3.

Prospect Park, located on the north end, features 585 acres of beautiful scenery with Prospect Park Lake directly in the center where many like to fish and go boating. The park features many bike paths for avid bikers and cyclists, and caters to bird watching as well.

Sports-minded visitors find the basketball courts and baseball fields outside, with indoor tennis courts at the south end of the park. Visitors to the neighborhood jump at the chance to go horseback riding in the park.

Football fields can also be found, and residents frequently use them, including children and local rookie teams. The park features several playgrounds all equipped with water features to keep visitors cool in the summer. LeFrank Center at Lakeside features the park's largest water play area called Splash Pad. The LeFrank Center also features an ice-skating rink in the winter and over three miles of iced surface for in-line skaters.

In the spring and summer months, many people enjoy picnicking and barbecuing with friends and family including their dogs - only allowed in the park if on a leash. This free park opens typically from 5 am to 1 am, but expect to pay a small fee for any of the services or amenities.

The cost of living in the Flatbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn runs about average to other surrounding neighborhoods, which attracts many professionals as well as families. The average one-bedroom apartment averages at $1,527 per month.

A beer at the local bar or pub varies. Grab a domestic can or bottle for around $3.00, but specialty or craft brews can run from $8 and up, depending on the beer and the establishment.

Gas prices in the Flathbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood hover around the New York City average and about 10 percent higher than the national average. Prices stick about 5 percent above the New York State average.

Located on Stratford Road in the heart of the Flatbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood, Collyer's Mansion sells homemade goods and crafts from international artists and designers. The shop also supports local artisans by selling locally made jewelry and clothes, as well as children's toys and accessories. This store stocks unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that make great gifts or additions to a collection.

Hungry Cat Cafe Jewelry sounds like a cross between a coffee shop and jewelry store, but the shop only sells jewelry. This store makes and sells eclectic pieces found nowhere else. Located in the center of the Flatbush-Ditmas Park neighborhood, the shop has been a local and tourist favorite for quite some time. The owners even do custom-design jewelry for their customers, promising very original pieces.

Flatbush Food Co-op provides a healthy alternative to regular food stores. The store sells organic foods as well as all-natural products. The main grocery store in the neighborhood remains Stop & Shop located on Flatbush Avenue. Residents shop here for everyday grocery items because of its convenient location and affordable prices.

The Orchard on Coney Island Avenue represents a fresh fruit store where patrons sample gift baskets for high-end customers. Locals swear the ripe berries taste better than any candy.