Sheepshead Bay - Brooklyn, NY Area Guide

Sheepshead Bay remains a mostly residential waterfront community after being built up in the early 20th century. The once plentiful fishing fleets have dissipated, making way for modern dinner boats that attract tourists.

The only museum in the neighborhood is the Enrico Caruso Museum of America, open on Sundays and some weekdays by appointment only with a $10 entrance fee. The museum features memorabilia from the Caruso family and vintage music collections.

Lana Lucas Gallery on Avenue Y provides a vast array of art including paintings and photography by several artists. The gallery holds several exhibitions a year and admission varies depending on the event.

There are no annual art events in Sheepshead Bay, although some cultural events take place, including the annual Holocaust Memorial Day in the Holocaust Memorial Park. The event honors victims and spreads awareness about other violent conflicts around the world.

Residents and visitors have a wide selection of restaurants from which to choose, including tons of ethnic-cuisine options. The rich diversity of the neighborhood and its residents provides a wide array of food. Chayhana Salom, located on Sheepshead Bay Road, serves authentic Uzbek cuisine. Patrons enjoy dishes such as traditional babaganoush and fried chuchvara. The samsas with lamb and pumpkin are a local favorite on the menu.

Tenda Asian Fusion serves premium hand-rolled sushi made with the freshest fish and vegetables. Patrons enjoy the beautiful Japanese decor in the restaurant while trying classics such as the Brooklyn roll and Dragon roll. The menu also features cooked foods and hibachi specials. Customers enjoy beer, wine and an array of flavored sakes.

Esquire Lounge on Sheepshead Bay Road features a taste of Manhattan's nightlife in the heart of this small neighborhood. The lounge provides a chill restaurant and bar experience. Esquire Lounge has a resident DJ in house every night to play the latest club music for hip and with-it customers. This unique setup allows clubbers to enjoy a meal before hitting the bar and dance floor. Find signature and specialty cocktails on the bar menu along with an array of beers on tap. Patrons voted Esquire's mojito the best in Brooklyn. The lounge also holds events throughout the year such as masquerade parties, jazz performances and karaoke nights.

Transportation in and around Sheepshead Bay proves to be quite easy. The neighborhood has one metro line with three access stations. The Q-line takes residents and visitors into other neighborhoods in Brooklyn and into downtown Manhattan easily. Metro rides start at $2.75 for a single-ride ticket.

Residents can get around easily by car with major roadways surrounding the neighborhood. The Shore and Belt Parkways run along the waterfront on the south end of the neighborhood for easy access to other parts of the city. Ocean Parkway runs north and south along the west side of the neighborhood and connects to the Belt and Shore Parkways.

Hailing a cab in Sheepshead Bay can be easy and cab fares start at $8. A ride to the nearest airport starts at $50 on average for a ride by cab. Some choose to use the Uber car service available in the area. For the basic Uber service, rides start with a $14 base price and cost around $2.30 per mile. For the Uber SUV service, base prices start at $36 for a ride from the center of the neighborhood to neighboring Coney Island's amusement park.

Public parking in Sheepshead Bay can be found in the form of meters along the streets costing $1 per one hour of parking. Sheepshead Bay contains a municipal parking field that costs $0.25 for every 15 minutes of parking or $3 for three hours and a maximum of eight hours for $16. The field is located on Voorhies Avenue on the southwest end of the neighborhood.

Walking and biking remain an excellent and preferred method of transportation for residents of Sheepshead Bay. The streets in the residential neighborhood are safe to walk at night and during the day alone. Because of its residential nature, drivers cannot speed through the streets, so biking in the streets proves safe for cyclists. Motorists know to be on the lookout for bikers and pedestrians. The Plumb Beach bike path extends almost the entire length of the Sheepshead Bay waterfront area, making it extremely safe for bikers enjoying the ocean view while riding.

Sheepshead Bay houses several great playgrounds for residents and visitors. Bill Brown Playground located on Bedford Avenue has modern and safe play equipment for children. The playground also features spray showers and handball courts, as well as public restrooms for added convenience.

Sheepshead Playground on Nostrand Avenue features clean playground equipment for children with basketball and handball courts available too. Spray showers and public restrooms are available for those wishing to stay for the day.

Kelly Park/ located on the northwest side of the neighborhood on East 14th Street, features basketball courts and public restrooms with spray showers for hot summer days. Playground and fitness equipment can also be found inside the park.

Admittance costs nothing and leashed dogs are welcome at all three parks.

Sheepshead Bay holds an annual fair called BayFest to kick off summer. The festival does not cost anything, and fun features such as a parade with floats and live music can be enjoyed by all. Thousands flock to the festival every year for samples of the local food and the fun. Games and activities are available to the children as well. Leashed dogs are welcome at the festival.

The cost of living in Sheepshead Bay hovers at four percent above the New York City average. A typical one-bedroom apartment in the neighborhood costs around $1,384 per month, and because of the residential nature they are relatively easy to find.

Public transportation in Sheepshead Bay can be quite inexpensive, with access to the Q-line on the metro with tickets starting at under $3. The metro provides the most efficient and cost-effective method of transportation in and out of the Manhattan area for working professionals living in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

A beer at a local bar or restaurant starts at around $2 for a domestic can during happy hour and can go up to $7 or $8 for a pint of specialty craft or imported brew.

Gas prices in Sheepshead Bay fall about seven percent below the New York City average and 14 percent above the national average.

Sheepshead Bay has several specialty boutiques enjoyed by residents and tourists. Flavour, located on Sheepshead Bay Road, carries women's dresses, bottoms and jumpsuits, as well as shoes and accessories. Flavour provides a special shopping experience with dedicated and friendly staff who act as personal shoppers. The staff and owner pride themselves on keeping ahead of the latest trends to bring their customers the best in fashion.

European Fashion Boutique on Avenue U carries designer European fashion and accessories for men and women, including formalwear, stylish activewear and casual wear. The boutique employs friendly and knowledgeable staff who are well-informed about European fashion. The unique layaway service makes it easy for customers on a tight budget to afford anything in the store.

Stop in at Balloonitude on Gravesend Neck Road for party supplies and one-of-a-kind balloon arrangements. The experienced staff make a wide variety of balloon items, from larger-than-life sculptures to individual baby gifts. For the DIY set, Balloonitude also offers balloon-twisting classes for shoppers of all ages.

The Super Stop and Shop on Avenue Y acts as the main grocery store for the residents of Sheepshead Bay. Those looking for specialty foods and products head to the many small delis and grocery stores in the neighborhood that cater to all ethnicities. Gourmet Boutique on Nostrand Avenue carries Russian products and fare, and Forces of Nature on Sheepshead Bay Road serves as the go-to place for organic foods for health-conscious folks.

While the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood features no traditional outdoor farmers markets, residents head to the small specialty delis and grocery stores for specific items. Local foodies love the Cherry Hill Gourmet Market, which carries a varied selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. The store prides itself on its selection of local and organic produce, and also imports hard-to-find international foods, such as Haitian mangoes and Israeli cucumbers.