Sunset Park - Brooklyn, NY Area Guide

Sunset Park was used quite a bit during World War II due to its location right on the Hudson and its many transportation routes available. It was mostly an industrial area, and after the war the neighborhood started to decline due to lack of city funding. By the mid-20th century, immigrants flooded the area, bringing its value back up and revitalizing the housing market.

Tabla Rasa Gallery on 48th Street showcases works of art by local Brooklyn artists. The gallery hosts several exhibits a year and features sculpture pieces, mixed media and paintings.

The Living Torah Museum on 41st Street is the area's closest museum, featuring religious artifacts and renderings from the Torah. Donations are taken in place of admission.

Sunset Park has a large Mexican and Spanish population, and it shows in the many Mexican-style restaurants. Locals favor Tacos El Bronco on 4th Avenue. The menu provides a very large selection of all types of great dishes, like pork chop with sauteed onions and giant homemade enchiladas. The portions are large enough to share, and the prices remain very affordable.

Another local favorite, located on 5th Avenue, is the Peruvian restaurant La Brasa Peruana. Locals and visitors enjoy whole juicy rotisserie chicken and beef dishes with sauteed vegetables in Peruvian spices.

Thanh Da proves to be the best Vietnamese restaurant in the area. Located on 8th Avenue, the restaurant serves classic dishes like grilled pork with rice and mint and curry seafood with vermicelli soup. Locals frequent the restaurant because it has very affordable prices and a large menu selection. Being open for lunch also makes Thanh Da a convenient spot.

Sunset Park houses a few great night spots, including Unicorn Meat NYC on 52nd Street right on the waterfront. The club features world renowned DJs and circus performances. The club often hosts parties with fantastic laser light shows and performers who breath fire. Eclectic paintings can be found throughout making the clubbing experience memorable.

Irish Haven has been around for over 50 years and remains a favorite local spot. Located on 4th Avenue, the bar features inexpensive domestic cans for $2 during happy hour and has many specialty and craft brews on tap. The bar stays open until 4 a.m. and also serves food, providing a great option for those wanting to sit with friends and chat over drinks and good food.

Sunset Park sits in a prime location, with many options for transportation available. Several major roadways surround the neighborhood, including the Prospect Expressway. Interstate 278 runs directly through the center of the neighborhood and connects to Gowanus Expressway on the south end. Interstate 278 also connects to the Prospect Expressway on the north end of the neighborhood, making it very easy to get in and out of Brooklyn.

No public parking lots or garages exist in Sunset Park, so residents park on the streets. Parking meters can be found on some of the main roadways in the neighborhood, with fares of $1 per one hour of parking.

Hailing a cab in the neighborhood may not be the easiest way to get around, as cabs don't tend to cruise the area. A cab company can be called to schedule a pick up, and fares start at around $8 to go a few blocks. To go to the airport one should expect to pay at minimum $50 or more, depending on the company.

Uber's ride-share service can be used in Sunset Park, with fares starting at $5 to $8 as a base price and going up to over $60 for a trip into Manhattan. Most residents choose to ride the metro, as it proves to be the most cost-effective and the fastest method of travel. Tickets for a one-way trip into the next neighborhood cost $2.75 per person. No direct trains go into Manhattan, so commuters have to make a few transfers along the way, with the N-train, R-train and D-train all serving the neighborhood.

Bike lanes exist in several sections of Sunset Park including part of the well-known Greenway cycling route. A portion of the Greenway can be found on the southwest end of the neighborhood running north and south just along the Gowanus Expressway toll road. Regular bike and pedestrian lanes can be found in the southeast end of the neighborhood running along its edge. The designated lanes and routes make biking and walking very safe and common here.

The Sunset Park neighborhood uses Sunset Park as the main recreation area. Located on the northeast side of the neighborhood, the park provides several acres of greenery and a large swimming pool area. The pool provides a training spot for swim teams and swim classes for children. The park contains a sand volleyball court and a living memorial commemorating September 11th.

Some sections of the park are elevated, which allow for a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline as well as the Statue of Liberty and parts of New Jersey and Staten Island. There are walkways for pedestrians and trails for bikers.

A clean and safe playground can also be found inside the park, along with handball and basketball courts. A recreation area sits near the playground, housing a computer lab and library, as well as a dance room and a weight room. The park has designated dog-friendly areas and several picnic locations with public restrooms and spray showers to use on hot summer days.

Admittance costs nothing and the park stays open from sunrise to sunset year round.

Annual events enjoyed by locals include the Sunset Park Street Festival and the Tree Lighting that takes place each holiday season.

The cost of living in Sunset Park is comparable to many of the surrounding neighborhoods. An average one-bedroom apartment here costs around $1,450 per month.

The main method of transportation for residents here is the train, which costs less than $3 for a one-way ride.

A beer at a local pub can cost as little as $2 for a domestic can during happy hour and can go up to around $8 for a pint of specialty craft or imported brew. Meanwhile, gas prices in Sunset Park average one percent lower than the average of New York City and about 15 percent higher than the national average.

V.I.M. on 5th Avenue sells men's and women's clothing, shoes and accessories. The shop also carries children's items for affordable prices. The shop carries hundreds of regular and designer brands and styles. Residents shop at V.I.M. because of its convenient location in the center of the neighborhood and the wide selection of items it carries. Jimmy Jazz on 5th Avenue sells urban apparel for men and women. The shop also carries the latest trends in shoes from designers and high-end brands. The shop has a children's section with clothing and shoes as well as jackets and accessories. Other boutiques not too far outside of Sunset Park include Goldy + Mac on 7th Avenue and Lola's Boutique on 3rd Avenue. Goldy + Mac carries trendy and unique apparel and accessories for women. The shop also has a location in Manhattan. Lola's carries vintage-inspired pieces, as well as modern urban and trendy styles. The boutique features everything from designer pants and tops to accessories and funky jewelry. It has been around for over a decade, proving the owners understand the market, and the prices here are very affordable.

Pioneer Supermarket on 5th Avenue, located in the center of the neighborhood, acts as the main grocery store for residents. Other grocery stores include Key Food, also on 5th Avenue, along with C-Town Supermarket on 8th Avenue. Residents also shop at King Saloman Produce on 50th Street and Three Guys from Brooklyn on Fort Hamilton Parkway. Three Guys is a semi-open air market that carries fresh and organic produce. The Sunset Park Greenmarket, open on Saturdays from July through November, is one of several farmers markets available in Brooklyn.